Karen Johnson Mortimer
Associate Director
Karen is thrilled to be returning to My Fair Lady as Director after being Associate Director to Julie Andrews in 2016 for the 60th Anniversary.
Karen began her professional career at the age of 15 in Anything Goes starring Toni Lamond. As a performer, Karen played Cassie in the original Australian production of A Chorus Line and appeared in Company, Conquest of Carmen Miranda, Dames at Sea, Kiss Me Kate, No No Nanette, Irene as well as GFO productions Cabaret and Footloose. Throughout the 80’s Karen was a regular solo guest artist on The Don Lane Show and The Mike Walsh Show.
Recent credits include Director for the Annie The Musical and Australian Associate Director for Crossroads Live’s productions of Anastasia, Chicago and Wicked. Karen remounted the Korean Language production of Wicked in Seoul in 2015. She directed the 2018 production of Saturday Night Fever starring Marcia Hines and was Associate Director for Grease –The Arena Spectacular, The Wizard of Oz, Dirty Dancing, Pippin and the Dolly Parton musical 9 to 5. She has also directed three Rob Guest Endowment Finalists Concerts held in both Sydney and Melbourne.
Choreographic credits include Turns starring Reg Livermore and Nancye Hayes, Grease-The Mega Musical (GFO), Stones In His Pockets (STC), Leader of The Pack – The Ellie Greenwich Musical (Star City), Anzac Military Tattoo (Acer Arena) and Opening Ceremonies for numerous Bledisloe Cups, Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) as well as The World Swimming Championships (Melb 2008) and the Helpmann Awards in 2007. Karen was honoured to be part of the Creative team for the 2000 Sydney Olympics as choreographer for Tin Symphony in the Opening Ceremony and two sections of the Closing Ceremony. She also choreographed the Gold Medallists Gymnastic Gala- 2000 Sydney Olympics (NBC-USA), For the Sydney Festival Karen choreographed Kelly’s Republic on the Forecourt of the Sydney Opera House. Other credits include Oscar’s Turn To Sing, Wonder Woman (Reg Livermore), Sacred Cow (Reg Livermore), Norman Gunston Show (ABC TV) and Farnham & Byrne (ABC).
Karen was also one of Artistic Director’s for the World Youth Day Festival in Sydney in 2008. In 2003 she completed a Masters Degree at the University of Wollongong in Theatre Research. She is very excited for this 70th anniversary production to return to the beautiful Sydney Opera House.