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North Shore Music Theatre – Clubrooms Show
Season: April 25th – May 4th 2013

Director: Pauline Vella
Musical Director: Celeste Oram
Choreographer: Casey Radley
 
The Show: ‘The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!)’ is a musical about…. Musicals!
In this hilarious satire of Musical theatre, one story becomes five delightful musicals, each written in the distinctive style of a different master of the art form, from Rodgers and Hammerstein to Stephen Sondheim The basic plot revolves around our leading lady June, who can’t pay her rent and is threatened by the evil landlord. Will the handsome leading man come to her rescue in time?
What the critics have said about this smash Off Broadway hit:

“Witty! Refreshing! Juicily merciless!” – Michael Feingold, Village Voice
“A GIFT FROM THE MUSICAL THEATRE GODS” – TalkinBroadway.com
“Real wit, Real Charm!...it’s GREAT FUN” – The New York Times
“Funny, Charming and refreshing! It hits its target with sophisticated affection” –      New York Magazine
“Hilarious! It’ll keep you laughing from start to finish” – The Daily News

The Five Musicals of ‘The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!)’

Corn!
Corn! is set in the style of the musicals of Rodgers & Hammerstein, featuring parodies of and references to The King and I, The Sound of Music, Carousel, Cinderella, Flower Drum Song, Oklahoma!, and South Pacific. In Kansas in August, Jitter threatens that June will have to marry him if she can't pay the rent; Big Willy is torn between his desire to marry her himself and his desire for the freedom of his carnival-barker lifestyle, and Mother Abby advises her to follow her dream, leading to a lengthy dream ballet and a happy ending.

A Little Complex
A Little Complex is based upon the musicals of Stephen Sondheim (Into the Woods, Company, Sweeney Todd, and Sunday in the Park with George, et al.). In a New York apartment complex full of neurotics, Jitter is a mad artist/landlord who plots to murder his tenants, including bird-obsessed, indecisive June, deep-thinking composer Billy and pessimistic alcoholic Abby, for throwing his artwork out with the trash. After many overly-complex lyrics and dissonant music, he does.

Dear Abby
Dear Abby parodies the work of Jerry Herman, especially Mame and Hello, Dolly! Aunt Abby is an unconventional Manhattan socialite, adored by her neighbours, and her advice solves everyone's problems. In between costume changes, Abby manages to matchmaker her nephew William and her geeky friend Juney-Fae and convince the stuffy Landlord Mr. Jitters to embrace his true self and become a drag queen. Much dancing follows.

Aspects of Junita
Aspects of Junita plays upon the work of Andrew Lloyd Webber, including Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar, Cats, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and The Phantom of the Opera. In this sung-through pop opera, Junita hopes that becoming a superstar, despite her lack of talent, will allow her to get out of paying her rent from the mysterious Sir Phantom Jitter. As her boyfriend Bill bemoans the lack of communication in their relationship (due to the fact that they literally cannot talk), and fading diva Abigail von Starr advises her to go over the top, Junita falls under Phantom Jitter's spell, only for an errant Chandelier to bring things literally crashing down to a spectacular climax.

Speakeasy
Speakeasy reflects the work of John Kander and Fred Ebb, chiefly Chicago and Cabaret. In a speakeasy in 1930s Chicago, where half the characters are German, Fräulein Abby advises Juny to turn to prostitution to pay her rent; her boyfriend, Villy, is both gay and in jail, and is of no help; and the activity is presided over by the creepy emcee/landlord Jütter. All sing about how depressing life is and dance around in skimpy clothing.

After the end of Speakeasy, the cast concludes the show by singing Done, a parody of the song One from the musical A Chorus Line.

Woman 1 - Kerry Scurr
Woman 2 - Delwynne Winter
Woman 3 - Amber Johnson

Man 1 - Laurence Mossman
Man 2 - Matt Hadley
Man 3 - Jamie Lamb

Director - Pauline Vella
MD - Celeste Oram
Choreo - Casey Radley

Pianist - John Zheng

Production Manager - Jo Barker
Set Design - Pauline, Mark & John
Sound Design - John Michie
Lighting Design - Mark Betty
Costume - Emma Bishop
Props -
Set Dressing - Freg Stockwell
Marketing - Stephanie Tresidder
Programme - Claire Buckley
FOH - Robyn Daniels
FOH Catyering - Lyn Dorreen
Bar - Bruce Abbott
Stage Manager - Jonathan Wilce

Sound Operators - Christina Christopher
Lighting Operator - Mark Betty
Set Build - Mark Betty

Jo Barker – Production Manager

Email: kiwijojo@xtra.co.nz