Lisa-Marie Parker: Performer
Lisa-Marie Parker is a versatile singer and actress whose career has spanned over 25 years.
Her various stage credits include: Titanic - The Music in Concert, Jekyll and Hyde with Anthony Warlow, Serenading Adela-A Street Opera, American Song Cycle: A Double Bill (Self Produced), The Sedaka Songbook, Grand DiVisions - A Moved Urban Cantata (Outer Urban Projects), Sondheim on Sondheim (Manilla Street Productions), Taxithi- An Australian Odyssey; Legally Blonde (Exitleft Productions), Blood Brothers (Manilla Street Productions) Nominated for Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical for Linda in Blood Brothers, Green Room Awards (2014), Atlantis-The Concert by Matthew Robinson, Cats (Really Useful Company) Nominated for Female Artist in a FeaturedRole in a Musical for Jellylorum/Griddlebone, Green Room Awards (2010); John and Jen (Cast/Producer.) Nominated for 5 Green Room Awards (2009) including Best Leading Actress in a Musical and Best Production; The Sound of Music (ExitLeft Productions), Merrily We Roll Along, Mary Bryant (Magnormos); 1975-A Love Story (Brisbane Canto Coro); We Will Rock You (Louise Withers & Assoc); 1975-A Populist Opera (Melbourne Workers Theatre); Les Miserables 10th Anniversary Production (Cameron Mackintosh); McCubbin-A Musical Biography; Hello Dolly, Hair, Music Man, Call Me Madam (The Production Company); And the World Goes Round; Putting It Together; Songs for a New World; Crusade-The Concert (Picture This!) and It's All About Me! Lisa-Marie Charalambous in Cabaret.
Her screen credits include: High Country, Fisk, Playing for Keeps; Olivia Newton-John; Dirt Game; City Homicide; Neighbours; Boytown; Scooter Secret Agent; RVIB Carols By Candlelight; AFL Grand Final; The Footy Show; Good Morning Australia, and ROCK IT! as the voice of ‘Gamma the Computer’ as well as numerous voice-overs and television commercials.
Her recordings include McCubbin - A Musical Biography of Frederick McCubbin and Welcome to the Inside of Ed's Head by Eddie Perfect, and the Vocal Warm Up iPhone App - ‘Warm Me Up’.
Lisa-Marie is a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts with a Bachelor Of Music Performance- Majoring in Classical Voice.
Reviews
Serenading Adela - by Jeannie Marsh, Pentridge Piazza (2018)
“The absolute highlight of the event was Parker’s performance of the song Ghosts Don’t Lie by Stephen Taberner.” -Patricia Di Risio- Stage Whispers, 2018
American Song Cycle: A Double Bill (2017), Self Produced, Chapel Off Chapel (2017)
“Yeston’s skill at communicating character is present in full bloom. Performed by Lisa-Marie Parker, she handles his vignettes with twelve-step depth and emotional intensity. Parker’s journey is serious and introspective, but never sentimental.With styles switching from light opera to seductive jazz, December Songs is both a showcase for Yeston’s impressive range and Parker’s versatility. In her care, ‘When Your Love Is New’ and ‘My Grandmother’s Love Letters’ were particular standouts. Here, Parker reminded this reviewer of the cabaret artist, Linda Eder. “-Allison Hilbig, Theatrepeople, 2017
“December Songs is beautifully performed by local musical talent Lisa-Marie Parker (Soloist),Geoffrey Castles (Piano) and Timothy Hennessy (Cello). This deeply moving performance andworthy of a main stage production or tour.'“ - Mistress of Culture Vulture- Weekend Notes, 2017.
“There was no ego in play, rather a series of pieces that sounded fully realised and inhabited by Lisa-Marie.” - David Collins- Australian Arts Review, 2017
Blood Brothers -Manilla Street Productions, Chapel Off Chapel (2014)
“Lisa-Marie Parker is feisty and sassy as Linda” - KATE HERBERT- HERALD SUN, 2014
“Lisa Marie Parker, a true triple threat, is a delight to watch in every phase of Linda’s aging. Again, it is faultless realisation of a role which could easily be swamped by the story of the twins”. -Coral Drouyn- Stage Whispers, 2014
“Mickey (Gareth Keegan) and Eddie (Matthew Bradford), and Linda (Lisa-Marie Parker), the woman who comes between them, are a powerhouse trio – their chemistry is palpable, and they perfectly embody each stage of their character’s respective journey from child to adulthood” - Bradley Storer- Theatre Press, 2014
“Parker is also lovely as Linda, the only performer to make a seamless transition from child to adult.” -Tim Byrne- Arts review, 2014
Cats-Really Useful Group - Asia/Australian Tour, (2009/10)
“Lisa-Marie Parker made a splendid contrast between the gracious, tender Jellylorum and the flirty, comic Griddlebone. Parker’s gorgeous soprano voice has never sounded better”. -Simon Parris- Theatre people, 2010
“Lisa-Marie Parker as Griddlebone is a pleasure to watch.” -Stage whispers, 2010
“But the scene stealer of the show was the ‘Gus the Theatre Cat’ routine. Gus (Michael-John Hurney) and Jellylorum (Lisa-Marie Parker) were outstanding. They sang brilliantly, were comical, animated, dynamic and bubbly, and they totally had the audience, including myself, in stitches.” -Brian Nolan - Dance Informa, 2010
“Growltiger’s Last Stand with the wonderful Lisa-Marie Parker being, for me, the highlight of the entire show. Parker was definitely the most outstanding performer of the evening, both as Griddlebone and Jellylorum. Her stunning voice, strong characterisations and precise dancing set her apart”. -Benny Lenny, Glamadelaide, 2010
“Demeter (Renee Burleigh) Bombalurina (Monique Chanel Pitsikas) Jellyorum (Lisa-Marie Parker) and Jennyanydots (Laura McCulloch) all shone in their fem-feline roles”. -Jan Hallam PerthNow, 2010
Merrily We Roll Along-Stephen Sondheim, Magormous, Melbourne Recital Centre (2010)
“Lisa-Marie looked gorgeous and was in excellent voice, also demonstrating her comic flair in Bobby and Jackie and Jack.” -Simon Parris - Theatre People, 2010
“Other Musical highpoints are the song “Not a day goes by”, sung by Beth (Lisa-Marie Parker) with gut wrenching anguish when her marriage to Frank disintegrates, then reprised with joy as Beth marries Frank some years earlier, with alternating verses sung with regretful longing by Mary” -Josephine Giles- Aussie theatre, 2010
“Lisa-Marie Parker was an early presence as Beth but stood out more as the show progressed. She has a stunning soprano voice used to perfection in the wonderful songs Sondheim wrote for her character.” -27 September 2010
John and Jen by Andrew Lippa. Chapel off Chapel, Self Produced. (2008)
“The performances are remarkable, vocally and dramatically. Lisa-Marie Charalambous is every bit as emotional and evocative as the music.” - Chris Boyd, HERALD SUN, 2008
“Lisa-Marie Charalambous and Chris Durling revel in the opportunities this two-person show presents, bringing energy and polished musical theatre skills to the stage. Charalambous demonstrates she is more than a powerful voice as her Jen grows up before our eyes, gaining maturity and perspective.” -Paul Knox - Artshub, 2008
“Lisa-Marie Charalambous and Chris Durling are beautifully matched as the title characters, their voices blending as perfectly as their acting styles Charalambous is an accomplished, highly experienced performer. She lights up the stage as Jen, creating genuine warmth and affection as well as skilfully portraying the tension and stress that Jen feels. She masterfully manages the demanding vocal range required for the role. While the action for most of the show is shared equally, the final focus rests with Jen. Charalambous really shone in this final sequence, breaking the audience’s heart with the devastation Jen felt at her worst nightmare coming true when she acted like her father and hit her son. She brought the house down with her final ballad.” -Simon Parris - Theatre People, 2008
“Lisa-Marie Charalambous drives us through 2 stories as 'Jen'. She never 'knows the future' - so hard in a piece like this - and we all feel like safe passengers. This is the most defined work I have seen Lisa-Marie do (perhaps she has not been cast as well as this prior). Her singing is meticulously crafted and she knows when to pull out the stops (though I bet she was tempted on many more occasions throughout this piece). She has her hands firmly on the steering wheel of these stories. Her second act ballad, THE ROAD ENDS HERE, was - well - gutting. I have never heard the word 'silent' (sung in reference to her brother, John) have as many layers as Ms Charalambous brought to it.” -Will Conyers-Broadway at Bedtime Radio/Online, 2008
“Lisa-Marie Charalambous and Chris Durling are perfectly in tune as Jen and the Johns. Talented actors, they also sing wonderfully well. It is a pleasure to listen to such attractive, well-produced voices “ - Jim Murphy-The Age, 2008
“From the outset Charalambous is completely engaging as the protective older sister, always looking out for her little brother and yet unable to cope when he makes choices she doesn’t understand...Her voice has a calmness and warmth that is perfectly suited to the part, particularly in 'Welcome To The World' which she sings at the beginning of the show and the start of Act Two, and in 'Hold Down The Fort', which is sung to John as she is about to head off to college...But it is in Act Two that the emotional intensity of her performance deepens, as Charalambous nails the complexity of the mother-son relationship in all its yearning, over-protectiveness and the dawning reality that she has to let go. Her poignant rendition of 'The Road Ends Here' sums it up beautifully”.-David Crofts-Aussie Theatre, 2008
“Why this delicate piece succeeds is the outstanding talent of the two performers, Lisa Marie Charalambous and Chris Durling. Both move effortlessly between each emotional change and bring far more to the performance than their beautiful voices, continual energy and brilliant character transitions. They create a beautiful and caring brother/sister and mother/son relationship that all can identify and find understanding with. Even with the enormous score, both worked exceptionally well with the two musicians and the simple production design only enhanced their performance in this intimate space.” -Nikki Thomas- Australian Stage Online, 2008
1975: A Love Story-By Irene Vela . Judith Wright Centre for Contemporary Art, Canto Coro Brisbane (2006)
“Vocally, the lead singers show professionalism and experience; an assured Rosa (Charalambous) shines through the production and is a pleasure to watch and hear”.-Ruth Bonetti, 2006
It’s all about Me! Lisa-Marie Charalambous in Cabaret, Self-Produced, Chapel Off Chapel (2002)
“Lisa-Marie has been dubbed as one of Australia’s most sensational up-coming talents.” -Melbourne Observer, 2002