2024 ADJUDICATORS
RYAN SHEPPARD BIOGRAPHY
Originally from the Central Coast of NSW, Ryan’s performing career has taken him all over the world. Ryan has worked as a member of the creative team on some of Australia’s most successful productions, making him one of the country’s most sought-after talents both on and off the stage.
Originating the role of Chistery in the 2008 Melbourne premiere season of Wicked (GFO Productions) Ryan went on to become one of the production’s longest serving cast members, performing the show over 1900 times and touring throughout Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. As Dance Captain for the Australian production he was also part of the casting team for the South Korean company.
In 2016, after an 8 year run with Wicked, he joined the cast of We Will Rock You (GFO Productions) understudying and performing the role of Brit.
The later part of 2016 also saw him join the original Australian company of The Book Of Mormon (GFO Productions) as both Dance Captain and understudy Elder McKinley, opening the show in Melbourne to a record-breaking number of ticket sales. He continued to be a part of this incredible show as it toured Australia and New Zealand until it’s closed in 2020 due to the world wide pandemic.
Ryan was a part of the cast of Priscilla Queen of the Desert in June 2022 on the Gold Coast that was directed by Trevor Ashley where he was the Dance Captain and covered two of the shows leading roles Tick and Bernadette.
In 2023, Ryan lead the team of the Harry Potter Yule Ball Celebration in Sydney as the Dance Captain and leading host of the show and most recently Ryan is seen on the new Australian reality docuseries, Dance Life on Amazon Prime.
In the U.S. he was part of the creative team on the motion picture Rent (Sony Pictures), appeared on the television show One Life To Live (Disney Channel), and performed in the Las Vegas production of Splash (Kutash Entertainment). He also toured Europe as A-Rab in West Side Story (Sun Dance Productions).
He was Dance Captain for the 2016 Sydney Chinese New Year Festival (Sydney City Council) and his choreography credits include The Rob Guest Endowment, Nokia, TV1, Carols in the Park Sydney, the AVA Awards, Australia Day Sydney Council, and The Sydney Theatre Awards.
As a commercial dancer Ryan has performed alongside Kelly Clarkson, Guy Sebastian, Will Young, Crystal Waters, and the Young Divas. He also teaches regularly around the country.
As a singer he featured on Series 1 of Australian Idol and was signed with Warner Bros Publishing as a songwriter. He also tours internationally with the singing group Boys In The Band (SMA Productions).
Other credits include the original workshop production of Dirty Dancing (Jacobsen Entertainment), The Caroline O’Connor Show, The Son of The Mask (New Line Cinema), Rising Stars (ABC/Foxtel), Australia's Most Wanted (Channel 9), The Helpmann Awards (Bio Channel), Carols By Candlelight (Channel 9), The Footy Show (Channel 9), Mornings with Kerri-Anne (Channel 9), Girl TV (Channel 7), The Entertainer's Spectacular (Channel 9/NBN 3), and The Opening Ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.