JENNIFER MURPHY

Harold Prince, believed by many to be the world's greatest director of stage musicals, hand-picked Jennifer Murphy from among 300 young hopefuls for the role of Eva Perón in exhaustive Australian auditions last year. "When she walked on stage, I saw a star," Mr. Prince said later.

Although she has been singing professionally since the age of seven (she made her debut in Reg Quartley's Children's Show on Sydney's Channel 7), Jennifer was virtually unknown to Australian audiences when she was announced as Australia's Evita.

Despite her early successes on television, including a win in the grand final of the first New Faces series (under her maiden name of Jennifer Dowd), Australia's newest musical star wanted to pursue a teaching career. She went to Teachers College for three years and sang in a local folk group as a hobby. It was during this time that she met her husband, Stephen, a prominent young Sydney musician. Stephen undertook to teach Jennifer singing (her first formal training) and within three years her voice had developed from a high "folksy" style to a dynamic and expressive instrument.

Gradually, Jennifer undertook some theatre work; firstly, two drama productions with Sydney's Genesian Theatre, and later, work in Sydney clubs as a singer. After a year of infant teaching she decided to make the break and attempt a full-time career as a performer. She was well established on the Sydney club circuit by 1977 when she made her first major stage musical appearance in a revival of Godspell in Sydney.

Shortly afterwards, Jennifer and Stephen set off for England and in the ensuing fourteen months the couple gained wide experience on the London club circuit, including appearances at some of London's top nightspots, such as the Cafe Royale, Chaplin's, Aphrodite's, the Stork Room and the Cockney.

In May 1979, Jennifer and Stephen returned home for the birth of their first baby. Jennifer was seven months pregnant when she auditioned for the Australian production of Evita. Shortly before the birth of her son Liam, Jennifer learned she had won the most eagerly sought role in the history of Australian music theatre. Since then she has spent most of her time preparing for the role and has made an overseas trip to see the Los Angeles, New York and London productions.

For the Murphys, the Australian tour of Evita will be a family affair. Stephen is playing keyboards in the orchestra and Liam is touring with the company, complete with nanny!

All biographies from original programs. Photos are reproduced from Evita programs and publicity photos in several private collections and are for research and reference only. Copyrights remain with original copyright holders.

© 2000