Australian-born musical theater actor extraordinaire Ainsley Melham is quite the sensation this season as Dwayne, the baby-blue-eyed, Jazz-loving beau of Jasmine Amy Roger’s titular character in BOOP! The Musical. Although he previously appeared on Broadway in and as Aladdin in 2019, this is his first time originating a role on the Great White Way–and he’s a knockout managing to channel the best singers and dancers of old Hollywood like Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire while also creating a grounded, modern New Yorker.
BOOP! is one of the season’s true delights, entertaining AF with an important message about empowerment and unity.
Melham graduated from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), appearing in many musicals there. He got his first taste of show biz when he joined the Australian music group Hi5. Three years later, he decided to pursue a career in musical theater landing the lead role of Sonny Malone in an Australian stage version of Xanadu. Aladdin followed as did a nomination for the Helpmann Award for Best Male Actor in a Musical. Other Australian theater credits include lead roles in Pippin, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Merrily We Roll Along and Wicked as well as appearing the ensemble of a limited run of Larry Kramer’s The Normal Heart.
Ainsley Melham’s outstanding performance in BOOP! makes him a bona-fide Tony contender.
Boop! The Musical is currently playing at the Broadhurst Theater, NYC.
The Contending had a grand time Zoom chatting with rising star Ainsley Melham.
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