Paul Keelan
Paul graduated from the Elder Conservatorium of Music (B.Mus, Dip Ed, A.Mus.A) with a degree in piano, clarinet and music education. He has performed widely in musicals, cabaret and concerts and as a soloist and is an experienced music educator, vocal coach and accompanist.
In May 2010, Paul was Musical Director for the new Australian children's musical Wombat Stew for which he wrote the score/arrangements. Wombat Stew toured Australia in 2010 for ten months and received rave reviews. It was nominated for The Helpmann Award 2011 for Best Presentation for Children. Paul was MD for the Australian Cast recording of the show.
In September 2010, Paul was Musical Director for the workshop of Artemisia at the VCA, Music Theatre Course.
Paul wrote the musical Sideshow Alley with collaborator Gary Young and was Musical Director for the Australian Premiere of the work at QPAC and the Australian Cast Recording. Sideshow Alley won the inaugural Pratt Prize for Musical Theatre and the Helpmann Award for Best Original Score in 2008.
He was Musical Director for the Australian and New Zealand productions of Menopause the Musical and musical director for its extensive three-year regional tour and was Musical Director for the Australian Cast recording of the show.
He began his involvement in musicals as a performer in community theatre playing lead roles in productions of Pippin, Godspell, Pirates of Penzance, The Secret Garden, City of Angels, Gotta Sing, Gotta Dance, Barnum and Assassins and won the Victorian Theatre Guild award for Best Actor for Into the Woods. He has directed productions of Godspell, Oliver, Annie, Victorian Music Theatre Guild Awards and as Music Director productions of Godspell, Annie, The Sound of Music, The Music Man and Bugsy Malone to name a few. In 2009 he devised and directed the opening ceremony of The Quin Auditorium.
Paul spent three years touring with the a cappella group The Phones, performing in major concert hall and comedy venues throughout Australia and recorded their debut album Voices. Professionally he has worked in musicals as a performer and musical director including Crusade and You Oughta Be In Pictures. He was resident singer/pianist at The Regent for 15 years.
Television appearances include The Big Gig, Hey Hey It's Saturday, Midday with Bert Newton, Midday with Ray Martin and Ernie and Denise to name a few.
With writer Gary Young he has composed music for Santa Back to the Outback, Jason and the Dragon (Direction and Music Direction - Cast Recording), Ship of Fools (Workshop - Music Direction and VCA production), A Woman's Eyes ( Workshop - Music Direction), Black Widow ( Workshop - VCA - Music Direction and Professional Workshop - Music Direction) and Tea With Oscar as Producer, Performer and Musical Director which was also nominated for a Green Room Award and Cast Recording, Artemesia (Pratt Prize short listed finalist - 2006 and VCA Workshop 2010) and Skyrockets and Crawling Things, a play with music.
His current work is the 2008 Pratt Prize Commission for Musical Theatre, Bim Bom.
With Gary Young he formed Wing and a Prayer Productions.
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