James Millar (born 21 January 1980) is an Australian actor, singer and writer. He wrote the musical drama The Hatpin, the song cycle LOVEBiTES and co-wrote the semi autobiographical musical A Little Touch of Chaos.
Biography
Millar earned a degree in writing at the University of Technology Sydney and a degree in performance at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) in 2004.
While studying in Perth, he was directed and tutored by a number of notable Australian performers such as David King, Tony Sheldon, Nick Enright, Roma Conway, Rhys McConnochie, Adam Cook, John Milson and Nancye Hayes. Prior to graduating, he starred in the original recording and premiere performance of Up by Eddie Perfect, Susannah, Spurboard, The Pajama Game, Pacific Overtures, Perfectly Frank, The Crucible, Fiddler on the Roof and The Wild Party.
While in Western Australia, he also appeared in Morning Melodies at His Majesty's Theatre in Perth, Assassins and Piangere.
In 2010, Millar and collaborator Peter Rutherford were commissioned to workshop and produce their third book musical A Little Touch of Chaos at WAAPA. In 2013, Millar was invited to direct WAAPA's production of Assassins, by the third year Music Theatre students which opened in August 2013.
For television, Millar has played roles in Home and Away, Police Rescue, A Country Practice, The Leaving of Liverpool, The Investigators (ABC TV), Water Rats and Neil Armfield's tele-film Naked: Coral Island.
He was featured in the award-winning film The Eternity Man directed by Julien Temple in 2008.
Cabaret
Millar completed a degree in Writing at the University of Technology in Sydney, and has subsequently penned a number of original cabaret shows such as Moments of Breathtaking Stupidity which he performed with Verity Hunt-Ballard in both Sydney and Melbourne in 2004, The Story Goes On for Amanda Harrison, Poison Soprano, Ten Things I Hate About Cabaret, Impossible Blonde, and Amelia Cormack's Love For Sale which enjoyed four return seasons.
He was also the winner of the 2004 Premiere Cabaret Showcase in Sydney which resulted in the performance of his second cabaret show, Other People's Stories, followed by a tour with celebrated Australian actor Amanda Muggleton in the cabaret Naughty.
Millar also performed in a vocal trio with fellow actors Ian Stenlake and Scott Irwin called "Bravo".
In cabaret circles, he is known for his appearance in ShowQueen Sessions which toured Sydney and Melbourne.
In March 2010, Millar featured in Another Opening Another Show at Chapel off Chapel in Melbourne and ShowStoppers produced by Lisa and David Campbell's company Luckiest Productions.
Millar joined Doctor Zhivago star Lucy Maunder in a production of Noel and Gertie. This production is based on the diaries and letters of Noël Coward and Gertrude Lawrence. It was featured at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival in May 2013.
In 2013 Millar wrote the cabaret Up Close and Reasonably Personal for Wicked, We Will Rock You star Amanda Harrison. which continues to tour.
Musical theatre
He has previously appeared in Oklahoma! for The Production Company at the State Theatre in Melbourne, The Adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie for Company B Belvoir directed by Neil Armfield, starred in both seasons of the comedy BoyBand in Sydney, played the principal role of Frederic Vern in the world premiere production of Eureka at Melbourne's Her Majesty's Theatre for the Melbourne International Arts Festival, recorded and toured with ShowQueen: Live in both Sydney and Melbourne, starred in the critically acclaimed song cycle LoveBites, and played the role of Peter in Sondheim's Company at Sydney's Theatre Royal.
Millar was cast in the defunct production of Floyd Collins for the Kookaburra Theatre Company, however he, like the rest of the cast made himself available for a one-off concert performance on 3 May 2010. This production also starred Peter Cousens, Michael Falzon, Trisha Crowe and Queenie van de Zandt.
In 2009, Millar performed in the Australian premiere of the off-Broadway musical Gutenberg! The Musical!, starred as Chucky in Jerry Springer: The Opera at the Sydney Opera House, and appeared at Sydney's Ensemble Theatre in the lead role of Mitchell Green in the premiere of The Little Dog Laughed by Douglas Carter Beane.
He also featured in the Australian Premiere of Grey Gardens for The Production Company, The Ring Cycle at The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and toured the UK in Chess as Molokov in 2013.