Twenty-two years ago a shy and quiet Casey Donovan became a household name overnight when she won the second season of Australian Idol. Since then Casey has forged a successful solo career as well as taking centre stage as one of Australia’s leading ladies of Musical Theatre.
Casey is currently touring Australia with This Is Me, a celebration of her incredible twenty-two years in the industry. Her tour will include a very special stop here in Adelaide as part of this year’s Adelaide Cabaret Festival.
Casey spoke to Glam Adelaide about her performing, her Cabaret Festival performance and what led her to embark on this national tour.
“It just so happened that I wasn’t booked for anything, nor was there anything lined up to audition for, so I thought what better time to get back to my solo career and do a national tour. I wanted to call it This Is Me and shine a light on the last 22 years of my career from before Australian Idol, during Idol, post Idol, the musical theatre moments, the songs that I’ve written, and the songs that I never got to sing live. I wanted to share the stories that I’ve collected across my career as well. It isn’t a scripted show, which can sometimes lead me to go on tangents, but I love that each show has its own energy and its own vibration and its own storyline. It’s just a really beautiful way to showcase who I am in today’s society and the woman I’ve grown into and take people on the journey of the last 22 years.”
For Adelaide, Casey is performing a special edition of her This Is Me tour at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival that will include a focus on the music of Amy Winehouse.
“I’m very excited about this special version of This Is Me that I’m bringing to the Adelaide Cabaret Festival. One half is going to be This Is Me and the other half is going to be an Amy Winehouse special, which I’m very excited for. Amy herself was an amazing songwriter, and to me, the relationship between her and I is we’re both sort of tortured artists at some points, but we sing with passion and we sing with storylines and vision. I am the biggest Winehouse fan – always will be. You can only imagine how refined her music would be if she was still around today. Her story always felt unfinished when she left us.”
With 22 years of music to her name, as well as Amy Winehouse’s vast catalogue of music, we asked Casey how she was able to choose what songs would be included in the tour.
“It’s so tricky. The last 22 years of my catalogue isn’t a small feat…it’s rather large. So I’ve carved it out to the best of my abilities to not only keep the audience happy but also to keep myself happy. It was tricky and we do have some extra pieces sitting in our back pocket for when we feel like the mood needs to shift or if I’m not feeling it or if the the vibe of the crowd’s not feeling it. I think that’s really important and it’s a great thing to have your own show and to be able to change things around at the drop of a hat. Regarding Amy Winehouse’s music, she’s done some amazing covers as well as her own music, so it’s been just as much of a challenge to select music from her catalogue.”
Having worked in musical theatre as well as a solo performer, Casey shared with Glam Adelaide how she compares these different platforms of performing.
“I find them equally rewarding. I love being myself and being on stage and just being free to roam about the cabin when it’s just me doing my own thing, but I also love the structure of musical theatre and the challenge of keeping it fresh and keeping it interesting. I also love building characters and understanding everything and all the cogs that go into putting a character together and being on stage. I do find acting not as challenging, but it scares me more. I think for me it feels like imposter syndrome happening and I don’t know if I’m doing this right. But I love them both. They challenge me in different ways. I love that I’ve been able to work with some of Australia’s most talented humans like Caroline O’Connor, Rhonda Burchmore, Marina Prior…the list goes on. I feel absolutely honoured and grateful that I’ve come from a world of reality television to then open many doors and really try to own my craft and learn from the best. I’m very grateful for that.”
Casey Donovan celebrates 22 years in the spotlight with a one-night-only Adelaide performance. Known for her powerhouse vocals and electrifying stage presence, this firecracker of a show is packed with Idol classics, musical theatre showstoppers, NYE highlights, brand-new originals, plus Amy Winehouse classics performed exclusively for Adelaide Cabaret Festival audiences.
“I’m very much looking forward to getting to Adelaide. I can’t even remember the last time I’ve had so many Adelaidean people or South Australian people saying, ‘How can you call this a national tour when you’re not coming to Adelaide?’ So I’ve been telling them to just wait, just hold your horses, we’re coming. I think Adelaide audiences are so pure and honest, and I love that. They support the arts and they come out in droves. I really appreciate the rawness of an Adelaide audience and everyone being in the room and being in the moment. I feel very privileged and honored to be part of the Cabaret Festival this year. I can’t wait to enjoy it and embrace it with Adelaide audiences. It’s going to be a beautiful thing.”
Casey Donovan — This Is Me – The Amy Winehouse Special
Adelaide Cabaret Festival
Adelaide Festival Theatre
19th June 2026
7.30pm
https://cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/whats-on/casey-donovan-this-is-me-amy-winehouse-special
Photo credit: Paul Dear
