22-31 March at Theatre Royal
This Issue we are giving you all the scoop on our production in MARCH !!!
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THE FULL MONTY THE BROADWAY MUSICAL
A raucous, pop-rock musical send-up of gender expectations and stereotypes.
Based on the cult hit film of the same name, “The Full Monty” is filled with honest affection, engaging melodies and the most highly anticipated number of any show. The powerhouse team of Terrence McNally (Ragtime) and David Yazbek (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) cook up a crowd-pleaser that both entertains and grabs your heart.
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The Nelson repertory's cast of Full Monty
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Meet some of our creative team...
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Bryan Atkin
Bryan Aitken is one of New Zealand’s most well known professional directors of musical theatre. He has directed many musicals for different community theatres around New Zealand. His most recent ones include Grease, Blood Brothers, Hot Shoe Shuffle, My Fair Lady, Cabaret, All Shook Up, The Full Monty, The Sound of Music, Chicago, La Cage Aux Folles, Buddy, Saturday Night Fever, The Pirates of Penzance, Hairspray and Children of Eden. This will be the 8th time that he has directed in Nelson, the last time being 2004 with Amadeus. Bryan is passionate about supporting his cast produce their best possible work. Opportunities like this don’t happen every day, so don’t miss your chance – book your audition today!
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Chris retired in 2012 after 38 years as Head of Music at Nayland College. In addition to the teaching programme he was the driving force behind 21 major Musical Theatre Productions at the College over that time.
In the wider community he has been extensively involved in the musical direction of Brass, Jazz Bands and Musical Theatre including Lés Miserables, Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar, Chess and Buddy –the Buddy Holly story
As invited conductor of the Nelson Civic Choir his highlights have been directing ‘The Creation’, Karl Jenkins’s ‘The Armed Man’ and ‘Stabat Mater’. He prepared the New York singers for the American Premier of 'Cantata Memoria' and last year conducted the first New Zealand performance of this work
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Pete Harris
Pete began his theater experience as an offstage chorus member of Godspell in 1984. Over the next 4 years he performed in many shows for the Nelson Operatic Society and the Nelson Repertory Theatre.
Having been "Spotted" by Jeannie Gill In 1990 after she choreographed Evita directed by Duncan Whiting, Pete began dance lessons in Blenheim. Pete choreographed his first show in 1991 returning to Waimea College and assisting Peta Spooner with Bugsy Malone. At the end of 1991 Pete auditioned and was successful in gaining a place with the New Zealand School of Dance.
From 2001 to 2005 Pete became a Drama Teacher (and Careers Advisor) at Nelson College. At the end of 2005 Pete entered a new phase of life as a manager and director of Ursula Harris Hair Design. Apart from a number of fashion shows and hair dressing competitions, it's been 10 years since Pete was actively involved in Theater. Pete tells us that his strength as a choreographer is working with performers who lack formal dance training and that he loves incorporating humour "We make up in energy what we lack in technique" Pete says. "Having worked with Bryan in the past I am looking forward to what we can produce together. Rehearsals have been amazing so far, the cast is having the time of their lives and it's wonderful to be able to support them to bring you the Full Monty"
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We also welcome some new faces to NELSON
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Kyle Chuen
Originally from Foxton, Kyle is a graduate of the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Arts.
Recent theatrical highlights include Billy Elliot, Guys and Dolls, Jesus Christ Superstar and Little Shop of Horrors for Auckland Theatre Company, National tours of H.M.S Pinafore, Buddy Holly, Oklahoma and Pirates of Penzance, Assassins (SILO) Avenue Q (Fortune Theatre) The Last Five Years (3 Wines theatre company) Rock of Ages (Magnitude) School Dance (Centrepoint) Comedy Cabaret and 1931 (Blue Baths) Raoul in Phantom of the Opera, Mary Sunshine in Chicago, Thuy in Miss Saigon and most recently Jean Valjean in Hamilton Operatics Les Miserables.
He began his acting career in Christchurch and has performed at the Court Theatre in Pondlife Angels, The Country Wife, The Producers, The History Boys, La Cage Aux Folles, Anything Goes, Cabaret and Much Ado About Nothing.
Kyle is an original cast member of That Bloody Woman and has performed in all 4 previous seasons (Christchurch Arts Festival, Auckland Theatre Company,The Court Theatre and National Tour)
He would one day like to host his own fishing show .
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LeRoi Kippen
Thirty-two year old South African born LeRoi has been singing publicly since the age of four.
He performed with the Durban Boys Choir through his teens, touring the state and even to Germany. He later attended the Lady Grey Arts Academy, where he trained in classical singing and ballet.
After moving to New Zealand with his family in 2003 he studied at The Wellington Performing Arts Centre before going to NASDA in Christchurch, where he graduated with his Bachelor of Performing Arts degree. There he also performed in Christmas in The Park and for The Court Theatre, The Producers.
Dancing is a natural talent and he has choreographed and performed in La Cage Aux Folles directed by Bryan Aitken. Favourite roles have been Seaweed in the NZ Premiere hit musical Hairspray and Kenicke in Grease.
Delving into the multi-faceted aspects of his personality and talents, LeRoi created a night club drag artist and corporate gig performer named Tara Beige Lubbe, who sang, danced and lip-synced her way to becoming Miss Capital Drag in Wellington.
Moving to New Zealand created no language barriers but he found life culturally very different.
“I still open doors for people to this day, manners go a long way” he says.
The freedom of the New Zealand lifestyle for an artiste has opened his creative energies and imagination – he is currently devising a one-man show dedicated to the life and times of his hero Nelson Mandela, to whom he credits his personal freedom.
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click to find more info
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