February 2016 - New Plymouth Operatic Society

Newsletter of the New Plymouth Operatic Society
February 2016
Sister Act Cast
Announced
A star-studded cast is today announced for New Plymouth
Operatic’s upcoming season of Sister Act. A full cast
list is included on page 2. Auditions were held over the
weekend of 30 and 31 January with approximately 100
people auditioning for just over 30 spaces in the onstage
company “We could have cast the nuns more than 4 times
over” quipped New Plymouth Operatic President Kevin
Landrigan.
New Plymouth local Stacy
Manktelow has won the much
coverted role of the Mother
Superior, made famous by Maggie
Smith (Downton Abbey) in the 1992
original Whoopi Goldberg movie
of Sister Act. While involved with
NPOS for the past few years in
various capacities, including as
part of the onstage company for
Operatic’s 2015 production of Mamma Mia!, this will be by
far the biggest stage role for her to date “it’s a challenge we
are sure she will relish and embrace” says Mr Landrigan.
Joining Manktelow in the cast will be Eryn Street who will
play the role of Sister Mary Robert. Street recently moved
to New Plymouth from Wellington with her fiance, and joins
New Plymouth Operatic having been a regular performer
for Wellington Musical Theatre in recent times. “We were
absolutely thrilled with both the quality and quantity of
auditionees for Sister Act” said Mr Landrigan “We have
had more people audition for Sister Act than any of our
recent productions (including Mamma Mia, Phantom and
Hairspray), and all those who auditioned would not have
been out of place in the final cast” “The casting process
has involved some incredibly tough choices for our creative
team, and there are some very talented people who have
missed out” “A number of people who have been onstage,
both in principal and company roles for some of our recent
shows have missed out this time, which is a testament to
the quality of auditionees and the integrity of the NPOS
audition process” “We are thrilled our show choice has
resonated so strongly with our membership base, and with
such a strong cast, we are right on target for an exceptional
season.”
The cast of 31, under the direction of Warren Bates, will
commence rehearsals for the show this coming Sunday.
In other production news, Kathryn George has joined the
production team as Production Administrator, and did a
superb job supporting the production team through the
audition process.
“To have the Australasian premier of such an A-list new
product is a real coup for New Plymouth Operatic and for
Taranaki” commented New Plymouth Operatic President
Kevin Landrigan. The New Plymouth season will be the
first time Sister Act the musical has been performed
anywhere in Australasia, either by a professional or a
community theatre group.
New Plymouth Operatic’s Australasian Premiere season
of Sister Act runs at the TSB Showplace from Thursday
21 July to Saturday 6 August, a season which cannot be
extended. Tickets are on sale now from Ticketmaster
www.ticketmaster.co.nz
New Plymouth Operatic Society | 76 King Street | PO Box 485 | New Plymouth | New Zealand
Phone: 06 758 4926 | Fax: 06 758 4926 | Email: [email protected] | Website: www.npos.co.nz
Page 2
CAST LIST
Deloris Van Cartier.............................................................. Announcement Pending
Mother Superior ................................................................. Stacy Manktelow
Monsignor O’Hara .............................................................. Martin Quicke
Pablo....................................................................................... Shaun Campbell
TJ ........................................................................................... Te Whatumanawa Ngatai Tangirua
Eddie Souther....................................................................... TBC
Curtis Jackson ..................................................................... TBC
Michelle ................................................................................. Krystal Tofts
Tina ........................................................................................ Amy Hunt
Sister Mary Robert ............................................................. Eryn Street
Ernie ...................................................................................... Howard Rozon
NUNS (Character parts to be designated)
Sheree Anaru
Jasmine Butler
Natasha Foster
Elicia May Hitchcock
Raylene Hunt
Monique Matthews
Duchesne Markham
Kelsey McEwan
Eileen Murphy
Stephanie Murphy-Provis
Ann Stewart
Melissa Peters
Alyssa Poole
BACKING VOCALS
ON STAGE ENSEMBLE
Alie Bollond
Debbie Bygate
Cynthia Ciezadlo
Sylvia Howieson
Vikki Johnson
Claire Lamb
Sue Lupton
Cambel McGregor-Fernee
Nikki Truman
Josh Clarke
Lauren Heaysman
Angela Hill
Courtney McEwan
Jesse Pearson
New Plymouth Operatic Societyy
Page 3
Helpers Wanted
New Plymouth Operatic are hosting the Musical Theatre New
Zealand annual conference on 24-26 March 2017 (and no, its not
the same weekend as Womad!) We are looking for more helpers
for that weekend. If you are interested in helping in some way,
please express your interest to our conference co-ordinator Jenny
Murray ([email protected])
2016 Membership
2016 Memberships are now available, by either completing the
attached membership form, or emailing us on [email protected].
A number of different membership categories are available,
including some which include discounted seats for our major
production.
Car Park Reminder
Since the opening of the new Govett
Brewster Art Gallery/Len Lye Centre and
Monica’s Café across the road from the
NPOS facilities, there have been a few
challenges around car parking at the NPOS
rooms.
A reminder to all that one par park is leased
out Monday-Friday 8am-5pm, and is a Tow
Away zone during this time. One car parks
are leased 24/7 (they are marked)
Call of Musicians
We are on the look out for a drummer, bass player, guitarist and keyboard
player - at high calibre (able to read music) - disco/high energy style for the
Sister Act bank. Enquiries to [email protected]. We’d love to hear from
you. If you are interested, please let us know by 5 March at the latest (the
sooner the better though!)
Office Update
The NPOS office continues to be closed while our Adminsistrator Viv Richardson
is on sick leave. Angie Trigger is assisting in Viv’s absence most Tuesday’s and
Wednesdays from 11am-2pm
2016 Christmas Show
The NPOS Board are now taking expressions of interest/proposals
for our 2016 Christmas show to be staged at The Plymouth Hotel in
November/December 2016. If you had a show idea please submit it to
NPOS President Kevin Landrigan by 5 March – Kevin.landrigan@bdo.
co.nz
New Plymouth Operatic Societyy
Ticketmaster
Outlet
Update
With Viv’s extended absence,
and our office closed since
July, the NPOS Board decided
in December not to renew our
contract with Ticketmaster to
host an outlet at our rooms.
The outlet has been closed
and the equipment returned to
Ticketmaster. In the 5 years we
have held the outlet, it has been
a valued part of our operations,
and developed a good clientele.
However in that same period the
number of tickets we sell to our
own shows online has grown
from under 10% to over 60%,
and this will continue to grow.
Page 4
Congratulations
To Brent Howard, who is one of our
NPOS lighting team, who got engaged
recently to Geraldine Forde.
Into the Director’s
Chair
Out and About
Shows on around the country this year by our
fellow musical theatre societies
AUCKLAND
The Phantom of the Opera, Civic Theatre
11 February - 5 March
Evita, Bruce Mason Theatre, 28 May – 18 June
HAMILTON
Some exciting news through recently
that former NPOS member Barry
Jones, who is now based in Palmerston
North, will sit in the director’s chair for
the very first time in 2016, when he
will direct Abbey Musical Theatre’s
2016 production of Cats in the Regent
Theatre. Its an exciting move for Barry,
who has musically directed more than
70 shows in the past 40 year, but this
will be his first time as a director.
Mary Poppins, Founder Theatre 6 – 21 May
AGM
DUNEDIN
The New Plymouth Operatic Society
Annual General meeting will be held
on Tuesday 22 March 2016 at the
NPOS rooms, 76 King St, 7pm. At the
AGM the president is elected annually,
as are 3 Board members. Board
members Kevin Murphy, Terry Hignett
and Howard Rozon stand down by
rotation. Nominations for the positions
of President and Board members are
now open.
Our Angels of Music
Congratulations to Chris Crowe, June Dams and Simon Coles,
former NPOS members who are all currently appearing onstage in the hugely successful season of The Phantom of the
Opera at the Civic Theatre in Auckland, while Andrew Gibson,
Glen Ruske, Carolyn Murphy and Patrick Landrigan all involved
in various behind the scenes supporting roles, there is certainly a good NPOS influence in the production
New Plymouth Operatic Societyy
PALMERSTON NORTH
Sweeney Todd, TCOL Theatre 3 – 19 March
Cats, Regent on Broadway 12-27 August
CHRISTCHURCH
Mamma Mia, Isaac Theatre Royal
31 March – 16 April
Hairspray, Isaac Theatre Royal 8 – 18 June
Evita, Isaac Theatre Royal 15-25 Sept
Spamalot, Mayfair Theatre, September
INVERCARGILL
Mary Poppins, July
Page 5
New Plymouth Operatic Society | 76 King Street | PO Box 485 | New Plymouth | New Zealand
Phone: 06 758 4926 | Fax: 06 758 4926 | Email: [email protected] | Website: www.npos.co.nz