Biography

Before moving to Australia in 1986 Melvin James Carroll worked extensively in theatre, opera and oratorio in the United States winning three prestigious vocal awards for his work. There he also spent some of his time writing and is a published author of several children's stories. His interests in fund raising led him to establish The S. Ruth Carroll Concerts. These were concerts done primarily to aid an organisation very close to Mr. Carroll's heart, The United Cerebral Palsy Agency in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania where he attended Moravian College receiving a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology.

In Australia, Melvin has appeared in many productions including the Australian Premiere of MASS by Leonard Bernstein, conducted by Roy Wales with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, NIGHT AND DAY for the Queensland Theatre Company and a national tour of the Gordon/Frost Production of BIG RIVER. He took the role of Quequeg in Nigel Triffit's Production of MOBY DICK for the Melbourne International Festival of the Arts and was then cast in the role of Walter for the Australian tour of Elston, Hocking & Woods Production of HAIR, directed and choreographed by David Atkins.

He worked with the Melbourne Theatre Company on SOMEONE WHO'LL WATCH OVER ME and the hit Production of ANGELS IN AMERICA where his portrayals of Mr. Lies and Belize won him a Green Room Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1994. Melvin also did ANGELS IN AMERICA for the South Australian Theatre Company. Following this he performed the role of Othello in the Theatreworks Production of OTHELLO-A SUBVERSION, then moving onto a Playbox Theatre Premiere Production of an Abe Pogos play, STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT, performing the challenging role of James to critical acclaim and the dual roles of Booker Page & Lovin Al in the Glen Street Production of WORKING-A MUSICAL.

In 1997 Melvin performed the role of the Narrator in Schwantner's NEW MORNING FOR THE WORLD:DAYBREAK OF FREEDOM with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Stephen Barlow.

Melvin was last seen on stage in the role of the Apollo MC in the Jon Nicholls and Michael Brereton Production of BUDDY, THE MUSICAL, The Buddy Holly Story touring Australia, New Zealand and Asia.

Mr. Carroll's television and film credits include WOMBAT for Queensland television, the feature film THE SILVER STRAND, OCEAN GIRL, short films UNIVERSAL BLUES and THE REMOVALIST, THE GIFT, (Baron Films, W.A.), THE DAME WAS LOADED, (Beam Software) as well as several appearances on GOOD MORNING AUSTRALIA and MIDDAY.

Finally, Melvin's vocal experiences led him to establish a successful singing studio of 40 students.