August 2017 In this month’s Spotlight Greetings from MTNZ President Lesley Carthew ................................................................... 2 Important changes to the licencing of music in a dramatic context - APRA ..................... 4 We’re over the mid-year hump - iTICKET ............................................................................... 5 Spotlight on our major sponsors John Herber with Sharron, Diane and Graeme ............... 6 Final days to register for the NextGen Boot Camp 18 – 20 August at Lake Karapiro.......... 8 MTNZ Event Calendar – Zonys, Combined South Island meeting 28 October in Oamaru 14 Huge thanks to our awesome NextGen Boot Camp sponsors ............................................ 15 What’s Happening – Around the Zones Zone One News with Emma Bishop ...................................................................................... 16 Stellar Cast announced for the Auckland season of Sister Act ......................................... 18 Zone Two News with Tracy Holmes ...................................................................................... 20 Zone Three News with Sharron Pardoe ................................................................................. 21 Zone Four News and report from the Ashburton Meeting .................................................. 25 58th National Conference and Volunteer Training Weekend – Nelson – 16 – 18 March .. 29 Zone Five updates with Helen Horsnell ................................................................................ 30 South Otago and Alexandra both celebrating milestones ................................................ 31 That Bloody Woman – a punk rock musical about Kate Sheppard touring NZ ................ 33 What’s Happening – Junior Theatre/Schools Junior Theatre Celebration 21 October – Auckland, Takapuna Grammar ........................ 34 Techie Talk, Updates and Info ETNZ conference, offers from our corporate members .................................................... 40 Training and Upskilling Opportunities Drama NZ; CIMTTSS, NASDA, Kelley Abbey ....................................................................... 46 What’s New from the Copyright Holders Origin, Devon Williamson, Play Bureau, MTI ..................................................................... 50 What’s Happening – Town and Country Fleeced, Little Shop, Sunset Boulevard, Sweet Charity, TWO, Wedding Singer, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang .................................................................................................................... 58 1 Greetings from President Lesley Carthew .. Smiling Is Infectious - Author Unknown Smiling is infectious, you catch it like the flu, When someone smiled at me today, I started smiling too. I passed around the corner and someone saw my grin. When he smiled I realized I’d passed it on to him. I thought about that smile, then I realized its worth. A single smile, just like mine could travel round the earth. So, if you feel a smile begin, don't leave it undetected. Let's start an epidemic quick, and get the world infected! Welcome to the August edition of “Spotlight”, I do hope you are all surviving the winter, and do hope that not too many of you have been affected by the terrible storms that have beset both islands. I found the poem above on Facebook (thank you Mark von Dadelszen), and thought what wonderful words! I did a little bit of “googling” and my friend Mr Google tells me that the words have been attributed to the Late Spike Milligan, however many other people from around the world are laying claim to being the author – like me they must like the words, however I will not be one to lay claim to writing them. However, I have taken the words on board, and aim to live by them. Since I last wrote to you in June, your Executive met in Nelson. We welcomed Emma Bishop, James Wright and Tracy Holmes to our team and once again, I thank Pauline Vella, Gwen Lyon and Ngaire Holmes for their contribution to the national body activities over recent years. Kate had organised a recce of the Founders Heritage Park (Dan is checking out the facilities in this photo) where Friday and Saturday will be held and then the Monaco where the Saturday night function will take place. Kate is busy putting the conference programme together with Carl and Ross and it’s looking fantastic. We worked our way through a large agenda, with plenty of action points and good and often robust discussion and this will be fed back through our zone meetings throughout the year. Saturday night we had a team building exercise at the Honest Lawyer – Maori AB’s playing the Lions, so that couldn’t be missed. I also had the pleasure of travelling to Morrinsville to attend the first Zone Two meeting, since Tracy was elected as Zone Rep at our AGM in New Plymouth. Supportive as ever, there were well in excess of 50 people attend the meeting, and my thanks go to the wonderful team at Morrinsville who provided us with their wonderful venue, and their superb catering. Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea were all excellent, and from all of us in attendance, “thanks so much”. Tracy, assisted by Administrator Rochelle provided the attendees with a great agenda, topics based on Knowledge Café Formula, and all who attendees participated fully. The afternoon finished with entertainment by Morrinsville Little Theatre members, and my thanks to those people for giving up their time on a Saturday to come and entertain us. That evening, after a meal in Hamilton, a number of us watched Hamilton Operatic Society’s production of “Les Miserables”. Superbly directed by David Sidwell, with musical direction by Alex Wiltshire, I just loved the production, it is a perennial favourite of mine, after being on stage in some 30 plus performances, and viewing numerous other productions, the show for me has lost nothing, and I just loved it. Wonderful to see our “Next Gen Gwen” in the role of Cosette, she was absolutely beautiful. And on that note Gwen, my heart goes out to you, Ruby and your Mother and brother, as you begin your journey without your Dad Stephen, he was taken far too soon, but you will have wonderful memories to look back on. 2 On my way home from Hamilton to Napier, I called in to the Epworth Retreat, where the Next Gen Bootcamp will be held in three weeks time. It is a fabulous facility, and I am looking forward to joining with all The Next Genners who have already registered for this excellent training weekend. Where else would you be able to learn from Jennifer Ward- Lealand, Teesh Szabo, David Adkins, and Dale Henderson for the princely sum of $50, all costs included. So if you haven’t already done so, please register by contacting [email protected] for further info. MTNZ was well represented at the ETNZ (Entertainment Technology NZ) conference held recently at Toi Whakaari in Wellington. As the conference was in Wellington (so no logistical cost for Sharron, Steve and Kate) and we received, gratefully, funding from Pub Charity towards registration fees, MTNZ could have five representatives in attendance, along with Brent Smith from Napier Operatic who received the Community Technical Award this year in New Plymouth. As Sharron has eluded to in her report, we have taken on board some of the learnings from this conference which we will present at Nelson conference and share with our members. Carl has already done this at the Zone Four meeting recently held in Ashburton. Kate and Emma also attended the Theatre Marketers Hui in Auckland – facilitated by Wendy Riley from Showbiz Christchurch. From that, there will be a forum on marketing at our conference in Nelson and Emma attended a conference on Diversity facilitated by Creative NZ, and will facilitate a forum on that topic in Nelson too. Emma was also lucky enough to represent MTNZ at an evening hosted by Auckland Live and hear Tim Minchin speak. Thank you Auckland Live for the invite. In the last three weeks, I have travelled to Waipawa M & D, to their production of “The Sound of Music”, I always say this small society punches far and above their weight, and congratulations to you all, on your successful production. And of course it has been the turn of my home society Napier to have my attention, as they performed “Blood Brothers” for three weeks to the people of Hawkes Bay. I can only say I was immensely proud to have been part (in a very small way), of this outstanding production, and my congratulations to all involved, you should be so proud. I only wish the local public would support you more than they do. We welcome two new members to MTNZ – Society members Kauri Theatre Company, based in Wellington and a fellow industry national body – Drama NZ as associates Next weekend, I am travelling to Palmerston North, to meet with fellow Zone Three enthusiasts to discuss the possibility of setting up Zone Three Awards, so watch this space. I also intend to see “Three Phantoms”, Chris Crowe, Tim Beveridge and Karl Perigo, what a concert that will be. And then, it’s Abbey’s “Full Monty”, Boot Camp, and then it will be September and Spring! Yours in theatre Lesley 3 APRA has been reviewing the scope of APRA AMCOS’ agency to license performances of music in a dramatic context. The changes are due to come into effect from 1 January 2018, the statement below is on both the New Zealand and Australian APRA AMCOS websites: Important changes to the licensing of music in a dramatic context from 1 January 2018 You may be aware that APRA AMCOS and its membership of songwriters, composers