The Full Monty

Levin Performing Arts Society is excited to offer you ‘The Full Monty’ as our ‘End of year show’

Friday 20th November – Saturday 12^th December 2009

Director: Alex Gilchrist, Musical Director: Baji Brown, Choreographer: Cathy Croad

The Full Monty started life as an amazingly successful movie in 1997, about a bunch of unemployed Average Bodied English blokes who redefined their virility by stripping down to the altogether, charming millions.

As a Broadway musical on the other hand, The Full Monty does something more daring and does it better too. This exhilarating show resets the story, transforming our blokes into out – of – work guys from Buffalo USA who loosen up for their macho bump and grind with feint and dunk American basketball moves. The show presents men and women exposing themselves to audience scrutiny while singing about that most American and indeed New Zealand of obsessions, Physical Imperfection!

The Full Monty is full of magical Musical Theatre moments with numbers like ‘Big Ass Rock’ a song in which three down on their luck men sing about how good it is to have a buddy who can helpfully smash your head in. And the James Brown hot riff on stereotype ‘Big Black Man’. The dialogue is fast, racy and often arch ‘If you want to be in show business you should be spayed first’ snaps salty seasoned trouper Jeanette, a new character who volunteers as ‘the boys’ rehearsal pianist. It is slangy, blunt, casual sometimes happily rude – Pop with Red Bloodied Wit.

The strong cast includes many favourites Darlene Mohekey, Stephanie Greenslade, Sera Devcich, Mark Peni, David and Melanie hands, John Schaeffer, Tahana Parker and talented new comers Sam Rewiri-Thorsen, Blaze O’Sullivan, Jonny Marshall, Geena Oldham-Collins. A large production team supports the show most of whom appear on the stage.

The Full Monty’s excitement and exuberance is greatly enhanced by a 7 piece band under the baton of Baji Brown. The choreography is in the capable hands of Cathy Croad.

The Full Monty menu is in the hands of Sonja Finlayson and is guaranteed to get your evening off to a good start.

We are encouraging your group booking NOW, as many pre-bookings have already been received. We are reorganizing our table arrangements to guarantee the very best seating for you and your party.

To discuss your preferential booking Phone Fleur now on 06 367 3404. You can talk through your requirements such as party hats? Balloons? And we will do everything to make the night special for your party.

Tickets for the general public open on the 19^th October 2009 at our booking office, The Gift Gallery, 214 Oxford Street Levin. Ph: 06 368 8211. Cash or cheque only

Prices: Dinner and Show $45.00 per person. Show only $20 per person $15 for Students

For groups of 30+ people the Show only price is just $15

Get organized for this special end of year “Do” Don’t delay Get your ticket/s TODAY,

Show Dates:

Fri 20th & Sat 21st November @ 8pm

Fri 27th & Sat 28th November @ 8pm

Fri 4th & Sat 5th December @ 8pm, Sun 6th December @2pm

Fri 11th & Sat 12th December @ 8pm

I look forward to seeing you all there,

Alex Gilchrist.

Director

Blue Eyes

Levin Performing Arts presents - Blue Eyes written by April Phillips

Director - Alex Gilchrist

Musical Direction - Willis Beckett

Staged 1st - 23rd August 2008

This show premiered at Wellington’s Circa Theatre during the 2003 Arts Festival.  It was awarded the STELLAR AWARD for Best Music Production.

A young woman ‘Frances’ has returned to her late mother’s home to ‘go thru’ some of her mother’s things.  A hat box reveals sheet music, a sequined evening dress, a feather boa and a large bundle of letters bound together with ribbon.

The letters are form her mother to Frank Sinatra dated from April 1959 and span four decades.  The first letter opens with “Mr Sinatra, may I call you frank?  I’ve just been to your concert in Melbourne.  What a voyage!  All the way to Australia to see you.  You were so much more than I ever dreamed and I just had to put it down in words.  There you were in real life.  Your voice, so full of emotion.  It felt as if you were singing to me Frank.”

This cabaret style show, without interval showcases a selection of Frank Sinatra favourites.  These songs are linked by Frances’s discovery that she really didn’t know her mother at all.

I hope you find Blue Eyes as romantic and whimsical as I do.

Alex Gilchrist - Director