Ghost the Musical is the musical adaptation of the hit film starring Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore and follows Sam and Molly, a young couple whose connection takes a shocking turn after Sam’s untimely death.
Trapped between two worlds, Sam refuses to leave Molly when he learns she is in grave danger. Desperate to communicate with her, he turns to a storefront psychic, Oda Mae Brown, who helps him protect Molly and avenge his death. Featuring such popular songs as “With You” and the Righteous Brothers’ classic “Unchained Melody,” this powerful love story is sure to become a fan favourite!
PG: Adult themes
Please note: In this performance there will be several gunshots and prop guns used.
Short bursts of strobing is used throughout the performance.
A New Musical by Jane Austen and Penny Ashton
Flushed by six years of success, from Edinburgh to Toronto to a sellout Nelson Arts Festival, returns Penny Ashton’s collaboration with Jane Austen (deceased). Join Miss Elspeth as she battles literary snobbery, cousin Horatio’s digestions and her mother’s nerves, armed only with a blushing countenance, excellent ukulele skills & being quite bright, you know... for a girl. In this hilarious, one-(freakishly talented)-woman show, Penny (Radio NZ’s Panel, Olive Copperbottom, Hot Pink Bits) tackles all of Austen’s characters with song, dance & appalling cross-stitching.
Best Theatre, Week Three - Adelaide Fringe
Touring Production of the Year - Dunedin Theatre Awards
Best Solo Show - Victoria Fringe, Canada
"PRIDE AND PREJUDICE GONE WILD IN THE BEST WAY" - 5 stars - Rip It Up
"A DELIGHT" - 5 stars - Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
"SPARKLING" - 4 stars - The Scotsman
It's time to grow up and face the music, you can’t just tap dance through your life....Right?
From a stellar cast featuring the best of Nelson’s young talent, this will be the year’s favourite youth musical experience. With special guest stars and inspiring music and dance.
Presented by the students of SOUNDSTAGE, Professional Music and Performing Arts School, this is a theatre experience not to be missed.
The Beginner's Guide to Growing Up features ideas compiled by the students of SOUNDSTAGE exploring pressures facing youth today presented in a fast paced and fun musical concert format.
Presented in one act, The Beginner's Guide to Growing Up plays for a limited season.
Join Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the hip hip Hippo and, of course, those hilarious, plotting penguins as they bound onto your stage in the musical adventure of a lifetime.
Based on the smash DreamWorks animated motion picture, Madagascar - A Musical Adventure Jr follows all of your favourite friends as they escape from their home in New York's Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien's Madagascar.
Alex the lion is the king of the urban jungle, the main attraction at New York's Central Park Zoo. He and his best friends - Marty the zebra, Melman the giraffe and Gloria the hippo - have spent their whole lives in blissful captivity before an admiring public and with regular meals provided for them. Not content to leave well enough alone, Marty lets his curiosity get the better of him and makes his escape - with the help of some prodigious penguins - to explore the world.
Filled with outlandish characters, adventure galore and an upbeat score, Madagascar Jr will leave audiences with no choice but to "Move It, Move It!"
Grease is the original High-School musical, featuring all the unforgettable songs from the hit movie including 'You're The One That I Want', 'Grease Is The Word', 'Summer Nights', 'Hopelessly Devoted To You', 'Sandy', 'Greased Lightnin' and many more.
Since the show's Broadway premiere in 1972, followed by the 1978 hit movie starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John - which went on to become the highest grossing movie-musical of all time - Grease has triumphed across the globe, striking a universal chord with its irresistible mix of adolescent angst, vibrant physicality and 1950s pop culture.
Travel down the rabbit hole and join Alice, one of literature's most beloved heroines, in her madcap adventures. Featuring updated songs from Disney's thrilling animated motion picture, Disney's Alice in Wonderland Jr is a fast-paced take on the classic tale.
The ever-curious Alice's journey begins innocently enough as she chases the White Rabbit. Her adventures become increasingly more strange as she races the Dodo Bird, gets tied up with Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, raps with a bubble-blowing Caterpillar and beats the Queen of Hearts at her own game!
Enjoy two wonderful evenings of Musical Theatre highlights from the composing debut of Cole Porter to the latest Broadway sensations!
Nelson graduate and Musical Theatre addict Yitzin Ruiz Lopez has gathered a company of likeminded performers to take you on a journey through the history of Musical Theatre. This is his goodbye to Nelson before embarking on an overseas adventure. You will hear a mix of most iconic and well known musical theatre songs and the Director's favourites.
There will be a wide range of genres - from musicals by Gershwin, Bernstein, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Schönberg, Sondheim to Lin Manuel Miranda. Two unforgettable evenings of Musical Theatre - A History in Song - not to be missed!
The 1997 film of "The Full Monty" stormed the box office and became the most successful British screen comedy ever, winning the Evening Standard Award for Best Film. The faithful stage adaptation won the same award in 2001 for Best Musical.
Garnering ten nominations for the 2001 Tony Awards, "The Full Monty" celebrates the renewal of self-esteem in a group of men made redundant by the closing of a steel mill. Enhanced by sharp and witty lyrics that expose more of the 'inner self' and supported by punchy modern music "The Full Monty" is a Contemporary Musical. Jazzy funky songs lead us through a colourful journey that celebrates triumph over adversity, in the most heart-warming way.
You can keep your hat on but the cast won't!
$10 from each ticket sold for the Tuesday 27 March show will be donated to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand Inc.
By Luke Di Somma & Gregory Cooper
Directed by Kip Chapman
Time to rock the vote!
Radical, riotous and bursting with wit, this bold musical experience about one of New Zealand's greatest heroes is a red-hot hit that pulsates with passion.
Our favourite daughter, suffragist, activist and cyclist Kate Sheppard, (played by Esther Stephens from the hit TV-series, West Side) is transformed from the face on the $10 note into a feminist firebrand, raising hell in this punk rock opera.
"Bursting with wit, verve and righteously rocking tunes" (THE PRESS), That Bloody Woman presents New Zealand's founding mother as you've never seen her before; loud, proud and in your face. Leading the charge to win women the vote, Kate takes on the patriarchy, public opinion and even Prime Minister Richard 'King Dick' Seddon.
Fresh from sell-out seasons in Auckland and Christchurch, Kate takes the show on the road in 2017.
"Kate's back: a kickass role model for equality and people power. May her message continue to roll out across the country." METRO MAGAZINE
"It vibrates with rocking tunes, righteous energy and knob gags. What is not to like?" THE PRESS
"...a fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled, honest, sassy and poignant celebration of a world first." THEATRESCENES
Featuring Esther Stephens, Geoffrey Dolan, Phoebe Hurst, Cameron Douglas, Amy Straker, Kyle Chuen & Andy Manning
Warning: contains really loud music, really coarse language and feminist women riding bicycles!
A Christchurch Arts Festival Commission
The very best of Nayland College Performing Arts will be on stage at the Theatre Royal in celebration of our students and their talents and achievements in 2017. The evening will feature performances from Dance Company, Concert Band, Jazz Band, our three Choirs and songs from our 2017 musical production 'Bye Bye Birdie'.
