Full given name: |
Caroline Ann O’Connor |
Where you were born/where you were raised: |
I was born in Oldham, Lancashire in the UK, but I was raised from the age of four in Australia. Firstly Adelaide, then Sydney. |
Zodiac Sign: |
Virgo |
What your parents did/do for a living: |
Both my mother and father worked for Qantas Airlines for many years. Dad was in cargo and my mum was in the staff canteen. This allowed us to travel extensively. |
Siblings: |
One sister Terry, ten years older, and two brothers, Vincent and Kenneth, eight and nine years older. I was an accident. |
Current Audition Song: |
No particular song currently, but when I was young I always sang "Looking Through the Eyes of Love" from the movie "Ice Castles." Surprisingly, it got me a lot of work! I have some great monologues from a one-woman play that was written for me called "Bombshells." |
Special skills: |
I can sing in French. I can make a chicken out of a towel. That’s about it. |
Something you're REALLY bad at: |
Anything to do with computers. If I am not onstage, I have absolutely no sense of direction. |
Did you have any particular mentors or inspirations when first starting out? |
My dancing teachers Joy and Dawn Ransley were truly wonderful. We are still close. They taught me all the genres: classical ballet, tap, jazz and Irish dancing. They prepared me well for any opportunity that might come along. |
First Broadway/West End show you ever saw: |
Damn Yankees in New York and Oklahoma! in London. When Oklahoma! moved to Australia, I was in that production. My first musical! |
If you could go back in time and catch any show, what would it be? |
The original cast of Dreamgirls and Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl. |
Current show other than your own you have been recommending to friends: |
Pippin |
Favorite showtune(s) of all time: |
Not possible to answer. |
Some favorite modern musicals: |
A Chorus Line, Chicago |
Some favorite classic musicals: |
West Side Story, Gypsy, Sweeney Todd, Follies, Mack & Mabel |
Broadway or screen stars of the past you would most have loved to perform with: |
Gene Kelly, Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon, Sammy Davis Jr… (why do you make me choose?) |
Your personal vocal idols, living or dead: |
Ella Fitzgerald, Ethel Merman, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Shirley Bassey, Nat King Cole……(why, why?) |
The one performance – attended - that you will never forget: |
Liza Minnelli at the London Palladium. She was incredible. |
Music that makes you cry, any genre: |
Erik Satie’s "Gymnopedie No 1" and "Romeo and Juliet" by Prokofiev |
MAC or PC? |
MAC. |
Most played song on your iPod: |
"All or Nothing at All" by Kurt Elling. I adore his voice. |
Most-visited websites: |
Google. Playbill. carolineoconnor.com (hint hint) |