Welcome to part two of The Fame Reporter feature on Australia’s Hamilton The Musical and Moulin Rouge’s Stefan Lagoulis, exploring his incredible impact on the Australian musical theatre industry through live performance and in the online space for a new generation of theatregoers. He is currently starring in the Ensemble of 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.
We had the exciting opportunity to sit down with Stefan to not only explore his live performance career thus far but also to discover his undeniable impact on theatregoers accessibility to the arts and more.
How did being in Hamilton and documenting your experience online impact the Australian musical theatre industry?
We were the only Hamilton company around the world to be performing when we started. So we felt the world and industry watching us. Social media was the only way to really connect with everyone at that time (there was no stage door)!
I felt that social media was the best way to give back to those who were following our journey and it was also a great way for our swing team to be seen by the Hamilfans.
Which is why I loved documenting it not only on my Instagram but also via Vlogging on YouTube! It started that way so we had a digital diary to look back on once the experience ends. I feel it allowed the fans of the show to get to know our HamFam cast more personally and helped us thank them for their support.
I love sharing my story and my journey, and letting people connect with who I am outside of the show. I hope it inspires people to follow their dreams.
What do you love about working with the different casts, crews, and creative teams you have had the opportunity to work with thus far on these incredible shows?
I love being able to learn and be inspired by all the different people I’m lucky enough to work with. I love the feeling of a great show and also pushing through the hard days all together, and having all of the fun along the way. Special moments I’ll never take for granted.
What do you love about the theatre community in Australia and its fans and how do you think it can progress for future generations of theatregoers?
I feel that now more than ever our industry is starting to have the same fan reactions as we see on Broadway!
Shows like Hamilton, Moulin Rouge, & Juliet Six and more have created this new theatre fan culture here in Australia.
Which is incredible to see because it’s also connecting people in the audiences and at stage door, and now I see the new groups of friends seeing shows together.
The community is growing and so much of it is on new territory. For example – stage door-ing has become much more popular over the last few years. It’s always so surreal to hear people call out my name when I leave and I hear that they’ve been following me from show to show…like what! They are waiting in the cold for me!? It means the world and I will always give them the same amount of respect and time that they give me. So thanks to everyone that is following and supporting my journey.
The more support our industry receives the better. I hope our industry continues to grow and that we can put on more events like we see overseas for our supporters to attend.
We are artists, we are more than the wigs and costumes you see that night! I encourage our theatre fans to continue to follow the actors you see onstage over on Instagram, and in their solo cabaret shows or show support to their personal journeys outside of the shows.
We see you all. We talk about you backstage and we are forever grateful for the support.
What do you think you represent to others or bring to the musical theatre industry in Australia that is unique?
I feel that when I step out onto that stage that I represent so many different kinds of people, the kind of people I wish I saw more of when growing up. I’m a mixed non-white Mediterranean Man. I’m not built like the stereotypical performer that I was told “makes it” in the industry.
I’m a solid boy with big legs and big crazy curly hair dancing, jumping and flipping all around that stage, which I’ve realized is so special because it allows so many different people from different backgrounds and places around the world to feel represented and seen when they see me onstage.
So many times I get stopped at stage door, a café, at the gym or messaged on Instagram with people telling me how cool it is for them to see me up on the big stage, someone who looks like them, performing the way I do, and it’s hair styled like theirs.
That’s something I will never take for granted and I step out every night knowing the power and the kind responsibility it is to be someone people can feel seen and celebrated within me.
What 3 performers dead or alive would you love to have a dinner party with?
Marylin Monroe. Whitney Houston. Bob Fosse. I feel like they’d have some STORIES!
What do you contribute to the live theatre industry nationally through social media or in your community that sets your soul on fire or inspires others?
I hope that if anything, that I can inspire people. I want to really leave my mark and help be part of the change of our industry moving forward. Even if it’s as small as wearing my crazy curls out on that stage and empowering folks to embrace who they are. Period.
I want to Inspire them to follow their dreams, to be the best version of themselves, to go for that goal – even if it scares them.
I’ve worked too hard to do what I’m doing and have had incredible support along the way by those close to me and the fans of our industry, that I hope they know that I’m in their corner supporting them as much. I hope to be the role model they need in their personal journey.
Thank-you Stefan for joining us at The Fame Reporter and we wish you all the best for Moulin Rouge! The Musical and you will continue to inspire others doing what you love.
Catch Stefan in Moulin Rouge The Musical at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre – TICKETS
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