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Gold Coast born and bred, Amy completed the QLD School of the Arts, with performance honours. It was there she developed a passion for improvisation. At only 17, she was cast as a lead in a nightly cabaret show onboard a local dinner cruise, which lead to her receiving a break by New Zealand’s most acclaimed Musical Director, Mr Tuhi Timoti furthering her career to fronting some of the biggest touring cover acts and show bands in both Australia and New Zealand. (Street Level, The Accident's) Amy then found herself in the dance music scene performing and recording with many different D.J's and acts (Vinyl Slingers) in clubs and festivals and is still holds an M.C residency for "Good Vibrations" and "Summerfieldayze" events. In 2008 Amy collaborated with two other vocal vixens, one recognizable to Drax fans Miss Antoniette Swan (previously Sara Pax, Gold Coast) forming "The Diamond Dolls" an all female vocal burlesque review, gigging on her mortal days in local champagne bars.
"Vampirates" initiates Amy's fourth season with Dracula's, and although she continues other projects and releases her second single this year, it is obvious Amy is in her element in the Vampitheatre. This rock chick revells in playing her quick witted, silver tongued character "Meliccia" and is delighted that her directors are pushing her into more comedic roles this season, she looks forward to the next season at Dracula's and anticipates a prolonged future with the company. Amy is genuinely thrilled to be a part of such a strong cast and clever production.
"Vampirates" initiates Amy's fourth season with Dracula's, and although she continues other projects and releases her second single this year, it is obvious Amy is in her element in the Vampitheatre. This rock chick revells in playing her quick witted, silver tongued character "Meliccia" and is delighted that her directors are pushing her into more comedic roles this season, she looks forward to the next season at Dracula's and anticipates a prolonged future with the company. Amy is genuinely thrilled to be a part of such a strong cast and clever production.
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Chris “Zoo” Keipert moved to the Gold Coast from Adelaide in 2006 and started performing at Draculas in Fangs and Fetish. Chris started drum lessons at age 10 and after High School (and a few other attempted University courses such as Archaeology and Science!) went to the Conservatorium of Music at Adelaide University where he completed a Bachelor of Music (majoring in jazz drums) followed by a Diploma in Education.
After working as a full time teacher for the education department for 2 years and playing up to 4 gigs a week in Adelaide’s top cover bands and jazz groups, he decided a change of scenery was needed……and hasn’t looked back!
When not bashing the skins at Draculas, Chris divides his time between relief teaching at local Gold Coast schools and private drum tuition.
Dracula’s talented drummer ‘Zoo’ loves putting on make up and coming to work. “Hey, what other job do you get to do that?!” |
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The newest and youngest member of the Dracula’s cast, Dave is a self taught Guitarist from the age of ten. He grew up developing a strong passion for music and food. Spending most of his High School years playing Bass and Guitar for various school bands, he traveled around the Gold Coast and Brisbane areas playing many gigs.
After graduating from school, Dave finally settled into a cheffing apprenticeship which only lasted 2 years and when the opportunity arose, he dropped the knives and picked up his Axe to join the cast of Dracula's as "Kamikaze D".
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Pianist/Vocalist Pollyanna Jones started her musical Journey from the age of 9. She performed in many concerts and competitions and won many awards. A classically trained pianist and recently completed her "Advanced Diploma of Music" in Jazz where she majored in both piano and vocals and won the "Brad Rogers Memorial Award for Musical Excellence". Pollyanna not only plays the piano and sings, but also the guitar, accordion, clarinet and is a songwriter. Her creative abilities don't stop at music...she is also an accomplished illustrator and painter and has a diploma in "Graphic Art and Design" and has won many awards in this area as well.
Before working at Dracula's, Polly was a professional graphic artist and also doing the circuit of piano bars and restaurants in Brisbane and the Gold Coast singing and playing the Piano. Pollyanna loves her work at the Cabaret Restaurant where she gets to be an 'All-rounder ' - she is the Lead Singer and Pianist of the Jazz Band - "The Spine Crunchers" and makes her own Jazz arrangements for the Band - turning popular rock songs into swinging tunes; Keyboardist in the show with a few parts on stage...and also the Musical Director. |
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Actor/vocalist Richard Macionis is no stranger to the live stage – he comes to Dracula’s following years of working extensively on the Australian live circuit, as lead singer of many bands, in Cabaret, Musical Theatre and television. In 2002 Richard began his association with Dracula’s, completing two shows, Resurrection and Bloodlust, at the Melbourne theatre. In 2006, he did a two month guest spot on the Gold Coast, reprising his Bloodlust role, and there he has stayed, performing in Fangs N Fetish, Beasts of Burlesque, and now in Vampirates.
A featured performer in the recent reunion and the original touring cast of Countdown The Musical Comedy, Richard delighted audiences around Australia with his impersonations of the likes of Simon LeBon, Brian Mannix, and yes… Wham! Richard has also worked in cabaret in both Hong Kong and Singapore, and performed Commedia Del Arte with Melbourne’s Masquerade Productions in Carnevale! He also appeared as hamburger shop manager “Richard” in the long running Australian soapie, Neighbours.
His band credits include the infamous eighties concept show, 80’s Enuff, plus Superfly, Flirt, Soda Pop, Yesterdays Hero’s… and tribute show, Stand & Deliver.
A regular singing guest on Network Ten’s Good Morning Australia with Bert Newton, Richard, is also a songwriter and is know and respected amongst his peers in the recording industry.
Richard has an extensive background in television production, beginning as a reporter on Channel 7’s children’s program Rewind, and later working as a producer on such shows as The Price Is Right, GMA, and Healthy Wealthy & Wise. As Director of his own production company he has developed many projects for network TV, including the successful late night chat and music show, The Big Night In with John Foreman. Richard is also an artist manager, representing some of Australia’s key television and music idols, including John Foreman (Australian Idol). |
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Born and raised in the western suburbs of Melbourne. Rudi was educated under the Catholic Church during the seventies and eighties. He missed out on the sex, drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll, but always felt there was something weird going on around him. At the tender age of 16 he was handed a bass guitar and he soon learned! “Rock ‘n’ Roll, Sex and Drugs” were introduced during a brief stint in Community Theatre, and at age 23 a professional career began with the Melbourne theatre restaurant, ‘Dirty Dicks’. Rudi then went on to a successful season at ‘Witches ‘n’ Britches theatre restaurant, providing 10 years of good employment from Melbourne’s underbelly of entertainment. A dark and seedy apprenticeship was completed with a short encounter with the sleazy Melbourne night club scene.
Now a fully fledged Vampire, the education is complete. Having spent two years at the Dracula’s Gold Coast venue, Rudi is delighted to be part of Vampirates, his third season in the sunshine state. But… don’t let the sunshine in – let the slaughter begin! The allure of the Gold Coast is too inviting for a vampire this ravenous.
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Janine Atwill
“Feteesh”
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Janine is no stranger to the Gold Coast having spent most of her childhood holidays sunning herself on the beach at Burleigh - she never would have guessed she’d be back to work. Haling from Melbourne this little Blondie is ecstatic to have packed up her life and relocated to the sunny coast to join the cast of Vampirates.
Janine is a 2006 Music Theatre Graduate of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) and also The National Theatre Drama School 2002.
She made her television debut in 2008 as a regular (Tessa) in SBS’s new 6 part comedy series Bogan Pride written by Rebel Wilson.
Janine featured as a number of leading female characters in the 2009 revival of Brian Mannix’s I Can’t Believe It’s Not Countdown at The Palms Theatre at Melbourne’s Crown Casino. She also played the role of (Joanna) in the Victorian premier of Mary Bryant as part of the Magnormos Prompt Musical series in 2007.
In 2006 she performed as a soloist in the cabaret Whopper at the Statement Lounge in Sydney, Elegies-A Song Cycle at The Sydney Theatre Company and also appeared in The Boy From Oz at the Burswood Dome, Perth. Her WAAPA Stage credits include Sweet Charity (Charity), Bat Boy (Roy), Pal Joey (Dottie), Shakers (Nicki), Elegies-A Song Cylcle (Soloist), Bobbin up (Jeannie) and Crazy For You.
Prior to her studies Janine played (Scooter) in Alpha Theatrical Productions pantomime of Beauty and the Beast and was a recipient of the 2001 Music Theatre Guild of Victoria Award for ‘Best Junior performer in a Female Role’ for the role of (Charity) in Sweet Charity.
Janine is also a singer/songwriter and has recorded a number of singles. She is currently working on some new material as an artist for Chameleon Recordings in Melbourne. |
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