Queenie van de Zandt
Co-Writer & Producer
Queenie van de Zandt moves through the world entertaining, educating and serenading the people she meets. She has the unique ability in all her work to make people feel deeply and to awaken laughter, empathy and awareness in equal measure.
Her ability to seamlessly transition between various genres of entertainment sets her apart as a truly versatile performer, with a career spanning musical theatre, plays, cabaret, recording, film, and television, as well as acclaimed work as a comedian, writer, and arts educator.
Her career highlights include: on television: Upright II (Foxtel/Stan), Safe Home (SBS, The Newsreader - Seasons 1, 2 & 3, Very Small Business and Da Kath & Kim Code (ABC), and Five Bedrooms (Network 10), in theatre: Face to Face (STC), Women of Troy (Malthouse/STC), Rabbit Hole, Absent Friends and Abigail’s Party (Ensemble Theatre), Secret Bridesmaid’s Business and After January (La Boite) and The Road to the She-Devil’s Salon (QTC), on film: Scooby Doo and Girl Clock, in musical theatre: Next to Normal (James Terry Collective), Thoroughly Modern Millie (TDP), Into the Woods (Victorian Opera), Follies (Storeyboard Entertainment), Funny Girl (SSO), King Kong Live on Stage (Global Creatures), The Full Monty (IMG/David Atkins) and Oliver (Cameron Mackintosh/IMG), and in cabaret - Smoke & Mirrors (Sydney, Melbourne and Edinburgh Festivals), Moments in the Woods, BLUE: The Songs of Joni Mitchell, CABARET - In 12 Easy Steps, The Best (and Worst) of Queenie van de Zandt and I GET THE MUSIC IN YOU, an evening with Jan van de Stool (Adelaide Cabaret Festival). Queenie has been nominated for 21 major theatre awards, winning 8, for her work in musicals, theatre, cabaret and television.
As the driving force behind her boutique production house Amazon Woman Enterprises, Queenie has: released 4 albums (Amazon Woman, Other Stories..., Queenie van de Zandt – Live in Cabaret and Singing & Vocal Warm Up Exercises); created her award-winning show BLUE: The Song of Joni Mitchell which continues to tour around Australia and internationally, and continues to develop projects involving her cult, comedy alter-ego Jan van de Stool. As Jan, Queenie has twice co-hosted The Helpmann Awards (Foxtel/ABC), performed in Jan’s multi-award-winning comedy show I GET THE MUSIC IN YOU, an evening with Jan van de Stool (MICF) and continues to tour her latest show, Jan van de Stool in PARTING THE RED CURTAINS (BCF & SCF).
For over two decades, Queenie has also been one of Australia's most respected arts educators and in 2015, after holding teaching positions at NIDA, VCA & Federation University in Ballarat, she co-founded The Australian Musical Theatre Academy (AMTA). AMTA brings together top-tier industry professionals to give gifted students the tools to live creative, passionate and fulfilling lives. Queenie been called a “star-maker” in the media, due to the high success rate of children and adults who participate in her workshops to learn her unique audition technique and go on to gain entry to acting schools and be cast in professional musicals. AMTA’s and Queenie’s former students are currently playing lead roles in shows such as: Chicago, Beauty & the Beast, TINA: The Tina Turner Musical, Wicked, & Juliet, RENT, and Miss Saigon – to name just a few.
As a true champion of the arts, having joined Actors Equity, MEAA in her first professional show in 1989, Queenie’s unwavering passion for her craft and commitment to the union has made her a powerful advocate for artists Australia-wide. Queenie brings to all her work not only this wealth of experience but also her fine communication skills, her passion for the arts, her warm and positive nature and her wonderful sense of humour.
With a staggering 21 theatre award nominations and 8 well-deserved wins under her belt, Queenie van de Zandt's talent continues to be recognized with each new achievement. To stay connected with her latest projects and performances on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok follow @QueenievdZandt | @JanvandeStool | @AMTAcademy.