Suzie Mathers is a Scottish-Australian actress and theatre performer best known for her role as

Glinda Glinda is a fictional character created by L. Frank Baum for his ''Oz'' novels. She first appears in Baum's 1900 children's classic ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'', and is the most powerful sorceress in the Land of Oz, ruler of the Quadling Coun ...

the Good Witch in the Australian, Asian tour, and London productions of ''

Wicked Wicked may refer to: Books * ''Wicked'' (Maguire novel), a 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire that inspired the musical of the same name * ''Wicked'', a 1997 novel series collaboration between Australian children's authors Paul Jennings and Morris ...

'' as well Sophie in the 10th Anniversary Australian tour of '' Mamma Mia!'' the Musical.

Biography

Born in

Aberdeen Aberdeen ( ; ; ) is a port city in North East Scotland, and is the List of towns and cities in Scotland by population, third most populous Cities of Scotland, Scottish city. Historically, Aberdeen was within the historic county of Aberdeensh ...

, Scotland and raised in Perth, Western Australia, Suzie received a Bachelor of Arts (Music Theatre) from the

Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) at Edith Cowan University (ECU) is a performing arts school in Perth, Western Australia. Established in 1980, it is notable for being the most comprehensive performing arts school in Aus ...

(WAAPA) in 2007. In the few short years since graduating Suzie quickly made her mark in the Australian and International music theatre industry.

Career

Her career in musical theater started with a spot in an amateur production of ''Jesus Christ Superstar''. In 2007, she graduated with a degree in music theater from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. While in college, she performed in various productions such as "The Good Fight" and "Annie Get Your Gun." Originally an offstage vocal swing for the 2008 Melbourne production, Mathers was cast in ''

'' straight out of drama school, and remained with the company as an ensemble member until the beginning of the Sydney season in 2009. Suzie left to play the leading role of Sophie in the 10th Anniversary Australian tour of '' Mamma Mia!'', which toured nationally in

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

Perth Perth () is the list of Australian capital cities, capital city of Western Australia. It is the list of cities in Australia by population, fourth-most-populous city in Australia, with a population of over 2.3 million within Greater Perth . The ...

Brisbane Brisbane ( ; ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and largest city of the States and territories of Australia, state of Queensland and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia, with a ...

. After the national tour of ''Mamma Mia!'' Suzie returned to the cast of ''Wicked'' for the first Australian tour performing in

Adelaide Adelaide ( , ; ) is the list of Australian capital cities, capital and most populous city of South Australia, as well as the list of cities in Australia by population, fifth-most populous city in Australia. The name "Adelaide" may refer to ei ...

, in the role of the Midwife, and was also the understudy for Glinda. Suzie officially took over the role of lead Glinda from

Lucy Durack Lucy Durack (born 17 November 1982) is an Australian actress, singer and television personality who played Glinda in the Australian production of ''Wicked'', and Elle Woods in the Australian production of '' Legally Blonde: The Musical''. She s ...

in 2015, performing in Singapore, South Korea, New Zealand and Manila to much critical acclaim. A highlight was performing to the shows composer

Stephen Schwartz Stephen Lawrence Schwartz (born March 6, 1948) is an American musical theatre composer and lyricist. In a career spanning over five decades, Schwartz has written hit musicals such as ''Godspell'' (1971), ''Pippin (musical), Pippin'' (1972), and ...

, twice. She has co-starred alongside various Australian theatre performers including Jemma Rix,

Maggie Kirkpatrick Margaret Anne Kirkpatrick (née Downs; born 29 January 1941) is an Australian stage and screen actress who has appeared in numerous theatre, television and feature film roles since the late 1950s. Kirkpatrick starred in the TV series ''Prisone ...

, David Harris, Anne Wood and

Gretel Scarlett Gretel Scarlett Jahnke (), known as Gretel Scarlett (born 9 November 1987) is an Australian actress and performer. Having appeared in theatre productions including ''Wicked (musical), Wicked'' and ''Mamma Mia! (musical), Mamma Mia!'', she is b ...

as well as New Zealand actor

Jay Laga'aia Jay Laga'aia (born 10 September 1963) is a New Zealand-Australian actor and singer. He is known internationally for his role as Gregar Typho, Captain Typho in the films ''Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones'' and ''Star Wars: Episode ...

. Suzie stepped down from the role of Glinda when it returned to Australia at the end of ''Wicked'''s Manila run on 9 March 2014. Though Suzie did briefly reprise the role in

while

took leave due to injury in May 2014. Mathers then again reprised the role of Glinda for the

and

seasons of ''Wicked'', taking over once again from Lucy Durack, who left at the end of the Sydney season due to her pregnancy. During the Brisbane season Suzie reached her 500th performance as Glinda, and is expected have performed the role over 580 times when the show closes in Perth mid 2015. Mathers made her West End debut reprising the role of Glinda this time in the

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

production of ''Wicked'' at the

Apollo Victoria Theatre The Apollo Victoria Theatre is a West End theatre on Wilton Road in the Westminster district of London, across from London Victoria Station. (The theatre also has an entrance on Vauxhall Bridge Road.) Opened in 1930 as a cinema and variety t ...

. She performed the role at the 10th anniversary performance on 27 September 2016.

Rachel Tucker Rachel Kelly Tucker (born 29 May 1981) is a Northern Irish stage actress, best known for her portrayal of Elphaba in the musical '' Wicked''. She also starred in '' Come from Away'' on Broadway, having originated the role in the West End. Rachel ...

and

Willemijn Verkaik Willemijn Verkaik (; born 16 June 1975) is a Dutch singer and actress. She is best known for her stage roles in the musicals '' Wicked'' and '' Elisabeth'', and for providing the voice of Elsa in the German version (singing only) and the Dutch ...

performed as Elphaba alongside her. She left the production on 22 July 2017.

Stage credits

Other performances

Suzie's other appearances include An Afternoon with

Stephen Sondheim Stephen Joshua Sondheim (; March22, 1930November26, 2021) was an American composer and lyricist. Regarded as one of the most important figures in 20th-century musical theater, he is credited with reinventing the American musical. He received Lis ...

at Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne in 2012, both the 2011 and 2012 Rob Guest Endowment Concerts, headlining artist at the 2012 Apex

Carols By Candlelight Carols by Candlelight is an annual Australian Christmas tradition that was popularised in Melbourne in 1938. The tradition has since spread around the world. It involves people gathering, usually outdoors in a park, to sing carols by candlel ...

, the 2009

Helpmann Awards The Helpmann Awards are accolades for live entertainment and performing arts in Australia, presented by industry group Live Performance Australia (LPA) since 2001. The annual awards recognise achievements in the disciplines of musical theatre ...

, the role of Edith Faulkner in the 2007 New York Music Theatre Festival production of David King and Nick Enright's The Good Fight. Suzie also guest starred in David Harris' sold-out show Time is a Traveller at the

Hayes Theatre The Hayes Theatre is a 111-seat theatre specialising in music theatre and cabaret in Potts Point, Sydney, Australia. It is named after the Australian performer Nancye Hayes. Hayes Theatre Co was established at the former ''Darlinghurst Theatre' ...

in Sydney. She recently appeared in a one night concert, "Hello Jerry! The Music of Jerry Herman" at The National Concert Hall, Dublin featuring music from the spectacular Broadway musicals of twice Tony Award winner

Jerry Herman Gerald Sheldon Herman (July 10, 1931December 26, 2019) was an American composer and lyricist, known for his work in Broadway theatre. One of the most commercially successful Broadway songwriters of his time, Herman was the composer and lyricist ...

. The concert was conducted by

John Wilson (conductor) John Wilson (born 1972) is a British Conducting, conductor, arranger and musicologist, who conducts orchestras and operas, as well as big band jazz. He is the artistic director of Sinfonia of London. Education Wilson was born in Gateshead, Tyn ...

with music by The

RTÉ (; ; RTÉThe É in RTÉ is pronounced as an English E () and not an Irish É ()) is an Irish public service broadcaster. It both produces and broadcasts programmes on television, radio and online. The radio service began on 1 January 1926, ...

Orchestra. The performance also featured West End's Annalene Beechey, and American musical entertainer and actress

Kim Criswell Kim Criswell (born July 19, 1957) is an American musical entertainer and actress. Life and career Criswell was born in Hampton, Virginia, United States, and grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee. After she graduated from Hixson High School in subu ...

. In June 2015 Suzie returned to where her career began to help celebrate 30 years of Musical Theatre at the West Australia Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), performing at the ''WAAPA Grads Say Thanks'' gala concert at the Geoff Gibbs Theatre at

Edith Cowan University Edith Cowan University (ECU) is a public research university in Western Australia. It is named in honour of the first woman to be elected to an Parliaments of the Australian states and territories, Australian parliament, Edith Cowan, and is, , t ...

. Suzie performed in the title role of Cinderella, for the 2015 family pantomime at

Cambridge Arts Theatre Cambridge Arts Theatre is a 666-seat theatre on Peas Hill and St Edward's Passage in central Cambridge, England. The theatre presents a varied mix of drama, dance, opera and pantomime. It attracts touring productions, as well as many shows di ...

References

External links

*
Waapa.ecu.edu.au
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mathers, Suzie Living people Australian musical theatre actresses Australian women singers 1984 births