Kaye Tuckerman is one of the busiest Aussies in New York City. An accomplished, multi-award-winning actor, singer, director, and educator, currently completing her Doctor of Creative Arts PhD—which she will receive in December 2025—Kaye has earned her place as an inspirational role model for aspiring creatives and performers around the world.
Before moving to New York, Kaye’s success in Australia led her to Nairobi, Kenya, where she earned an African Film Academy Award nomination for her production design work on From a Whisper, directed by Wanuri Kuhio.
We couldn’t wait to peek behind the curtain and learn more about Kaye’s career in Australia and what led her to the neon lights on Broadway.
Where in Australia did you grow up, and what were you doing before you moved overseas?
I grew up on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. My first jobs were pretty classic—working at Target in Warringah Mall, and briefly as a tabouli maker at Amelia’s Vegetarian Restaurant in Curl Curl (I lasted one shift—apparently, my parsley-cutting skills were not up to par!). I studied performing arts at WAAPA and completed a postgrad in Directing at NIDA.
From there, I performed in many of the big commercial musicals—Les Misérables, Jesus Christ Superstar, South Pacific, Dusty, Wicked—and toured globally with several of them. I headlined cabaret festivals with my solo shows and worked in casting for Disney’s The Lion King and Sydney Dance Company.
A fun fact: my entry into film came as the body double for Carrie-Anne Moss in The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions. That experience led me to Kenya, where I transitioned into film design and earned an African Film Academy nomination.
When and why did you move to NYC, and what have you been doing since?
I officially moved to New York in 2010, after performing as the lead singer in Absinthe for Spiegelworld. As a teenager, I performed with the Mackellar Musical Society, and it was there, during a production of Pippin, that our American director—a true Broadway hoofer—shared his stories about life on the Great White Way. Before he passed, I promised him I’d one day perform on Broadway.
It took a little while (and a lot of hustle), but I kept my promise. Just six weeks after moving to NYC, I booked the lead in the Broadway National Tour of Mamma Mia!. I toured North America and Canada for two years—650 shows in 144 cities. After the tour, I returned to New York and became Creative Director for a makeup company, designing for fashion week, magazine covers, and Broadway/TV/film collaborations. I’ve been involved in multiple new show developments, acted opposite Russell Crowe and James Spader, and performed on Broadway with LaChanze and Ariana DeBose in Summer: The Donna Summer Musical.
What was your “dream come true” moment in NYC?
Booking Broadway was a huge dream come true. To go from Allambie Heights to the stages of Broadway is truly surreal. Getting that offer—after all the years of dreaming, studying, and taking risks—is overwhelming and deeply magical.
Another pinch-me moment was headlining the entertainment at the 2015 NBA All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden in 2015. I performed as Donna with the cast of Mamma Mia! to 20,000 people, which was telecast to millions. Queen Latifah, Christina Aguilera, and Ariana Grande also performed that night.
Dancing with the other cast members of Summer: The Donna Summer Musical in the 2018 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was also an incredible experience. It was the second coldest Thanksgiving Day on record for the city, and the coldest since 1901. We were on site at 5 am, wearing sleeveless sequin jumpsuits, enduring a minus-15-degree Fahrenheit wind chill (minus 26 degrees Celsius!). What you didn’t see on television were the massive industrial heaters blowing furiously to keep us from freezing.
Dreams can also come true with our East Coast neighbors. In 2012, I headlined the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular for the city’s Fourth of July celebrations. Although Jennifer Hudson and hometown favorites, The Dropkick Murphys, also performed, my most vivid memory of that evening was performing “Winner Takes It All” to 500,000 people, surrounded by 21 cameras, being beamed live across America. It was both terrifying and exhilarating!
Photo by Joan Marcus.
If we followed you around for a week, what would we see?
Right now, you’d probably see me typing furiously on my laptop as I wrap up my PhD coursework. But on a livelier week, you might catch me rehearsing Picnic at Hanging Rock with Greta Gertler Gold and Hillary Bell for Lincoln Center, or prepping vocals for a show in Broadway Houston. I might be wrangling The Umbilical Brothers, secretly filming motion capture in a velcro suit, performing on stage in China, directing in Singapore, or playing “smart ribbon” games with my two Persian cats. Never a dull moment!
We’re intrigued! What is your PhD research about?
I’m doing a Doctor of Creative Arts with a focus on Shamanism and the Creative Process. I started during the pandemic—it felt like a good use of lockdown time. I’ve always been interested in holistic, embodied approaches to the arts. With the pace of modern life and digital overload creating such disconnection, my research explores how creativity and shamanic practices can help artists (and audiences) reconnect with self, others, and the environment in both linear and non-linear ways.
How do you like to stay connected to Australian culture from NYC?
I’m involved with AWNY, follow America Josh, and The Australian Community, and love visiting Old Mate’s Pub at the Seaport. I listen to Australian bush soundscapes and watch Aussie nature documentaries – I crave nature and the Aussie Bush. I’m also Co-Creative Director of the Voices of Women International Short Film and Script Festival, alongside the incredible Lliane Clarke. During the pandemic, we produced 12 short films by women, which went on to win over 100 laurels globally. It’s an amazing platform for Australian women filmmakers and storytellers.
What are your favorite NYC spots to take Aussie visitors?
- Hudson VU Rooftop (formerly The Press Lounge) at Ink 48 Hotel for unbeatable rooftop views.
- Robert at the Museum of Arts and Design—Central Park looks unreal from there.
- Peacefood Cafe, a vegan kitchen and bakery at Union Square.
- Union Square Farmers Market for a bit of local color.
- Old Mate’s Pub, of course!
- And for something off the beaten path: The Little Red Lighthouse under the George Washington Bridge.
- Oh—and always a Broadway theatre stop, naturally.
If you could go back and give yourself advice when you first moved to NYC, what would it be?
I’d tell myself to truly believe that in New York, anything is possible. I moved here expecting it to take years to get a foot in the door. Instead, I landed a lead role within six weeks. I wasn’t mentally prepared for success to come that fast—it took a while to shift from “grind” mode into “go time” mode.
New York is an energetic force—it’s not passive. It rewards clarity, intention, and boldness. That said, it will also punch you in the face when you least expect it—so stay humble, stay open, and stay ready.
How can AWNY members connect with you?
You can find me on Instagram: @kayetuckerman
Kaye doesn’t get a lot of downtime, but when she does, she is often seen discussing new creative projects, especially those that support women and women’s issues. We look forward to hearing what she is up to next!
AWNY | Australian Women in New York 