Meet the new Hi-5 on their Hi-5 Surprise National Tour

Hi-5 SURPRISE! NATIONAL TOUR

Dance, sing and party with Hi-5! New members Lauren Brant, Fely Irvine and Tim Maddren join Casey Burgess and Stevie Nicholson live on stage in their new show Hi-5 Surprise! It's a great big celebration featuring Hi-5's most popular songs as well as some new favourites, stories, games, lots of dancing and a great big surprise! So grab your party hat and your dancing shoes and get ready to sing and dance with Hi-5.

Hi-5 Surprise! premieres in Melbourne at the Arts Centre's Playhouse from January 5 before embarking on an extensive tour of 38 theatres across the country.

Hi-5 Surprise! sees Stevie, Casey, Fely, Lauren and Tim planning something special for their friend Chats' birthday. They decide to throw her a surprise party to which everyone is invited. Casey encourages the whole audience to keep the secret as Stevie and Tim dress up as zoo animals, Jup Jup helps Fely decorate the birthday cake, and Lauren distracts Chats with a storybook adventure about TJ the guinea pig.

This year, Hi-5 is celebrating 10 years of entertaining children around the world, with a brand new eleventh series currently screening on Channel Nine, the introduction of exciting new cast members, and NOW the announcement of a new live stage show which will tour Australia during 2010. So, join the party. Hi-5 Surprise! is coming to Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland and Tasmania.

For more information on Hi-5 Surprise tour dates visit: www.girl.com.au/hi-5-surprise-tour.htm

"What a great show! Hi-5 comes to life again with the all new cast, singing their new 'Surprise' dvd songs as well as old favourites, children will really love the fun-loving young new characters, Casey, Fely, Lauren, Stevie & Tim. Open, friendly and engaging for children the new Hi-5 cast members were loved by seasoned Hi-5 children. With big shoes to fill, they really are well on their way, great job we were impressed with your performance as well as your sincere interaction with the children after the show." - Girl.com.au Editor

MEET THE NEW HI-5 CAST

Casey Burgess

Casey's love of performing started at a very young age. She trained at the famous Brent Street Studios in dance, jazz, tap and by the age of 11 she was in a production of 'Annie The Musical' and soon followed this with singing solo in 'Hats Off!'

Her extensive television credits include roles in the series' 'Home and Away', 'Tripping Over', 'Farscape', 'Don't Blame Me', 'White Collar Blue', the film 'My Husband My Killer', and the telemovie 'Scorched'. Casey has also co-hosted the television series 'Girl TV' (Seven Network) and took part in a number of live show appearances as a presenter, among them 'Carols in the Domain' and 'The People Choice Awards'.

Casey's voiceover work includes the films 'Temptation', 'Swimming Upstream', 'My Brother Jack' and 'When Good Ghouls Go Bad'.

Quote: "Everything about being in Hi-5 is great, the kids, being part of a team and working on a wonderful show that is so much fun and so inspirational to all of its viewers!"

Casey Burgess Interview - www.girl.com.au/hi-5-casey-burgess-interview.htm

Fely Irvine

Fely's training in theatre, acting and dance is extensive and has seen her travel the world. Fely received training at the Australian College of Entertainment in drama, singing, tap, jazz and ballet and earned a high distinction (Australian Music Examination Board) through the Glenda Yee School of Dance. At the L.A. Talent School she graduated with honours (Federal Association Teachers of Dancing).

Fely has also completed a course in Advanced Film and Television through On Camera Connections and most recently studied at the Atlantic Acting School in New York City, founded by William H. Macy and David Mamet.

Prior to heading to New York in late 2008, Fely toured Australia with Cameron Mackintosh's 'Miss Saigon' under director Laurence Connor and starred as Jasmine in 'Triple Treat's Aladdin Pantomime' under Chris Farnham. Fely has appeared in numerous variety shows including the 'Roy Orbison Tribute Show', she is also recognised for appearing in 'Home and Away' as an extra.

Quote: "There isn't anything in the world I'd rather be doing; I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to be part of the much loved Hi-5 brand and look forward to entertaining our audience both in Australia and overseas."

Fely Irvine Interview - www.girl.com.au/hi-5-fely-irvine-interview.htm

Lauren Brant

A born entertainer, Lauren has been training in the arts since she was three. Now an accomplished dancer, singer, actor and model, Lauren loves what she does and would not change it for any other career.

Upon graduating from high school in 2006, Lauren was awarded trophies for 'The Most Promising Performer', 'Best Solo Performance' and 'Best Choreographer' in her school. Lauren has received tutoring from various renowned teachers and schools including Jennifer Flowers, Tom McSweeny, Floyd Kennedy, The Australian Acting Academy, Zen Zen Zo, Brent Street and others. Prior to joining Hi-5 Lauren was teaching 'Model TV' and 'Musical Theatre' to young children at Brightstars Academy.

Lauren's film and television experience includes roles in 'Are We There Yet?', 'H2O', 'Mortified', 'The Starter's Wife' and 'The Strip'. Lauren has graced the state in productions of 'Flat Tops', 'The Wizard of Oz', 'The Ian Moss Concert', 'The Buddy Holly Musical' and most recently the role of Beatrice in Mercury Wings production of Shakespeare's 'Much Ado About Nothing'. In 2007 Lauren was the host of the 'Humphrey Bear Show' travelling through Queensland.

Quote: "The greatest thing about being in Hi-5 is having four best friends to play with everyday! It's a great privilege to be able to follow my passion and to dance, sing and act as a job."

Lauren Brant Interview - www.girl.com.au/hi-5-lauren-brant-interview.htm

Stevie Nicholson

At the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA) where Stevie trained, he worked with a variety of Australia's top directors, choreographers, and music theatre experts under the lead of Avigail Herman. The NIDA course was a perfect complement to Stevie's training in London at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) where he studied classical Shakespeare with some of the world's best acting teachers.

Upon graduating from NIDA Stevie was quickly snapped up by Brainstorm Productions which saw him travel the country performing to children in schools thus giving him the perfect training ground to Hi-5.

Whilst training in drama, Stevie worked as Assistant Editor for Australian Tennis Magazine, a position that saw him travel Europe on the International Tennis Circuit, working at Wimbledon and the French Open and developing friendships with many of the world's best players. Stevie interviewed Lleyton Hewitt when he was only 15 with Lleyton only a few years older.

Quote: "Being a member of Hi-5 is a dream come true. The opportunity to work with and for children is an honour."

Stevie Nicholson Interview - www.girl.com.au/hi-5-stevie-nicholson-interview.htm

Tim Maddren

Tim was raised in a very musical family and was encouraged from an early age to follow his passion for performing and entertaining. His first major performance was at the age of nine when he played the role of Gavroche in a production of 'Les Miserables' and this was followed by many other theatre roles during his school years.

In 2003 Tim moved to Perth to study at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) from which he graduated in 2005. Tim also played a guest role on the hit tween television series 'Blue Water High' (ABC TV).

In 2007 Tim complete the Australasian tour with the Australian cast of 'Fiddler on the Roof' where he played the role of Fyedka alongside the famous Chaim Topol. During 2008 he performed the role of Luke as part of the original Australian cast of the musical 'Altar Boyz' which enjoyed seasons in both Sydney and Melbourne. Tim also taught singing and acting at the Ministry of Dance, North Melbourne.

Quote: "You can't beat a job that encourages kids to be active and have fun! It's wonderful to be working with my talented friends and spreading a love of music and dance amongst children is a real reward."

Tim Maddren Interview - www.girl.com.au/hi-5-tim-maddren-interview.htm

FRIENDS OF Hi-5

CHATTERBOX

"Chats" (as she is known) is aptly named. There is nothing she likes more than a nice long chat. She's good at it too - always coming up with some interesting new word, rhyme, joke or rap.

Chats lives in a funky box and inhabits Casey's Word Play segment. It's her favourite place in the world, mainly because it's where she can have a good long chat with her best friend, Casey.

It's also where she is able to do her second most favourite thing - learn new songs. She especially likes ones with funny phrases or dances and luckily Casey always has plenty of those.

Chatterbox has so many things to say that she sometimes seems very cheeky indeed. Fortunately Casey enjoys her enthusiasm, although she sometimes has to tell Chats to "get back in her box" if her chatter and cheekiness get too much.

JUP JUP

Jup Jup is a mischievous little creature who lives in the wonderful wall of doors in Fely's Puzzles and Patterns segment.

Jup Jup has come to Hi-5 to try out as many tricks as he possibly can on an unsuspecting Fely. Fortunately, without being aware of it, she finds ways to make Jup Jup's mischief work to her advantage - much to Jup Jup's annoyance.

He doesn't complain too much though - at least not verbally, mainly because the Jup Jup language has very few words. Despite this, he manages to express himself quite clearly - in a non-verbal way. Together with his crazy hair (which stands on end when he is happy and flops down when he's not), this leaves no doubt whatsoever about exactly what Jup Jup is feeling.