Christopher Horsey

Christopher Horsey (born 11 July 1972) is an Australian entertainer, director, choreographer and performing arts teacher.

Christopher Horsey
Born
Gold Coast, Australia
NationalityAustralian
OccupationDirector, Choreographer, performer, teacher
Years active1988-present
Spouse(s)Lucy Durack (m. 2014)
Children2

Early life

Horsey learnt to perform, teach and choreograph from his mother, Kay Horsey, who had a dance school for 26 years on the Gold Coast.[1]

Horsey began his tap dancing career as a pre-teen in 1984 by finishing in first place in the age 9 to 12 category of the Fred Astaire International Tap and Jazz Championship at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. At age 13 he appeared on the Australia television show Young Talent Time as their "Talent Discovery of the Week".[2] At age 16 he performed in the "Ultimate Event" Frank Sinatra concert at Sanctuary Cove, Australia.[3]

Career

Performer

Horsey has performed onstage since 1989 in productions including 42nd Street (original Australian cast), Funny Girl, West Side Story, Chicago and Singin' in the Rain.[4]

Horsey rose to fame in the early 1990s as an original cast member of Hot Shoe Shuffle, "The first Australian musical with an all-Australian cast to make it to the West End",[5] in which he originated the role of "Tip", touring Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the Queens Theatre in London. He continued working with Dein Perry, joining Tap Dogs on their North American tour which included six months at the Off-Broadway Union Square Theatre.[6][7][8]

In 2000, he played the role of Angus in the Fox Searchlight Pictures film Bootmen alongside his friend and collaborator Adam Garcia,[9] as well as Sam Worthington.

In 2007, Horsey portrayed Andy Lee in a limited showing of 42nd Street in Melbourne.[10] In 2009, he played Lank Hawkins in Crazy For You.[4]

In 2014, he plays the role of Benny Southstreet in Guys and Dolls[11] and that same year he played conman Rooster in Annie.[12]

Horsey has appeared in the independently produced Every Single Saturday at Glen Street Theatre[13] and both choreographed and performed in Lifeforce,[14] both written by Joanna Weinberg. In 2014, Horsey joined the cast of The Tap Pack for their Sydney season at the recently established Hayes Theatre in Potts Point and continued a small tour with the show until its debut in the Dunstan Playhouse at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival in 2015.[15][16]

Horsey originated the role of Officer Peter Hammett and choreographed the New Musicals Australia production of The Detective's Handbook[4] at the Hayes Theatre, directed by Jonathan Biggins.

Horsey has featured in five 'Neglected Musicals' shows, Girl Crazy, My Favorite Year, Seesaw, Nick & Nora and Lucky Stiff. Neglected Musicals are presented with scripts in hand, and with piano accompaniment after only a day's rehearsal.[17]

Horsey presented Arts Friday on Eastside Radio for 5 years[18]

Performances

Director/Choreographer

Horsey is a 2017 Australian Dance Awards nominee in the 'Outstanding Achievement in Commercial Dance, Musicals or Physical Theatre' category,[19] for his work on Swing on This, a show he has been directing and choreographing since its international debut at the 2014 Adelaide Cabaret Festival. The show stars Matt Lee, Ben Mingay, Luke Kennedy, Rob Mills and Michael Falzon. Swing on This is a collection of classic swing songs reworked with a more contemporary style, as well as more recent popular music arranged for an 18 piece big band.[20]

Horsey was both choreographer and Resident Director for the 2016 Opera Queensland production of Kiss Me, Kate.[21]

Horsey choreographed a new cabaret-style show, Everybody Loves Lucy, starring Elise McCann[22] and choreographed Ruthless! at The Seymour Centre starring Katrina Retallick, Geraldine Turner, Margi De Feranti and Merideth O'Reilly on which he was also Resident Director.[23]

In 2012, Horsey choreographed the opening sequence of the Helpmann Awards at the Sydney Opera House featuring host Simon Burke and Genevieve Lemon, Trevor Ashley, Peter Carroll and corps de ballet dancer Montana Rubin from The Australian Ballet.

Horsey performed in and choreographed Adam Garcia's 2010 and 2011 judges performance on Got To Dance, a British dance competition that was broadcast on Sky 1 in the United Kingdom and Ireland.[24] Horsey was commissioned by Northern Tap Company to create and choreograph a brand new Tap Dance show which he called Soundz Extraordinary for a one night only showing at The Civic Theatre in Barnsley (United Kingdom) on 24 September 2011.[25]

Horsey choreographed 'Mickey's Christmas Big Band' show at Disneyland Paris and is resident choreographer for Carols in the Domain, broadcast on the Seven Network.[26]

Date Show Venue Date Show Venue
2018 (27 Aug) Dance Boss Network Seven 2018 (10 July,11) The InBESTigators Gristmill (ABC/TV)
2018 (29 June,30) A Night at the Speakeasy Concert Hall, Opera House 2018 (15-17 Mar) Godspell Eternity Playhouse, Sydney
2018 (10 Mar) Swing on This Concert Hall, Opera House 2018 (07-19 Mar) Godspell Chapel Off Chapel, Melb
2018 (24 Feb – 8 Mar) The 39 Steps Cremorne Theatre, QPAC 2018 (14 Feb) Witches Joondalup Resort
2017 (17 Dec) Carols in the Domain Network Seven 2017 (Oct - Dec) Mickey's Christmas Big Band Disneyland Paris
2017 (25 July – 5 Aug) West Side Story Conservatorium Theatre, Bris 2017 (6 July,07) George Michael, Praying For Time Concert Hall, Opera House
2017 (16 June,17) Swing on This Perth Concert Hall 2017 (7 Jan) Swing on This Concert Hall, QPAC
2016 (18 Dec) Carols in the Domain Network Seven 2016 (14 Nov) Rob Guest Endowment Lyric Theatre, Sydney
2016 (12 Nov) Kiss Me, Kate Concert Hall, QPAC 2016 (19 June) Swing on This Theatre Royal, Sydney
2016 (21 Apr – 7 May) The Detective's Handbook Hayes Theatre, Sydney 2015 (10 Nov) Rob Guest Endowment The Capitol Theatre, Sydney
2015 (04-6 May) The Bugalugs Bum Thief Riverside Theatre, Parramatta 2015 (29 April – 2 May) The Bugalugs Bum Thief Glen Street Theatre
2015 (16-24 April) The Bugalugs Bum Thief Darling Quarter Theatre, Darling Harbour, Sydney 2015 (16 Feb) Swing on This Arts Centre, Gold Coast
2014 (04-6 June) Everybody Loves Lucy Hayes Theatre 2014 (12 Oct) Iconic A Cappella at the House The Studio, Sydney Opera House

Performing Arts Teacher

Horsey teaches drama, musical theatre and tap dance.

He has taught and lectured at Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, Sydney Dance Company, Academy of Music & Performing Arts (AMPA), Victorian College of the Arts (VCA), Excelsia College (formerly Wesley Institute), ED5 International and Brent Street School of Performing Arts[27][28][29]

Awards

First Place - Fred Astaire International Tap & Jazz Championship 1984[2]

People's Choice Award, Short Sweet & Dance Festival 2007[30] for his Seinfeld inspired Tap show 3 Hits and a Miss

Australian Dance Awards nominee in the 'Outstanding Achievement in Commercial Dance, Musicals or Physical Theatre' category, for his work on Swing on This 2017[19]

Filmography
Horsey with wife Lucy Durack
YearTitleRoleDirector
2005The Adventures of Roman PilgrimRoman PilgrimAnny Slater
2001Changi (miniseries)Shadow DancerKate Woods
2000BootmenAngusDein Perry

Personal life

Horsey married Australian film, TV and stage actress Lucy Durack on Rottnest Island off the coast of Perth, Western Australia on 5 April 2014.[31] They have a daughter, Polly Gladys and son Theodore Lindsay.[32]

References
  1. Coastal Dance About Us, Retrieved 25 Aug 2018.
  2. Tap Dancing Resources, Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  3. "Dance Life Biography", Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  4. Ausstage, Retrieved 25 Aug 2018
  5. Aussies tap into the West End by Judy Hughes Jan, 17, 1994 Retrieved 25 Aug 2018.
  6. BroadwayWorld Tap Dogs original cast list Retrieved 26 Aug 2018.
  7. Playbill Tour schedule pre NY Retrieved 25 Aug 2018.
  8. Playbill Tour schedule post NY Retrieved 25 Aug 2018.
  9. Dance Magazine interview Adam, Retrieved 25 Aug 2018.
  10. The Age review Jim Murphy Retrieved 26 Aug 2018.
  11. Simon Parris review Retrieved 25 Aug 2018.
  12. Packemin website Retrieved 25 Aug 2018.
  13. SMH Theatre Review Retrieved 25 Aug 2018.
  14. Stage Whispers, review Retrieved 25 Aug 2018.
  15. The Tap Pack, The Pack Retrieved 25 Aug 2018
  16. Adelaide Now review Retrieved 25 Aug 2018.
  17. Neglected Musicals website Retrieved 26 Aug 2018.
  18. Eastside website Retrieved 27 Aug 2018.
  19. ausdance website longlist Retrieved 27 Aug 2018.
  20. "Swing on This". Adelaide Festival Centre. 7 April 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  21. Stage Whispers review Retrieved 25 Aug 2018
  22. Aussie Theatre Review Retrieved Sept 05, 2018.
  23. Arts Review Retrieved Sept 05, 2018
  24. Adam Garcia exorcist interview Retrieved 26 Aug 2018.
  25. BBC online interview Retrieved 26 Aug 2018.
  26. "SSO Speakeasy program PDF Retrieved 26 Aug 2018" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 August 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  27. Qld Con website Godspell Retrieved 27 Aug 2018.
  28. AMPA website Our People Retrieved 27 Aug 2018.
  29. xlr8arts Home Retrieved 27 Aug 2018.
  30. Arts Review Trent Kidd Retrieved 27 Aug 2018.
  31. Perth Now article Retrieved 27 Aug 2018.
  32. Perth Now article Linda Parri Retrieved 27 Aug 2018.
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