Do you remember the first theatre show you ever saw? Olivia Ruggiero does and it’s had a pretty big impact on her life. Named Broadway World Sydney’s Best Solo Performer of 2022, Ruggiero has written, directed, produced and performed around Australia for more than five year. Her most recent venture, Broadway Diva, cowritten and directed by Carly Fisher (see her Stage Sips here!) is taking Aussie stages by storm before heading to Edinburgh later this year.

I caught up with Ruggiero to hear more about her early memories of musical theatre, her favourite moments of the show, and of course her wine pairing choice.

What has been your journey into theatre ?

My journey into theatre began at the age of 8, when my grandmother took me to see my first ever musical, The Wizard of Oz, with Nikki Webster at the Sydney Lyric Theatre. We had timeout ice cream bars at interval, and she bought me a program to keep… that I still have. From there, my life was smattered with theatre. We had an old cassette of the Original London Cast recording of Cats that my mother would play, my grandmother and my mother took me to see Phantom of the Opera when it was released in cinemas, we would take bus trips to see Sunday matinees of shows in Sydney with Nana and her friends from bowls, we would watch old movie musicals like Sound of Music, and West Side Story. I started learning piano when I was 7 and my piano teacher told my mother, that she thought I was going to be a singer. So, when I was 8 or 9 I went in my first ever singing eisteddfod. I sang “Tomorrow” from Annie and got half a mark off third. The feedback said I should work with my teacher on breathing. Being a precocious child, I walked straight up to the adjudicator and told him I didn’t have a teacher, so he told my mother to get me one. 

From there I started having some informal lessons and when I was 14, the all-boys Catholic school which my father taught at was putting on a production of Oliver. They were struggling to find a Nancy, so my then drama teacher and my first ever singing teacher (who were directing and musical directing) asked if I would do it. I said yes, begrudgingly, because, I had big plans, to be an…. Archaeologist. And whilst I loved theatre, it wasn’t going to be the thing I did with my life. 

But, from the minute I donned that red dress I was in love. I never looked back, and theatre became not just something of a hobby or a pastime, it was a passion. 

After years making the rounds in community theatre, winning and being nominated for CAT (Canberra Area Theatre Awards), I studied my Bachelor of Music (Musical Theatre) at Queensland Conservatorium. 

Tell me about your experience of developing Broadway Diva

Developing Broadway Diva has been a dream. Carly and I first worked together on Puppets, my other one-woman show and we got along so well and worked out we had really similar interests. We both love the same shows and have a big passion for theatre. So, this show, really is a labour of love. It’s basically a combined Spotify playlists of all the songs we’ve never been able to get out of our heads (and apparently our audiences can’t either!) Performing the show is so much fun. I get to sing songs that in theatre land you are told not to sing because they are “overdone”, and now I get to sing all of them.

It’s also an incredibly special show because of the sentimental reasons behind it. It’s dedicated to everyone who introduced us to theatre, fostered our love of it and helped us on the journey – so for me it’s largely dedicated to my grandmother who passed away 3 years ago. So, in that way, it feels like a show that has a lot of levels – there’s the fun, fluffy stuff – the comedy, the nostalgia – in all the good old golden age repertoire that everyone loves (and seems to want more of) and then there’s the sentimental reasons which are driving force to perform the show with as much love as I have. 

What is the best moment or most important message of Broadway Diva?

Ah! Don’t make me choose! That’s like having a favourite child… it’s wrong. 

I know Carly’s [favourite song] will be the Tootsie – and I’ll begrudgingly admit that it’s fun to perform (although it was a nightmare to learn.) However, I also really love “Everything I Know” which is dedicated to my nana – that’s a special one. The thing with this show is each song means something to someone and is attached to a moment or a person in my life so it’s impossible to choose and decide which one would be more important. 

What do you enjoy about the Aussie theatre scene, and what needs to change?

Haha! Do you want a 1000 word essay? How much time do you have? 

I think Australian Musical Theatre needs to recognise their own a bit more and celebrate new Australian work. One of my biggest gripes in the last few years has been the content that we are producing. It’s been a lot of revivals and not a lot of new Australian works. We have fantastic composers like Tim Minchin, Eddie Perfect, Kate Miller Heidke whose works at not celebrated enough and often premiere overseas. We need a dedicated space for those Aussie voices. We have incredible stories to tell – let’s give them the time and attention they need! 

I also don’t think our performers have enough opportunity over here – it’s a very closed industry. Once you’re in, you’re in! But trying to barge down that down and get in the audition room seems near impossible at times. 

I actually love the Independent Theatre Scene in Australia (Sydney in particular). Here there seems to be space to explore theatre, premiere new works, celebrate unique artists – there’s a platform. I just think it needs to be celebrated more and seen for it’s wonder. Some of the best shows I have seen over the past 3-5 years have been short 2 weeks runs on Independent stages. I would love to see them be revived, have a second life and get the love they deserve! 

What type of wine would you pair with Broadway Diva, and why?

Broadway Diva is a show that would go well with a wine-tasting. There’s so much variety in the show. I think we would start with a light sparkling wine as we begin the journey, once we hit Golden age, I think you need a nice white – something like a Chardonnay… classy. Tootsie is definitely a rose – a bit of a sharp one though, the opera needs a full-bodied red, and I think the musical theatre and opera crossover needs a nice Pinot Noir… and we would need to finish with some champagne! A nice one like a Dom or Moet… can you tell I’m a wine lover?

Purchase your ticket to Broadway Diva here.