‘The World Must be Bigger Than An Avenue’ - Entertainment Legend; Julie Anthony

Julie Moncrieff Anthony (nee Lush) was born on a farm at Galga, South Australia. The population of the location was 15 and by necessity cultivated a vivid imagination in young Julie and a talent to amuse.  She began singing in her teens with a local band, an engagement instigated by her enthusiastic father.  In 1970 Julie won an amateur television talent quest which led to regular appearances on Ernie Sigley’s Adelaide Tonight. She moved to Sydney, making television appearances and performing on the club and cabaret circuit, eventually extending her music-making to international tours. An engagement at the Hong Kong Hilton in 1973 was followed by lead role in the Australian production of the musical Irene. Julie was keen to diversify her talents, so without any acting credits presented herself to J.C. Williamson’s to extend her performance repertoire. Guided by the legendary Betty Pounder, Julie Anthony became Irene O’Dare and three years after the Australian production, she starred in the West End at the Adelphi Theatre. The Play and Players of London honoured her with the Best Newcomer for 1976. She returned to Australian television and appeared in three national specials. Julie won the Sammy and Penguin awards for Best Television Variety Performer. Tours of America followed and Julie Anthony worked with Bill Cosby, Roy Clarke and Merv Griffin. Julie played Maria in The Sound Of Music in 1983 for JCW.  For the 1988 World Expo in Brisbane, Anthony was invited to sing with the renewed Seekers, joining the group as lead singer from 1988-89. The same year she returned to the stage in I Do!, I Do!.  In 1990, she was awarded AM in the Order of Australia for services to the entertainment industry. Anthony teamed with jazz musician Don Burrows in 1994 for tours, including the Jazz and Blues Festival at the Gold Coast International Hotel in 1995. A year later she returned to cabaret with a season at the Tilbury Hotel in Sydney.  Julie Anthony’s voice is known to millions for singing the national anthem live at various formal events and in recorded versions that have included the broadcast closing time of ABC television, Australian Football League finals, the opening of Australia’s new Parliament House and the opening of the Sydney Olympics. Her theatrical ventures continued in productions of Spamalot as The Lady of the Lake and The Mikado as Katisha. She starred in a biographical musical at the Sydney Theatre Company, titled Lush! And for several decades performed with Simon Gallaher in live concerts and on television, proving they had a remarkable vocal blend. Their hit series of concerts titled Together At Last produced an album which was recorded live in concert. This album was in addition to Julie’s extensive recording output of some 15 albums and various singles. Julie Anthony has won Australia’s prestigious Mo Award for entertainer of the year three times and best female variety performer nine times. The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).www.stagespodcast.com.au