|
| |
Director
Lawrie’s passion for musical theatre began at his father’s feet as he grew up watching his involvement in musicals and drama Lawrie is an exceptionally creative, multi-talented Actor, Director and Set builder. He is a past president of Musikmakers and a recent past Chairman of the Riverlea Board. His long association with musical theatre has seen him crew for the Royal New Zealand Ballet, perform with a professional dance troupe, professionally stage manage, as well as acting and singing on Stage/TV/Film He has written (in association with professional writers) and directed seven consecutive years of successful Dinner theatre shows He has directed and produced many productions including ‘Big River ‘Les Miserable’ ‘RENT’ Chicago to name just a few. Lawrie’s fervour and devotion to musical theatre gives him drive and ability to get the best from his cast and crew. Lawrie is excited about returning to Hamilton to direct this production and is looking forward to the challenge of putting on ‘Miss Saigon’ He says ‘Miss Saigon based on Puccini’s Madam Butterfly is set in the Vietnam war. Whereas ‘M. Butterfly’ uses the myth of Madame Butterfly to expose the imbalance of power inherent in imperialist relationships ‘Miss Saigon’ exploits history only as a pretext for theatrical spectacle, it is about humanity and passion.
|
|
| |
Musical Director
Steven has been involved in musical theatre for 30 years, working on over 80 productions. In recent times he has musically directed such productions as “Jesus Christ Superstar”, “Rent”, “Bare” and “Guys and Dolls”. Steven started his music life playing brass instruments in Brass Bands and Orchestras, competing in many regional and national competitions. However 25 years ago he took up the bass guitar and string bass. As an accomplished bass player Steven has provided backing for community events, musical groups, and well known New Zealand entertainers. He has also performed with various Jazz groups at numerous National Jazz Festivals in Tauranga. Four years ago he took the opportunity to study Jazz Performance at Massey University’s Conservatorium of Music in Wellington, and Commercial Music at Wintec in Hamilton. In the last couple of years Steven has been adjudicator for the Small Band/Jazz Band section of the Waikato and Bay of Plenty Secondary Schools Music Festival Competitions. Steven’s other musical activities include orchestrating, teaching, and sound engineering.
|
|
| |
Choreographer
Briar has been dancing for as long as she can remember. Performing has always been a popular family pass-time so it was a natural progression for her to progress into formal dance training. Her choreography experience started as early as primary school, creating, teaching and performing in school concerts and talent shows. This continued right through schooling with Briar winning numerous choreography competitions and New Zealand Dance scholarships. Briar qualified as a dance tutor at the age of 13 but didn’t formally teach until she was 16. Her preferred dance forms are Jazz NZ and American, Hip hop, Lyrical, Contemporary, and Dramatic dance. From teaching she continued her own performance training at the New Zealand College of Performing Arts and at the New Zealand Drama School. It was at drama school where she discovered her love for story-telling and her natural ability to paint 3D pictures using performance elements. Drama School is where she was re-introduced to her body in an organic way through study of the work of Daria Halprin and movement studies under mentor Mr Tom Mc Rory. Of this Briar says, “Tom challenged me to question, search for and acquire greater awareness of oneself in performance and in life. This lesson has been invaluable and I continue to make new discoveries with these skills every day.” Briar believes that her experience as a performer provides her with natural instincts and her drama training has provided her with objectivity. She observes these as her strengths as a choreographer and she also acknowledges that her love of working with performers and production staff of varying backgrounds and abilities provides her with an exciting challenge with each new project. This challenge she relishes and feels privileged to experience.
|
|
| |
Vocal Director
Barbara Smith is currently the Master Director of The Waikato Rivertones Chorus, International winners in San Antonio 2007 in the mid-size chorus competition for Sweet Adelines. In 2008 the chorus won the right to represent NZ in the annual international competitions to be held in Nashville Tennessee, October 2009. Barbara has been the Musical Director of this group for 14 years in which time they have gained an excellent reputation in the music world. As an Approved International Faculty member of Sweet Adelines, Barbara has tutored at International Education Symposiums in America. Currently she coaches Sweet Adeline choruses in Australia and New Zealand Music has been a large part of Barbara’s life since the age of 4 years when she first learned to play the piano. She then began accompanying school choirs, church choirs and instrumentalists as well as being part of the pit orchestra in musical shows. For 20 years Barbara was involved in the Hamilton Operatic Society and Musikmakers as rehearsal pianist, pianist in the pit orchestra and on a number of occasions, Musical Director. The transition from piano playing to vocal tuition has been an enjoyable experience for Barbara. Her continuing education in teaching good vocal techniques has become a priority. The training received in this area has benefited the choruses she works with and has contributed to the Rivertones ongoing success. In 2002 Barbara was presented a Civic Award by the City of Hamilton for outstanding service in the field of Arts and Culture and in 2005, she was named “Accompanist of the year” by the NZ Brass Band Association. At the beginning of 2009 Barbara was asked to be a Guest Presenter at the NZ International Summer School for Choral Leaders, conductors and administrators. Barbara is delighted to be working with the Miss Saigon production team as Vocal Director and is looking forward to assisting in the production of an exciting and wonderful show for the public of Hamilton.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|