April 2018 Highlights in this month’s Spotlight

President’s Final Address 58th AGM and Volunteer Training Weekend – it’s a wrap Update from John Herber/NZ Fire Shield on their vouchers from conference Meet our newest Life Member – Valda Peacock QSM (KOV) Meet our new (well not really, but new positions) Executive team members – Dan, Helen and Tania Conference Competition Results and Award Recipients (Merits will be announced in June) MTNZ Calendar – it’s huge – so many training and networking opportunities Agendas for May meetings – Combined North Island and Zone Five NextGen Boot Camp – August, Lake Karapiro – our third one Latest news from iTICKET #mtnz2018 Zone One News – PUSS, Rising Stars, Heathers, Beauty and the Beast, Book Club Masterclass opportunity with Hayden Tee Zone Two – Shrek, Last Legs and Celtic Connection Zone Three- , a great idea from Abbey MT, Once Upon a Mattress Zone Four – Defying Gravity, new associate members 4th Wall and Dennis Brown; Combined South Island Meeting 14 – 15 September Zone Five – the arena spectacular, strat planning in Queenstown and Priscilla comes to , South Otago have been painting their green room and we welcome new members Taieri Dramatic Society to the MTNZ family, April 2018 will see Triple Threat Academy NZ return to and with their three day intensive musical theatre workshops. The next New Zealand Singing School: Te Wānanga Toi Waiata will be held at the Eastern Institute of Technology, Napier, from 4th to 14th January 2019 – registrations are now open Techie info – NSL, our ETNZ award recipients, Showtechnix, Philips Entertainment, John Herber Copyright info – Flashdance, Joseph, Madagascar, Little Miss Sunshine, NZ musicals from Playmarket

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Thinking of all our New Zealand communities this month and in Australia, of which our community theatres both here and across the Tasman, are such a huge part of, as we remember our ANZACS who served in World War One and those who have served in further conflicts since the “great war” – we will remember them.

2 President’s Opening Address – 58th National Volunteer Training/Conference – 2018 Good Evening. On behalf of the Executive, and Nelson Musical Theatre, it is my very great pleasure to welcome you all here to the 58th National Volunteer Training/Conference Weekend for Musical Theatre New Zealand. It is great to be back in Nelson – conference last being held here in 2011.

In welcoming you all here tonight, I would especially like to acknowledge our Patron & Life Member, Donna Philpott QSM, our Life Members John MacGibbon, Ian Reid, Markham Lee, Diane & Graeme Philip and Ngaire Holmes; Diamond Partners and major sponsors of MTNZ – John Herber/NZ Fire Shield; Platinum Partners - BOUNCE NZ, The Light Site, Origin Theatrical , iTICKET and so many other sponsors, without whose assistance we would not be able to stage this Conference. I would also like to acknowledge past MTNZ Executive member – Terry O’Connor, who is also attending conference this year. A very special welcome to all those new conference attendees, I do hope you all have a wonderful weekend and Valda will be taking you under her wing very shortly.

A very special thank you to Archdeacon Andy Joseph QSM and Ramari, for being with us tonight. And a very warm welcome to Jennifer Ward-Lealand ONZM, who has become a very good friend of MTNZ, and I know we all look forward to hearing from her shortly.

I look back on 2017 as a wonderful year with many highs and achievements, and I must particularly acknowledge all the efforts made by Vice President Dan, General Manager Kate, and all my Executive who have worked so hard on your behalf. Our second Next Gen Bootcamp at Lake Karapiro was extremely successful, and we look forward to repeating that exercise again later in 2018.

On the down side, MTNZ lost some very special members during the year, and our thoughts are with families and societies as they continue life without those special people and, in particular, I would like to acknowledge two special MTNZ Life Members – Shona Spencer and Len Speir who left us during 2017 and also Elsa Cresswell the first secretary who worked so hard in 1960 with our founder Frank Terry to bring community theatre societies together to form the New Zealand Federation of Operatic Societies. I am sure they would both be very proud and pleased of their achievement in seeing all of us gathered here tonight celebrating another amazing year for our community.

Your Executive has travelled up and down the country to attend many society productions, and I thank all those societies who hosted us for their kindness and generosity. We have seen some wonderful shows, and indeed Musical Theatre is in good heart in New Zealand.

Sadly, this is the last time I will address you as your President, I have had the most amazing time over the past ten years on the Executive and I will be forever grateful for all the friendships I have made over those years. I am not however lost to the organisation and will always be around for any help and guidance, you all know that I suffer badly from what my friend Tessa May Brown so aptly called “the disease”, back in 2014. I would like to publicly take this opportunity to personally thank General Manager Kate and my respective Executives over the past four years for their hard work, support and friendship, I could not have done this job without you

And finally, my grateful thanks to Kate, Ross, Carl, Michaela and the team of Nelson Musical Theatre for organising this wonderful weekend, I am sure we will all go back to our communities from Whangarei to Invercargill all the better for it.

Enjoy this evening, and I look forward to seeing you all at the Annual General Meeting in the morning, here at 9.15am

3 4 58th AGM and Volunteer Training Weekend – Nelson - IT’S A WRAP Thank you to all those who attended or were part of the MTNZ Annual Conference in Nelson.

What a fantastic weekend of fun, frivolity, networking, learning and of course, some serious moments. Congrats to all those societies who were successful in the competitions. Our congratulations to all the Merit Award recipients and Patron’s, Community Tech and Merit Award Recipients this year. Special congratulations our Valda Peacock QSM and KOV on receiving Life Membership award.

MTNZ sincerely congratulates Carl, Ross and their wonderful team from Nelson on a great weekend and all the volunteer hours that go into these events, from pretty much a year out. HUGE hours – so thank you all so much. Special thanks to the front liners who worked with Carl and I.

We would also like to sincerely thank our corporate members who sponsored parts of conference – without them we could not keep the rego fee at the level it is.

Please remember to support our corporate members when you are looking at sound, lighting, theatre design etc. It was really good to see so many new faces at conference and great to see so many young people there as well. Our wonderful seminar speakers and forum panellists – AMAZING – thank you – and no one gets paid to do those either, so we are very lucky.

The MTNZ conference now has over 220 people attending (when I first started this job 16 years ago, we had 110 – 120) and that is a massive amount of administration and logistical work for the host society and the MTNZ resource, which is still the same as it was back then – although now, MTNZ have BOUNCE NZ and Light Site lending a much needed hand since Timaru in 2008. So as we are in the grand scheme of conferences, a very large group, it is often hard to find one venue for our requirements and one that meets the community theatre budget – so sometimes the transport logistics can be challenging for the host society as well when we are split across several venues. A big thank you to Nelson for offering to host conference and pulling it all together – huge job and very much appreciated by us all.

Feedback is always very welcome and very important– whilst we have rules that require an AGM etc. the weekend is about the membership, so if you want to send some thoughts or ideas especially seminar and forum ones or perhaps you would like to present a seminar or be on a forum panel, just send me an email or email your zone rep. The Exec are meeting in June, where we will discuss any feedback and the planning for will be sorted. But we do hope to see many of you before then Start your fundraising now and it would be fantastic to see “EVERY SOCIETY IN THE MTNZ MEMBERSHIP” represented. Let that be the challenge ☺ Spread the word.

Further down in Spotlight is our calendar – it would be great to see you along to zone meetings. As you can appreciate, it is so hard during AGM weekend for the Exec and I, to talk to people etc. because we are all running about like mad things, meetings at zone levels are great because we have more time and are not in “organisation” mode and can catch up in a less formal environment which is what it is all about. Cheers everyone and see you next year in Auckland if not before. Thanks for supporting MTNZ and coming to conference and make sure you bring a new person or two next year ☺ – Kate for the MTNZ Executive

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A big thanks from MTNZ to the following individuals and companies, for their assistance with the planning for the 58th Musical Theatre NZ National Conference

Diamond Partners and Major Sponsors of Musical Theatre New Zealand John Herber Limited & NZ Fire Shield Limited

Platinum Partners of Musical Theatre New Zealand iTICKET – Friday night dinner and Saturday night “best dressed” awards, lanyards; Sunday morning breakfast

Origin Theatrical Sydney - AGM morning tea, poster competition, and The Origin Theatrical Mead & Merriment Hour The Light Site - lighting design and sponsored supply BOUNCE NZ - sound design and sponsored supply Gold Partners Music Theatre International, Australasia AGM lunch, Nola Speir NextGen Youth Encouragement Award

Silver Partners of Musical Theatre New Zealand OneMusic – seminar presenter costs – Jennifer Ward-Lealand ETNZ – Community Technical Awards ML Consultants – conference administration Amici – Junior Theatre workshop Nelson Musical Theatre Conference Committee Members: Convenor – Carl Sheehan – assisted by Ross Benbow Michaela Sheehan and team, Coral Haussman; Barbara Lane; Jenni Bancroft; Des Cron, Alex Bradley, Neville and Sally Bennett, Phil Hawes (MC), Barry Benbow, Lindsey Benbow

Judges – Janice Marthens & Eliane Polack, Theatre Royal Nelson (Programme); Wendy Riley (Showbill); Origin Theatrical (Poster)

Keynote Speaker and Conference Opening – Jennifer Ward-Lealand ONZM

Special thanks from MTNZ to, David Bosworth and Glen Ruske for all their technical assistance with our conferences ☺ Gavin Bailey, and to Carl Sheehan, Ross Benbow, the Nelson Musical Theatre conference team; and the Grand Mercure Nelson Monaco, Honest Lawyer, Saxton Motor Lodge and Sarah and Maria at Founders Park.

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Further to our announcement at MTNZ Conference in Nelson regarding Vouchers; we have had a great response from the societies regarding the use of them. The John Herber/NZ Fire-Shield Vouchers can now be redeemed for the following, either on product or sending a member on a course: Suggestions: Products: Courses: Inspecta-Shield Fire Retardant Boot Camps Gauzes Directors Course Curtains Producers Course Stage Tracks & Fittings Lighting Course Slit Curtains Sound Course Back Cloths Tech Course Pop-Up Drapes Zonal Meeting or Combined meetings Sand Bags Next - Gen

Redeemable on any products we produce. These are just but a few suggestions.

Ideally, if you are going to use vouchers for the courses you will need to send Vouchers back to us with the persons name that you wish to send on a course and the dates of course. In exchange for these vouchers you will receive payment towards there expenses. You can email all the information to [email protected]

We are hoping that this new way of using the Vouchers will assist the societies in being able to use their vouchers. Vouchers can also be used on ETNZ training courses.

A great chance now for more societies to start thinking about putting a Showbill together for the 2019 conference.

Inspecta-Shield Fire Retardant Sand Bags

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MTNZ’s Newest Life Member – Valda Peacock QSM – KOV Valda has been involved in local theatre productions in Hawke's Bay for more than 50 years. She is well known in New Zealand for her productions of musicals, comedies and dramas, and has directed for the Napier Operatic Society, Theatre Hawke's Bay in Hastings, the Waipawa Musical and Dramatic Society and the Little Theatre in Waipukurau. Her involvement includes television work on 'The Governor' in 1973. Valda has fundraised for many local service groups in Central Hawke’s Bay, including the Red Cross and Country Women’s Institute. In 1997 she received the Central Hawke’s Bay District Council Civic Award and in June 2012, Valda received her highest honour, the QSM which recognised her 50-plus years' involvement in Hawke's Bay theatre and her huge contribution to her community and to theatre. Valda made her on-stage debut at 16, and played the lead role in a local production of the hit Broadway musical Sweet Charity, but said her nerves got the better of her in the end. She found her niche in the director's chair instead, and quickly earned a reputation for good work on musicals, comedies and dramas with theatre organisations in Hawke's Bay. Her favourite shows included the version of Les Miserables she directed for Waipawa Musical & Dramatic Society several years ago, , and Monty Python's , which she directed for the Napier Operatic. Another of Valda’s epic contributions to local stages is “Bob”- a hilarious song which involves song, action and people dressed up as a policeman, a tart and a milkman.

However, we all know her as Valda Peacock KOV (Keeper of the Virgins). Valda has NEVER missed a “Federation” conference – not a single one. Always the life and soul of any MTNZ conference, Valda could be relied upon to swap breakfast menus around off door knobs and was spotted on several occasions skinny dipping in various hotel pools for the last 40 odd years. There are so many wonderful and funny stories about Valda and her Virgins, however, Valda has made so many of our first timers at conference feel welcome and has taken them under wing (it can be pretty daunting walking into a room full of theatre people who all seem to know each other, when it’s your first time). In 1993, Valda was one of the inaugural recipients of the NZFOS Merit Awards and we would just like to take a moment to honour this amazing group of community theatre people Daughter Megan has followed her Mum into theatre and Valda is very supportive of all NextGenners locally and nationally and she makes a point of talking to them, encourages them and loves being around them... and they all love her!

Valda’s involvement with local charities is ongoing, she volunteers at the Pukeora Festival every year, is still involved with Probus and is always behind local CHB shows; she regularly arranges for groups of people to get together to attend shows and can be relied upon to help out if you need her! She may have been a Director for many years, but she is equally at home selling programmes or being front of house; she has the true spirit of what community theatre is about. Valda is also a Life Member and is Patron of Waipawa M&D.

So Valda, MTNZ would like to honour you with Life Membership, for your dedication, service and your huge contribution at both community and national level to community theatre and beyond.

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Our fabulous Life Members at Nelson Conference Back Row – Graeme Philp, Ian Reid, John MacGibbon Front Row – Valda Peacock QSM, Donna Philpott QSM (Patron), Ngaire Holmes and Diane Philip

Congratulations to the following – please note Merit Award recipients will be acknowledged in June Spotlight to give societies a chance to recognise them at AGMs etc. except these two 

Special Merit Award - David Bosworth and Glen Ruske David and Glen have been sponsoring and assisting MTNZ at conference time with gear, technical management and advice for the last 10 years, long before sponsorship was a “thing”. They came to the rescue in 2008 for the Timaru conference when we had no one to do the lighting and sound and have sponsored MTNZ’s technical requirements for conferences since then. The massive amount of free advice, assistance, tutoring and help they give our societies, especially the smaller community groups FOC is always very much appreciated by those community theatres who often have no budget for sound and lighting. They assess venues requirements, have presented seminars, workshops and forums at conferences over the years (and continue doing this tomorrow) and have been workshops presenters at zone meetings, attending conference recces and are always going the extra mile for MTNZ and its members, often just for a quiet JD in the crew room. So, tonight, it’s time they came on stage and in the spotlight, as we give these two special merit awards to two very special people in recognition of their massive contribution to community theatre both locally and nationally.

9 ETNZ Community Technical Achievement Awards Youth Award – Missy Mooney, Hamilton Technical Award – Peter McKenzie, Theatre Whakatane

The MTI Australasia Nola Speir Patron’s NextGen Encouragement Award Caelan Thomas – Kirwee Players

Origin Theatrical Poster Competition 2018 Third Halswell Drama Group – The Wedding Singer Second Taieri Musical & DKCM Productions - First Showbiz Christchurch – Sister Act

John Herber/NZ Fire-Shield Showbill Competition Judge: Wendy Riley Presenter: Diane Phillip – John Herber Third: Waipawa Musical & Dramatic Society – Runner Up: Rotorua Musical Theatre – Avenue Q Winner: Taieri Musical & DKCM Productions – Mary Poppins

ACT Multi A Award – Presenter: David Spicer, Executive Board Member Third Amici Trust - Sister Act Second Taieri Musical & DKCM Productions - Mary Poppins First Hamilton Operatic - Mary Poppins

New Plymouth Operatic Multi B Award – Presenter – Howard Rozon, Board Member and Delegate Third Alexander Musical Theatre - Grease Second Nelson Musical Theatre – Mamma Mia First Theatre Whakatane - Suessical

The Len Speir Memorial Multi C Programme Award 2018 Presenter – Donna Philpott QSM, Patron, Life Member and dearest friend of Len’s Citation: Daniel Pepperell – Vice President of MTNZ and former Vice President of Musical Theatre Third North Shore Music Theatre – Bring It On Second Theatre Hawkes Bay – Anything Goes First Rotorua Musical Theatre – Shrek the Musical Jr

The Shona Spencer Memorial Single Sheet Programme Award 2018 Presenter: Lesley Carthew, President of MTNZ Citation: John MacGibbon – Life Member of MTNZ Third: East Otago Musical Theatre - Anything Goes Second West Otago Theatrical Society – Vicar of Dibbley First MATS Musicals Junior Theatre -

The Samuel Keen Memorial Multi D Programme 2018 Presenter: Nigel Donehue, Board Member of Musical Theatre Dunedin and Sam’s partner Citation: Gladys Hope, Board Member & Life Member of Musical Theatre Dunedin Third Tour Makers - That Bloody Woman Second Manukau Performing Arts - In the Heights First North Canterbury Musical Society - Company

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The Dale Reid Memorial Multi E Programme 2017 Presenter: Ian Reid, Life Member MTNZ and Dale’s husband Citation: Tessa May Brown – President Napier Operatic Society Third Upper Hutt Musical Theatre - The Musical of Musicals Second Napier Operatic Society- A Great Face for Radio First Showbiz Christchurch - Rodgers and Hammerstein

Your MTNZ Executive for 2017 Patron: Mrs Donna Philpott, QSM

Life Members: Mrs Donna Philpott QSM, Mr Tim Blennerhassett, Mr Jim Fenton QSO Miss Sandra Sewell, Mr John MacGibbon, Mr Kevin Murphy, Mr Markham Lee, Mr Graeme Philip, Mrs Diane Philip, Mr Ian Reid, Mrs Ngaire Holmes, Mrs Valda Peacock QSM

President: Daniel Pepperell, Tauranga Immediate Past President: Lesley Carthew, Napier Vice President: Helen Horsnell, Dunedin Zone One Representative: Emma Bishop, Auckland Zone Two Representative: Tracy Holmes, Hamilton Zone Three Representative: Sharron Pardoe, Wellington Zone Four Representative: Ross Benbow, Nelson Zone Five Representative: Tania Graham, Dunedin Nextgen Representative: James Wright, Napier Business Advisor: Kevin Murphy, New Plymouth Hon Auditor: Karreen Mathers, Napier Finance Advisor: Lyndsay Browne Accounting, Napier Hon Solicitor: Markham Lee, Christchurch General Manager: Kate Ghent, Wellington Health and Safety Advisor Steve Lloyd, Greytown Finance Administrator TBC – May 2018 Capital Assistance Fund Daniel Pepperell, Helen Horsnell Kevin Murphy and Zone Rep CAF Administration Kate Ghent

Get social with MTNZ …. Zone Two https://www.facebook.com/groups/1635330969870389/ Zone Five https://www.facebook.com/groups/122817841707880 Zone Three https://www.facebook.com/groups/496022667412554/ Zone Four https://www.facebook.com/groups/1811737122184633/ Zone One https://www.facebook.com/groups/119390715385605/ NextGen https://www.facebook.com/groups/1147356508627657/ MTNZ Community Page - https://www.facebook.com/groups/mtnzcommunity/ MTNZ Public Page - https://www.facebook.com/MTNZI

MTNZ Wardrobe, Props and Costume Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/837561869750881/ 11 12 Meet the New Executive Team Members for 2018 For profiles on all our Exec team go to http://www.mtnz.org.nz/executive

Zone Five Representative – Tania Graham Tania’s interest in music and dancing began when she was young, having learned tap dancing for 10 years and having a brother heavily involved in the band scene. Not being gifted with a voice that she would want anyone to hear Tania developed her strengths in behind the scenes administration. Tania’s involvement in Musical Theatre began when her daughter Olivia started doing shows and the “administrator” in her made her want to be part of the running of these events. She joined the Taieri Musical Committee in 2008 and has helped at different times with microphones, dressing, front of house and production management and latterly in her role as President was part of the Executive Team on the bigger shows they co-produced with DKCM. Tania is married to Craig (who has a passion for race horses rather than musical theatre) and has 2 children Josh (26) who is a mortgage broker in Arrowtown and Liv (22) who is an event co- ordinator in Dunedin. Tania is looking forward to representing Zone 5 and as she gets to know everyone hopes she can add some value to all the members in that area.

Vice President (the first P or VP from the Mainland since Jim Fenton!!) our H – Helen Horsnell Helen is a Mainlander whose love of musical theatre started while at school. She started on the stage and moved backstage having tried most roles from Spotlighting to Stage Manager, Director to Milliner. She does the occasional cameo performance but prefers to work behind the scenes. She spend 10 years in the role of zone 5 rep looking after Otago and Southland and is proud of the direction that the MTNZ executive have taken musical theatre in New Zealand over that time. A strong advocate for the South Island and grassroots theatre she continues to help out when time allows. Prior to moving back to Dunedin 20 years ago, she was an active member of Waimate Theatre company for 16 years, serving most of those on the committee and started her interest in Directing and Production Management. The challenges of grass roots theatre meant she was used to overcoming stumbling blocks and inspiring people to be the best that they can. Married to Brian, they have three grown up children and the family is growing with four grandchildren. Her day job is owner manager of The New Zealand Play Bureau ltd and she manages to juggle her time around family, work and rehearsals.

President – Daniel Pepperell Daniel first tread the boards at five years of age for a school production about something he can't remember, and since then has had a passion for musical theatre. His first show outside of school was at Riverlea Theatre for Musikmakers in which his Mum played one of the lead roles, he was seven at the time. As Daniel got older his musical theatre hobby slowly started taking over any spare time he had, sometimes doing five shows a year. Daniel then dabbled in film, television and concerts. He calls himself a true student of amateur theatre, as everything he has learnt about theatre has come from the societies around the Waikato and BOP that he has been involved with. Daniel has been involved in nearly every job in a theatre, although his favourite has always been performing onstage. In the past ten years Daniel has been directing for local societies which he enjoys as it is a way to pass on knowledge he has learnt to others. Daniel had been the Vice President for Tauranga Musical Theatre for a number of years, and previous to that, a board member, but stood down to concentrate on the VP role for MTNZ at the time. 13 Since joining MTNZ five years ago as the Youth Rep, he has seen the incredible work MTNZ does, and the massive potential that it has as an organisation.

In Daniel's professional life he is the owner of two construction companies which cover the Waikato/BOP and nationally respectively. It is an honor to now be the President of MTNZ and continue the growth and reach of the organisation, as those have done before him. Daniel will be concentrating on key initiatives being grassroots engagement, technology, and accountability. If he could pass on one small piece of advice it would be to continue to learn. "You are never too old to learn anything from anyone at any age"

Want to join the MTNZ Team in 2018 and be part of our awesome organisation? Part Time Financial Administrator Role MTNZ is a rapidly growing organisation and we now require the services of a part time Financial Administrator with great Xero skills to help make sure that the financial side of the organisation is kept running smoothly, managed well and to work with the Executive team and the General Manager. Applications close 20 April...Click here for the job description. Contact [email protected] for further info

A very busy year ahead for MTNZ, check out these events and put the dates in your diaries now….

MTNZ Calendar 2018 Date Event 19 May Combined North Island Meeting and Training Weekend https://www.facebook.com/events/211985686015924/ 5 May Zone Five Meeting – Dunedin (see Priscilla) https://www.facebook.com/events/1595903163835506/ 9 June Zone Four Meeting – Hanmer https://www.facebook.com/events/293450871165994/ 22 - 24 June Executive Meeting - Auckland 21 July Zone Two Meeting https://www.facebook.com/events/1998932763719388/ 24 – 26 August Boot Camp at Epworth Retreat – Cambridge (Lake Karapiro) https://www.facebook.com/events/1615151615233204/ 1 September Zone One Meeting 15 September Combined South Island Meeting– Christchurch (see Les Misérables, workshop and keynote with Kerri Tilby Price) https://www.facebook.com/events/343508619456146/ 15 September Zone Three Meeting – Palmerston North https://www.facebook.com/events/1013227902157687/ 22 September Zony Awards – Distinction Hotel, Rotorua 5 – 7 October Executive Meeting – Dunedin 26 – 28 October National Training Weekend – Christchurch https://www.facebook.com/events/164836580775529/ 22 – 24 March 2019 59th National Conference, AGM and Volunteer Training Weekend – Auckland https://www.facebook.com/events/2092158877670119/

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Musical Theatre New Zealand Combined North Island Meeting Hosted by Napier Operatic Society at their Tabard Theatre Coronation St, Ahuriri, Napier 4110 18 – 19 May 2018 Weekend Programme & Agenda

Friday 18 May 5.30pm Get Together – meet and greet with Napier Operatic at the Tabard Theatre, Coronation Street, Ahuriri. This is a chance to catch up with everyone and to mix with members of NOS. Burger and a drink $10, cash bar

Saturday 19 May Combined North Island meeting – Tabard Theatre - $10 pp, to cover catering.

9.30am Morning tea/welcome/housekeeping/roll call

10am Kerri Tilby Price - Creating Thinking / Busting the ‘Yeah Buts’ keynote followed by the workshop Growing Great Volunteers – an interactive session, you’ll have a lot of fun and learn so much from this amazing speaker.

12.30pm Lunch

1.30pm Workshop Session One 1. Junior Theatre - Sonya Aifai 2. Health and Well Being in the theatre and workplace – Rochelle Nicholson 3. Theatre Marketing Hui – Kate Ghent/Sharron Pardoe

2.30pm Break

3pm Workshop Session Two 1. Production Management - Tracy Holmes/Ngaire Holmes 2. Reach for the Cloud - apps that work for community theatre – Dan Pepperell 3. NextGen Wānanga - James Wright/Emma Bishop

4pm Meeting • Grassroots communication proposal – Daniel Pepperell • Sponsors and Corporate Members • Where is MTNZ at? Key initiatives for this year.

News from MTNZ • Conference 2019 – Auckland (Emma and Kate) • AON Insurance • CAF Fund (Sharron) • NextGen Boot Camp (James, Kate) • National Training Weekend (Kate) • Surveys Smaller society consortiums

15 5pm Refreshments and nibbles

7.30pm Dinner venue TBC

Workshop Briefs Growing Great Volunteer Teams – Kerri Tilby-Price Do you wish you had more people helping out, more often? Do you attract a steady stream of volunteers but find they never stick around for long?

When it comes to volunteering, people are spoiled for choice. There is no shortage of organisations to get involved with, so in order to attract volunteers and keep them on-board, you need to offer them the best possible experience. Learn what drives people to volunteer and discover simple strategies for ensuring your volunteers get what they need to stay involved.

In this workshop you will discover: If your organisation is even ready for volunteers. Are you losing volunteers before they properly come on-board? What things do you need to have in place before you start recruiting? How to ensure your organisation offers a good fit for potential volunteers. Is there more than one model of volunteering and should you even care? What things do you need to consider in creating a ‘good fit’? The difference between Recognition and Appreciation. What do volunteers really need to feel appreciated and how can you give it to them effectively? What being part of a team really means to volunteers. Are you providing a true team environment or is there an under-current of ‘them and us’? What makes a volunteer experience go from good to great? What are the simple things you can do to leave a lasting impression and develop loyalty in your volunteer team?

This workshop gives you loads of practical ideas for making your organisation a place where everyone wants to volunteer. Get more people helping out more often, with more fun and more impact. Kerri knows how to capture an audience, and most importantly, keep them engaged. She is a vibrant presenter who doesn’t just ‘know her stuff’, she knows how to get the message across. And that matters. Kerri has presented keynote speeches and express style workshops at conferences all over Australasia, and her presentations are often referred to as the highlight of the event. She will customise her message and delivery to suit your audience, and in addition to motivational speaking, Kerri can present on any aspect of running a cause-driven organisation. Kerri is an extraordinary storyteller and draws on many years experience in the community sector to make her point. From her backyard in Tauranga, to the streets of Tijuana and the villages of Western Kenya, she will take you on a journey with many ‘aha’ moments along the way. Her presentations are always practical, fun and designed to make a difference.

Theatre School Kids- Time to GROW UP!!! with Sonya Aifai If you are in the throws of establishing a theatre school or have had one going for a little while this is the workshop for you. You may have a database of kids- how do you keep them? You may have kids interested in working on adult shows- how do you support them in this dream? How do you keep the theatre school going? Sonya Aifai established a theatre school for Napier Operatic in 2000. 17 years on it is stronger than ever with foundation members now directing, choreographing, performing and heading departments for adult shows for Napier Operatic. This workshop will touch on setting up a theatre school, maintaining it and how to move your young thespians from the theatre school onto the adult shows and theatre management.

Going Beyond Standard Health and Safety - Health and Wellbeing with Rochelle Nicholson Where are we at now and what can we do to look after ourselves in our professional work places and as volunteers.

16 Theatre Marketing with Kate and Sharron Kate, with Emma, attended the Theatre Marketers Hui in Auckland, June 2017 and will be attending the next Hui the week after this meeting. This Hui was attended by the top professional theatre marketers in NZ. Community or professional theatre, we all face the same challenges at the end of the day. Discussion was robust, insightful and some great ideas came out of the session to share with our community. What is marketing?? Getting everyone on board with marketing, deepening audience connection, dealing with the bad review, using social media, what do our audiences actually want, making theatre entertainment option number one, converting the fence sitters and any other topics you would like to discuss, or great ideas you have had to market your

Production Management with Tracy and Ngaire Holmes: Tracy has been involved in theatre in Hamilton since 1999. She has been Production Manager for many shows including Oliver, , Footloose and Rent. Tracy has also been Production Secretary for a number of shows for her Mum Ngaire, who you will all know as the Previous Zone 2 Rep and now Life Member of MTNZ. Tracy is involved at a national level as the current Zone 2 Rep on the MTNZ Executive. Tracy has also been involved with wardrobe, props, front of house, child chaperone, in the kitchen cooking for cast, crew and patrons, and has also performed on stage. If you want to learn about the ins and outs of Production Management, Ngaire and Tracy highly recommend you come along to this seminar. Ngaire has been involved in musical theatre for over 50 years and has a wealth of experience both on and off the stage. For the past 20 years, Ngaire has been involved in Production Management of some large productions with Hamilton Musical Theatre’s production of Miss Saigon, one of the most exciting works she has ever assisted with. Ngaire was the Zone 2 Representative on Musical Theatre NZ for 8 years, a role she carried out with a real passion. She loved all the challenges that this role presented and she endeavoured to assist with all Societies in her Zone to the best of her ability. Ngaire loves having the opportunity to pass on the knowledge she has gained over the years, and looks forward to assisting Tracy with presenting the Production Management Seminar. Why attend this seminar??? The production manager is the person appointed by the society to lead the production team. Every show should have a production manager. If you don’t know why, then you should attend this seminar. You will learn the step by step process of the Production Management.

Reach for the Cloud – apps to make theatre easy with Daniel Pepperell Did you know that a lot of the administration aspects of putting on a show or running your theatre can be made easier by learning about using free or low-cost cloud based applications? This is an introductory seminar on how to use apps for your newsletter, Booking an audition, health and safety, Administration, set design, meetings and coordination! Join the Next Generation.

NextGen Wānanga with James Wright and Emma Bishop The purpose of this forum is to provide NextGenners at conference with their own session where they feel comfortable and safe to speak about any issues or ideas that they feel necessary. NextGenners often have new and fresh ideas to contribute to our community so the wānanga is an ideal environment for this to take place.

Ideas raised will be: • What value do NextGenners have in their respective societies? • How can we promote and encourage the development of NextGenners within our societies? • What is MTNZ doing for NextGenners? How could we help? • Are there any obstacles that prevent you from upskilling? • Do you feel you have the support and resources available to upskill?

These questions just give a brief indication on what we can discuss. The forum will be interactive – a fantastic networking and discussion opportunity for NextGenners.

Email your Zone Rep to register for this meeting and training opportunity – Emma, Sharron, Tracy or email the MTNZ office [email protected]

Facebook Event - https://www.facebook.com/events/211985686015924/

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Musical Theatre New Zealand – Zone Five Meeting Hosted by Taieri Musical MTD Rooms, 1 Sullivan Ave, Dunedin Saturday 5 May 2018, 10.00 am AGENDA 10.00 Morning Tea 10.30 – 10.40 Welcome and Housekeeping 10.40 – 10.45 Roll Call and Apologies 10.45 – 11.00 Society Reports Please table to Tania Graham [email protected] by Monday 30 April 2018. Three brief points can be shared at the meeting.

11.00 – 11.45 News from MTNZ • Calendar • Next Gen Boot Camp, Combined South Island Meeting, National Training Weekend. Conference 2019 • MTNZ Insurance Update • Surveys • MTNZ Strat Plan (Outline of afternoon session) • Grassroots (try to encourage people to attend conference)

11.45 – 12.30 Knowledge Café

12.30 – 1.00 Lunch

1.00 – 2.30 MTNZ Strat Plan

2.30 – 3.30 OSTA’s AGM

Message from Tania Can you please: • Inform your members • Let me know numbers attending for catering • Send in your written reports • Advise MTNZ of any items of general business.

We will have the AGM of the OSTA’s at 2.30pm. There will be an opportunity to give feedback in the knowledge café in the morning session. Musical Theatre Dunedin are staging Priscilla Queen of the Desert at 5:00pm on Saturday 5th. If you would like to attend this please book your own tickets online at http://www.ticketdirect.co.nz/event/details/176825/priscilla-queen-of-the-desert-the-musical If anyone is interested in joining us for dinner after the show please email [email protected] by Friday 20th April 2018. Numbers will decide where we go!

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Still work in progress at this stage, but we can confirm …

Workshops Include Choreography, Directing 102 (the next step); channelling your inner rock/belt voice and performance (Belting/Rock Singing workshop for Rock, Pop, Musical Theatre and Life); the fabulous Jennifer Ward-Lealand will be back – her workshop content TBC with Sam Cleaver, auditioning workshop for everyone (panel and performer); knowledge café session plus our famous cooks The Holmes Team will be back to feed you again  Q&A session with our tutors, Sunday morning showcase …. At the wonderful location we had last year – Epworth Retreat by Lake Karapiro.

The cost will probably be the same as last year, so we are going to need sponsors and LOTS of them but MTNZ sees this as an investment in the future of our community theatres …… and of course it’s part of our key initiatives this year.

Email Kate [email protected] to sign up for early bird registration information. More details/registrations will be available and on line from early June. We have opened up this camp to 18 – 35 year olds

Sponsorship Opportunity Email Kate [email protected] or contact one of the MTNZ Executive. We want to keep the registration fee as low as possible so we can have as many NextGenners participate in this awesome training weekend. If any corporate members or individuals would be interested in investing in the future of our arts and entertainment industry and New Zealand communities with our NextGen Boot Camps – please let us know. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE ☺

Societies – the registration fee should be NO MORE than $55 so please send your NextGenners to this amazing training, development, upskilling and networking opportunity. So sponsor your members 

Transport – we will be offering pick up and drop off from Hamilton airport (via Countdown for supplies), surrounding bus stops (Tirau, Cambridge, Matamata if we need too) and Emma will bring the people mover down from Auckland, so Mainlanders, you can fly to Auckland. Dan will bring his car from Tauranga – so transport won’t be an issue.

Keep up to date with our Facebook event page https://www.facebook.com/events/1615151615233204/

19 Zone One with Emma Bishop Zone one is about to begin its busy season or perhaps silly season as societies present their first show of the year. I’ve already had the pleasure of seeing two extremely slick and well produced musicals: at Centrestage, which was Director Roseanne Wilkinson's Directorial debut and Mamma Mia at The Bruce Mason produced by Auckland Music Theatre and Amici Productions. Coming up in the next few weeks we have Snoopy the Musical at Whangarei Music Theatre, Billy Goes to War at Kerikeri Musical Theatre, at Manukau Performing Arts and Heather's at North Shore Music Theatre then Popcorn at Company Theatre as well as the first three of many Junior or Youth productions with Seussical JR from Centrestage Youth Theatre and Beauty and the Beast JR at Playhouse Theatre and Alice in Wonderland JR from Children's Musical Theatre Studio. What a busy time and a huge number of shows to see....I can't wait!!!

Whangarei Theatre Company- photo of most of the kids from 'Snoopy' which opened April 6th. Woodstock at the back - Juliet Benson 10 Left, Charlie Brown - Kaiser Jacoby 9 Lucy, Lucy Murray 11 ( no mistake it's her name as well) in front Peppermint Patty Aimee Whitehouse 11 On right above her Sally Brown Emer Lea 11 (Yes, odd spelling) On far right Linus Haydon Fraser 9

20 New Zealand Music Theatre Company Presents PUSS - A Musical Comedy Cabaret Facebook Event - https://www.facebook.com/events/1784498431852700/ New Zealand Music Theatre Company - www.facebook.com/nzmusictheatreco

Directly from starring as ROXY in CHICAGO (The Court Theatre, Christchurch) New Zealand Music Theatre artist Nomi Cohen brings her musical comedy cabaret show PUSS to The Basement Theatre as part of the NZ International Comedy Festival for 2 nights ONLY!

“This marvellous piece was funny, captivating and vocally stunning” - @keepingupwithnz

PUSS is a 1-hour musical comedy cabaret featuring a range of recognisable hit musical and pop songs incl. When I Grow Up - Pussy Cat Dolls, Circle of Life - Lion King, Eye of the Tiger – Survivor, Love Story - Taylor Swift and You're the Voice - John Farnham.

Join PUSS for an evening of musical comedy as she recounts her rise to fame and her fall from grace. A Remuera feline once at the top of her game, PUSS finds herself clawing her way back to the top after her tragic downward spiral of heartbreak. Will she ever be in the spotlight again?

Written by Nomi Cohen (Chicago - The Court Theatre, Lysistrata - Auckland Theatre Company), accompanied by Andy Manning (Billy Elliot - Auckland Theatre Company, That Bloody Woman- Auckland Theatre Company) and directed by Torum Heng.

PUSS cabaret won the Judges Choice & People’s Choice Awards, with Nomi Cohen winning Best Performer and show pianist Andy Manning winning Best Musical Director at the 2015 Short+Sweet Festival New Zealand - Cabaret.

We are very excited to have aligned with Anne Batley Burton a.k.a The Champagne Lady (The Real Housewives of Auckland) and her Foundation, The NZ Cat Foundation, and we will be donating $2 from every $30 GLAMOUR PUSS VIP ticket sold to help #savethepussies!

When: 27 & 28th April 2018, 10pm Where: The Basement Theatre, Auckland CBD Cost: $20 - $30 Tickets: www.comedyfestival.co.nz - iticket Running Time: 60 minutes

$30 - GLAMOUR PUSS VIP - (VIP GLAMOUR PUSS LANYARD & $2/ ticket donation will be made to The NZ Cat Foundation) $20 - General Admission *Service fee's may apply

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Pukekohe Performing Arts Term one of Rising Stars has kicked off and the kids are having a fabulous time.

A group of female teachers, plus one reluctantly accompanying daughter, embark on a weekend of bushwalking in the mountains to get away from it all! Torrential rains and a washed out bridge traps them in a hut together for three days. Two days in everything's chummy - sort of like high school camp. Three days in, they're definitely not happy campers. Will the rain ever stop? Will the resident hut ghost get them in the middle of the night? Or will they find out what true friendship really means? An insightful situation comedy about truth, consequences and unexpected revelation.

NZ PREMIERE!!

6 – 14 JULY 2018

Join Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the hip hip Hippo and, of course, those hilarious, plotting penguins as they bound onto your stage in the musical adventure of a lifetime. Based on the smash DreamWorks animated motion picture, Madagascar - A Musical Adventure JR. follows all of your favourite crack-a-lackin' friends as they escape from their home in New York's Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien's Madagascar.

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Alex the lion is the king of the urban jungle, the main attraction at New York's Central Park Zoo. He and his best friends - Marty the zebra, Melman the giraffe and Gloria the hippo - have spent their whole lives in blissful captivity before an admiring public and with regular meals provided for them. Not content to leave well enough alone, Marty lets his curiosity get the better of him and makes his escape - with the help of some prodigious penguins - to explore the world.

Filled with outlandish characters, adventure galore and an upbeat score, Madagascar JR. will leave audiences with no choice but to "Move It, Move It!" Directed by Hayley Va’a

End of Year Show Oct/Nov 2018 This will showcase our students and performers through the year. Name still to be determined.

Applications close 30th April 2018.

23 COMING IN MAY to Off Broadway Theatre, Papakura - the hilarious, award-winning comedy ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS. It's 1963 and Francis has been fired from his skiffle group and finds himself in Brighton, very broke and very hungry. He is suddenly offered work as minder to 'Roscoe' Crabbe, a small-time East End crook, in town to collect a debt. Francis sees the chance to earn a little more and takes on a second job, becoming minder to Stanley Stubbers - but Francis needs to keep his two guvnors from knowing of his deception. Thus, the fun, chaos and confusion begins! Buy tickets here: https://www.iticket.co.nz/even…/2018/may/one-man-two-guvnors

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Award-winning animated film and stage musical Beauty and the Beast will come to life at the Glen Eden Playhouse Theatre in the April school holidays, led entirely by youth. Based on the original Broadway production that ran for over thirteen years and was nominated for nine Tony Awards, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast JR. is a beloved take on the classic fairytale.

Eighteen year old director Matt Billington says, “We are producing, directing, performing and creating a completely youth led show. This means that all of our performers on stage are under 18 years of age, and everyone involved in the show production is under the age of 26. As far as I’m aware, this is something that has never been done before in NZ and we are very excited to pioneer this model of youth theatre in our community.”

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Acting Playhouse Theatre President Simon Julius says “We were very happy to hand over the reins for this show to a future generation of committed theatre makers. Playhouse Theatre Inc is the resident theatre company of the Playhouse Theatre, a jewel in the Auckland performing arts community. Our mission statement is to provide opportunities for creative, aspirational theatre. Matt and his youth team are certainly committed to delivering this.”

A wonderful fairytale of transformation and tolerance, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast JR. features some of the most popular songs ever written by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, along with new songs by Menken and Tim Rice. With the Playhouse Theatre’s 27 cast members ranging from ages 6-17 years, the story offers a wide variety of roles and opportunities for the performers. Filled with spectacular costume and sets, this magical Disney musical will be sure to delight the whole family.

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HERE & NOW Festival 20-23 April 2018 ASB Waterfront Theatre

A four-day takeover of the ASB Waterfront Theatre by the youngest talents in town. Featuring three exciting new shows created especially for the Festival as well as new works in development, a big schmooze fest, workshops, music and more!

MORE INFO

Tender By Benjamin Henson and the cast Directed by Benjamin Henson and Ana Scotney ASB Waterfront Theatre 20 – 23 April Love is.... Well love is like. It’s when, like... Yeah, love is sort of... It’s the theme of songs, books, films, tv shows, works of art - but in a woke world how good are we at talking about love? What is it? Where do we find it? Does love mean romance? And do we really need it? With defiant honesty, 10 young Aucklanders invite you in for a chat about love, sex, and relationships by opening their hearts and encouraging all of us to try a little tenderness. MORE INFO

Alice Devised by the cast Directed by Leo Gene Peters ASB Waterfront Theatre 20 – 33 April Back down the rabbit hole A group of ordinary friends are thrust into a strange mystery that takes them into seedy clubs, the supernatural underground, a secluded DOC cabin and to the most sinister place of all... Sylvia Park. Inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, the films of David Lynch and the urban landscape of Auckland, Alice is a funny, anarchic, thrilling, and imaginative celebration of how ridiculous and beautiful our lives can be. MORE INFO

You First By Billie Staples Directed by Lynne Cardy ASB Waterfront Theatre 20 – 23 April What would you do to go home? In the near distant future, a cataclysmic storm has levelled Aotearoa, forcing millions on the move, and toppling society. Teenagers are rounded up and forced to live underground under a ruthless regime where they must complete dangerous dares or disappear. But who is running this new world order and is there any hope left on the outside? MORE INFO

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30 Dr Seuss is the inspiration for the next show to hit Orewa's Centrestage Theatre and it's brimming with up and coming talent!

Centrestage Youth Theatre (CYT) Presents Seussical Jr. Bookings are now open for Performances 17 - 21 April!!! "Oh, the thinks you can think!" When Dr. Seuss' best-loved characters collide and cavort in an unforgettable musical caper! Horton the Elephant, the Cat in the Hat and all of your favorite Dr. Seuss characters spring to life onstage in Seussical JR. A fantastical musical extravaganza from Tony-winners, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. Young performers and technical stars are learning valuable skills in all areas of theatre production with artists in training learning off the more senior team members. Sarah Searle is showing the ropes of production management to Orewa College student Tegan Cooke, who has performed in various school and CYT shows. Centrestage Youth Theatre was the brainchild of Neville Scelly Director and choreographer Anna Mortlock, an absolute stalwart of the theatre, and who worked on multiple NAPTA award-winning adult and youth productions last year, is ably assisted by Kingsway student James Hunter, who has chosen to get a taste of direction after owning the stage as Don Lockwood in last year's CYT show Singing in the Rain. Orewa college student Maxwell Hutton, is utilizing his exceptional dancing and teaching abilities in his role as assistant choreographer, honing his craft under the expert tutelage of Mortlock.

Swedish nightingale Annelie Maddock is reprising her role as vocal coach after her work on NAPTA nominated Singing in the Rain and CTC show Jesus Christ Superstar. She is developing promising singer Lisa Camelbeke, another Orewa college student who has wowed in previous youth and adult productions. Macy Hart stars as the Cat in the Hat in this delightful musical about looking out for the little guy. She is supported by Thing 1 and Thing 2 played by Grace Clark and Matilda Wells. The next show for CYT will be Grease in July and will showcase the senior performers led by Caleb Jamieson and Broadway Scholarship recipient Geena Hutton as Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsson. CYT also runs monthly workshops to teach youth about all the facets of working in a theatre Centrestage Theatre Company now runs drama classes!!! In collaboration with the amazing team at Northern School of Performing Arts, they provide an inclusive, nurturing and supportive learning environment for students of all ages from toddlers through to adults! The teachers are qualified, highly skilled and passionate individuals who love working with aspiring performers, creating an environment filled with positive dialogue and proactive communications with students and parents. But most importantly, they have a lot of fun in all of the classes along the way! Enrolments for the junior classes in Term 2 are still available for 11 years & over.

2017 Centrestage Award Winners Centrestage Theatre Company is incredibly proud of our Award recipients for 2017 Hollie Powderley - Best Youth Performer Anna Mortlock - Production Team Member of the Year Maxwell Hutton - CYT Patron Award Caleb Hogan - Entertainer of the Year Dave Douche - Volunteer of the Year Leanne Kenny - Presidents Award

2017 Northern Area Performing Theatre Awards In a stacked competition, Centrestage Theatre continued its long tradition of success at the 2017 NAPTAs, with 21 nominations over 13 categories. The awards evening was held at the Ellerslie Convention Centre with a Moulin Rouge themed event.

Centrestage Theatre is proud to have received the following NAPTA Awards... Best Leading Actress in a Musical Amanda Burnett as 'Sukie Rougemont' in The Witches of Eastwick Best Cameo Caleb Hogan as 'Fidel' in The Witches of Eastwick Best Female Youth Performer Jessica Rogers as 'Audrey' in Little Shop of Horrors Best Youth Production Little Shop of Horrors

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We are also proud to announce that the lovely Amanda Burnett and our amazing Billie Hart both received scholarships to help pursue their dreams of performing. We look forward to another year of creative and incredible Community Theatre!

CENTRESTAGE THEATRE NOW ALSO DOES COSTUME HIRE

Centrestage Theatre costume hire is open for business! We have a vast array of costumes available at reasonable rates. For costume hire please contact Robyn Simich on 027 365 34644 for enquiries or an appointment. Call us for your next fancy dress party. https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/rodney-times/98313899/chitty-chitty-bang-bangs-amateur- theatre-debut-hits-auckland https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/rodney-times/99966635/centrestage-theatre-claims-bruce- mason-centres-old-seats https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/rodney-times/102336372/orewas-centrestage-theatre-looks- to-community-for-upgrade https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/rodney-times/101933523/jesus-christ-superstar-returns-to- orewas-centrestage-theatre

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Zone Two Centre Stage Taupo will be presenting the wonderful dark comedy, The Perfect Murder (13th to 24th June) directed by Sharon Shanks. Is it possible to commit the perfect murder ? Victor Smiley, an avid Sherlock Holmes and crime TV fan is fed up with life and his wife. During his weekly visits to a local prostitute, Kamilla, (from eastern Europe) he plans to create a new life with her and somehow dispose of his irritating wife, Joan. However unbeknownst to Victor, his wife is having her own fun with a new lover, Don, and they also want to create a new life for themselves. Kamilla is also getting regular visits from Detective Grace but he is not interested in her usual services. This is a black comedy full of suspense and unexpected twists. We are also planning to put on the musical Jesus Christ Superstar in October. The first offering from TALOS in 2018 is a revue-style musical called CELTIC CONNECTION. It follows the travels of a young New Zealander as they explore the Celtic countries to follow the information in their family tree. We move from Wales to Ireland and finally, Scotland where a family connection is made. Mostly told through music – there are over 60 songs – this promises to be an enjoyable night out for all. It has been written by a long-standing member of TALOS and is her third show to date. Show dates are 3rd to 6th May and 10th to 13th of May, including Sunday matinees. Bookings can be made through www.iticket.co.nz

LAST LEGS ON STAGE SOON AT THE LITTLE THEATRE, TAUMARUNUI Opening Night Friday 13 April Some of Performing Arts Taumarunui Inc's favourite actors are back on stage in April for a hilarious production of Roger Hall’s latest smash hit, Last Legs. Set in an upmarket retirement community, the play centres on a group of well-to-do seniors as they indulge in greed, jealousy, love, lust, gossip, backstabbing and scandal - all behind the veneer of happy hour, bridge and mah-jong. Peter Till, who directed last year’s wonderful version of Shortcut to Happiness, has been enjoying email correspondence with the playwright throughout rehearsals. Roger Hall has recently updated the Last Legs script, and this the first time the new version has been performed. Tickets on iTicket soon...

Stage Right held an info evening for their next production – Shrek The Musical last week. It was well attended by over 50 people. It was awesome to see old faces and new. We were blown away by the high level of interest with 40 people booking auditions on the night for this adult cast. Also pleasing was the number of those interested in backstage roles coming along and putting their hands up. Really encouraging to have so many people wanting to get in behind our new theatre trust.

Matamata Musical Theatre - It has been a rather busy year for MMT. Firstly our beginning of the year show for 2017 Dracula Rockshow out kids production involving 30 odd children from primary to college age students. With A majority of these coming from Sharon Butterworth,s drama school with Sharon also directing the show with the cast having a great deal of fun and laughter during the season. Next up was Chris Green in his one man show COALTOWN BLUES which was run over two nights it was a great show but sadly not well attended by the public causing a loss in finances something that our new committee needs to consider if it is worth while doing one off travelling shows.

34 After a short break we went into rehearsal for our end of year Christmas dinner show Rome Sweet Rome which had a cast of 15 people Of which only three or four of the cast had more than two shows experience. The show was warmly received by the public as most of our end of year shows are. On a side note to the show. On a side note to the show we had a 13 year old boy Archie Hazlett Who played Littlest whimpus had Only two weeks of rehearsals before opening night after the other person had pulled out of the show actually went on to become a real crowd and cast favourite. As I write we are now in rehearsals for our May show Dusty which is looking like a really exciting show to be involved in. We are also preparing for our committee AGM on 28 March so I am looking forward to continuing the great work of the last committee with our new committee members.

Once again, Thames MAD was well-represented at the recent national conference, with 5 attending. As always, the opportunity to network and hear what is happening at both the regional and national level was well-appreciated. Thanks must go to the organisers for their efforts – they are appreciated. We will be presenting the New Zealand premiere of this exciting and challenging show in June, as one of the final activities to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the creation of Thames. The show will be put on in the historic Bella St Pumphouse (nearly 100 years since it last worked, its function was to remove water from the main mineshaft), with it’s amazing structures and atmosphere. Not surprisingly, this will provide some challenges (not only sound and lighting, but issues like “Where do we get changed?” and “Where will the audience sit?”), but the team is up to it! We hope to assist the Pumphouse society with their advertising campaign by having the show’s programme include relevant information about the venue – we see this as an opportunity to make valuable connections in the community. This comedy, with catchy tunes and some very funny lines, was able to be fully cast with only a few of the many male parts needing to picked up by women, and the read-through was held last Sunday (coincidentally, exactly 80 days before opening night!). Once again, it has afforded the opportunity for new faces to be involved as well for established members to put themselves in new roles and situations.

Zone Three with Sharron Pardoe It's all hotting up in Zone 3 with AGMs being held, new committee members being inducted and prestigious Merit Awards and Life Memberships being announced. Congratulations to everyone who has received these, you are truly honoured. It there are any changes to the president and secretarial roles in your societies please let me know so I can add them to my Zone 3 executive data base. With a fun and informative conference wrapped up, Zone 3 is now focusing on the Combined Zone meeting being held in Napier in May. I have spoken to our guest speaker and seminar holder Kerri Tilby-Price and she is looking forward to sharing her knowledge on volunteers with you. Her session - Growing Great Volunteer Teams - is for everyone and I encourage you all to take part. We will also have President Dan Pepperell with us as well as General Manager Kate, Immediate Past President Lesley and of course our NextGen Rep – James Wright

35 I'm heading off in April to a couple of shows in the Zone and just want to say thank you for the invites and tickets - it's a real privilege to come and share your shows. Here’s a great idea from Abbey Musical Theatre (this is in support of our Grass Roots Communication key initiative)

Wellington G&S Light Opera We had our AGM on Monday:- President - Stuart Gordon, Vice President - David Owen,, Treasurer - David Skinner, Secretary - Ellen Spear. And MTNZ Patron Donna remains on the Committee, she is very helpful and supportive. "Die Fledermaus" Southward 18th August; RWOH Wanganui 25th August; Wellington Opera House 1st & 2nd September; Regent Palmerston North 15th September; Napier 22nd September Also, we are still looking for more Male Chorus and a couple of Understudy roles for tenors. For more information on all this check out our Website; www.gns.org.nz

Upper Hutt Musical Theatre Like many other societies we too have recently had our AGM for 2018 and appointed a new Executive committee. Our committee is relatively unchanged from last year with Jenny Quin (President), Nick Achilles (Vice President), Aislinn Sederel (Secretary), Jim Noice (Treasure for 30 years now!) Jacqui Watson, Sue Kinzett, Rebecca Watson, Tia Pyne, Frances Carmody, Andrew Watson and Carl Brieseman. Carl is our newest member and we look forward to working with him. We are now busy assigning portfolios, organising Strategic planning meetings - looking at what we have achieved and where to from here.

Once again we have two shows this year with Blood Brothers May 16 - 26 at Expressions Arts and Entertainment Centre. A second show for October is in the making and once we have secured the rights all be revealed! The cast, band and production team for Blood Brothers are all working hard and we can’t wait to bring it to the stage.

We very proudly won third place in the Dale Reid Memorial multi E programme award at this month’s MTNZ AGM for our show, The Musical of Musicals - The Musical. Congratulations to Jacqui Watson and the publicity team for this honour. Thank you once again to the MTNZ team

36 for the amazing and highly educational conference you provided to us, we are already working towards our attendance in Auckland next year.

Kauri Theatre Company will be holding our first Annual General Meeting Sunday 15th April. Venue is: Porterhouse Blues Bar, King Street, Upper Hutt. While the meeting is scheduled to start at 12.00, the Kauri team will be there from 11.00am and invite everyone to come along, have a chat to the team and learn more about our first production 'Bad Girls'. You can get a drink or perhaps some early lunch before heading to the function room for the meeting. We would love to see as many people there as possible. Three of our members recently attended the MTNZ conference in Nelson, and came back with lots of information and great feedback o the seminars they attended. The production team is hard at work now, preparing for 'Bad Girls' the musical and we are all very excited about this, our first production. We are also now planning for future fund raising events. To keep up to date, you can visit our FaceBook page or if you would like to become a financial member and receive regular updates via email. please email your details to: [email protected]

37 New Zone Three Society Members – The Wellington Footlights Society was founded in 2014 by Michael Stebbings, Ellie Stewart and Bruno Shirley.

Wellington Footlights' collective structure is unusual among Wellington theatre companies. Instead of having performers audition for individual shows, with upcoming productions chosen by a small group of core production company members, the Wellington Footlights Society is member-run. Anyone can audition to be a member of Footlights, but only members can perform in shows - and once a member has joined the Society they are free to participate (or not) in any show the company puts on. The driving concept behind The Wellington Footlights Society is community. Society members build a relationship with each other that extends beyond the lifespan of a single show, and as we continue to make work together we build upon our existing talents in a supportive, encouraging environment.

We also encourage each other to step forward and take on new roles behind the scenes. Our Taking The... revues have all used a shared directing model, where different numbers were directed by different members of the Society. Members have also stepped up to learn the ropes as production managers, lighting designers & technicians and other backstage roles across the course of our shows. Wellington Footlights accept auditions for members throughout the year, usually just prior to a new show and contingent upon current numbers and vocal balance. People can also apply to be an associate member (non-performing) who have all the same rights as other Society members.

Here are our past shows. We have produced four revues, two charity concerts, one collaboration with Wellington choir Supertonic and eight full scale musicals since 2014. Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/wellingtonfootlights/

Zone Four with Ross Benbow Congratulations to Nelson Musical Theatre and their team who hosted the 2018 AGM and Training week end, it was a great week end and Zone 4 had a good showing there. The seminars and workshops were well attended with great comments from participants. Both Friday and Saturday dinners were full houses with some attention grabbing costumes caught on camera by the photographers.

It’s a busy time in Zone 4 with Showbiz Christchurch opening Wicked on Friday 6th April, Blenheim opening Mary Poppins on Friday April 20th as their 100th Anniversary production and South Canterbury Drama League Junior Division opening both Suessical Kids and Jnr on April 12th. Nelson is auditioning The Wizard of Oz on Saturday 7th April. Greymouth are in production with The Addams Family and Ashburton are on track with Mama Mia to open in May.

This year Zone 4 will be busy with training and contact meetings, Zone meeting in Hanmer 9th June, (bring your togs for the hot pools). The South Island Meeting is in Christchurch on 15th September and the National Training Weekend is in Christchurch 26 - 28th October. These meetings are open to any member of any MTNZ society not just committee members so don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn, share information, make connections and be part of the MTNZ family. There will also be a Boot Camp in Cambridge 24 - 26 August. Start planning to attend these meetings now, they are an incredible opportunity for all and we are so lucky to have a national executive work so hard to provide them for us.

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South Canterbury Drama League – Timaru Firstly, The South Canterbury Drama League would like to thank MTNZ and Nelson Musical Theatre for a great weekend at the MTNZ conference 2018. We took up quite a strong contingent of 7 people, so that we could cover as many different aspects of learning as possible. At our next forum which is the 16th April, the attendees will be presenting their reports from conference. It was great to meet people from other societies and share in our successes and issues when doing this thing called musical theatre which for most of us starts as an interest and ends up being a lifestyle.

The South Canterbury Drama League has 5 sections. 2 play sections, a Junior section, musical theatre and theatre restaurant. We have our own facilities on Church Street, Timaru where we have space for 5 separate rehearsals to be happening at a time. This proves to be, challenging at times so when you have a play for example with full set, having to move to make way for an outside booking for an evening, logistics definitely come into play. This sort of event adds that extra bit of excitement to our building. Somehow, with a little give and take, it seems to work and at the moment we have a play in their final rehearsals, the juniors show with 80 children rehearsing for a double billing show 3 times a week and a play that hits the stage in May, who have just started their rehearsal schedule. Our musical theatre calendar looks a lot like this - on the 12th - 14th of April we stage our first time ever for the League, double billing show of Seussical Kids and Hairspray Junior. This has meant that we have been able to include some younger thespians as we usually take juniors at age 10 but for this musical we are taking them from age 8. Rehearsals are going well with their first dress rehearsal coming up a month out from the show which is some feat. Disney's Beauty and the Beast is our major production for the year and will be at the Theatre Royal, Timaru from the 21st-29th Sept. Our audition information evening is on the 18th April and we invite people to come along and see what it's all about. Audition times must be booked for this one. Go to our webpage for more information. http://dramaleague.org.nz Our local council are looking at doing a refurb of our theatre and this could mean that this is our last major production in the theatre as it is now, for up to 2 years. We have just cast Menopause the Musical which will be on stage 22nd - 30th June. This musical is already picking up some grocery store and water cooler chatter. I was accosted at the supermarket the other day by a woman who wanted to check if this show included references to mood swings and hot flushes. I told her she'd have to come and see for herself. School holiday programme - We have regular inquiries about children wanting to do our juniors show but often they aren't quite old enough. We don't have anyone who runs acting classes from our facility but we do seem to be a focal point for anything theatrical which is why we receive these inquiries. In order to fill this gap in the market place, we will be running yearly holiday programmes.

39 We have had them for the last 2 years and this year will see us running the "All Stars" holiday programme which will be based around the musical "Once upon a dream". This show has many talking parts and some great fun songs. It will be held during the first week of the July school holidays and is for 7-18yr olds. Limited spots available so book ahead. That's all from us so far. Busy as usual here and loving it. Thanks again for the awesome weekend. The South Canterbury Drama League https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/101794965/costume-items-coming-from-overseas-for-south- canterbury-drama-league-show https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/102249319/timaru-twins-take-on-challenge-of- starring-as-enemies-on-stage

David Bosworth announces new business and is a new associate member of MTNZ

After 20 amazing years as co-owner of the Light Site, I have decided it is time for a change. On March 31 I left the Light Site, and setting up my own business, focussing on theatre rigging and consulting work.

In the meantime, please be assured that it will be business as usual at the Light Site. Grant and the team will continue to provide the same amazing services as they always have. So for all your lighting hire, event, sales and consulting services, you can continue to contact the Light Site in the normal way. I will continue to have a strong relationship with Light Site, and indeed may still have involvement with some Light Site events from time to time. My Light Site clients can either contact Grant (see below) or me on my Light Site address ([email protected]) and we can get things sorted for you. This email address will remain ‘live’ for now.

In terms of what I will be up to, my new business is called ‘4th Wall Theatre Services’ (‘4th Wall’ for short). I will be focussed on providing Theatre Mechanist, Project Management, Design and Consultancy services. I will also be working towards providing services associated with the new Theatre Technician qualifications, in terms of training and assessing.

4thWall contact details David Bosworth [email protected] 0274 358956 (unchanged)

Light Site contact details Grant Robertson [email protected] 0274 358951 General [email protected] 03 372 9101

I would like to say thank you so much to all those I have had the pleasure to work with at the Light Site over the last 20 years. It has been a privilege to work alongside amazing clients, suppliers and staff. Also, a particular thank you to Grant who has been the most amazing business partner one could have. I wish him well as he sails on!! I look forward to catching up with you all in my new role!

Regards David Bosworth https://www.facebook.com/4thwallnz/

40 New associate member – Dennis Brown Introduction to musical "An Empty Glass" by Dennis Brown. The script with music lead sheets and demo CD of 4 songs (recorded at Orange Studio in Christchurch by Michael Bell on piano and Anna Whitaker, vocal) is available in 3 forms - a 72 page film script in 3 acts with 20 songs, a 55 page stage script intended for amateur theatre groups, and a 50 page stage script with number of characters tightly limited to suit professional theatres - and therefore a few fewer songs. It features two contrasting romances, a double quest, humour and heartbreak, footwear and flowers, criminals and colour, drinking and driving, and a clash of cultures. It is a contemporary story set in the South Island of New Zealand with a flashback to the Otago gold rush of the 1860's (the source of the main conflict) with film locations on a mid- Canterbury farm, a glacier in Westland, the central Otago goldfields and a stately mansion on the Otago Peninsula (preferably Larnach's Castle) ,but simplified for stage production. A frivolous beginning introducing the seven main characters becomes romantic, serious, menacing, philosophical, sad, and finally cheerful and optimistic. The scripts, story, characters, lyrics and music are all my own work without any collaboration, simplifying any rights and production. Dennis Brown 31 South Belt, Methven ph 03 3028719 email [email protected]

And behind the scenes ….

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Zone Five Invercargill Musical Theatre has had a great start to 2018, having just finished a successful season of their second youth production, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Jnr. The show involved 54 enthusiastic young people on stage and an equally enthusiastic backstage crew. This beautiful production captivated the all but sold-out audiences and the cast received many well-deserved accolades.

Expectations of the cast were set high in terms of commitment, behaviour and quality of performances and every member delivered performances which more than met expectations. It is great to give these talented youngsters an opportunity to perform and so heartening to see them grow in confidence and skill throughout the journey. Our attention now turns to our major production for 2018 - Grease, the Arena Spectacular, which will be performed at ILT Stadium Southland in September, a change of venue and a change of show style for IMT. We will once again be involved in the Southland Entertainment Awards show next month, always a big night. At our AGM in mid April we will welcome a couple of new faces onto the executive and look forward to a great year ahead

43 Showbiz Queenstown Kate and Helen recently facilitated a Strategic Planning Workshop for the Showbiz Queenstown team A great workshop, some fantastic ideas, a fab vision and mission and lots of planning ideas came out of it for Showbiz QT and we hope other societies will take the opportunity if they don’t have strat plans, and get in contact with the MTNZ office and book in a workshop. MTNZ follow the Terry O’Connor Method  well, he was fabulous and why reinvent the wheel we say, and we are more than happy to come and facilitate a workshop with any society who would like us to help out. Between Helen and Kate, the knowledge of community theatre in NZ is rather large and we are happy to help out and assist you develop a strat plan. The only cost is transport and accommodation if required. Oh and maybe a bottle of rose  Contact Kate at the MTNZ office if you would like more info. [email protected] We also managed to attend Wakatipu High School’s Production of Little Shop of Horrors at the Memorial Hall. Some amazing talent and we thought it was an excellent show. Thank you Hilary Finnie for organising the tickets for us 

South Otago Theatrical Society We have had a busy start to the 2018 with a bit of TLC to our Green Room. As we all know, owning our own building money often gets spent on shows and on the general upkeep and maintenance of the building and not upgrades. However our poor green room was getting neglected, and cast/crew were getting colder and colder. So we decided to apply for a grant to help off set some costs. We were fortunate enough to receive a grant from the Otago Masonic Lodge for the supply and installation of Carpet tiles which has dramatically improved the previous state of cold exposed concrete floor.

Our green room also doubles as our dressing rooms while a show is in production. We needed to create a versatile way of dividing up the space, so the idea of Curtain tracks mounted on the ceiling has worked well. Our lovely wardrobe mistress was able to adapt some old curtains and now the open area is able to be divided into 3 areas (males and females dressing rooms and a common area for green room use). A number of years ago we also received a donation of some benches and mirrors, from Blondees Hair Studio which we have positioned in the female dressing room area which will allow the female cast to cleanse, and tone their face and maybe do some of their own hair/makeup for productions. The mirrors are basically brand new and will also be installed soon.

44 The green room is looking great now, and we even have vinyl installed in the dressing room toilets and carpet in the make up room. We now use the green room for our meetings too - instead of heating up the theatre for night meetings. We plan on also putting up some old posters from previous shows to create some interest and celebrate the past history of SOTS. We all are very excited with the outcome and enjoy hanging out there.

YOUTH PRODUCTION - SOTS youth diversion is about to open with their 2018 Production "The Butletr Did it" this will run from the 5th April until 8th April (see poster attached). We hope anyone passing though Clutha will come and see it.

AUDREY - Our large beloved Audry from The little shop of horrors has finally retired Audrey II, has left the building for the last time. She has been on stage all over the South Island in her short 21 years of theatre, in 9 productions of Little Shop of Horrors..... A small private ceremony and cremation for Audrey II, will be held later in the year. Current the other 2 Audreys we have are in production at Queenstown with Wakatipu High. That’s all from us Sarah Van Asperen on behalf of The South Otago Theatrical Society

45 Welcome New Society Members to Zone Five – Taieri Dramatic Society https://taieridramaticsoci.wixsite.com/firestationtheatre

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April 2018 will see Triple Threat Academy NZ return to Christchurch and Wellington with their three day intensive musical theatre workshops.

Triple Threat Academy workshops are a great opportunity for the next generation superstars to work with leading industry practitioners in a fun, vibrant and professional environment.

Now in it’s third year, Triple Threat Academy will celebrate it’s 10th workshop having held previous workshops in Christchurch, Hamilton, Wellington, Palmerston North, and Invercargill.

Email [email protected] or visit www.tripletheatacademynz.co.nz for more information'

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2019 NEW ZEALAND SINGING SCHOOL The next New Zealand Singing School: Te Wānanga Toi Waiata will be held at the Eastern Institute of Technology, Napier, from 4th to 14th January 2019. Student Registrations of Interest are now open. By registering your interest you will receive email updates and a link to the application form when auditions open on 31st May. Register now at http://www.singingschool.org.nz/#pre-enrol

The New Zealand Singing School Trust is pleased to announce that Amici Forever founder Geoff Sewell is coming to Napier as Artist in Residence for the School.

Geoff, who was raised in Hawkes Bay, is a multi-platinum selling recording artist who achieved international commercial success through popera group Amici Forever.

Trained at The Boston Conservatory of Music in America, Geoff went on to perform on the West End in London and created entertainment company, Incognito Artists, of which he is now Global CEO.

Geoff will mentor the 70-80 Singing School students during his time in Napier and will also perform at public concerts with the School’s students at concert venues in Hawkes Bay.

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NEW RELEASES

MADAGASCAR: A MUSICAL ADVENTURE JR – now available for licensing

Based on the smash DreamWorks animated motion picture, Madagascar: A Musical Adventure JR follows all of your favourite crack-a-lackin’ friends as they escape from their home in New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien’s Madagascar. Filled with outlandish characters, adventure galore and an upbeat score, Madagascar JR will leave audiences with no choice but to “Move It, Move It!”

Free perusal: www.mtishows.com.au/news/free-online-perusal-madagascar-a-musical- adventure-jr

IF/THEN now available for licensing for musical societies

"Intense and thrilling. The most compelling New Musical in years!” - New York Magazine

With unforgettable songs and a deeply moving story by the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award- winning creators of Next to Normal, If/Then is a contemporary new musical set where choice and chance collide.

Free perusal: www.mtishows.com.au/news/free-online-perusal-ifthen

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Based on the Hit Oscar-Winning Film, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE is now available for licensing by musical societies in Australia and New Zealand

"An ingenious invention that honours the hit movie while, unlike so many adaptations, happily justifies its life on the stage." - Newsday

From the Tony Award-winning team of James Lapine and William Finn comes Little Miss Sunshine, an outrageously funny and surprisingly touching musical about one modern family's unexpected route to brighter days.

Free perusal: www.mtishows.com.au/news/free-online-perusal-little-miss-sunshine

For more information: www.mtishows.com.au/little-miss-sunshine

Now Available for Licensing for all groups in Australia & New Zealand

From Drama Desk Award nominees Neil Bartram and Brian Hill (The Story of My Life), THE THEORY OF RELATIVITY is a joyous, moving and unconventional musical that celebrates the voice of the "millennial" generation.

“I defy anyone, whatever may be happening in their lives, to leave this show without feeling renewed hope, being profoundly uplifted” – London Theatre

For more information: http://www.mtishows.com.au/theory-of-relativity

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