Yes, it’s August in 2024. I’ve been consistent in updating my Instagram feed with the latest projects happening in my career, however, I realise I haven’t posted on this blog since the cast announcement of Beautiful. Shame on me.
In an attempt to return to more regular blog updates for the latter half of 2024 and beyond, I’ll begin with a recap of how 2023 went. Beautiful – The Carole King Musical was an absolute joy to work on. I loved the lifestyle of working in Broadbeach, Queensland and having both the theatre and the beach at my doorstep. I made some great new friends in the arts and got to reconnect with some old friends, some of whom were in the company of my professional theatre debut many years ago. I spent between February and April of 2023 on this show and it deepened my appreciation for the great pop songwriters of the Twentieth Century.
After working on Beautiful, I returned to the rehearsal room in Sydney and rejoined my tour family of Once to work on the Melbourne season of this special show which has been in my life since 2021. Returning to the theatres on Exhibition Street in Melbourne was particularly significant for me as that is where I’d made my professional debut in 2007. Our season at the Comedy Theatre was electric and so warmly received by Melbourne audiences. Our company even won a Green Room Award for the Best Artist Ensemble, and I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of this sensational production.
The final leg of the Australian Tour of Once was the Gold Coast. Having spent the start of 2023 on the GC, I loved being there again with another show. This time I performed at The Home of the Arts (HOTA) and it was a short but sweet season. We wrapped up the Once tour in late June 2023, and I packed up my accordion for a while.
I returned to Adelaide and continued my work with emerging songwriters at Nexus Arts’ Interplay program and coached music theatre students at the Elder Conservatorium of Music. When Spring started I embraced the energy of the OzAsia Festival once again and performed my original songs on the Lucky Dumpling Market stage, and performed with the Hyoshi in Counterpoint ensemble.
That was the 2023 wrap up summed up. You can see it in more detail on my Instagram feed and reels. I’m so grateful for the people and projects that have been a part of my life up to this point, and I’m so delighted to tell you that there are even more exciting arts projects lined up in the not-to-distant future. So, once again, I apologise for not updating this blog more regularly in a very busy year. I aim to be more diligent with my reflections from now on.
Jennifer Trijo 