An afternoon at the musicals with Joshua Haines
Madeline Crofts & William Groucutt

Doors 12pm
Show 1pm

Back by popular demand, Joshua Haines is pleased to present the second instalment for 2025 of The Ellington Jazz Club’s highly popular series ‘An Afternoon at the Musicals’. This dazzling showcase of musical theatre excellence will transport you to the magical world of Broadway and the West End (with a few stories in between) right in the heart of Perth! 

An ensemble cast of Perth’s finest musical theatre artists, featuring Madeline Crofts, William Groucutt, and musical director and conductor Joshua Haines (plus a special guest), will take you on a journey through your favourite shows, as well as some contemporary masterpieces. 

Join us for an afternoon of musical theatre that will leave you humming all the way home! 

Madeline Crofts:

Madeline is a versatile vocalist with a rich background in jazz, musical theatre and classical voice. Madeline holds a Bachelor of Arts from UWA and a Certificate in Musical Theatre from WAAPA. While studying, Madeline worked as a vocalist, fronting swing bands and performing at various private events in jazz-pop duo, Hogey Bear and the Honeypot. Following graduation, Madeline spent four years in Melbourne, continuing to work as a vocalist and refining her skills, studying under Australian jazz masters, Bob Sedergreen, Julie O’Hara, Michelle Nicole and Bridgette Allen. She also became a resident backing vocalist for Broadway Unplugged, a leading musical theatre industry platform. Since returning to Perth, Madeline has loved sharing her voice across a variety of settings, from weddings and private functions to public events hosted by Government House and City of Perth. She has also starred in original Perth Fringe and Morning Melodies shows and maintains a strong connection with the local choral community, performing with Perth Symphonic Chorus, Vocal Ensemble Voiceworks, and as a member of Perth Broadway Chorus. Madeline’s highlights this year include starring in I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change at Subiaco Arts Centre and May’s edition of An Afternoon At The Musicals alongside Joshua Haines here at the Ellington Jazz Club.

William Groucutt:

Described as ‘…a performer with an incredible range that reaches the upper stratosphere with ease and finesse’ (Australian Stage Review 2015), William’s most recent credits include originating the role of Mitch in The Crocodile (Tomas Clifford – 2024), and George in She Loves Me (Western Sky Projects/The Liberty Theatre 2024). His previous roles include Tony in West Side Story (WAAPA – 2014), Theo in the first iteration of Atlantis (Matthew Lee Robinson – 2012), as well as Rolf in The Sound of Music (National Tour – 2015).

As a keen multi-instrumentalist, William is greatly looking forward to making an appearance at the Ellington Jazz Club after a long absence.

Joshua Haines:

Joshua’s most recent credits include performance seasons in Sydney (In These Shoes: Sydney Fringe/Adelaide Fringe/Edinburgh Fringe), Melbourne (Mama Alto: Transcendent, Melbourne Recital Centre/Hayes Theatre Company), and Tasmania (Festival of Voices), as well as being resident musical director for the 2024 Perth International Cabaret Festival and She Loves Me (presented by Western Sky Projects) at Perth’s Liberty Theatre. 

As a composer and conductor, his compositions have been performed by both the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and his musical theatre works have seen premieres in America (New York City’s SoHo Playhouse 2022) and in the United Kingdom (Cadogan Hall 2019).

Beginning in 2018, Joshua regularly conducts research studies within the Percy Grainger archives located at the University of Melbourne, with a focus on Australian cultural music.

His current work in opera includes his engagement as conductor for West Australian Opera’s Koolbardi wer Wardong by Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse; the first opera to be written entirely in the Noongar language, which was quickly followed with his involvement for the same company’s production of Wundig wer Wilura in early 2024, featuring notable artists Jess Hitchcock and Jarred Wall. 

Since 2017, Joshua has been working extensively within the musical theatre department at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts as lecturer, coach and teacher to the Diploma and Bachelor students – a position which allows him to pursue his passion for showcasing and promoting new and original works created for the Australian stage.