Father "No's" Best...

source - Herald Sun
click to read in new window

Setting A Trend...

Enjoy the Carols By Candlelight performances that were so remarkable they became a trending topic on Twitter  - Anthony Callea opens the evening with 'O Come All Ye Faithful, and stops the show with a stunning rendition of 'Don't Save It All For Christmas Day





to quote his partner - Tim Campbell   "Sorry, has to be said - effing brilliant Goosebumps!! "

Ultimate School Honour

Congratulations to Anthony Callea and the cast and crew of the inspirational pay TV Show 'Ultimate School Musical' which has been included on the voting list for a Logie in the category Most Popular Reality Program.

The Logies are a yearly event awarding excellence in Australian Televison.

Fans of the show, it's talented Mentors Anthony Callea, Ruby Rose, Eddie Perfect and Kelly Akers, and the wonderful Cast from Essendon Keilor College, can cast their vote by following the link below.

http://bit.ly/hcwJvq

Callea By Candlelight

Christmas just wouldn't be the same without  Vision Australia's Carols By Candlelight, and Carols By Candlelight just wouldn't be the same without Anthony Callea.

Thankfully Anthony has again donated his time and talent to this most worthy cause.

Enjoy Anthony and a host of other performers Christmas Eve on Channel 9, or soak up the atmosphere live at the Sydney Myer Music Bowl.

Tennis, anyone?

Confirmation that Anthony is the Special Guest Star at the inaugural Australian Tennis Awards function where the nation's most outstanding elite player will be presented the Newcombe Medal.

The event will be held at Melbourne Park on December 3, and tickets are available to the general public.  Follow the link below to download the application form.


http://www.tennis.com.au/pages/image.aspx?assetId=RDM40490.7824000231

Hark The Herald

Angel Sings...

With Anthony busy on his writing trip to LA, news has come to light that Anthony will be Special Guest Artist at the Ipswich Carols this year.

The event is to be held on Saturday the 27th of November. 

Those who were fortunate enough to attend the Townsville or Mt Waverly carols when Anthony was the headline act know just what a treat is in store for the people of Ipswich - Merry Christmas indeed!

Seeing Stars

Theatre goers attending the recent opening night of Hairspray in Melbourne saw more stars than they bargained for with the attendance of Musical Theatre Stars Anthony Callea (Rent, Wicked, Dead Man Walking) and partner Tim Campbell (Wicked, The Boyfriend, Shout!)

Campbell and Callea were enjoying a night out before Tim's return to the USA to explore work options.

anthonycallea.com goes Live

Click here to visit the new website

Click here to visit the Forum

Anthony's new website and forum are now 'Live'.  Click on the links to check them out.

Don't forget to register for the forum!

New Web and Forum information

Some important, and exciting news for Anthony Callea fans. It's time to change those bookmarked 'Favourites' with all new internet addresses!


Anthony is dropping the .au from his current website adresses and is going global.

Gone is  http:www.anthonycallea.com.au - shortened simply to http://www.anthonycallea.com while the forums also lose their 'au' and will soon be found at http://forums.anthonycallea.com

These sites will be made live as soon as is possible, for now traffic to the new webpage is being redirected to his Bandit Homepage (those quick enough may catch a tantalising glimpse of the new site proclaiming it to be the homepage of "Anthony Callea - Aria Award winning singer, actor and performer"...sounds good!!

Bookmark these new addresses and get set for Anthony Callea's next "New Chapter."

Updated Artist Bio

Anthony Callea is one of Australia’s favourite and most recognised singers and performers. The Aria Award winner began singing at the age of 5, and now at the age of 27, has forged a highly successful music career with that most powerful, passionate and pure voice.
Introduced to the country via Australian Idol in 2004, his debut single The Prayer became Australia’s fastest and highest selling single of all time with sales in excess of 4 x platinum and was at the top of the charts for an amazing 5 weeks. Anthony has well and truly proven to be one of this country’s most successful recording artists.

Anthony followed his debut single with another multi-platinum number 1 single, Rain/Bridge Over Troubled Water and a self-titled multi-platinum number 1 selling album. Another two top 10 hits came off this debut album with Hurts so Bad and Per Sempre. He embarked on an international song writing trip for his sophomore album A New Chapter was accredited Gold and featured two top 20 singles with Live for Love and Addicted To You. Anthony also released a Live Concert DVD which debuted at No 3 on the Aria DVD Charts, sold Platinum and later screened as a television music special on Foxtel.

He also recorded the song Healing of the Heart for the soundtrack of Walt Disney’s Bambi 2 along with international artists Martina McBride and Alison Krauss.

Anthony has embarked on two successful national concert tours, playing to sell-out crowds across Australia and appeared as special guest for touring international superstars including Ms Diana Ross, Westlife, Celine Dion and more recently Whitney Houston. Anthony has also performed for a host of international dignitaries including the late Luciano Pavarotti, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Frederik and Princess Mary of Denmark.

Anthony has appeared on many special television events such as the Logies, Australia Day Concert, The Aria Awards, Good Friday Appeals and the Vision Australia’s Carols by Candlelight to name a few. Anthony’s entertainment and mentoring skills have been witnessed by millions of television viewers in recent years as he featured on Channel Seven’s It Takes Two and Foxtel’s Ultimate School Musical.

In 2007 Anthony tread the boards in his first musical production at the State Theatre in Sydney. He played a supporting role in Dead Man Walking, the true story of Sister Helen Prejean. This acclaimed opera production was directed by Nigel Jamieson (Sydney 2000 Olympics Opening Ceremony). Following on from this Anthony played the role of Mark in Perth’s musical production of Rent alongside Tim Campbell and Nikki Webster.

Anthony played the role of Boq in the premiere Melbourne season of hit Broadway musical Wicked where he received audience and critical acclaim. The Sunday Telegraph commented ‘Anthony Callea is winning as a munchkin Boq’ and The Age said ‘as the munchkin Boq in Wicked, Callea is impressive’.

Anthony has also accumulated a string of awards including an Aria Award along with 3 further Aria nominations, Channel V Artist of the Year, Pop Republic Artist of the Year, MTV Viewers’ Choice Award, Variety’s Young Entertainer of the Year, MO Award, Dolly Teen Choice Award and a Gospel Music Award.

Currently writing, recording and creating new music, Anthony will no doubt continue to inspire and excite with his determination and incredibly faultless vocal talent.

Artist information © The Harbour Agency Pty Ltd.

ASTRA-nomical Anthony

With partner Tim Campbell busy wowing the crowds as Fiyero in the hit musical Wicked, Anthony Callea was accompanied to yesterday's ASTRA Awards by their good friend and Rent co-star Nikki Webster.

A Little Class at the ASTRA Awards

A little class comes to the ASTRA Awards held in Sydney 24th June with the attendance by the host and coaches of Fox8's Ultimate School Musical.

USM's Vocal Coach Anthony Callea confirmed that he will be presenting while Host Ruby Rose will be walking the red carpet and acting as Guest DJ at the ASTRA after party.

The awards are the subscription Television equivalent of the Logies and will be held tonight (June 24) at the State Theatre in Sydney, with a highlights show to air at 6.30 June 26th on the pay for view channel Arena.

Callea Meets Cole

It was a meeting of Musical Royalty when American star Natalie Cole, daughter of legendary singer Nat 'King' Cole met Australia's 'King Of Vocals' Anthony Callea in Adelaide recently

Callea later described the meeting Via Twitter -

Just met the beautiful Natalie Cole....such a classy show and sophisticated singer!

.

Famous Faces

Getting to know Anthony Callea

Stars Spoil Leading Ladies

Anthony Callea Goes Back To School

Click to read full size

Callea In harmony

Anthony Callea in harmony for Ultimate School Musical: Fame

by David Knox
TV.com Staff Writer 04/19/10

He may have ARIA Awards and platinum record sales but the former Australian Idol finds himself a singing teacher all over again, for a good cause.

When he was asked to be the vocal coach for Ultimate School Musical: Fame, Anthony Callea had to dig deep to recall his days as a singing teacher.

The former Australian Idol star was about to face the students of Essendon-Keilor College in Melbourne, to prepare them for a stage production of the musical Fame.

"When I was 18, 19 or 20, I was teaching a bit of singing, but I'm 27 now and I haven't done it for quite a while," he admits.

"So getting back to basics I had to think, 'How do I do this now?' Because when you do something for so long you just do it, you don't really think about it.

So it's like 'OK, I need to explain breathing. I need to explain how to open your mouth.' I actually have to think about it. How do I do this? How do I express to these kids how it's meant to be done and at the same time teach them a show?

"But we didn't have time to sit there and go 'technically this is how you have to sing'.

We didn't have the luxury of time to teach them from scratch and put on a show."

In the FOX8 reality series he is joined by Eddie Perfect as director, Kelly Aykers as choreographer and Ruby Rose as host. The four give the students a crash course in the performing arts, leading up to a public performance of the musical at the prestigious Regent Theatre in Melbourne.

Callea admits it was such a frenetic gig there were times he was pulling his hair out.

"I had many students cry on me! I had one running out of the room! I think I had one that air kicked me!" he recalls.

"So it was a bit emotional at times for the kids. It is something that you have to be quite sensitive about, because the sound that they are producing is actually coming out of them. You have to be quite sensitive about it because they are kids at the end of the day, and you don't want to hurt their feelings."

Almost without exception the students had never set foot on a stage before, so to tackle the singing, dancing and acting of Fame in a short time-frame proved tricky to students and teachers alike.

"It was hard on these kids and it is a big ask," says Callea. "But you know what, we found some great gems and there were quite a few kids that actually surprised us and stood out. We walked away from it going 'I'm so glad we've got that guy, and we're glad we got this girl because they're going to make our job a lot easier.'

"The thing about this whole show really is about giving these kids some sort of experience that they would never have come across in their school life. It's about encouraging these kids and giving them an opportunity."

Ultimate School Musical: Fame airs 7:30pm Tuesdays on FOX8.

http://www.tv.com/anthony-callea-in-harmony-for-ultimate-school-musical-fame/story/22566.html

School for stars

TVTonight.com.au
April 20, 2010

If anyone knows about rejection it’s Anthony Callea.

He lost Australian Idol to Casey Donovan in front of more than 4 million people (including regional viewers). In fact he very nearly didn’t even make the 2004 Top 12 finalists. After lucking out in his Semi Final he got a lifeline in the show’s Wildcard episode. Yet, after daring to sing The Prayer, he would eventually eke out a career with the fastest selling Australian single of all time.

Now on the other side of the audition panel for FOX8’s reality series Ultimate School Musical: Fame, he knows what it’s like having to let people down gently.

“It was a bit weird,” he tells TV Tonight. “I sat on panel and auditioned about 160 kids. So for me that was a first and I actually felt a little bit sorry for them. Obviously I know what it’s like to stand on that side of the desk. I’m usually on the other side, not sitting there judging.”

Callea serves as Vocal Coach on the series which leads a group of high school students through an intensive series of singing, dancing and acting classes, culminating in a public performance of the musical Fame.

“With the first few kids that came to the audition I actually said to myself, ‘How on earth am I going to get through this?’

“It killed me, it totally killed me because I had to say ‘No’ to most of them, and I don’t like getting a ‘No’ myself when I go to an audition,” he says.

“But at the end of the day we did have to remember they are kids. They are 12 to 18 year olds who never actually went to school and said ‘I wanna be on stage at the Regent Theatre.’ We actually invaded their school and said ‘You’re the school that we’ve chosen to put on a musical, so now come to us and audition for us and we’ll tell you if you are good enough.’”

The students in the series come from Essendon-Keilor College in northern Melbourne. Most of the students come from working class and multicultural families.

“It was a lot harder than what I expected it to be. It was great working with the kids but this is not a performing arts school. This is just an everyday school in Essendon and we’re working with kids who had never walked on a stage before,” says Callea.

“They’d never sung before, had never acted before, had never danced before. So they were totally raw and within a few weeks we needed to put on a full blown stage musical at the Regent Theatre. So how were we going to do this?”

Joining him for the task were performer-writer Eddie Perfect (Shane Warne: The Musical, Keating: The Musical) as Director, choregrapher Kelly Aykers (So You Think You Can Dance Australia) and host Ruby Rose (MTV, The 7PM Project).

The stage musical Fame, currently playing in Melbourne, is based on the 1980 movie which in turn inspired the hit television series of the same name. It features former Dance contestants Talia Fowler, ‘Timomatic’, Marko Panzic, and BJ Rork, plus actors Andrew McFarlane and Brian Wenzel. Creatives from the production, including director Kelley Abbey and producer John Frost will appear across the FOX8 series.

Callea wouldn’t be drawn on what cross-promo deals, if any, were at play between Foxtel and the Melbourne musical, but admits he didn’t have much say in the choice of material.

“We didn’t have any say in the show that we were doing. It worked obviously because John Frost is doing it, they teamed it in with a musical which is currently going to happen. So it makes sense because it actually had some relevance to why the kids were doing it. But we didn’t really have any say in what musical we were doing,” he says.

Having already watched the UK version of the show, Callea says he walked into this production with a fresh approach. Amongst the group that was selected to comprise the Fame company, the former singing teacher says they uncovered some budding talent.

“We did find a couple of singers in there. So it did make my job a little easier when it came to some of the leads. Still, it was a bit of task for me and something that I haven’t really done before.

“At the end of it all they really appreciated us going to their school and spending time with them and giving them this opportunity. You could tell they appreciated it. They were really good kids, all of them. To have a group of 20 something kids to work with, and all of them be appreciative, it was great,” he says.

“It never really felt like a chore.”

Ultimate School Musical: Fame airs 7:30pm tonight on FOX8.

http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2010/04/school-for-stars.html

USM Previews

Must see TV

Finding Fame

Finding fame in ultimate school musical

Kelly Aykers, Ruby Rose, Eddie Perfect and Anthony Callea.

Imagine you are in high school, sitting in your weekly assembly.

Suddenly, It girl Ruby Rose walks through the door and announces your school has been chosen to present her ultimate high school musical: Fame.

She then introduces the director, the choreographer and the vocal coach.

The director is Eddie Perfect, the man behind masterpieces such as Shane Warne – The Musical.

The choreographer is internationally renowned Kelly Aykers, one of the most popular choreographers on So You Think You Can Dance Australia.

The vocal coach is none other than the man who shot to fame in Australian Idol with his rendition of The Prayer, which became the fastest selling Australian single in history.

Exciting much?

Daunting much, when you realise you are going to have to perform in front of that group of people.

It gets even more scary when the final participants in the show are introduced, including John Frost, the producer of the Australian production of Wicked, Phantom of the Opera, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert, Chicago and, of course, the new production of Fame, which is about to open in Melbourne.

Joining him is Australia's most popular choreographer and the choreographer- director of the professional production of Fame, Kelly Abbey.

That line-up would be enough to scuttle even the most seasoned performer, but the students at Essendon Keilor College stepped up to the challenge and wowed the team, which had to choose the cast for the production.

And despite not being a performing arts college, or even a college particularly known for embracing performing arts, Anthony Callea said an impressive cast had been found.

But for him, the challenge wasn't just sorting the wheat from the chaff: it was finding himself on the other side of the judging panel.

“It was ... totally mentally and emotionally draining for me,” he said.

“Each person who comes through, you want to give them your time and you want to give them some sort of feedback but it's hard ... you don't want to say no to these kids ... I just didn't know what to do.”

But with a job at hand, Anthony quickly drew on his Australian Idol experience and managed to help the kids out

“I thought it was pretty good that I was able to relate to these kids,” he said.

“It's not someone who is sitting on the other side of the desk who doesn't know anything about singing or performing.

“I have experienced it before. I know what it's like to get out there and sing. I know the butterflies and the games your head plays with you before an audition.”

And while the butterflies and the games make great television, the real joy is the reactions of the students who score their dream roles in the production.

For Anthony, the joy came from watching the journey of the students as they went from shy retiring types to true stars.

“If anything good came out of this show, it is the personal growth and the confidence of the kids,” he said.

With an intense rehearsal period where the team took the students from amateurs to hopefully being as professional as they could possibly be, the journey the students from Essendon Keilor College take is exciting, fun, emotional and passionate television.

And with a performance of the show to look forward to at the end, will it all turn out as planned?
TV
“The end result surprised me,” Anthony said.

Ultimate School Musical premieres on Austar's Fox8 on Tuesday.

source SunshineCoast Daily

Meet The Mentors...

http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2010/04/star-power-for-ultimate-school-musical.html

A.C Ace At Acer

New clips of Anthony's brilliant run as Special Guest Artist for Whitney Houston's Australian Concerts have surfaced. These somgs, from the Acer Arena Show, include a complete recording of his new song "I'll Be The One"...Enjoy!

WATCH Whit's very special guest

Missed Anthony's gig as Whitney's Special Guest? Thanks to the kindness of others, and the magic of youtube you can now enjoy some of the perfomances that the critics lauded 'impressive' 'unbelievable' and 'out of this world'!

In Harmony

New friends singers Whitney Houston and Anthony Callea catch up

Whit Bits...

Snippets and comments on Anthony's tour with Whitney...

MEDIA MENTIONS

READERS COMMENTS -

comments found on various online Newpaper sites -

Please note that although I refused to post the harshest comments, and have edited the worst from the ones below the majority that follow are not complimentary to Ms Houston. Read no further if this will upset or offend.

...the support Anthony Callea delivered the goods. The Prayer was amazing.
Posted by: Kat

.. support act ' Anthony Callea was absolutely brilliant .. happy i got something for my ticket !
Posted by: Melliemm of BRISBANE

Thank heavens for Anthony Callea and the Prayer.

Posted by: Warren of Beenleigh

...her support act Anthony Callea showed her up by singing brilliantly in comparison.

It just wasn't good enough - not even close.

Posted by: Carly 10:34am

Anthony Callea was great - joked with audience and nailed EVERY song.
Posted by: Disappointed Fan

Anthony Callea 10 / Whitney Houston Nil

Posted by: Anthony Frangi of Brisbane

We made the trip down from Rockhampton with much excitement expecting to hear the best and we did but it was from The Support Act. Thankyou Anthony Callea for making the night for us."

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/comments/0,23836,26761741-5012980,00.html

Clearly Whitney is past her prime but I still enjoyed her concert. Beautiful weather and a relaxing atmosphere helped to make it an enjoyable night. Anthony Callea was very good in support, great voice.
Posted by Carla, 28/02/2010 5:01:35 PM

..... PS: Anthony Callea was fantastic!
Posted by Penelope, 28/02/2010 8:04:35 PM

....Still had a great night though with the girls. Anyway, food was great, venue is magic, weather was magic, Mark Vincent and Anthony Callea played previous to Whitney, they were awsome.

Posted by Kim, 1/03/2010 10:24:50 AM

... Anthony Callea was amazing though, the highlight of the evening for sure.
Posted by Sarah, 1/03/2010 2:03:37 PM

http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/news/general/strains-of-whitney-houston-in-the-valley/1763109.aspx?page=1

Donna Perry Posted at 9:30 AM Today
I thought the Whitney Show was great "you go girl" , Anthony Callea was fantastic, thank you an enjoyable night, Whitney still has the energy and the WOW factor that we all remember, her voice has changed a little but then haven't we all. And I would also like to applaude the audience for showing her the respect she deserves as one of the greatest Divas

Disappointed of Melbourne Posted at 9:50 AM Today
....On the other hand, Anthony Callea was amazing and I will pay to see him again!

Chrystal Campbell Posted at 10:56 AM Today
Couldn't agree more with this ewview...well, with the last line that is. Callea was superb, FANTASTIC voice and a confident and engagig performer Pehaps if Whitney hadn't been so truly amazing in her heyday I might not have expected so much of her, but it's heartbreaking for a fan of her voice to hear what her life choices has left her with vocally.

Diamonds Posted at 11:12 AM Today
...Whitney I have been a fan for many years & I willed & hoped you could do it. I wish you well. I appreciate & respect artist such as Anthony Callea who really stole the show even more.

Regina Gilbert of Ballarat Posted at 11:55 AM Today
...All I can say was Anthony Callea was very good.

Gary of Taylors Lakes Posted at 12:31 PM Today
...she was clearlly out shined by anthony callea...

Paul Williams of St Kilda Posted at 12:39 PM Today
I had such a amazing time. One of the most entertaining shows I have even seen. Such support from the crowd electrified the atmosphere. Whitney is a true superstar. Not perfect, but who is. Spent $195 on a ticket got to see Anthony Callea for about 45 mins on top of Whitney performance. Great value I think. Whitney - " I will always love you" X

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/music/melbourne-fans-slam-whitney-houston-show-at-rod-laver-arena/comments-e6frf9hf-1225835826229

Richard
23 Feb 2010 8:35 AM
... High praises for her supporting band, singers and dancers...great job. Anthony Callea's performance was strong, entertaining and enjoyable.

http://www.liveguide.com.au/Forums/tabid/98/forumid/11/tpage/2/view/Topic/postid/20564/Default.aspx

These quotes in their entirety, and many others can be read by clicking the links posted or by visiting

http://forums.anthonycallea.com/index.php?showtopic=37129

where you will also find youtube links and photos!

...and he sings, too!!

.

Fresh from Anthony's Official Sony 'Bandit' page...pictures from his latest photo...and boy are they stunning!!

Word is that there are big changes coming to his official 'cyber sites' (you can find them all in our links list) so keep your eye on them! ;)

Darling Of The Divas

scan of Newcastle Herald Article supplied by Jaffa - thank you!

Living The Dream

A New Fox On Fox!

Click on article to read in new window

Not So Idle!

Idol's fame on screen

FORMER Australian Idol crooner Anthony Callea will return to the small screen, confirming to this columnist that he has joined the cast of Foxtel's Ultimate School Musical: Fame.

Callea, who was runner-up to Casey Donovan on Idol in 2004, is filming the series alongside Ruby Rose and others in Melbourne.

USM: Fame features school children attempting to put on a professional musical in just six weeks. Callea is the series' voice coach.

"It's a really positive show in giving these kids an amazing opportunity, one they wouldn't otherwise have," Callea said.

"It's a bit of responsibility for me, being the vocal coach, and I enjoy that."

Callea will soon tour with Whitney Houston and will release a new album mid-year. He said he was saddened by the alleged axing of Idol.

"It was just such a great platform. A & R guys aren't out scouring for new talent in pubs and clubs these days, so it was just a massive leg-up.

"It also means I have to find a new show, as Idol used to mean friends over and a bottle of wine open at mine every Sunday."

Fame is expected to launch in April on Fox8.

Suave, Sophisticated....errrrr

SINGER ANTHONY CALLEA was in a festive mood at the Crown Casino NYE bash, bopping on the dance floor as his partner, TIM CAMPBELL, performed.

Showing a wicked sense of humour by donning two sashes, a pink one reading Prettiest Hair and a purple one reading Drama Queen, Callea managed to bust some moves without spilling a drop of his glass of cheeky chardonnay.

Later, he saw in the new year on the dance floor wearing a pair of 2010 glitter specs, with three silver party hats artfully placed on his head.