The Fame Reporter interviewed star of Australia’s Hamilton The Musical, Disney’s Aladdin The Musical and theatre industry online influencer Stefan Lagoulis. He is currently starring in the Ensemble of the spectacular, highly-anticipated Moulin Rouge! The Musical at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne all Summer long.
Stefan is a hard-working performer and has landed himself ‘In the Room where it happens’ since he was young, scrappy and hungry and has soared to great heights as a sparkling diamond in the rough in the incredible career he has carved for himself in the Australian musical theatre industry.
Stefan trained at the elite Patrick School of the Arts. Before graduating, he was offered a role in the ensemble of Disney’s Aladdin, launching his musical theatre career in Australia. He toured with the production until its closing season in Singapore and returned home to join Opera Australia’s production of Faust.
In 2020, he was cast in the original Australian company of the highly anticipated tour of Hamilton (Michael Cassel Group) as a swing. During the tour, he moved into the onstage ensemble, taking over the role of Samuel Seabury. He continued with Hamilton for its New Zealand season, where it mounted its first arena production. Stefan is thrilled to now be in the Australian ensemble of Moulin Rouge! The Musical.
We had the exciting opportunity to sit down with the charismatic advocate for the arts and talk about what sparked his interest in performing, his highlights and challenges of his theatre career so far, what he is currently involved in and more.
Welcome to The Fame Reporter Stefan. What was it that sparked your interest in performing initially?
It was one of those things that I can’t remember when or why I loved performing it was always inside of me. Since I can remember, as a kid, I was always dancing and singing around the house.
I felt that adrenaline that you get on stage when I would dance in my living room! It was always just what I knew I was born to do!
What was your experience like attending Patrick School of the Arts? How did that experience affect your current career progression?
The first time I stepped into Patrick School of the Arts (PSA) felt like I was stepping into the movie ‘FAME’. I couldn’t believe a school like that existed, you know? My experience taught me that you can truly achieve anything if you work hard for it.
The shows PSA put on were created to challenge us and give us a taste of the real world. You’re doing a 15-second quick change by yourself, and you’re doing the hardest routines and combinations and learning it all so fast, which made stepping into the industry such an easy transition for me.
Nothing really phased me because I had experienced it all in my training. It taught me how to work and respond under that kind of pressure. I’m very grateful for my time at PSA, I learnt so much that I carry with me every day.
Your first big break was Disney’s Aladdin The Musical in the ensemble, what was that first experience like learning the ropes of the industry in a much-loved Disney production?
It was surreal. I first auditioned for Aladdin at 19 years old when they started auditions. It was my very first commercial musical audition, and I made it all the way through to the very end, and I was on hold.
For one reason or another, I didn’t book the job… which in all honestly I was devastated. It was such a long process that, naturally, I was disappointed.
I worked hard every day with the goal to join Aladdin before I graduated PSA. Fast forward to when I received a call from Todd Patrick where he told me I booked Aladdin and I moved and started the next day.
It was completely surreal. Everything I had been working for had come to fruition.
I was lucky as I knew some of the cast. I was in rehearsal with Priscilla Stavrou, who over my time at PSA had taught me in guest classes, and now she’s one of my closest friends. She took me under her wing while I experienced what it was like to step into the industry, and she was always there for advice if I needed it.
I learnt a lot during Aladdin that I carried into Hamilton and Moulin Rouge. That experience was better than I could have ever dreamed.
What was the process like performing overseas for Aladdin in Singapore and Hamilton in New Zealand, and how did it differ to performing in Australia?
It’s honestly very similar to performing in Australia! However, it feels like this giant theatre kid school camp. Where we all live in the same building and explore the city together!
It’s amazing because, in my experience, the locals have been extremely open to sharing their culture with us. I’ve been very fortunate to have performed in both Singapore and NZ several times since I was a teenager!
It’s always the most exciting to see how different people and cultures react and respond to the shows each night!
What is it like being a swing in a fan-favourite phenomenon like Hamilton, and what does being a Swing or Cover mean to you?
To swing a beast of a show like Hamilton was one of the most challenging & rewarding experiences of my career so far. There were some shows when I was on for one track in Act 1, and then in Act 2, I made my debut as a different track. Or days where I’m learning the track an hour before the show from my iPad!
To be a swing or a cover is like being a superhero to me. You go in, and a lot of the time it’s you that is keeping the show running that night. It’s sometimes like watching a limited edition version of the show!
What was your initial reaction when you stepped into the role of the amusing and persistent Samuel Seabury, and you joined the onstage ensemble, and how did you make the role your own?
I loved being a swing, but when I got this call, I was so excited! To be able to perform every single night again, to represent and to share my version of Seabury every night was such a dream come true! To make this role my own, I simply brought myself to it. How would I have created this role if I was there at the beginning of the process all those years ago!
Depending on who played Hamilton, my Seabury would respond and react differently to each! It was so fun!
When you found out the Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda would be visiting Brisbane to watch you and your cast in Hamilton, what was running through your mind and how was that experience and meeting the musical theatre rap genius?
It all happened so fast when we found out Lin was coming down! It was so exciting because due to covid, we never had that opportunity at the beginning of our HamAu journey!
We had met Lin several times via Zoom, but it was the best when he arrived in Aus!
He is so down to earth and made time to connect and chat with us all. I was nervous and excited because I’ve been looking up to Lin since I first heard ‘In the Heights’ back in like 2013 or something!
I feel represented by his work, so I couldn’t believe I was going to be performing for the big boss Lin himself! It felt very much like family was in the house that weekend. We will never forget that night!
What about the stage show of Moulin Rouge enticed you to want to be involved in it?
It was the strength and power I felt watching the choreography back when the show was in previews on Broadway in 2019. I wanted to feel the way I could see the actors’ feelings. And then I wanted to be in it and make other people feel what I felt! Haha!
It’s so beautiful from the costumes to the choreography – it’s everything you dream a show could be! And to be able to dance like that every night – ugh! It sets my soul on fire.
How fun or challenging is it to perform Sonya Tayeh’s incredible choreography in Moulin Rouge and Andy Blankenbleur’s intricate moves in Hamilton, respectively?
It is equally fun and challenging to perform both of these incredible artists’ work. I feel honoured to be able to be part of the shows that bring their work to life every night. My opinion is that both of these choreographers’ work never gets easier. Which I think is why I love it so much.
You understand it more, you become more settled in the choreography – but there is always room to achieve more and grow in their choreography. Which feels special because I feel that every show I can strive to improve my show over and over and use my body to express what words simply can not.
For sure it’s hard… especially on the double show days, but THAT is what makes being part of these shows so special and rewarding. It makes me fall in love with dance over and over.
What is the most rewarding and challenging part about being in Moulin Rouge as an ensemble member?
The reward is getting to perform every night on an incredible set, in incredible costumes, with incredible song’s and choreography, with an incredible cast.
The most challenging part is the stairs and quick changes backstage!
Fame Reporter Word Play
Moulin Rouge
Diamonds!
Dream collaborator
As in a brand? I’d like to collaborate with Nike or Underarmour and create a line for the athletes that are performers!
Favourite song of all time that you never get sick of
Kill the lights
Causes you are passionate about
lgbtqi+ youth
Aladdin
The beginning
Inspiration
Honestly my friends in the industry. I see them work hard and it inspires me. We push each other to be the best we can be. That’s inspiring.
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Revolutionary
Dressing Room necessity
Curl products
Savoury or Sweet
Savory – unless it’s after a show…then I crave sweet
Favourite Disney villain and hero
Villain – The mum from tangled. Hero – Mulan & Hercules
Hamilton
Life changing
Go-to dance move
Pirouettes!
Broadway
See you soon 😉
Ellen’s Stardust Diner or Birdland Jazz Club
OMG! Ellen’s! It’s chaos in there – I loved it!
Favourite Moulin Rouge song
To perform? Backstage romance & only girl!!
Australian theatre scene
It’s back baby! & it feels like it’s constantly changing and growing for the better.
Unlimited show budget – what dream show would you do? Who would you play and who would play opposite you?
OH HERCULES FOR SURE! Shotgun Hercules & Ariana Grande would play Meg!
TV Binge
Recently I binge watched Smash! But also love any trash Tv like The Real housewives
Favourite Hamilton song
Wait for it – ooft always hits.
Future dream
I have many! I’d love to perform on Broadway. I’d love to release music. I’d love to create a Netflix doco on our Industry!
Finally, favourite thing about performing?
I love the feeling when you’re up there. It sometimes feels like we are superhuman…I love seeing how people connect with us through this art form and how what we do makes them feel! It can really allow people to lose themselves for a few hours…it’s special.
Thank-you Stefan for joining us at The Fame Reporter and we wish you all the best for Moulin Rouge! The Musical.
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