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Dennis Hans Olsen AM (born 28 February 1938) is an Australian singer, actor, director and pianist. He is best known as an exponent of the "patter" roles in Gilbert and Sullivan operas. At first trained as a pianist, Olsen soon switched to acting, beginning his career with Australian theatre companies in the 1960s. After success with Opera Australia, Olsen briefly joined the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. He returned to Australia in 1971 playing in theatre as well as Gilbert and Sullivan over the next four decades. He also directed sang Noël Coward songs in his cabaret act and acted in films, television and radio. ==Early career== Olsen was born in Adelaide, South Australia, and is of Danish descent. He originally trained for a professional career as a pianist. He decided to become an actor and attended the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney, graduating in 1962.〔Stone, David. ("Dennis Olsen" ), Who Was Who in the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, 27 August 2001, accessed 22 May 2012〕 He has appeared with the following theatre companies: Old Tote Theatre Company, State Theatre Company of South Australia, Melbourne Theatre Company and Sydney Theatre Company. Some of the plays in which Olsen has appeared include: ''The Importance of Being Earnest'', ''The Crucible'' and ''The Venetian Twins''. In 1969, Olsen attracted notice as a guest artist playing the patter roles in the Australian Opera's productions of Gilbert and Sullivan's ''H.M.S. Pinafore'', ''Iolanthe'' and ''The Pirates of Penzance''. He then joined the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in England.〔 In 1970–71, Olsen spent a season in the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company understudying John Reed in the comic roles, as well as being a member of the chorus, and touring both England and the European continent during his tenure with the company. He hoped to become John Reed's successor in the comic roles with D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, but returned to Australia when it became clear that John Reed had no intention of retiring from the company for some time. He rejoined Australian Opera in 1971–72, playing Ko-Ko in ''The Mikado'' and the Duke of Plaza-Toro in ''The Gondoliers'' in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra.〔(''The Gondoliers'' ) and (''The Mikado'' ): 2010 DVD re-issues of Australian Opera's productions, accessed 28 August 2014〕 The following year, he starred in ''An Ideal Husband'' and ''The Cherry Orchard'' on tour in Australia. For the latter, he won Melbourne's Erik Award for best actor of the year. He played Bunthorne in Australian Opera's 1980 production of ''Patience'', recording the role in 1995 at Sydney Opera House.〔 Olsen directed as well as starred in a State Opera of South Australia production of ''H.M.S. Pinafore'' (as Sir Joseph Porter), which was broadcast on ABC television in 1981.〔 The production also starred Thomas Edmonds (as Ralph Rackstraw) and Judith Henley (as Josephine). 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Dennis Olsen (actor)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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