Rep Talk: Off to a flying start
1 Feb, 2021 12:43 AM
2 minutes to read
Joana Simmons is bringing her one woman show Spiritual Banana to Whanganui. Photo / Supplied
Now that January is behind us we are looking forward to fulfilling plans for February.
We did have auditions for the comedy Death and Taxe$ planned for January 31, but had to postpone them due to a family bereavement. Hopefully we ll get those auditions under way in early February, the play cast and rehearsals in progress soon.
Death and Taxe$, written by Whanganui raised April Phillips, is a farce, very funny and will elicit chuckles from everyone. The River City Players staged this play at Collegiate in 2010 to appreciative audiences.
Director leaves his comfort zone for confronting drama
26 Jan, 2021 02:51 AM
3 minutes to read
In rehearsal for Blind Eye are Chris McKenzie (left), Annie Whitfield, Joan Street and Mike Street. Photo / Jacqui McKenzie
In rehearsal for Blind Eye are Chris McKenzie (left), Annie Whitfield, Joan Street and Mike Street. Photo / Jacqui McKenzie
Chris McKenzie is directing Amdram s latest production, Blind Eye, a play by April Phillips.
With a cast comprising Chris, as well as Annie Whitfield and Joan and Mike Street, there was no shortage of directorial choice when original director Talia Annear had to withdraw. Talia had already done a lot of the blocking, says Chris. Although he stepped up as director, he says it has been a real team effort.
Amdram auditions for Phantom of the Opera next month
18 Jan, 2021 03:01 PM
3 minutes to read
Glass artist Katie Brown has agreed to design and build the chandelier for Amdram s production of Phantom of the Opera. Photo / Paul Brooks
Wanganui Midweek
with Sandi Black
What a crazy end to 2020 for the Phantom of the Opera production team. At the beginning of December we hosted Jennifer Ward-Lealand, who ran two amazing masterclasses in her Flying Solo -Telling the story through song workshops. Participants and observers were treated to some very special insights and tips from Jennifer and the feedback was extremely positive.
Jennifer enjoyed her time in Whanganui and has promised to come back to run her Craft of Acting Workshop in the near future. Exciting! AMDRAM have also been lucky enough to receive an offer of help from Jennifer with some aspects of the show, but more on that later.
The Monday Q&A: Whanganui actor Chris McKenzie on treading the boards and dinner with Donald Trump
17 Jan, 2021 04:00 PM
5 minutes to read
Chris McKenzie performing as Doctor Gull in the 2019 Amdram production of the Albert Belz play Yours Truly.
Photo / Ian Jones
Chris McKenzie performing as Doctor Gull in the 2019 Amdram production of the Albert Belz play Yours Truly.
Photo / Ian Jones
Liz Wylie is a reporter for the Whanganui Chronicleliz.wylie@whanganuichronicle.co.nzWhangaChron
Whether playing a Shakespearean lord or a pantomime dame, Chris McKenzie is a is well-known to Whanganui theatre goers.
Next month he will occupy both stage and director s chair for Amdram s production Blind Eye.
March 30: TODAY’s Meredith Vieira talks to Holly Musser Foster, the daughter of one of the victims killed in a shooting rampage at a North Carolina nursing home. She also discusses the incident with Chris McKenzie, chief of the Carthage Police Department.