Achievements
THE PINNACLE SINGERS
I am currently producing a series of concerts in which leading opera singers Torlef Borstein, Cass Panuska, and Ashley Nunez and I offer a selection of sophisticated cabaret-style shows including A Night On Broadway, A Night At The Opera, A Night of Movie Magic, A Night of Princesses and Villains, A Night of Smooth Jazz and Storytelling, A Night of Love Songs, and A Night Before Christmas available to venues in Central Florida and beyond.. To find out more visit our website here.
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PROOF-OF-CONCEPT FOR FORTHCOMING SOLO ALBUM
Working with Argentinian pop music producer Mati Canteros, I have arranged and produced backing tracks for the 12 original compositions I have written that comprise my debut solo album,. I have recorded these as successful as proof-of-concept demos, later in the year I will be professionally re-recording, mixing, and mastering these twelve tracks in a studio. You can enjoy some of these early demos on the audio page of this website.
LIVE ACOUSTIC SET
Featuring a diverse repertoire paying homage to some of the voices and artists that have most inspired me, accompanied by classical guitarist Scott Niebauer we enjoyed a residency at a the exclusive Daytona Beach Cigar Club and continue to perform regularly in the DeLand area with a new residency at The Artisan Hotel's cocktail lounge..
Daytona Beach Music Academy
As the voice teacher at the Daytona Beach Music Academy I offered one-on-one tuition to students looking to find their voices or improve their skills. Specialising in Musical Theatre and other dramtic repertoire, I developed a unique approach to drawing out the best from my students through balancing uncompromising expectations with building a conducive rapport and challenging my students to surprise themselves with the strength and power that finding their voice has given them.
THE DOZEN DIVAS
In 2018 I was was invited to make my New York cabaret debut in Dorothy Bishop's hit off-Broadway show 'The Dozen Divas' in a special guest appearance at New York's The Triad Theater with promotional performances also presented at other New York CIty venues. I was honored with the RTNworld's prestigious Best Vocals award, the Outstanding Vocal Performance award 2018 and the LA VOIX: Best Voices in The World award.
SOVIET ZION
Currently being prepared to make its New York debut in 2023 in a Yiddish language translation by Mikhl Yashinsky and Motl Didner, I wrote the lyrics, designed and created the concept; co-wrote the book; wrote, co-wrote , arranged and orchestrated the score to this epic and ambitious new contemporary opera twelve years in the making which I independently produced on stage in London in 2009 and 2010, and again in 2014 as a recipient of an Arts Council Grant For The Arts. Starring several leading West End performers, a semi-staged concert production opened at the London Jewish Museum before transferring to the Lost Theatre after the show was earlier workshopped twice at The Rosemary Branch Theatre and presented as part of the new writing revue 'Encore' at the Maccabee Centre in Manchester and in several other fringe theatre festivals. Representing the show, I was invited to participate in the Paideia Project Incubator at the European Institute of Jewish Studies. Generously awarded a second Grant for the Arts, at the height of the lockdown restrictions in 2020 I successfully produced the ambitious feature-length Original Concept Album recording and the accompanying bonus release Selections in Yiddish, which were simultaneously released in January 2021 and have received unanimous 4 and 5 star reviews in worldwide media coverage. For further information visit: www.sovietzion.com
The A STAGE KINDLY New Musical Theatre Initiative
An anagram of our names, I founded this partnership with West End producer Katy Lipson to pioneer new musical theatre - producing in London the UK and World Premieres of shows including Maya, Slay It With Music, Old Goat Song, Bitesize, Feast of Snacks, Ballets Russes, Roll On The Day, and Don't Cry Butterfly as well as an acclaimed series of new-writing revues, and both live and studio sound recordings of many of our productions. Through selection and the feedback services we offered, I reviewed and vetted hundreds of new shows by writers worldwide. I was invited to Italy and Belgium to work developing new musicals there. We offered a variety of services engaging writers and performers alike including networking events and workshops, notation and recording services, and more.
VIVA VOCE
Viva Voce is the successful headlining vocal quartet I featured in singing Baritone for several years all over the world backed by a large live orchestra. We performed crossover material spanning genres, delivering shows both in English and in Spanish. We were commended in trade paper The Stage, showcased at The Leicester Square Theatre in London's West End, and cut an album. Other band members included French vocalist and TV talent-show mentor Milo Lee and West End star Tim Rogers. I am a confident linguist speaking several languages, and continued to consult for the management company Veritas Entertainment training their new recruits to sing confidently in foreign tongues.
STARS OF OPERA aka STARS OF THE OPERA
I featured in this classical-crossover vocal quartet in venues and at festivals across the United Kingdom to sell-out performances in England and Wales accompanied by a live band, and headlined as Guest Entertainers on a number of transatlantic crossings for Disney Cruises. Other band members included West End leading men Tom Solomon and David Arnold-Francis.
THE TWELVE TENORS
I featured in two national tours (China and Japan respectively) as part of The 12 Tenors, a successful vocal ensemble singing a wide range of material. We performed in venues including The Great Hall Of The People in Wu Xi and the Bukanmara Hall in Tokyo where we were promoted by the Min On organization. My participation in the Japanese tour, I was later told, was a condition of it going ahead! Whilst in China, I was one of four performers from the group selected to take part in a special promotional campaign produced by the postal service and screened in post offices throughout the country.
CHESS In Concert
As a member at the time of the prestigious West End Chorus recommended to choral director Stuart Morley by Tim Rice himself, I appeared in the Gala Spectacular celebrating Chess The Musical's 25th Anniversary which starred Idina Menzel, Josh Groban, Adam Pascal and Marti Pellow at The Royal Albert Hall in London. It was released worldwide on both DVD and a specially enhanced audio CD, broadcast on networks including PBS as part of their 'Great Performances' series and screened at cinemas. A selection from this recording features on Josh Groban's best-selling Greatest Hits compilation 'A Collection' available everywhere.
From Page To Stage
One of just three creatives invited to showcase their songwriting at The Landor Theatre in London for 'Three Writers and a Piano', part of Aria Entertainment's festival celebrating new writing, I performed original material from musicals and works-in-progress including Mind The Gap, Turkish Delight the Opera, Soviet Zion, The Juniper Tree and The Life And Death Of Lady Gray. The performance featured a guest appearance by vocalist Arabella Rodrigo.
Turkish Delight the Opera
I produced, wrote the lyrics, and co-wrote the score to this bizarre and macabre chamber musical comedy about a scorned woman's revenge which was staged four times in London at different venues including The Black Cap, The Rosemary Branch, and The Battersea Barge theatres. Leading ladies have included Jane Garratt, Amelia Knight, Natasha Day, Arabella Rodrigo, and platinum-selling recording artist Magoria Edler. I was invited to perform a selection as part of the Stockholm Pride festivities in 2007 at Sodra Teatern. Of the show, legendary recording artist Yma Sumac said "I found your work both unusual and lovely, of which I too have been accused!"
New Musical Songbook
A collaboration between The A STAGE KINDLY New Musical Theatre Initiative and theatrical publisher and rights holder StageScripts Ltd, my brainchild the New Musical Songbook was a sucessful pilot for a web-based service connecting auditioning profesionals and theatre students to the latest work by writers creating the freshest music in the genre - replacing tired repertoire with the very latest giving performers an advantage but also exposing writers' new work to industry decision makers.
Anthems! Live
Accompanied by the City of London Philharmonic Orchestra I appeared in the Ensemble of Brian May of Queen's gala spectacular celebrating his muse the West-End star Kerry Ellis ("Wicked" OLC) and featuring Broadway star Adam Pascal ("Rent" OBC/OST). The critically acclaimed spectacle was to raise money for Leukaemia & Lymphoma research and sold out the prestigious 5,000+ seat Royal Albert Hall in London raising a considerable amount for charity.
TROY Feat. Giles Howe
I feature as a vocalist and instrumentalist on several releases on the independent label Megassus by producer Troy, including the album Re:Turn, and the tracks Eliyahu's Cave recorded on location in Haifa, and Torn Between two Memories (which I co-wrote) and feature in the accompanying promotional video also shot on location in Haifa. To promote the collaboration I was invited to participate in a live jam session on Yoav Kutner's nationally broadcast radio show.
SAM PARIS' NATURAL SINGERS
I was a featured soloist in several performances by Sam Paris' Natural Singers gospel choir based in Stockholm, Sweden, performing a variety of material in venues including Allhelgonakyrkan in Stockholm.
TAGLIT BIRTHRIGHT TV COMMERCIAL
I was invited to participate in a commercial produced by the organisation Taglit that was broadcast regularly on Israeli TV and abroad. Filmed outside landmarks in London singing the Hebrew song 'Yachad', footage was interspersed with other singers performing the same song at other landmarks around the world.
SLAY IT WITH MUSIC
The A STAGE KINDLY New Musical Theatre Initiative presented the UK Premiere production of the hilarious new American Musical Comedy by Paul Katz and Michael Colby about a diva's return to the silver screen in a slasher movie. I co-produced all of the A STAGE KINDLY productions with West End producer Katy Lipson. Slay It With Music ran July-Sept 2011 at The Space in London before transferring to The Greenwich Playhouse and starred Andrea Miller and Ellen Verenieks. The Stage said '[As] touching as it is silly', The British Theatre Guide said 'Frightfully Fun', local paper NewsShopper said 'A Wicked Treat' and The London Magazine 'To Die For!'.
ROLL ON THE DAY
Roll On The Day which I co-produced is a controversial new musical by Laurence Mark Wythe and Roberto Trippini. It made its debut in an A STAGE KINDLY production at The Etcetera Theatre in Camden, London, in 2012. A thrilling and topical contemporary one-act musical drama about a sting operation to frame an illiegal immigrant, this production featured Kendra McMillan, Sean Keating and Amersakie Osakonor and was directed by The Royal Shakespeare Company's Vik Sivalingham.
OLD GOAT SONG
Old Goat Song which I co-produced is a new musical by American writers David Reiser and Jules Tasca that made its London premiere in an A STAGE KINDLY production at The Lion and Unicorn Theatre in 2012. The show is about how an ageing man's past and present collide when he meets a young waitress who reminds him of his late wife. Written by prolific American composer David Reiser.
MAYA
The UK Premiere of the new musical Maya by American writer Rick Williams which I co-produced took place in January 2011 at The Barons Court Theatre in London which we had transformed into the depths of an ancient jungle. The desperate Mayan king is conflicted between seeking personal power and pleasing the Gods. During these final days of the Mayan empire, two brothers follow their dying father's instructions to discover what is worth living for, and what is worth dying for, setting brother against brother, facing the challenge of their lifetimes. This productuion was directed by Paul Taylor-Mills.
GALA
Featuring highlights of the diverse A STAGE KINDLY back catalogue and starring some of the hottest talent we have discovered plus special guests, Gala, staged at The Greenwich Theatre, was a celebration of the unique work of my theatre company The A STAGE KINDLY New Musical Theatre Initiative in pioneering new musical theatre writing around the world and to celebrate the launch of the pilot of the New Musical Songbook project.
A FEAST OF SNACKS
I co-produced A Feast of Snacks, the new show by acclaimed American writers Michael Gordon Shapiro & Mark Harvey Levine, which features several individual mini-musicals, each making their UK Premiere in this all-new production by The A STAGE KINDLY New Musical Theatre Initiative which was produced as a double bill with an adapted April Revue, performed by a large cast including Kimberly Blake, Constantine Andronikou, Ben Goffe and Mark Halliday.
DEBUT
"Debut" was the first ever A STAGE KINDLY production. A revue featuring showstopping material from around the world, it featured many international composers and songs from new musicals. It was performed at The Battersea Barge and The Rosemary Branch Theatres in London in 2008, with live and studio recordings made. Performers included myself, Elise Bowd, Katy Lipson, Scott Armstrong, Ruthie Stevens, and Nicola Henderson.
ENCORE
"Encore" was the second in the acclaimed A STAGE KINDLY series of new-writing revues. It toured several London venues and also Brighton between March and April 2009. It featured Teresa De Gennaro, Elise Bowd, Nicola Henderson, Lewis Greenslade, Scott Armstrong, Bevan Williams and Holly Sands, Katy Lipson and myself, I was also compere. Both live and studio recordings were made of this presentation.
BRAVO
This was the third A STAGE KINDLY new writing revue, and featured Arabella Rodrigo, Frank Loman, Charlotte Donald, West End star Adam Bayjou, Katy Lipson and myself and featured a large selection of especially selected songs from new musicals around the world. A live album was made of the show which ran at several prestigious London cabaret venues..
BALLETS RUSSES
On Saturday May 29th 2010 at the award-winning Rosemary Branch Theatre in London, England , the long-awaited new musical by American writer David Reiser made its UK debut in an all-new production presented by the A STAGE KINDLY New Musical Theatre Initiative which I co-produced. Directed by Vik Sivalingam (of the Royal Shakespeare Company) and set within the realm of the world-famous Ballets Russes dance troupe, it takes a closer look at the lives and dramas of some of the company's colourful characters.
BITESIZE
BITESIZE by popular demand saw the return of three of the mini-musicals which had made their UK premiere in the A STAGE KINDLY production of Michael Gordon Shapiro and Mark Harvey Levine's A Feast Of Snacks, plus a host of comedy songs from international writers and creative teams, featuring a large cast and a live band which performed to sell out audiences at The Kings' Head, London's Little Opera House.
THE APRIL REVUE
The fourth A STAGE KINDLY new writing celebration, The April Revue showcased exclusive selected extracts from new musicals from all around the world. Much of the especially selected material made its London debut or even World Premiere in this special event which featured a large cast of exceptional performers including West End star Kimberly Blake accompanied by a live band, taking place at London's Little Opera House The King's Head before moving to The Space.
DON'T CRY BUTTERFLY
A STAGE KINDLY presented an industry showcase of Anna Hurkmans' and Rafaelle Paglione's new musical "Dont Cry, Butterfly" for the part of Mercury Musical Development's 'The Works' readings at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, in London's West End. The showcase was Directed by Katherine Hare. This new musical from Italy looks at the unspoken love-affair between composer Giacomo Puccini and the exotic dancer Mata Hari executed in dubious certainty for treason.
G&S DANSHUSUET
I was involved in a planning a street dance academy in Stockholm, responsible for structuring a curriculum spanning several years that would provide students with not only a comprehensive training in street dance but also practical study of how all different dance forms relate to each other. By the end of the course they would be introduced to traditions from flamenco to belly dance and encouraged to integrate this breadth of knowledge into their street dance choreography.