Old Boys Lead Wicked into a

Tim Carroll (Sur '12) and Matt Ward (Kai '97)

Old Boys Lead Wicked

into a HOTA Season

Mrs Jacqueline Latimer

Doing speech and drama at school definitely ignited the passion...

Image courtesy of Matt Ward Entertainment

The extraordinary adventures of Oz will take stage at the Coast’s top performance venue HOTA, when former Old Boy Matt Ward (Kai ’97) introduces Wicked the Musical. Wicked tells the story of the profound friendship between Glinda, the Good Witch and Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West.

Helmed by Matt Ward Entertainment, a stellar principal cast was announced, and includes former student Tim Carroll (Sur ’12) who will play the much loved munchkin Boq.

Ward said once he realised Wicked had become available, he jumped at the chance and applied for the rights.

“I’ve had a fascination with Wicked since I saw it 15 years ago when it opened on Broadway. And I said to myself back then ‘I either want to be in it or produce it’ and here I am producing it on the Gold Coast which is very exciting,” he said.

“This will be my third production... we started with Rent in 2017 at the Brisbane Powerhouse, which was an amazing success and we saw a 100% sell-out across the whole season. Then we brought it back in 2018 at QPAC with a larger production, bigger cast and longer season and we again smashed box office records.” Although they have both worked in performing arts for many years, Ward and Carroll first crossed paths during a special occasion at TSS in 2012.

Ward was a special guest at Carroll’s Valedictory Dinner where they enjoyed an impromptu performance with two other students – Alexander Arena (Mel ’12) and Benjamin Provest (Kai ’12).

“I was invited back as an Old Boy and share my experience from school, and after in terms of my career. I was then given the opportunity to sing and I said why don’t we involve the graduating students who are singers and performers’,” Ward said.

Both Matt and Tim are a little hazy on which song they performed but Matt is sure it was Man in the Mirror. However, Tim thinks it was This is the Moment. Regardless, they both agree it was a special experience. “It was really special because Alexander, Benjamin and I had just finished the musical and we were on top of the world. We were graduating and so to have someone like Matt who is critically acclaimed and has performed worldwide, come back and share his knowledge and experience with us was really humbling,” Carroll added.

Both have fond memories of their time as students at TSS and credit the School for helping them get to where they are in their careers today. “Doing speech and drama at school definitely ignited the passion but I also remember mum and dad dragged me kicking and screaming to see Hugh Jackman in the Boy from Oz and I just sat there thinking this is the dumbest thing ever. But then when everyone started clapping for him I thought oh yeah that’s pretty cool’,” Carroll laughed.

“We did these awesome school musicals and I remember we did Romeo and Juliet in the Clock Tower at TSS.

“I think the connection the music department has with the Queensland Conservatorium was so helpful. Fostering that relationship really helped give you the confidence to put yourself out there. And luckily enough I was accepted into the musical theatre stream.” Wicked will take the HOTA stage from June 25 to July 6 and also stars Samantha Dodemaide as ‘Elphaba’, Emily Monsma as ‘Glinda’, Trent Owers as ‘Fieyro’, James Shaw as ‘The Wizard of Oz, Antonia Marr as ‘Nessarose’, Shannon Foley as ‘Dr. Dillamond’ and Kaye Tuckerman as ‘Madame Morrible’ to deliver the beloved untold story of the witches of Oz.