New Zealand Musical Theatre Boom
Big community theatres in New Zealand are riding a wave of success and are spoiled for choice about what show to do next. David Spicer reports.
The companies have the advantage of large theatre venues, with well-developed local audiences, and often own a building to rehearse and build sets in.
As well, they are offered musicals not available to community theatres in Australia, where professional companies hold the rights.
A national tour of Mamma Mia! commenced last month with its premiere in Auckland.
Other tours of Hairspray and The Phantom of the Opera by a consortium of theatres are well under way.
One company told Stage Whispers that it paid off a debt of close to a million dollars on the back of its success with Phantom.
At the 54thannual conference and AGM of Musical Theatre New Zealand in Napier, the consortium of theatres were offered the rights to Wicked, Mary Poppins, Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical and Saturday Night Fever The Musical, which is also available in Australia.
Hal Leonard Australia also flagged the future release of Billy Elliott The Musical.
One producer from a company, which has a backlog of musicals to produce due to the Christchurch earthquake, says he has been offered so much good product that his head was spinning.
Another noted that after years of meagre pickings of new releases, theatres have a smorgasbord of shows to choose from.
Check out our exclusive coverage of the New Zealand Musical Theatre annual conference/party and a backstage tour of the Napier Operatic Society's theatre.
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