Next stop: New York
Doron Chester is a young and in-demand musical theatre star – born and raised in Bondi and has been in constant work since graduating from the Australian Institute of Music with a Bachelor of Music (Music Theatre).
Doron Chester
And in a world where ‘working actor’ is often considered an oxymoron, he doesn’t take it for granted! “I’m incredibly grateful and privileged to have worked constantly in this industry,” he says.
But ambition is about to carry the former Moriah student to his Xanadu, New York.
Doron recently played Gladhand in Opera Australia’s production of West Side Story and at the end of 2023 played the Lobster in Little Red Co’s production of Christmas Actually – the music of Love Actually live on stage – a hit show staged at both the Sydney Opera House and Brisbane Powerhouse.
In June last year, he was part of the Angel City Four, in City of Angels for Josh Robson Productions at Hayes Theatre Co.
A genuine ‘triple-threat’ (actor/singer/dancer), he’s also appeared as Weselton in Disney’s touring productions of Frozen, as Iago in Disney’s Aladdin, (Auckland, Adelaide and Singapore – pictured below) as well as a slew of cameo roles in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical – which played at the Lyric Theatre in Sydney.
Doron played the role of Nathan in Bakehouse Theatre Company’s The Laden Table at Kings Cross Theatre and has even performed his own cabaret, Dentures & Ditties: Tales of the Nursing Home to sold-out audiences at 107 Projects in Redfern.
Doron has also been seen in a number of Squabbalogic productions: as Miller in The Original Grease, Nathaniel in Kiss Me Kate, Ambrose Kemper in Hello, Dolly! and in Bye Bye Birdie. He memorably played Bob Hawke & John Howard in Keating! The Musical for Birdie Productions, fronts the eclectic klezmer band Chutney and appears in a slew of commercials as well as on the ABC Kids album: Animal Songs and Sounds, available on Spotify and iTunes.
You’d think he’d be satisfied, riding the crest of the wave of high-profile acting work… but he’s ready and willing to ‘take it to the next level’ and make the big leap to the Big Apple. “The opportunities in New York are like nowhere else, it is the place to be for Music Theatre,” says Doron.
“I love the village and sea-side lifestyle of Bondi – and Clovelly where I now live. I go to the beach almost every day – even in winter. But the biggest of stages is calling and have to take the opportunity.”
“I’m at a point in my life and career where if I don’t move now, when will I do it? The opportunity is now. I’m excited, nervous… and ready!’
He told J-Wire: “I’m incredibly excited to start auditioning for new shows, workshops and even put on my own show/s over there. Honestly, it’s just so exciting to jump into a creative hub like NYC. It’s buzzing full of creativity. It’s not going to be easy; there are way more people in NYC all vying for the same roles, but as I said; it’s now or never.”
