FANGIRLS

Manali Datar (she/her) is an Indian-born multi-disciplinary artist. Whilst graduating from the Victorian College of the Arts in 2018, Manali originated the coveted role of Rose Granger-Weasley in Michael Cassel Group's Australian production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. In 2021, she was Directorial Assistant to Dean Bryant on Merrily We Roll Along at Hayes Theatre Company and recently directed the first workshop of Threadbare, a new queer Australian play by Tomas Parrish-Chynoweth.

Also a musician, Manali is part of the duo ultrafine, who released their first single, SIGNS in 2021. This year, Manali made her debut in Sydney Theatre Company's production of Anchuli Felicia King's White Pearl as Priya Singh and will go on to originate the role of Emilia Bassano (1) in the Australian premiere production of Emilia.

Manali is thrilled to be bringing the role of Edna to life in FANGIRLS at the Sydney Opera House. She lives and works on Wurundjeri and Gadigal land and acknowledges that sovereignty was never ceded.

Blake (they/them) is a Māori (Ngāti Porou) and Swedish multidisciplinary artist who graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre).

They recently played Harry on the Aria-nominated FANGIRLS World Premiere Cast Recording (Ghostlight). Their previous musical theatre credits include Oaken in Frozen, Miss Understanding in Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Ziegfeld Tenor in Funny Girl, Esteban in Kiss of the Spiderwoman, West Side Story, Ghost, and Angel in Kinky Boots. 

In 2019, Blake originated the role of Sir Garfield Barwick in The Dismissal  and was showcased at the Hayes Theatre playing Sir Galahad in Spamalot, and Paul Owen in American Psycho, earning them a GLUG nomination for Best Newcomer.

Milo (she/her) is a Melbourne-based, Perth-born performer. In 2018 Milo completed her Diploma of Musical Theatre at WAAPA, and in 2021 her Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre) at the Victorian College of the Arts. Whilst at VCA she performed as Charity in the graduating production of SWEET CHARITY, Agnes in THE HELLO GIRLS and self-devised MONGREL.

Milo received the 2021 Lionel Gell Foundation Scholarship for Music Theatre at VCA and was a finalist for the Inaugural AOC Initiative organised by Tarik Frimpong.

Tonieka (she/her) graduated from NIDA with a Diploma of Musical Theatre in 2020. Most recently Tonieka played the role of Lisa and covered the lead role of Sophie in Mamma Mia! for Packemin Productions. Tonieka’s other credits include Yvette/Ensemble in West Saigon and as a Delta Nu in Legally Blonde. In 2019 Tonieka featured as Holly in The Wedding Singer and as Maria in West Side Story in 2016.

Jesse (he/they) is a rising talent based in Melbourne, Australia and makes his professional theatre debut in FANGIRLS. He couldn’t be more thrilled to bring SALTYPRINGL back to the stage and be a part of such a talented cast.

Growing up, Jesse discovered their talents while dancing and singing along to Whitney Houston and Destiny’s Child. He’s also a huge fangirl for Marvel and Disney. His dream is to be a Marvel superhero someday soon… like even Harry’s in the MCU now!

His theatre and television credits include Once on This Island (2022) as Daniel Beauxhomme and The Voice Australia (2017). They are currently studying to earn their Bachelor of Arts in Drama and Children's Literature and Masters in Secondary Teaching at Deakin University.

Jesse is excited to continue pursuing his passion for music and acting especially if Beyoncé is involved. Seriously, girl… call him xx

In a career spanning 30 years, Danielle's (she/her) versatility has allowed her to work across a huge range of material from 70's Disco to Classical, from comedy to straight Theatre.

In 2021, Danielle Barnes played Caroline in Belvoir's production of FANGIRLS, for which she was nominated for a Green Room Award (Best Musical Theatre Artist, Supporting). Her previous credits include the Gordon Frost production of Dream Lover covering Polly, the Hayes Theatre Company's production of Dogfight as Mama, and a national tour of They're Playing Our Song as Sonia Walsk opposite her husband Scott Irwin. Just prior to that she travelled to Beijing to create and perform in the bilingual Cho Cho with the National Theatre of China.

Highlights from the last decade include Priscilla, Queen of the Desert as Marion, Mila Kuntz in Fat Swan, Julie Jordan in Carousel opposite David Campbell, Nikki Burns in Oh! What a Night! opposite Martin Crewes, and Maria Elena Holly in Buddy!. Danielle has also won a Green Room Award for playing Diva in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

Danielle's other professional credits include The Boy from Oz, The Full Monty, Sweet Charity, Beauty & the Beast, The Sign of The Seahorse, The Voyage of Mary Bryant, The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Hello Dolly, Me and My Girl, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and Chair in the Landscape.

Mel (she/her) is a performer, creative and vocal coach based in Melbourne with experience across musical theatre, comedy/cabaret, opera, stage and screen.

After obtaining her Bachelor of Music (Voice – Performance) from the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music in 2018, she moved to Sydney to further her training at NIDA where Mel completed the Diploma of Musical Theatre in 2019 and then went on to study Screen Acting and Meisner Technique at The Actor's Pulse. Whilst studying, she was cast in three fully-staged and innovative modern operas directed by Jane Davidson (Passion, Lament, Glory, Monteverdi’s Orfeo and Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelites). She appeared notably as Pitti-Sing in Gilbert, Sullivan in Opera Victoria’s The Mikado and Bonnie-Mae in Miracle City. 

Mel's vocal strength across all genres, impeccable comic timing and her warm and easygoing nature set her apart as an emerging artist in the theatre scene. 

Tomáš (they/he) is a Melbourne-based actor performing across music theatre, cabaret, stage and screen.

They trained at RADA before completing their Bachelor of Fine Arts at the VCA in 2019, starring as ‘Gabey’ in their graduating production of On The Town (VCA). In 2021, Tomáš made their professional debut in FANGIRLS (Belvoir) and went on that year to perform as ‘Chino’ in the national tour of West Side Story (Opera Australia/GWB). Further recent credits include Brigadoon (Neglected Musicals/Hayes), Meow Meow’s Pandemonium (MSO/Arts Centre), Next to Normal (James Terry Collective), The Gruffalo (CDP), and Morning Melodies 2018 & 2019 (Arts Centre).

Tomáš is ecstatic to return to FANGIRLS for its Sydney Opera House season with this glorious cast. Catch them next back at the Opera House understudying Lysander and Demetrius in The Lovers (Bell Shakespeare). 

Tomáš is proudly represented by the superstar team at Ian White Management.

Hannah (she/her) is an Australian actress/singer born in Sydney. Growing up Hannah worked on TVC’S, and had some guest appearances on Blue Water Rats and Oliver Twist returns to Australia. Once graduated from high school she then moved to Melbourne to study music theatre at The Victorian College of the Arts. Hannah has played ‘Ilse’ in Spring Awakening, ‘Ivy’ in Bare the Rock Opera, and ‘Daisy’ in The Gathering. Since moving back to Sydney Hannah commenced her study with Les Chantery at the Actors Station and appeared in Catch Me If You Can at the Hayes Theatre. Hannah is also a backing vocalist for the Australian singer Meg Mac, touring nationally/internationally for the last few years. Hannah has played festivals worldwide and has appeared on Like a Version (Triple J) singing with Meg Mac.

Yve Blake is an award winning playwright, screenwriter, composer and sometimes performer. She's best known for writing the Book, Music and Lyrics of FANGIRLS, a musical about the underestimated power of teenage girls. FANGIRLS premiered in 2019 Queensland Theatre and Belvoir to multiple five star reviews and sell-out crowds, before winning the 2019 Sydney Theatre Award for Best Mainstage Musical, the Matilda Award for Best Musical or Cabaret, and the 2020 AWGIE award for Music Theatre. In 2021 FANGIRLS returned by demand for a national tour, and released a world premiere cast recording which received an Aria award nomination for Best Original Soundtrack or Musical Theatre Cast Album. Currently, Yve is developing a screen adaptation of FANGIRLS with Fremantle.

Yve has previously developed and presented her work at Griffin Theatre Company, Soho Theatre, Southbank Centre, Old Vic New Voices, the National Theatre Studio and The Barbican. She was the inaugural recipient of the ATYP Rebel Wilson Theatre-maker scholarship, and is also an alumni of the Royal Court Writers’ Programme. In 2018 she was lucky enough to be a visiting artist at Princeton University.