A musician who worked on big-name shows including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Wicked and The Book of Mormon has died.
Stage stars are paying tribute to Kellie Dickerson, 53, who was a conductor and musical director for major theatre productions in Australia and around the world.
Her agent, Working Management, confirmed the news on Instagram.
“It was both a joy and honour to be your friend and agent,” a post said.
“You gave so much to so many. A true icon of the industry. Your energy, kindness and talent were boundless.
“You never gave up the fight, humour, grace or Wordle!”
Dickerson was the partner of Phantom, Les Miserables and Wicked star Rob Guest, who died from a stroke aged 57 in 2008.
A prize for performers is now handed out in his name.
Performer Rhonda Burchmore posted a tribute on Instagram, saying she was “so very sad”.
”Rest in peace darling Kellie & fly high beautiful lady – MSA (multiple systems atrophy) is the cruelest of neurological diseases – I know full well as this is the same disease that took my sister’s life away. Now you can be reunited with darling Rob,” she said.
Musical director John Foreman, who has also appeared on television shows such as Australian Idol, said she was “such a wonderful person. Kind-hearted, super smart, a wonderful human being”.
In 2020, a fundraiser was launched to collect money for stem cell treatments for Dickerson after her diagnosis.
She told Limelight magazine she noticed something was wrong when her “speech was a little slurred as if I was drunk”.
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Scans eventually diagnosed the condition and Dickerson, who was given a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2022, stepped back from her career.
An update before Christmas on the fundraiser said Dickerson had “deteriorated lately and is barely able to speak”.
She had been living with her parents in Dubbo, NSW.
