I always enjoy talking about the members of the High School Musical directing team, because they're a great bunch of people - it's an honor and a pleasure to work with them!
In an earlier post I talked about the wonderful Amy Browning, who's the Choreographer and Assistant Director for the show (and those titles are woefully inadequate to describe the innumerable ways she makes the show better). Now let me take a moment to brag on another member of the team - our Music Director and Orchestra Leader, Mark Smith.
I've been lucky enough to work with Mark on four different shows, and if I have my way we'll team up on any other show I tackle. He's an amazingly talented keyboard player, an outstanding singer and a heck of a nice guy. He's also a fantastic teacher, and it's a joy to watch him guide the young performers through the process of learning each show's music. It's a task he manages with great skill and patience. He also has a fantastic sense of humor - the vocal warm-up exercises before each practice are always a hoot.
Because of his talent, he's in huge demand locally - he's the music director for Trinity Episcopal Church, and he travels around the area playing for professional bands and orchestras. He's also kept busy working with the music and drama departments at Marshall University - and that's just the stuff I know about! I'm so happy and blessed to have him on our directing team - when audiences hear how terrific the cast sounds while singing the songs from High School Musical, they can thanks Mark for showing them the way!
2 comments:
Hi Chuck!
I wanted to announce that the Cast for Jerry's Girls has been chosen. Jerry's Girls will be performed at the Renaissance Theatre at the Old Huntington High School February 15-17. Jerry's Girls is a celebration of the music of Jerry Herman and includes such great tunes as "Hello Dolly",and "Mame", as well as numbers from several Jerry Herman shows. The show is being produced by Arts Resources for the Tri-State and is directed by Beth McVey. Coni Anthony is serving as choreographer and I (Eddie Harbert) am serving as the musical director. We are opening the show at Tamarack in Beckley on February 8th and 9th. The cast includes: Linda Reynolds, Mary Olson, Leeann Haines, Mary Beth Withers, and Lara Donohoe. Dinner will also be served prior to the show at Tamarack as well as at the productions here. For information on tickets for Tamarack you can call 1-88TAMARACK. For tickets here, you can call Arts Resources for the Tri-State at 733-2787. Thanks!
Eddie, thanks for the information - sounds like a great show! Can't wait to see it!
Post a Comment