Louis Fontaine - Class of '22

Louis Fontaine – Class of ’22

by Jake Percey | Jul 25, 2024 | Uncategorized

Louis trained at Brent Street Studios, most recently completing the Diploma of Musical Theatre. His early theatrical credits span a range of roles, from Joe in Masquerade (Griffin Theatre), to Kurt in The Sound of Music (Gordon Frost Organisation), and Paul in Gloria (Griffin Theatre). He has performed with Opera Australia as a Children’s Chorus member in Carmen and was a featured Juvenile in Nutcracker – The Story of Clara (The Australian Ballet). Louis’ further performances included John in Peter Pan & Tinker Bell (Bonnie Lythgoe Productions) and Ricky Bob in Miracle City (The Theatre Division). His recent commercial dance credits include Dancing With The Stars and The Voice (Seven Network). Currently, Louis is excited to be a swing on Crossroads Live’s production of Chicago.

Louis, welcome to Word on the Street! I’m so thrilled to have you join us this week. Can you kick us off with a little introduction of yourself, as well as your course and graduating year at Brent Street?

Hello! My name is Louis Fontaine, and I’m 21 years old. I grew up training at Brent Street in the Performance Training Program, moving onto their Full-Time program in 2022 to complete my Diploma of Musical Theatre.

You are a Brent Street kid through and through – really, a part of the furniture for the past 15 years. Can you remember the moment you decided that you wanted to take this seriously and pursue it as a career? What sparked that decision?

I’m definitely a Brent Street baby, through and through! There was a moment for me in 2015 – the school I was attending was very academic, and had given me time off to do a touring Griffin Theatre play. But, when I was fortunate enough to land the role of Kurt in The Sound of Music, it was too much for them – the extra time off went against their absence policy. It forced me to decide between the school and the show, and I knew that the show was the right choice for me.

Louis in his final showcase at Brent Street; the Musical Theatre Graduation Performance in 2022.

I guess the rest is history! Over the years, there has to have been over 100 teachers (and thousands of classes!). What’s your most memorable moment with a teacher? Any words of wisdom or a quote that left it’s mark?

So many to pick from! One that has stuck with me was a class we had with Cameron Mitchell. I was in Pre-Senior (aged 15 or 16) at the time and we were doing corner work when suddenly he stops the music. He told us to do it again, treating it not as an exercise but as a performance. It changed the way that I approach my technique and practise – it makes complete sense in retrospect, but of course you should practise it exactly how you want it to be on stage!

Louis in one of his first Brent Street concerts! (Image supplied)

So, you’re now two years out of Full Time – can you give us a run down of life has been like since graduating the Musical Theatre course?

It’s always weird when you initially graduate Full Time – the strict schedule you’ve been given suddenly drops from under your feet! I felt a little lost at first, but I was fortunate enough to join Opera Australia’s 2023 production of ‘Adriana Lecouvreur’, alongside some commercial work on ‘The Voice’ and ‘Dancing With The Stars’. In terms of training, I try to get to as many open classes as I can – especially for styles I haven’t done in a while.

Across both the commercial and musical theatre industry there are so many different skills and styles that may be asked for in an audition with very little notice! I try to maintain them all by going to classes, but if there aren’t any that work with my schedule, I keep in shape with a workout – either in the gym or at home.

You’ve just been over in the USA training, which was a prize from 2022’s Light The Way Dance Convention; the Bernadette Langshaw-Clark Scholarship. It looks like you’ve had an absolute blast over there – what’s something you’ve noticed that’s unique to the way they train over there? What’s something you’ve learnt you’ll bring back and apply here in Australia?

It was such an incredible trip! One of the most surprising things I noticed was just how many classes there were, especially for adults. In almost every style, you could find both a beginner and advanced class at least once a week. There were some that were very full-out! Being there for only a short time and wanting to make the most of it, I often booked several on the same day. With this, I learnt how to use my energy more effectively when dancing… making a movement look more interesting without necessarily making it sharper/bigger. This definitely helps for demanding contracts, like being a musical with eight shows a week.

Louis on the red carpet for the Opening Night of Chicago’s Sydney season (image supplied)

Brilliant! Of course – we have to talk about Chicago! What an incredible achievement. You’ve been in Perth, Melbourne and are now currently performing in Sydney, your hometown.. how does that feel? What’s something you’re enjoying the most about your time in Chicago?

It feels amazing to be back in the home city! Unfortunately, as one of the swings, I can’t guarantee when I’ll be on – but that’s part of the job. I would say that one of things I’ve enjoyed the most has been soaking up all the wisdom and experience from our exceptionally talented cast and creatives. Being one of the youngest in the cast, I’m incredibly grateful to learn the inner workings of the job from those who have left such a mark on the industry!

Soak it all up while you can – you’ve got a stellar cast to be around! Thanks for your time today Louis. We’re all so deeply proud of you and all that you have achieved – and we’re excited to see what’s next. As someone who’s now finding their way in the big old industry – what’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone about to embark on Full Time training?

Thanks, Jake! The most important thing I would say to someone starting their Full Time journey would be to keep a strong perspective on why you’re there. The end goal is to achieve longevity – It’s a marathon, not a sprint. You will rarely get the chance to train so frequently with industry professionals like you do in Full Time, so it’s definitely important to make a good impression. However, you can burn out quickly if you aren’t maintaining your mental and physical health. Make the most out of the short time you’re there, but remember what it is you’re setting up!