Past & Present Production
Teams
Denise Robinson – Current
Producer / Choreographer Joined the company in 1976 and has since played
numerous parts including Jane in IRENE, Lottie in MACK & MABEL, Gladys
in THE PAJAMA GAME, Phyllis Dale in 42nd STREET and Ziegfield’s
Favourite in THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES.
Started her dancing training at the age of four and thirteen years
later gained her diploma with two Teaching Associations. Apart from running her own dance school in
the Wolverhampton she was also choreographer for the company’s productions
of GEORGE M and HELLO DOLLY, and currently directs the Summer Shows. In 1998 she Directed & Choreographed
CALAMITY JANE at the Wulfrun Hall during the Grand Theatre refurbishment,
following this it was back to the Grand with CRAZY FOR YOU and most
recently MACK & MABEL. She has
also recently been involved as Choreographer for the Bilston Operatic
Society Company’s productions of
THE KING AND I, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, CAROUSEL, and HELLO DOLLY.
John Biddulph – Current Musical Director John’s interest in amateur theatre started in
1958. He has since played all the
principal tenor roles in the Gilbert & Sullivan operettas with Trinity,
Walsall G&S Club, Tettenhall College and Stourbridge G&S
Society. Since taking up the baton
he has also been Musical Director of South Staffs and Bridgenorth Operatic
Societies. His Tenor voice is heard
frequently in oratorio recitals.
Annette Beech – Current Accompanist A student of Cello, Clarinet,
Piano and Drama at the Birmingham University and the Birmingham
Conservatoire. A teacher of music,
drama and dance with learning disabled students. Has a long connection with Muscom since the age of 19 as a
rehearsal pianist. Was Musical
Director for GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES, MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS and 42nd
STREET and several Summer Shows.
Annette is the President of the Old Fallings Players, and has just
finished their production of CAROUSEL.
Mike Capri – Director / Choreographer Mike Capri was born in Hanover, Germany in 1954 and
came to England at the age of nine, when he immediately started upon a
dancing career. Within a few years he
was appearing in local shows as a dancer and later taking on the task of
Choreographer. In more recent years
he has been Director / Choreographer for more productions than he cares to
remember and seen a number of them win Evening Mail awards. Mike joined the secong generation in
1977 and since then has worked at home and abroad with, among others,
Dickie Henderson, Jimmy Tarbuck, Vince Hill, The Krankies, Bernie Winders,
Lena Zavaroni, Les Dawson and John Pertwee in the Musical Worzel Gummidge. During the later years with the Second
Generation, Mike was often called upon to assist Choreographer Dougie
Squires in staging and choreographing shows as well as taking on the
responsibility of Dance Captain. The name Capri is now
regularly seen as Producer / Choreographer of many summer seasons and
pantomimes with such as Rolf Harris, Max Boyce, Don McLean and Keith
Harris. Mike is also in demand to
stage individual acts often for television appearances, as well as choreographing
fashion shows, ice dancers and videos for the ‘pop’ market. When time permits, Mike
enjoys working in television himself and has appeared in Barchester
Chronicles, The Singing Detective and The Ritz as well as choreographing
the dance routines in the BBC production of East Lynne. He also appeared as a dancer in the
multi-million pound file Heaven’s Gate for United artists. Steve Bracey – Producer Steve Bracey first trod the boards in a college
production of Harold Pinter’s The Birthday Party in 1964 and later appeared
in two BBC TV Series, namely United and The Newcomers, before giving up the
profession to appear in many amateur productions. Throughout the seventies he played a number of leading roles
with the Dudley Little Theatre and the Crescent Theatre, Birmingham, where
he first got a taste for musicals
whilst playing Clifford Bradshaw in Cabaret. Keeping his contact with the professional stage,
Steve became Mike Capri’s Personal Manager in 1979 and has been his
permanent Producer since 1982. In
the role of Producer, Steve has the responsibility of directing the
principals in all dialogue, and any musical numbers not requiring the
expertise of the trained choreographer.
Together, Mike and Steve have directed and produced over fifty shows
throughout the Midlands, won a number of Evening Mail awards and, more
surprisingly, have managed to remain reasonably sane.
Jonathan Hill G.B.S.M.A.R.C.M & A.B.S.M–
Musical Director John trained at the
Birmingham Conservatoire in vocal studies, keyboard, composition and
conducting, gaining his degree. His
musical career has included roles in opera, oratorios and concerts as a
baritone soloist. For over twenty
years he has been musical director for various operatic companies in the
Midlands Credits include : JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, WEST SIDE
STORY, BARNUM, MY FAIR LADY, ME AND
MY GIRL, GREASE, GUYS AND DOLLS, ANYTHING GOES, CRAZY FOR YOU, HOT MIKADO,
FAME …………... And many many more.
Peter Hobson – Musical Director With great sadness we record
the death of a former popular Musical Director Peter Hobson, who died from
Cancer in July 1998. Peter had been
ill for some time but continued to take an active part in musical theatre. Peter joined the company in 1969 and played many
supporting lead roles, his favourite being Og the Leprechaun in FINIANS
RAINBOW. In 1978 he was invited to
take the post of Musical Director and remained so for many of our successful
productions including KISS ME KATE, IRENE, ANYTHING GOES, THE PAJAMA GAME,
HALF A SIXPENCE and MACK & MABEL.
Ricard Calkin – Tap Routines for 42nd
Street Richard’s last appearance
with Muscom was as a young boy in FINIANS RAINBOW in 1974. Trained at the Pattison academy Coventry
for 3 years. Then joined the Second
Generation Dancers and appeared in Monte Carlo, Miami, and on television
with the James Last Show in Holland and Germany. Played the Genie of the Lamp in ALADDIN in Glasgow with Iris
Williams in the title role. British
Tevevision appearances include the Little and Large Show, the Grace Kennedy
Show, The Stanley Baxter Christmas Show, The Olivier Awards at Her
Majesty’s Theatre, two Royal Command Shows and more recently as Paco the
Latin American Dancer on Bruce Forsyth’s Generation Game. Richard danced in the original
production of 42nd Street at Drury Lane for two and a half
years, followed by Gremyo in KISS ME KATE at the Savoy Theatre. He then went into the original
production of MISS SIAGON again at Drury Lane. At the Queens Theatre London he played a leading part in MATADOR
opposite Stephanie Powers. This was
followed by the part of the Pharaoh in JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR
DREAMCOAT at the London Palladium. Then came the lead role of
Danny GREASE at the Dominion and
Cambridge Theatres in London. A
short spell in BOOGIE NIGHTS with Shane Richie at the Churchill Theatre,
Bromley, followed by Aladdin at Southend. Richard has just finished
appearing in the successful production of SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER at the
London Palladium. As a matter of
interest Richard is the son of Olwen Rowley, our Vice Chairman and Wardrobe
Mistress
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