A musical powerhouse are combining their talents to give the “Annie” audience a show full of musical brilliance to remember. With a very talented cast of singers to work with, the super trio of Shaun Campbell, director, Charles Pittams, musical director and Shane Burgess, vocal coach have been busy pushing the leads and ensemble to new highs in their quest for musical excellence.
Shaun has directed for Hawera Repertory before in 2012 bringing us “Little Shop of Horrors” and was most recently musical director of “ Beauty and the Beast” in 2017.
On stage Shaun has played Fagin in “Oliver” in Hawera and he has performed in many New Plymouth Operatic shows, including three productions of “Les Misérables”
Having both children and adults in the cast is something Shaun is enjoying whilst directing the show and on having two Annie’s and two sets of orphans, he said this was to spread the load for the children but it also meant more children could be involved in top quality theatre.
When Shaun’s busy theatre life allows him some time to work, he is HOD of music at Hawera High, funny that!
Charles is a musical icon in the Taranaki theatre community, he is also a Life Member of Hawera Repertory and a current committee member, this man loves theatre !
Having been involved in theatre for over fifty years Charles has done and covered nearly every role both on and off the stage. You may have seen Charles on stage in “Beauty and the Beast” in 2017 as Maurice and some of his recent shows as musical director include “Oliver” and “The Wizard of Oz” both for Hawera Repertory. You may know Charles from his work at the aquatic centre but he is also a former music teacher, hmmm I see a trend here! “
Our third musical wizard Shane, had the idea to do “Annie” and convinced the committee, of which he is a member, to audition and produce the show.
Shane started with Hawera Repertory in 1992 in “South Pacific” and has also performed in other New Zealand centres in various roles. By day Shane teaches Te Reo and music at Tawhiti school and at night he runs his own vocal studio and enjoys helping students improve their confidence, vocal and performance techniques. I knew it, a music teacher as well!
Vibrant music yearns for vibrant movement and the choreographer for “Annie” is Michelle Glover. Michelle has performed on stage with Hawera Repertory many times with “My Fair Lady” been her first show. Michelle has also been chorographer before in” Nunsense” and “Wizard of Oz”.
As well as her day job, Michelle runs her own dance studio , yes, you guessed it Michelle is a dance teacher, at Michelle Glover Academy of Dance.
Teaching adults is quite different from her younger students, but Michelle says she enjoys the different approach that musical theatre requires, and the fact that in a show everyone is playing a part, and this means people will push themselves to do something they may not normally try.
The combined experience, knowledge and enthusiasm these four creatives bring to “Annie” would rival many New Zealand productions and it will be the audiences who reap the benefit of the level of talent driving the cast and crew to deliver outstanding theatrical entertainment.
The cast and crew are doing the hard work and you, our loyal audience get the easy job, take yourself to ticketdirect online or the Hawera I-Site and purchase your tickets and come and enjoy “Annie.” The show runs from Friday 7th June to Saturday 15th June in the Hawera Memorial Theatre and includes 4 matinee shows.
Source: Been Thomas
