The intimacy of the Butterfly Club makes one-handed shows so present, so in your face and Grace Agnew’s show I’m Quitting the Pageant was one of those shows.
A dual US/Oz citizen Grace has decided to go back to the US at what is arguably the most interesting time in The Union’s history.
Grace’s humour and stories of hope and dismay were interwoven my some very interesting song choices.
Her voice has a vibrato unlike anything I have heard, I particularly liked her singing and humorous self-deprecation as her strength of character shined.
This was a very short run for the show at The Butterfly Club and only about 45 minutes in length.
I had the chance to meet her family including her octogenarian grandfather and uncle and her cousins from the Australian side, seemed wonderful old school gentlemen!
Good luck Grace, I hope you managed to shake some sense into your fellow Americans!
- America, I Love You (1915)
Music by Archie Gottler
Lyrics by Edgar Leslie
- Ave Maria (1825)
Composed by Franz Schubert
- Pack Up Your Troubles In Your Old Kit Bag (And Smile, Smile, Smile) (1915)
Music by Felix Powell
Lyrics by George Henry Powell
- After You Get What You Want, You Don’t Want It (1920)
Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin
- She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain (1800s American traditional)
- A-tisket, A-tasket (1800s American traditional)
- A Bird in a Gilded Cage (1900)
Music by Arthur J. Lamb
Lyrics by Harry Von Tilzer
- The Battle Hymn of the Republic (1861)
Music by William Steffe (1856)
Arranged by James E. Greenleaf, C. S. Hall, and C. B. Marsh (1861)
Lyrics by Julia Ward Howe (1861)
Written & performed by Grace Agnew
Grace Agnew was born in Ballarat, but grew up in Moorestown, NJ, USA, and is a dual citizen (cheers, Mum and Dad). As a performer, she has trained in Philadelphia and New York at New York University, MacGuffin Theatre & Film Co., the Prince Music Theatre, and the Walnut Street Theatre. US credits include Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Opening Act Soloist, Prince Music Theatre, Phila., PA) and La Boheme and Puccini’s Edgar (Academy of Vocal Arts, Phila., PA). In Australia, she was in the 2013 and 2014 seasons of Hair (Tribe/Mom) with StageArt. She is a 2013 graduate of Showfit and 2016 graduate of the National Theatre Drama School. Most recently, she helped to devise and perform GORExWEBB, an immersive theatre experience, upstairs at the Union Club Hotel in Fitzroy.
Directed & tech’d by Shannen Alyce Quan
SHANNEN ALYCE QUAN
MUSIC THEATRE: Vic Theatre Company: The Gathering (Kelly), Black Swan State Theatre Company: Next to Normal (Natalie), CPCA: Spring Awakening (Wendla), WAAPA: West Side Story (Anybodys/Somewhere Girl), Hair (Crissy), Atlantis – workshop (Maia). THEATRE: Theatre 451: Tejas Verdes (The Disappeared/The Soul in Torment), Australian Shakespeare Company (Bravehearts): Romeo and Juliet(Balthasar). DIRECTOR: Theatre 451: Jeff. OTHER: Shannen is currently rehearsing for Boat People by Joanna Griffiths with Theatre 451. She was featured in the music video for Reckless by band San Cisco. Proud member of Equity since 2014. TRAINING: WAAPA Graduate 2014.
