CADEL: Lungs On Legs
Creative Australia Grant - Supporting Documents #2
Artist Biographies
Connor Delves (Creator & CADEL) is an award-winning Australian-born, New York-based actor, singer, producer, and director who has worked in the US, UK & Australia.He is a founding artistic director of the Australian Theatre Festival NYC and champions new Australian work on a global scale. Recent tv/film: "Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game" with Mike Faist (Hulu), "Sugar Plum Twist" (Hallmark), "The Weight of Home" (SIFF (Best Actor nomination) & CFF).
Connor starred as Mercutio in the UK premiere of "Starcrossed" at Wilton's Music Hall, London, for which he earned Offie and Broadwayworld nominations. Critical praise for his performance includes: "Connor Delves is truly fabulous...A masterpiece" - Whatsonstage, “Delves' electric performance" - Theatre and Other Things London, "Delves' energetic and deliciously posturing Mercutio is a thrill to watch as he minces about the stage" - London Life & "This year's discovery of blazing talent is hands down, Connor Delves" - Curtain Up.
He also recently starred in the "Bloody Ballad of Bette Davis: The Musical" at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where he has been quoted as having “a beautiful singing voice that shines” - THE RECS & “the show’s vip, Connor Delves...Crooning marvelously” - Fringe Review. Select Off-Broadway credits include: "Daniel's Husband" (Westside) , "Endangered: The Musical" (Davenport), "Holy Day" (New Ohio) & "Precious Little Talent" (West End Theatre).
He is a proud graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (NY) and was a member of the 2017 NY Academy Company. He is represented in the US by Metropolis Artist Agency, and TTA in the UK. @connordelves www.connordelves.com
Cadel Lee Evans AM (Inspiration and winner of the 2011 Tour de France) is an Australian former professional racing cyclist. A four-time Olympian, Evans is one of three non-Europeans – along with Greg LeMond and Egan Bernal – to have won the Tour de France, winning the race in 2011. He is the first and only australian to ever win the tour, which is considered the most physically and psychologically demanding sports event in the world. Early in his career, he was a champion mountain biker, winning the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in 1998 and 1999. He finished second in the Tour de France in 2007 and 2008. Both of these 2nd place finishes are in the top 10 of the closest Tours in history. He became the first Australian to win the UCI ProTour (2007) and the UCI Road World Championships in 2009. After finishing outside the top twenty in 2009 and 2010, Evans became the first Australian rider to win the Tour de France in 2011, riding for the BMC Racing Team. He took the race lead on the penultimate day, after completing a 42.5-kilometre (26.4-mile) individual time trial some two-and-a-half minutes quicker than his closest rivals, Andy Schleck and Fränk Schleck. At age 34, he was among the five oldest winners in the race's history. He also made the podium in the 2009 Vuelta a España and the 2013 Giro d'Italia. Evans retired on 1 February 2015, after completing a race named in his honour.
Mark Barford (Director) is an Australian born stage director, writer and producer based in New York City. He specializes in the development of new work and the reimagining of classics. Mark is founding Co-Artistic &; Executive Director of The Australian Theatre Festival NYC. Recent directing highlights include: ‘Python’ (Theatre Row, NYC), ‘ A Midsummer Night’s Dream’
(Theatre Row, NYC), ‘Wavelength’ (Theatre Row, NYC), ‘As You Like It’ (Circle in the Square,
NYC), ‘The Children’s Hour’ (Circle in the Square, NYC), ‘Hubris &; Humiliation’ (Theaterlab, NYC), ‘The Tiniest Thing’ (Alchemical, NYC), and the award-winning production ‘Breakfast’ (Secret Theatre, NYC). He wrote and co-directed ‘Stranded’ (ATF online), and co-wrote & directed ‘Hadrian &; Antinous’ (Lenfest, NY) and the Croatian National Theatre production of ‘Antidote’ (CNT, Rijeka). Mark’s multi award-winning, 5 star production of ‘F*cking Men’ played at The Vaults London (11 week run), Edinburgh Fringe Festival (Assembly Festival), International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival, and The King’s Head Theatre London (multiple sold-out seasons). As resident director for ICW productions/ The Music Theatre Company of W.A, he directed large-scale productions of ‘The Phantom of the Opera’, ‘The Sound of Music’, ‘The Mikado’, ‘CATS’, and ‘Company’. Other directing highlights include: ‘King Richard II’, ‘The Cherry Orchard’, ‘Freddie’, ‘Dark Meat’, ‘The Only Living Boys in South Jersey’, ‘Hillary &Monica’, ‘The Cat in the Box’, and ‘Never Mind the Monsters’. Mark has worked as an assistant to directors Barrie Kosky on ‘La Boheme’ (Komische Oper, Berlin) and Ivo van Hove on ‘Network’ (Belasco, Broadway). He has been an educator for over 10 years and is currently on faculty at Circle in the Square Theatre School in NYC. Mark is a graduate of the Acting Shakespeare program at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Film &; Theatre) and Graduate Diploma of Education (Secondary Teaching) from Murdoch University. He earned an MFA in Theatre Directing from Columbia University, under professors Anne Bogart and Brian Kulick. Mark is an Associate Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC). www.markbarford.com IG @markbarford
Steve McMahon (Co-Writer) is a Scottish actor and writer based in Florida. He is an Assembly ART Award winner, has been shortlisted for the Alba Award, longlisted for the Theatre 503 International Playwriting Award, and was a semi-finalist for the Eugene O’Neill Playwrights Conference. He has performed with the National Theatre of Scotland, Adirondack Shakespeare Company and Bard in the Botanics and his plays have been produced or developed by Brite Theater, Theatre Lab, Origin Theatre Company, Traverse Theatre Company, Fundamental Theater Project, Nylon Fusion, Village Pub Theatre, The Arctic Group, IRT Theater, Bridge Street Theatre, NYC Fridge Fest and Strange Town. He trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City where he co-founded and edited The Dionysian playwriting magazine and the Caffe Cino theatre book series.
Piper Theatre Productions (Co-Producer) Since 2000, under the leadership of John P. McEneny, Piper has successfully produced over 70 plays, 40 readings, and two films. These productions have employed hundreds of working artists in Brooklyn, and the plays have been seen by thousands. Piper has worked with generations of Brooklyn youth in our education programs, many of whom are now working professionals in theater, education, and film. Piper Theatre Productions retuned to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with the world premiere Horror Musical THE BLOODY BALLAD OF BETTE DAVIS. “The talented cast of five put in an early bid for the Hardest Working Ensemble of the Fringe.” - The Recs, ★★★★ (4 stars). The production marked piper’s 4th collaboration with connor delves, who starred as karen black, to critical acclaim.
Sterling Paris (General Management) With over 20 years of experience, Sterling Paris Limited specialises in providing General Management, Production, and Analysis services to the Entertainment industry. Since its founding in 2022, the company has collaborated with high-profile clients, including Mamma Mia! The Party, Visceral Entertainment, Ticking Clock Theatre, and Arden Entertainment, delivering expert consultancy and management solutions.
Dan Blumenau (General Manager) Dan Blumenau is a Producer and Entertainment Consultant with a rich and multifaceted career spanning more than two decades. He began his journey in the entertainment industry as a performer before transitioning to behind-the-scenes roles, working alongside leading figures such as casting director Debbie O’Brien and producer Michael Alden. During his time as a Financial Analyst at Disneyland Paris, he oversaw the financial operations of the resort’s seven hotels, the Disney Village entertainment quarter, and the iconic Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. A fluent French speaker and devoted Francophile, Dan combines his cultural fluency with extensive industry knowledge, making him an invaluable partner in London and around the world.