‘The Music and the Mirror’ - Veteran Performer, Choreographer & Director; Karen Johnson Mortimer

STAGES with Peter Eyers

Karen Johnson Mortimer began her professional career at the age of 15 in the Cole Porter musical, Anything Goes starring Toni Lamond. She has subsequently carved a dynamic career in musical theatre, contributing via a succession of roles.
As a performer, Karen played Cassie in the original Australian production of A Chorus Line and appeared in musicals as diverse as Company, The Conquest of Carmen Miranda, Dames at Sea, Kiss Me Kate, No No Nanette, Irene, Cabaret and Footloose.
Throughout the 80’s Karen was also a regular solo guest artist in television variety on The Don Lane Show and The Mike Walsh Show.
Karen’s choreographic credits also include a variety of experiences. She crafted dance and movement for the Reg Livermore productions of Turns, Wonder Woman and Sacred Cow, Grease-The Mega Musical (GFO), Stones In His Pockets (STC), Leader of The Pack - The Ellie Greenwich Musical (Star City), Anzac Military Tattoo (Acer Arena), the 2007 Helpmann Awards, Tin Symphony (Opening Ceremony – 2000 Sydney Olympics), the Norman Gunston Show (ABC TV) and Farnham & Byrne (ABC).
A new direction pursuing Directorial roles as Associate, Resident and Director in her own right, have seen her steer a number of prominent commercial productions.
In 2017 Karen enjoyed the great honour of working with Dame Julie Andrews as her Associate Director for the 60th anniversary production of My Fair Lady . A role she also assumed for Crossroads Live’s production of Dolly Parton’s 9 TO 5.
She has also been the Associate Director for Grease -The Arena Spectacular, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Wizard Of Oz, Dirty Dancing and the Australian tours of Wicked. Karen remounted the Korean Language production of Wicked in Seoul.
Karen was Resident Director for the 2009 production of Chicago and returned for the 2019 production.
She directed the production of Saturday Night Fever starring Marcia Hines, and Annie starring Anthony Warlow. She has directed three annual Rob Guest Endowment Finalists Concerts held in both Sydney and Melbourne.
Karen has returned to the rehearsal room to mount the recently launched season of Wicked and soon shifts focus to the return of another audience favourite - Kander and Ebb’s Chicago.
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