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Marina Prior AM (born 18 October 1963) is an Australian soprano and actress with a career mainly in musical theatre. From 1990 to 1993, she starred as the original Christine Daaé in the Australian premiere of The Phantom of the Opera, opposite Anthony Warlow and later Rob Guest.

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Prior was born in Port Moresby in the Territory of Papua and New Guinea, Australia,[1] where her father was working in the shipping industry. Her parents were members of the local Gilbert and Sullivan Society.[1] The family returned to Australia when she was a young child and she grew up in Melbourne, where she attended Syndal South Primary School and Korowa Anglican Girls' School. She began to take singing lessons at the age of twelve and also learnt piano, flute and guitar.

In 1982 Prior started studying for a Bachelor of Music degree at the Melbourne State College (which later became a faculty of the University of Melbourne).[2] To raise money, she worked in coffee shops and tried busking.[2] In September 1983 she auditioned for the Victoria State Opera production of The Pirates of Penzance. She was cast as "Mabel" and this started her career in musical theatre.[2][3] Initially she had tried out for the chorus, she reflected "When they told me it was 'Mabel' I nearly fainted ... I could not believe it ... It was like a fairy tale".[2] She deferred her studies due to performance and "touring commitments".[2]

Theatre career

[edit]

In 1984, Prior played the role of Guinevere in the Australian production of Camelot with Richard Harris.[3] In 1985, she performed the dual roles of Jellylorum and Griddlebone in the Australian premiere production of Cats.[3] In 1987, she appeared as Josephine opposite Paul Eddington in Gilbert and Sullivan's H.M.S. Pinafore, as Kathy in The Student Prince at the Lyric Opera in Brisbane and as Hope Harcourt in Anything Goes.[3] This was followed by Cosette and the Australian premiere production of Les Misérables opposite Normie Rowe, Philip Quast, Simon Burke, and Anthony Warlow in Melbourne. She later played Fantine in the same musical in Sydney.[3]

From 1990 to 1993, she starred as the original Christine Daaé in the Australian premiere of The Phantom of the Opera, opposite Warlow and later Rob Guest.[3] This was followed by roles in many major productions, including Maria in West Side Story, Lily in The Secret Garden opposite Warlow and Quast (1995), Magnolia in Show Boat (1998) and the title role in The Merry Widow (1999).[3][4]

Other appearances include Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls (2000); the title role in Annie Get Your Gun (2004), both in staged concert versions with The Production Company;[3][5] in 2003 in John Misto's play Harp on the Willow (Mary O'Hara) at the Ensemble Theatre, Sydney;[3][6] as Jane Smart in The Witches of Eastwick (2002);[3][7] and as Belinda Blair in Noises Off (2003).[3] Prior performed in the Australian premiere of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee with the Melbourne Theatre Company and later with the Sydney Theatre Company.[3][8] She appeared as Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne in March 2008[3][9] and with the Melbourne Theatre Company in The Hypocrite in November 2008.[3][10] She reprised her role in Guys and Dolls from March 2009 in Sydney.[3]

Prior toured Australasia in 1994 with José Carreras. She has performed concerts with many Australian symphony orchestras. She is a regular performer at Melbourne's Carols by Candlelight and regularly appears at Opera in the Alps with David Hobson. She also appeared with Hobson at Opera by the Lock in Mildura, Victoria, in 2008.[11]

In 2011, Prior appeared as Mrs Banks in the Australian production of the musical Mary Poppins.[3] In 2012, she performed with David Hobson and James Morrison at the Leeuwin Estate Concert Series.[3]

In 2014, Marina played Grizabella in the world's largest production of Cats (musical) which featured over 800 performers on stage and played at the Brisbane Convention Centre.[12]

Prior performed in the 2015-2016 Australian production of The Sound of Music as Baroness Schraeder.[13] The production began its national tour in Sydney on 13 December 2015 and closed in Perth on 7 October 2016.[14]

From May 27 to 11 June 2017, Prior played the lead role of Dolly Levi in The Production Company's production of Hello, Dolly!.[15] She then joined the Melbourne Theatre Company's production of Hay Fever from 23 September to 1 November 2017, starring as Judith Bliss.[16] In December 2017, Prior joined the Melbourne cast of Dream Lover as the dual role of Polly Darin and Mary Douvan.[17][needs update]

In November 2019 Prior was announced to headline as Violet Newstead in the Australian debut production of 9 to 5 The Musical whose premiere engagement - set for Sydney in April 2020 -[18] would in fact, due to COVID-19 pandemic concerns, be delayed for two years, the production premiering with a February to May 2022 engagement at Sydney's Capitol Theatre with subsequent engagements through the summer and autumn at the Lyric Theatre at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Melbourne's State Theatre, and the Festival Theatre at the Adelaide Festival Centre.[19] Prior then co-starred in the dual role of Miss Andrews and the Bird Woman in the engagement of Mary Poppins which opened January 29 2023 at Melbourne's Her Majesty's Theatre.[20]

In the spring of 2025, she portrayed Madame Thénardier in the Australia performances of the Arena Spectacular World Tour of Les Misérables. She's set to reprise the role in the West End for the show’s 40th anniversary.[21] Prior also played the lead role of Kimberly in the 2025 Australian production of Kimberly Akimbo.[22]

Television and recordings

[edit]

In the 1990s, Prior recorded three albums accompanied by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Leading Lady, Aspects of Andrew Lloyd Webber (which received an ARIA nomination) and Somewhere – The Songs of Sondheim and Bernstein.

Prior was a judge on both the 2006 and 2007 Seven Network reality television series It Takes Two.[23]

In 2012, Prior released her fourth studio album, Both Sides Now, which peaked at number 42. This was followed by Encore and Candlelight Christmas in 2013 and a live album in 2014 Marina Prior Live.

In 2015, Prior starred in the television opera The Divorce.

In April 2016, Prior released Together with Mark Vincent. This has become her first top 5 album on the ARIA Chart.

Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]
List of studio albums, with selected details, chart positions and certifications
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
AUS
[24]
Leading Lady 15
Aspects of Andrew Lloyd Webber
  • Released: November 1992
  • Label: Sony Music Australia (472653.2)
  • Formats: CD, cassette
 22
Somewhere – The Songs of Sondheim and Bernstein
  • Released: November 1994
  • Label: Sony Music Australia (478068 2)
  • Format: CD
 74
Both Sides Now 42
Encore
  • Released: April 2013
  • Label: Ambition Entertainment / UMA (FANFARE093)
  • Formats: CD, digital
 —
Candlelight Christmas
  • Released: November 2013
  • Label: Ambition Entertainment / UMA (FANFARE127)
  • Formats: CD, digital
  • re-released as A Christmas Gift (2016)
 46
Together
(with Mark Vincent)
  • Released: 2016
  • Label: Ambition Entertainment / UMA (FANFARE127)
  • Formats: CD, digital
 5

Compilation albums

[edit]
List of compilation albums, with selected details
Title Album details
All I Ask of You
  • Released: April 2006
  • Label: Sony BMG (CDR0541)
  • Formats: CD
The Essential Marina Prior
  • Released: 2010
  • Label: Sony
  • Formats: CD
Songbird
  • Released: April 2014
  • Label: Ambition Entertainment / UMA (FANFARE129)
  • Formats: 3-CD box set
Leading Lady: The Ultimate Collection
  • Released: 2015
  • Label: Ambition Entertainment / UMA (FANFARE169)
  • Formats: CD, download

Live albums

[edit]
List of live albums, with selected details
Title Album details
Marina Prior Live
  • Released: December 2014
  • Label: Ambition Entertainment / UMA (FANFARE131)
  • Formats: CD+DVD, download

Cast recordings

[edit]

Other

[edit]

Prior was appointed 1996 Queen of Moomba by the Melbourne festival's committee.[25]

Marina Prior has been the Goodwill Ambassador for Samaritan's Purse Australia since 2005. In this capacity she has visited several development projects in Asia, including schools, water projects and distribution of Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes.[26] In 2009 she featured in "A Short Film About Shoe Boxes" to promote Samaritan's Purse and Operation Christmas Child.[citation needed]

Awards and nominations

[edit]

Prior was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2023 King's Birthday Honours for "significant service to musical theatre as a singer and performer".[27]

Prior has received numerous awards; these include three Green Room Awards (Les Miserables in 1990, The Phantom of the Opera in 1991, and Kiss Me, Kate in 2005) and in 1993 the Advance Australia Award for her contribution to the performing arts.

Prior was inducted into Australia's 100 Entertainers of the Century.[28]

Helpmann Awards

[edit]

The Helpmann Awards is an awards show, celebrating live entertainment and performing arts in Australia, presented by industry group Live Performance Australia since 2001.[29] Note: 2020 and 2021 were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2003 Marina Prior - The Witches of Eastwick Best Female Actor in a Musical Nominated [30]
2006 Marina Prior - The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Best Female Actor in a Musical Nominated [31]
2008 Marina Prior - Guys and Dolls Best Female Actor in a Musical Nominated [32]
2011 Marina Prior - Mary Poppins Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical Nominated [33]
2018 Marina Prior - Dream Lover: The Bobby Darin Musical Best Female Actor in a Musical Nominated [34]

Mo Awards

[edit]

The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the Mo Awards), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016. Marina Prior won three awards in that time.[35]

Year Nominee / work Award Result (wins only)
1990 Marina Prior Female Musical Theatre Performer of the Year Won
1994 Marina Prior Female Musical Theatre Performer of the Year Won
2008 Marina Prior Brian Stacey Female Musical Theatre Performer of the Year Won

Personal life

[edit]

From 1991 Marina Prior was married to Peter Lowrey, also a musical theatre actor: they have three children;[36] by 2012 she had married Grant Piro, an actor.[37]

Prior became a devout Christian in the late 1990s. She has worked for charity organisations Samaritan's Purse (on their Operation Christmas Child) and Vision Australia's Carols by Candlelight.[36][38]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Marina Prior

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Marina Prior AM (born 18 October 1963) is an Australian soprano and actress renowned as one of the country's leading figures in musical theatre, with a career spanning over four decades that includes iconic roles in productions such as The Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables. Born in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, to parents passionate about the arts, she moved to Australia at a young age and grew up in Melbourne, where she attended Korowa Anglican Girls' School before studying for a Bachelor of Music at what is now the University of Melbourne in the early 1980s. Prior's professional breakthrough came at age 21 with the role of in the Australian production of opposite , marking the start of her rise to prominence in the . She gained international acclaim as the original in the Australian premiere of The Phantom of the Opera (1990–1993), a role she reprised in later productions, and has since starred in over 30 major musicals, including Cats, , Mary Poppins, and . Her versatility extends to , concerts, and television, with notable collaborations alongside artists like and , as well as annual appearances at Melbourne's . Throughout her career, Prior has received widespread recognition, including three Mo Awards, three Green Room Awards, and the Advance Australia Award for her contributions to the ; she was inducted into Australia's 100 Entertainers of the Century in 2006 and appointed a Member of the (AM) in the 2023 . Married to actor since 2012, she has five children and resides in , continuing to tour extensively, with recent highlights including the title role in Kimberley Akimbo and the 40th-anniversary production of in .

Early years

Birth and upbringing

Marina Prior was born on 18 October 1963 in , , to Australian parents Graham and Patricia Prior. Her father worked in the shipping industry as a merchant seaman, which had brought the family to the territory. The family relocated to , , when Prior was a young child, where she spent the remainder of her early years. Growing up in this supportive environment, Prior was immersed in music from an early age, with her parents actively participating in the local Gilbert & Sullivan Society during their time in ; she often listened to their rehearsals, fostering her initial exposure to and . The family's musical heritage extended further, as Prior was raised singing traditional Irish and Scottish songs, influenced by her aunt and grandmother who shared a strong passion for music. During her school years in , these familial influences ignited Prior's sparks of interest in and , laying the foundation for her lifelong engagement with performance.

Education and training

Prior attended Korowa Anglican Girls' School in , graduating in 1981, where she developed her early musical interests by learning , , , and guitar. She began formal vocal training through singing lessons at the age of twelve, which laid the foundation for her technique. In 1982, following her school graduation, Prior enrolled at Melbourne State College—later integrated into the —to pursue a degree, specializing in voice. During her studies, she engaged in musical activities that honed her performance skills, though she departed after two years to focus on professional opportunities. While still a student, Prior secured her first professional role through an audition for the Victoria State Opera, debuting as Mabel in a 1983 production of The Pirates of Penzance.

Theatre career

Early roles

Marina Prior's professional theatre career began in 1983 when, at the age of 19, she auditioned for a chorus role in the Victoria State Opera's production of The Pirates of Penzance but was instead cast as the lead heroine, Mabel Stanley. The production, which toured Australia from late 1983 into 1984 and starred Jon English as the Pirate King and Simon Gallaher as Frederic, marked her debut and immediately showcased her soprano voice and stage presence opposite established performers. This unexpected breakthrough propelled her from student performances to professional engagements, establishing a foundation in Gilbert and Sullivan-style operetta. Following her debut, Prior took on supporting roles that built her versatility in ensemble-driven musicals. In 1984, she portrayed in the Australian touring production of , sharing the stage with as , a role that highlighted her dramatic capabilities in a romantic Arthurian narrative. The following year, 1985, saw her in the original Australian premiere of Cats at Sydney's Theatre Royal, where she performed the dual roles of Jellylorum and Griddlebone, contributing to the ensemble's intricate choreography and vocal harmonies in Andrew Lloyd Webber's feline spectacle. These early positions, often in large-scale chorus or secondary characters, allowed her to hone her skills amid high-profile casts while occasionally understudying leads, reflecting her initial steps in Australia's burgeoning scene. By 1987, Prior's growing reputation led to more prominent parts, including Cosette in the Australian premiere of at Melbourne's Victorian Arts Centre, with occasional performances as , earning her critical acclaim for her emotive delivery in the revolutionary drama. This engagement solidified her transition from supporting ensemble work to leading soprano roles in the late . In 1989, she further advanced as Hope Harcourt in the national tour of , a comedy where her comedic timing and vocal flair in numbers like "It's " demonstrated her broadening range beyond operatic styles. These formative experiences in the mid-to-late positioned Prior as an emerging force in Australian , blending classical training with contemporary demands.

Major productions

Marina Prior's breakthrough into major musical theatre came with her portrayal of Christine Daaé in the Australian premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, which ran from 1990 to 1993 at the Princess Theatre in Melbourne and later at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney. As the young soprano ingenue, Prior performed opposite Anthony Warlow as the Phantom and later Rob Guest, delivering the demanding vocal lines in songs like "Think of Me" and "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" with clarity and emotional depth that captivated audiences across the production's initial three-year run. Over this period, she appeared in more than 1,300 shows, a testament to her stamina and the role's centrality in solidifying her reputation as Australia's premier musical theatre soprano. In the mid-1990s, Prior continued her ascent with lead roles in other landmark productions. The following year, 1995, saw her as in a national tour of , where she conveyed the tragic factory worker's descent into despair with poignant vulnerability in "," marking a shift toward more dramatic, character-driven performances in her repertoire. That same year, Prior took on the ghostly role of Lily Craven in at the State Theatre in , opposite and ; her ethereal portrayal of the deceased mother, highlighted in duets like "How Could I Ever Know," added a layer of haunting lyricism to the show's themes of healing and family. Prior's prominence endured into the 2000s and 2010s with versatile leading turns in family-oriented classics. In the 2009 Australian premiere of Mary Poppins, she played Winifred Banks, the mother, infusing the character with warmth and subtle strength in ensemble pieces that underscored the musical's blend of whimsy and . Later, in the 2014 Harvest Rain Theatre Company revival of Cats at Brisbane's Exhibition and Convention Centre, Prior embodied , the faded glamour cat, delivering a stirring rendition of "" that highlighted her enduring vocal power amid the production's large-scale, arena-style spectacle involving over 800 performers. Her final major production in this era was as Baroness Elsa Schraeder in the 2015-2016 national tour of , produced by John Frost for The ; as the sophisticated Viennese widow vying for Captain von Trapp's affection, Prior brought elegance and subtle intrigue to the role, enhancing the touring production's appeal across , , and Perth venues.

Recent work

In 2017, Prior took on dual roles as , Bobby Darin's mother (later revealed as his grandmother), and Mary Douvan, Sandra Dee's mother, in the Australian premiere of – The Musical at the State Theatre in . Following a period focused on other performance formats, Prior returned to major in 2025 with a series of high-profile roles. She portrayed Phyllis Rogers Stone in Stephen Sondheim's , the first fully staged Australian production presented by Victorian Opera at the in St Kilda from 1 to 6 February. In this Tony Award-winning musical, Prior's performance as the sophisticated yet disillusioned former showgirl was praised for its emotional depth and vocal precision, contributing to the production's exploration of regret and reinvention among aging performers. Later that year, Prior played Madame Thénardier in Les Misérables: The Arena Spectacular, a large-scale arena adaptation of the classic musical that toured Australia, opening at ICC Sydney Theatre on 30 April and continuing to Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne from 14 May. Opposite Matt Lucas as Monsieur Thénardier, her portrayal of the opportunistic innkeeper's wife brought sharp comedic timing and vocal flair to numbers like "Master of the House," enhancing the production's immersive spectacle for over 10,000 audience members per show. In July 2025, Prior starred as the titular character, Kimberly Levaco—a teenager with —in the Australian premiere of the Tony Award-winning musical , co-produced by Melbourne Theatre Company and State Theatre Company at the Arts Centre from 26 July to 30 August. Her nuanced performance captured the character's resilience and humor amid personal challenges, earning acclaim for blending vulnerability with the show's poignant score by and . Prior capped the year with an international engagement, reprising Madame Thénardier in the West End's 40th anniversary production of at the from 8 September to 1 November. This special run, assembled by producer to celebrate the musical's legacy, featured Prior alongside a multinational cast, highlighting her enduring connection to the role since her early career debut as .

Other performances

Television and film

Marina Prior has made several notable appearances in Australian television, often blending her expertise with scripted and hosting roles. Her early work included a guest role as Deborah Osborne in the medical drama series G.P. in 1993. She later portrayed Rhonda Mellor in an episode of the crime Homicide* in 2009. In 2015, Prior starred as Iris, a glamorous society wife, in the ABC's comedic mini-series The Divorce, a witty production set during a lavish divorce party that featured a stellar cast including and . Prior also served as a on the Seven Network's reality singing competition It Takes Two during its 2006 and 2007 seasons, providing mentorship alongside other industry figures. Guest spots on variety shows include appearances on Spicks and Specks, where she participated as a panelist in episodes aired in 2008 and 2011. Prior's television presence extends to festive specials, particularly her longstanding involvement in , an annual Christmas event broadcast from Melbourne's Sidney Myer Music Bowl since the 1980s. She has performed regularly at these concerts, delivering songs like "Angels We Have Heard on High" in 2014, 2021, 2022, and 2023, and was featured in the 2024 edition, with plans for a return in 2025. Additionally, in 1999, she was the guest of honour on the tribute program This Is Your Life, celebrating her career achievements up to that point. On screen, Prior contributed to the 1989 recorded concert film Les Misérables: The Australia Day Concert, performing as Cosette in the outdoor production at Sydney's Domain Park, which captured key numbers from the musical. Her film roles include Betty Watson, a supportive figure in the biographical sports drama Spirit of the Game (2016), which recounts the introduction of basketball to via Mormon missionaries. More recently, in 2025, she appeared as Melinda Hunter in the thriller , a project marking her continued engagement in feature films.

Concerts and cabaret

Marina Prior has maintained a robust schedule of solo and collaborative concert tours since the 1990s, often drawing on her background to perform a mix of Broadway standards, operatic arias, and popular ballads in intimate and grand settings alike. Her early solo outings, such as Marina Prior in Concert, established her as a versatile live performer capable of captivating audiences across and internationally, with tours extending to and . These performances frequently feature personal anecdotes intertwined with songs from shows like The Phantom of the Opera and , emphasizing her range and emotional delivery. Throughout her career, Prior has collaborated extensively with major orchestras, enhancing the symphonic scope of her concerts. Notable partnerships include appearances with the , , and Queensland Symphony Orchestra, where she has delivered acclaimed programs blending hits with classical repertoire. Internationally, she joined tenor for a critically praised Australasian tour in 1994, performing operatic duets and crossover pieces to sold-out venues. She also served as special guest on Il Divo's Timeless tour across in 2018. More recent collaborations, such as her 2023-2024 tour The 2 of Us with tenor David Hobson, have toured over 60 Australian cities, showcasing duets from operas and musicals accompanied by piano and strings. In 2024, she launched Centrestage with baritone Michael Cormick, a full-length production highlighting their combined 50 stage credits through ensemble numbers and solos. Prior's cabaret engagements have provided platforms for more intimate, narrative-driven performances, often at prestigious venues like the . These shows allow her to explore storytelling through song, blending humor, reflection, and vocal prowess in a lounge-style format. In 2015, she participated in Hayes Theatre Co's month-long festival in Sydney, sharing the stage with artists like and Damien Leith to celebrate Australian icons. Her cabaret work extends to productions, where she has headlined luxury voyages, including a 2025 South Pacific itinerary featuring performances alongside Silvie Paladino and in a of favorites. Holiday and charity concerts form a significant part of Prior's live repertoire, with her longstanding involvement in festive events underscoring her community ties. She has been a staple performer at Carols in the Domain in for over three decades, delivering seasonal classics like "O Holy Night" to audiences of up to 100,000, often broadcast nationally to support charitable causes. Similar appearances at Carols by Candlelight in , including the 2024 edition with David Hobson and Silvie Paladino, highlight her role in these annual traditions, raising funds for organizations like Vision Australia. These events blend her timbre with choral ensembles, creating uplifting communal experiences. In 2025, Prior continued her concert activities with high-profile engagements, including a special performance at the Frontiers Conference in , where she contributed to a session on and voice, demonstrating her expertise through live vocal demonstrations. This appearance, alongside her ongoing cruise cabarets and symphony collaborations, reflects her enduring appeal in non-theatre live formats, with tours like Ovation—featuring Hobson, Paladino, and Cormick—scheduled through 2026 at venues including the .

Discography

Studio albums

Marina Prior's studio albums primarily feature her interpretations of standards, classical crossovers, and seasonal themes, often accompanied by orchestral arrangements that highlight her range. Her recordings emphasize emotional depth and vocal precision, drawing from her extensive theatre background to create intimate yet grand productions. Over her career, she has released seven studio albums as of 2025, with several achieving notable commercial success on Australian charts. Her debut studio album, Leading Lady, was released in November 1991 by and showcased covers of iconic musical theatre songs such as "I Dreamed a Dream" from and "" from Cats, backed by the conducted by Brian Stacey. The album peaked at number 15 on the ARIA Albums Chart and spent 10 weeks in the top 50, eventually earning platinum certification for sales exceeding 70,000 units in . The follow-up, Aspects of Andrew Lloyd Webber, arrived in 1992, also on Columbia, focusing exclusively on compositions by the renowned composer, including "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" from Evita and "All I Ask of You" from The Phantom of the Opera. Recorded with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, it reached number 22 on the ARIA Albums Chart and held for five weeks, reflecting Prior's affinity for Lloyd Webber's works from her stage roles. In 1994, Prior issued Somewhere: The Songs of Sondheim and Bernstein via Columbia, her third studio effort, which explored the catalogs of Stephen Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein with tracks like "Somewhere" from West Side Story and "Being Alive" from Company. The album received praise for its theatrical authenticity and vocal nuance, though it did not chart prominently. After a lengthy hiatus focused on live performances, Prior returned with Both Sides Now in 2012 on Fanfare Records, featuring orchestral arrangements of classics like the title track by Joni Mitchell and "The Rose" by Bette Midler. It debuted at number 43 on the ARIA Albums Chart, marking her first studio release in nearly two decades and underscoring her enduring appeal in crossover genres. Encore, released in April 2013 by , adopted an unplugged aesthetic with reinterpreted standards including "The Winner Takes It All" by and "I Dreamed a Dream," emphasizing acoustic intimacy and Prior's interpretive versatility. The album did not enter the ARIA top 50 but was noted for its stripped-back production that captured her live style. That same year, Candlelight Christmas emerged as her first dedicated holiday album on , blending traditional carols like "" and "" with orchestral and choral elements for a festive, reflective tone. It peaked at number 46 on the Albums Chart during the holiday season. Prior's most recent studio album to date, Together (2016), is a collaborative project with Mark Vincent on , featuring duets such as "The Prayer" and "Time to Say Goodbye," alongside solo tracks. The album reached number 5 on the Albums Chart and spent nine weeks in the top 50, demonstrating her ability to blend voices in operatic-pop fusion.
Album TitleRelease YearLabelPeak ARIA PositionKey Tracks
Leading Lady1991Columbia15"", "Memory"
Aspects of Andrew Lloyd Webber1992Columbia22"", ""
Somewhere: The Songs of Sondheim and Bernstein1994Columbia-"Somewhere", ""
Both Sides Now2012Fanfare43"", "The Rose"
Encore2013Fanfare-"", ""
Candlelight Christmas2013Fanfare46"", ""
Together (with Mark Vincent)2016Sony5"The Prayer", "Time to Say Goodbye"

Compilation, live, and cast recordings

Marina Prior has released several compilation albums that retrospectively collect her most popular songs from earlier studio work, highlighting her legacy. Her debut greatest hits collection, , issued in 2006 by , features 20 tracks spanning her career up to that point, including renditions of "" from and "" from Cats. The album underscores her enduring appeal in . In 2010, The Essential Marina Prior was released as a single-disc compilation by , aggregating 20 key recordings such as "Somewhere " and "I Don't Know How to Love Him," drawing primarily from her albums. This set served as a concise overview of her interpretations of Broadway standards. Prior's 2014 release, Songbird, a three-disc limited-edition from Ambition Entertainment, compiles material from her recent studio albums Both Sides Now (2012) and Encore (2013), alongside a new live recording; it emphasizes her evolution from to contemporary interpretations. The set was tied to her national tour and celebrated her 30 years in music. The following year, Leading Lady: The Ultimate Collection (2015), also from Ambition Entertainment, marked her third with 20 tracks chronicling her stage career, including selections from Aspects of (1992) and live like "." It blends classics with personal favorites. Prior's live recordings capture her concert , with Marina Prior Live (2014) standing as her primary standalone live , recorded at The Glasshouse in . Released by Records, the 12-track set includes live renditions of "," "," and a Celtic medley, showcasing her in an intimate venue setting; it was initially exclusive to the box set before a wider physical release. The highlights her transition to cabaret-style concerts, running 49 minutes and emphasizing audience interaction. Prior has contributed to numerous cast recordings from her prominent theatre roles, documenting her performances in major Australian productions. On the 1985 Australian cast recording of Cats (First Australian Cast, Celanese), she performed as Jellylorum, featuring in ensemble numbers like "Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats." In 1989, she appeared on the Anything Goes Australian Cast recording (Revival Cast, JAY Productions) as Reno Sweeney, delivering leads such as "I Get a Kick Out of You." Her role as in the 1990 Australian production of The Phantom of the Opera (Australian Cast, Polydor) is preserved on the cast album, where she sings iconic duets including with and This recording earned her a Green Room Award for her portrayal. For (1995 Australian Cast, First Night Records), Prior voiced Lily, contributing to tracks like and ethereal ensemble pieces that reflect the show's mystical tone. In the same year, she featured on the Australian of (Revival Cast, First Night Records), reprising elements from her earlier role in the 1987 production through select solos and ensembles. Up to 2025, Prior's theatre contributions continued with her role as Madame Thénardier in The Arena Spectacular (2025 World Tour Cast), a large-scale production that premiered in in April 2025; while a full has not yet been confirmed as of November 2025, promotional materials and live captures highlight her performances in numbers like "Master of the House" alongside . This involvement marks a milestone in her career, reuniting her with the legacy nearly 40 years after her debut.

Awards and honours

Theatre awards

Marina Prior has garnered significant recognition from Australian theatre organizations for her leading roles in musical productions. She has won three Green Room Awards for Best Female Actor in a Leading Role (Music Theatre), including for her portrayal of Cosette in Les Misérables (1990) and Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera (1991). Prior also received four Mo Awards for Female Musical Theatre Performer of the Year, including in 1990, 1991, and 1995, acknowledging her standout contributions during a formative period in her career. In addition, she has received nominations at the Helpmann Awards for Best Female Actor in a Musical, reflecting her continued impact on major stage productions.

National and other honours

In 2023, Marina Prior was appointed a Member of the (AM) in the for significant service to as a singer and actress. This national honour recognised her longstanding contributions to the , including leading roles in major productions and her influence on Australian . Prior was inducted into 's 100 Entertainers of the Century in 2006 by the Variety Club of , an accolade celebrating her as one of the nation's most impactful performers alongside figures such as Dame Nellie Melba and . This lifetime achievement honour highlighted her role in shaping contemporary entertainment in through her performances and stage presence. She has also received the Advance Australia Award for her contributions to the performing arts, acknowledging her broader impact on cultural life beyond individual productions. In the music industry, Prior earned ARIA Award nominations for her albums, including a nod for Best Adult Contemporary Album in 1993 for Aspects of Andrew Lloyd Webber, which achieved gold status and underscored her interpretive prowess in musical theatre repertoire. These recognitions affirm her enduring legacy as a pivotal figure in Australian arts.

Personal life

Family

Marina Prior was first married to fellow musical theatre actor Peter Lowrey from 1991 until their divorce in 2010. The couple had three children together: daughter Olivia, and sons Campbell and Jacob. In 2012, Prior married actor in , following their meeting during the production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Piro brought two children from a previous relationship—son Jack and daughter Maddie—creating a blended family of five children. The family shares traditions such as gatherings, with Prior noting the joys of combined family life despite their busy schedules. Prior and Piro reside in Melbourne's eastern suburbs, having previously lived in 's Newtown area. Balancing family demands with Prior's extensive touring commitments has involved periodic relocations, such as her extended stay in for Mary Poppins in 2011, which separated her from the family for months. Piro's own work travels, including a film shoot in during that period, added further challenges to maintaining family unity.

Religion and philanthropy

Marina Prior has been a devout since the late , a she has openly discussed in interviews and integrated into her public performances. In a 2009 profile, she described embracing over a decade earlier as a transformative decision that strengthened her during career highs and lows. Her beliefs have influenced her artistic choices, including selections of spiritually resonant repertoire, and she has shared how provides personal resilience amid professional demands. Since 2005, Prior has served as for Australia, a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to child welfare and disaster relief. In this role, she has supported initiatives like Operation Christmas Child, which delivers gift-filled shoeboxes to worldwide, and visited development projects in , including schools and water infrastructure programs. Her involvement extends to promoting the organization's efforts, such as aid distribution in crisis zones, reflecting her commitment to global compassion rooted in her faith. Through these activities, Prior has emphasized the joy of direct engagement, like personally handing out supplies to children in in 2006. Prior actively participates in Christian music events and charity concerts that align with her philanthropic values. She has performed at faith-based gatherings, such as a 2019 fundraiser "Night of Hope" hosted by pastor to support cancer patients, blending musical performance with charitable outreach. A prominent example is her longstanding involvement in Vision Australia's annual , a tradition raising funds for services aiding people who are blind or have low vision; she has appeared multiple times, including in 2024 with a lineup of fellow performers. In 2025, Prior continued her philanthropic efforts, including performances at charity events supporting community aid. She was announced for her debut at St John Ambulance's , scheduled for 13 December 2025, contributing to the organization's emergency services through this festive fundraiser. Her ongoing ambassadorship with has sustained support for international aid, particularly child-focused programs amid global challenges.

References

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