HELLO AND WELCOME!
BENJAMIN RYAN
Benjamin Ryan is a Brisbane-Based musician and performer with a Bachelor of Music (Honours) from the University of Queensland in Brisbane completing this thesis with second class honours. Both in Toowoomba, where Ben grew up, and in Brisbane, Ben has experience in all genres of music but especially in musicals both as a pit musician and a cast member. Ben has been a part of many productions including Les Miserables, Crazy for You, Wicked and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes as well as being musical director for 2021’s Be More Chill, 2022’s Urinetown, and 2022’s Edges. Ben is very excited to be taking on the role of Musical Director for Crescendo Theatre’s production of Heathers. As a musician, Ben has performed with the University of Queensland Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Groups as well as having performed in brass bands for just over 10 years including the Toowoomba Municipal Brass Band and Brisbane Brass. Ben has enjoyed his background in classical music as both a musician and conductor however, he is excited to be taking the leap into Musical Theatre and other genres of music. Ben loves how music and performance can bring so many amazing people together and to create something truly spectacular.
BRITNEY CAWKWELL
Britney Cawkwell is a local creative who has been a part of the Toowoomba arts community since childhood, growing up following the traditional arts, she has delved further into the theatre side in 2018 with her first show Shrek the Musical (2018) through Toowoomba Philharmonic Society. She is always keen to learn a new skill in the arts – which most recently has been learning to build and maintain this website! Britney’s favourite career highlight (so far) has been stage managing for TCS’ 2022 youth production, Hunchback of Notre Dame – marking her first time calling a show on the Empire Theatre main stage. Other credits include working as an ASM for Empire Theatre’s Mamma Mia! (2020) and We Will Rock You (2022); and Stage Managing and designing programs for Crescendo’s Be More Chill (2021) and Urinetown(2022). Britney cannot wait to show you what projects we have planned as we grow and improve!
JACK HICKEY
Jack Hickey has a passion for audio and has been working in and around live sound since 2014. Since opening JMH STUDIOS in 2017, Jack has had the privilege to work with a wide variety of professional artists while touring regional Australia. As well as studying audio engineering at SAE Quantum Institute, and as a back line technician at Toowoomba's Empire Theatre, he has also been working as a back line technician on 'Red Hot Summer Tour'. Jack is excited to be moving from studio work and getting back to live sound.
JACKSON POOLE
Jackson has been dancing, singing and performing from a very young age, and it’s a passion that has been with him for his entire life thus far. He has starred in numerous productions across the Toowoomba and Brisbane regions. Highlights for him include performing in QPAC’s Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in 2013, The Empire Theatre’s productions of Mamma Mia! in 2020 and We Will Rock You in 2022, Kermond Creative Entertainment’s Spiegelesque in 2022, Toowoomba Choral Society’s Priscilla: Queen of the Desert in 2021, and also in 2021, choreographing Crescendo Theatre Company’s production of Be More Chill. When he is not on stage or behind the scenes, you can usually find Jackson producing music, coming up with dance routines in his tiny little bedroom, playing video games, going to theme parks as often as he can, or singing loudly to Taylor Swift songs in his car. Music has been a gateway of expression for him for as long as he can remember. And theatre has helped him discover more of who he is as a person, and make so many new friends. Jackson can honestly say that without music or theatre, he would not be here today. Jackson would like to thank his family and friends for always believing in him, even when he didn’t believe in himself. It’s an absolute honour for him to be a part of Crescendo. These people are family to him, and he cannot wait to show you all what we have in store.
NICHOLAS JOY
Nicholas Joy is a South East Queensland Creative who has been working his way up through the ranks in performing, directing and writing. Represented by Agency 888, he has always loved his creative endeavours. He is also very excited to be crescendo theatre company’s Head of Acting and Treasurer for 2022. He has been involved with many Toowoomba productions including Mamma Mia, We Will Rock You, Hello Dolly, Big Fish and more. Outside of Toowoomba he has been apart of the Gold Coast Star’s All Together Now, Redcliffe’s Grease and has also been in big Hollywood films, made right here in Queensland. He also was very proud to direct Crescendo’s first show Be More Chill and created his own One Man Show, Hell Yeah! He has loved every minute he has been with Crescendo and cannot wait for the many many more shows with them.