Louise van Veenendaal

Louise Van Veenendaal (9 January 1987) is an Australian actress and singer-songwriter also known as "The Diva From DownUnder". She was born in Melbourne, Australia. She is a graduate of Carey Baptist Grammar School in Melbourne, and Atlantic Acting School in New York City. She has one older brother and two younger sisters.

Louise began taking singing classes at the age of 11. Her vocal coaches included "David Jaanz", Classical tenor "David Rogers-Smith", and "Francine Zarfas" in New York City. After hearing sixteen-year-old Louise sing, a record producer produced her original song "Crazy" on the compilation CD 100% Melbourne, a collection of the city's best vocal talent. Louise was also a member of the Australian Girls Choir as a child. She trained privately in acting for a number of years with Australian Actress Colette Mann, as well as summer programs at the age of 15 at NIDA with Antony Grgas and Nathaniel Dean, and musical theater with Avigail Herman.

In 2005 Van Veenendaal won the role of Ann, a loveable ditzy blonde in the Magnormos production of A bunch of Ratbags,[1] a 1950s rock 'n' roll musical written by Australia's most prolific musical team Peter Pinne and Don Battye and directed by Aaron Joyner, based on the novel by William Dick) about Bodgie and Widgie gangs in the post-war Australia. The 2005 Australian cast recording of this show, on which she is featured on one track, received international acclaim and is on sale worldwide. It also debuted at number twenty-six on the footlight musical theater charts in NY.[2][3]

Van Veenendaal followed this performance with a notable contrasting dramatic role in the musical The Wild Blue, written and directed by award winning playwright Anthony Crowley. This also produced an Australian cast recording on which she is featured.[4][5]

At 19, Van Veenendaal traveled to the United States to pursue her love of acting; training at the Atlantic Theatre Company developed by David Mamet and William H. Macy.

Louise starred in the hit sold out show The Diva From Down Under, a Cabaret extravaganza in New York City.[6] From her success in her Diva show a producer scouted her to audition to star in New York Theatre Barn's production of the new rock musical The Hole playing the rock and rollin Manhattan party girl and sex worker "Nadia". Going up against some serious broadway talent she won the role.[7]

Van Veenendaal began working with DJ/Producer 'Johnny James'. Out of their musical collaboration emerged a strong soothing lounge track "Ecstasy". They also collaborated on a parody song entitled "Mario" which is a fun loving tune about the love for the Nintendo game "Mario Bros" in 2013 she released a YouTube music video of the track Mario which soon went viral. She is now very well known for her portrayal of 'Princess Peach' in that particular video. She currently resides in Los Angeles, CA.[8] She is currently the star and host of the hit show "Vaudeville Sideshow" a live monthly circus themed party show in Hollywood, CA.[9]

Notes and references

  1. ↑ Trezise, Paul. "Widge way did she go", The Herald Sun, 2005-06-30
  2. ↑ Magnormos Theater Australia
  3. ↑ Libraries Australia
  4. ↑ Melbourne Stage Archived 25 August 2006 at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ↑ Music Australia
  6. ↑ New York City
  7. ↑ http://offoffbroadway.broadwayworld.com/article/NY-Theatre-Barn-to-Present-THE-HOLE-at-the-Beechman-1115-20010101
  8. ↑ http://www.cnnchile.com/noticia/2013/03/28/la-cancion-de-mario-bros-convertida-en-fenomeno
  9. ↑ http://vaudevillesideshow.wix.com/vaudevillesideshow
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