ANATS NSW Presents: Musical Theatre Spotlight: Exploring Legit, Jukebox and Contemporary Vocal Style

ANATS NSW is excited to bring you our final professional development event for 2026.

Musical Theatre Spotlight: Exploring Legit, Jukebox and Contemporary Vocal Style led by Kate Schirmer.

The musical theatre landscape is continually evolving, and today’s performers are expected to move confidently between an increasingly diverse range of vocal and performance styles.

Music Theatre Spotlight explores three important areas of current musical theatre practice: Legit, Jukebox and Contemporary.

Date: Sunday 25th October 2026

1:00pm – 4:30pm

Marrickville Pavilion

313-319 Marrickville Road

Marrickville NSW 2204

Led by musical theatre performer, vocal pedagogue and Acting Through Song specialist Kate Schirmer, this interactive workshop will unpack the vocal qualities, stylistic conventions and performance choices that distinguish each genre. Kate will explore what singers and teachers need to understand when selecting repertoire, preparing for auditions and responding to the changing expectations of the musical theatre industry.

Through practical exercises, audience participation, live demonstrations and masterclass performances, participants will investigate how adaptable vocal technique can support stylistic authenticity and truthful storytelling. Teachers and singers will leave with practical strategies, useful resources and greater confidence in navigating the many vocal demands of today’s musical theatre world.

Presenter: Kate Schirmer

Kate Schirmer is a musical theatre and cabaret performer, vocal pedagogue, conductor and specialist in Acting Through Song. She is Lecturer in Music and Singing at Griffith University’s Queensland Academy of Excellence in Musical Theatre, where she has extensive experience developing curriculum and teaching musical theatre performers.

Kate holds a Bachelor of Music with First Class Honours from the University of Queensland and a Master of Music Studies in Vocal Pedagogy from the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University. She remains active as a performer, most recently co-writing, producing and appearing in the original cabaret Wine Mum Anthems, winner of the 2026 Anywhere Theatre Festival’s Most Popular Show Award.

Kate has presented workshops for singers, actors, teachers and choristers and has spoken internationally at ICVT in Stockholm and the Care of the Professional Voice Symposium in Philadelphia. A proud ANATS member, she received the Queensland Chapter Award for Outstanding Service to the Association in 2021.

This is a live, in-person only event. The afternoon will commence with a practical interactive workshop and finish with a masterclass.