Sydney performer Casey Burgess has been announced as the newest cast member of Hi-5. She replaces Charli Delaney who left to pursue an acting career.
Casey, 19, is the daughter of former Aussie pop star Ray Burgess (also a host of the ABC’s 1970s pop magazine show Flashez). She is trained at Brent Street Studios and appeared in many theatrical and TV projects including Annie, Home and Away, Tripping Over, Carols in the Domain, Perth Telethon and Girl TV. She also has an upcoming role in the telemovie Scorched.
Burgess said: “Hi-5 is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I’m so fortunate to be working with such amazing, well respected entertainers. They have all welcomed me with open arms, like I’m already part of a new family.”
The Nine Network recently took ownership of the Hi-5 brand with Southern Star Entertainment from production company Kids Like Us.
Press Release:
The Nine Network and Southern Star today announced Casey Burgess as the new cast member of Hi-5, the Australian children’s television phenomenon.
Burgess, who is 19 years old and comes from Sydney, was invited to become the new fifth member of Hi-5 after an exhaustive casting process which saw actors and singers from around Australia auditioning for a panel of judges including former Hi-5 member Charli Delaney and members of the creative team behind the hit kids show.
Despite her youth, Casey is no stranger to the entertainment world. She is the daughter of Ray Burgess, a prolific Australian rock’n’roll musician, and has performed on stage with him many times. Her most recent appearance was at the Perth Telethon.
Trained at Brent Street Studios in Sydney from the age of seven in dance, jazz and tap, Burgess made her first stage performance at 11 in Annie the Musical. In 2007, she graduated from CODA, a 12-month course designed for multi-skilled performers pursuing careers in theatre, music theatre, cabaret, contemporary music, film and TV.
Since her childhood stage debut she has starred in a number of Australian TV programs, including Home and Away and Tripping Over, the soon-to-screen telemovie Scorched for the Nine Network, and the feature film My Husband My Killer. She has also co-hosted the television series Girl TV and performed in many live shows, including Carols in the Domain and The People’s Choice Awards.
Burgess said: “Hi-5 is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I’m so fortunate to be working with such amazing, well respected entertainers. They have all welcomed me with open arms, like I’m already part of a new family.”
Fellow cast members Nathan Foley, Kellie Hoggart, Sun Park and Stevie Nicholson have warmly encouraged Burgess to the Hi-5 team.
“We are thrilled to have Casey join us,” Park said. “She’s talented, hard working, not afraid to step up to every challenge, and most of all she’s so much fun and we share a lot of laughs. We welcome her with open arms.”
Hi-5 fans will have their first chance to see Burgess perform live in the Hi-5 Party Street regional tour throughout regional Queensland and New South Wales in April. For more information see www.hi-5.com.au
Hi-5 series 10 commences on the Nine Network on July 7, 2008 and Hi-5’s latest DVD instalment, Party Street, is in stores April 3, 2008.
Southern Star is an integrated film and television production and distribution group. Divisions of the Company are involved in film, television and video production; sales and distribution; and licensing and merchandising.
I think Hi-5’s real problems lie in the fact that the most recent material they have had to work with has been very weak. Also, these days they do not seem to know what image they want to portray and especially to the little ones they are supposed to be targeting. Their management need to take a serious look at what they are doing with these kids. If they want to survive past the end of the year, they will need the best songwriters on their side to have any chance. I think Kath, Tim and Charli will all have been proved to be very wise when we look back in a year or two.
I wish the newest Hi-5 lady Casey all the best of luck with it but I still think this latest audition round was a publicity stunt which I hope backfires.