Stage star returns to where it all started
Acclaimed Australian performer Kurt Phelan has returned home to his North Queensland roots to regenerate and remind himself where he came from.
For the past four years he has been successfully forging a career in New York demonstrating his versatility as an actor, dancer, singer, director, writer and creator.
Born in Ayr, coming home is a brief respite from the bustle of New York but while here he has still found time to do a workshop for students at Ann Roberts School of Dance.
Phelan is also producing and starring in a show at the Townsville Civic Theatre called From NYC with Love which he has created especially for the city.
Not resting on his laurels, he will then return to NIDA in Sydney, where he graduated, for six weeks to teach and create a show with the current crop of graduating students.
Throughout his career Phelan has prided himself on his versatility and believes it stems from the support he was given growing up by the artistic community in Townsville.
“In my profession they like to put you in a box and I never really found a box because I love and loved to do everything,” Phelan said.
“Then when I would go to Sydney to train I really focused on becoming an allrounder and that holistic approach has really helped me become the type of professional that I am.
“So this little community, or big community actually of theatre people who reside in Townsville really saw that I had a future in theatre and a love for it.
“That really fostered my technique and my love and my ability to make it and go forward and make it as a job and as a living.”
He said Ann Roberts School of dance was his centre for dance in Townsville and by doing a workshop at the school he hoped to inspire the next generation of performers.
“I really hope to do for them what was done for me,” Phelan said.
“There is something to be said for seeing someone that has come from where you are and sometimes I feel that young performers or artists in rural areas can feel trapped.
“But really though it can be daunting to take that next step and let’s face it you have to go to a main city to do what we have to do.
“But by doing classes like this not only reminds me of where I have come from it reminds them that they can aspire to something that is quite great. Also it is heartwarming for me, it makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.”
“At the workshop I am trying out some choreography that I am going to when I go back to New York so rather than going back and doing it for the first time in New York I get to try it on these students and see what I like and I might change so it is a workshop as well.”
Phelan, who was a star in the Australian production of Dirty Dancing, is performing in his new show From NYC with Love at the Townsville Civic Theatre this Saturday.
“It is stories from New York and my favourite songs and I have got a few special guests from my past to do an interview and also sing a song and dance with me.”
The show starts at 7.30pm and to book go to Ticketshop.