Archive for November, 2009

The Music Theatre Guild of Victoria today announced the list of Nominations and Commendations for Guild Awards to be presented at the Bruce Awards Night on December 5th! Congratulations to those UMMTA performers whose excellent work has been recognised for our 2009 season:

Nomination for Best Female Performer in a Leading Role:
Amelia Ryan – Baker’s Wife, Into the Woods

Nomination for Best Female Performer in a Supporting Role:
Kathryn Sutherland – Cinderella, Into the Woods

Nomination for Best Female Performer in a Supporting Role:
Annie Johnston – Little Red Ridinghood, Into the Woods

Commendation for Best Male Performer in a Leading Role:
Charlie Sturgeon – King Arthur, Camelot

Commendation for Best Male Performer in a Supporting Role:
Matt Holt – Mordred, Camelot

Congratulations to all, and best of luck for the awards!

Hey guys – we hope you like our new website! We’re still in the process of adding in some of the content, but hope to have lots of historical information about the company and past shows available, as well as providing an easy way for you to find out what’s happening at the company, check out auditions, social activities and upcoming shows. Please tell us what you think – UMMTA loves to receive your comments and suggestions!

UMMTA is proud to announce its Semester 1 show for 2010: The Wedding Singer!

It’s back to the 80’s as we follow the story of Robbie Hart, the singer in a wedding band. Once he dreamed of being a successful songwriter, but now he lives in his Grandma’s basement. His situation becomes worse when he is dumped on his wedding day by his fiance. Will Julia, the optimistic new waitress at the reception hall, be the cure for Robbie’s lovelorn state? Featuring a diverse cast of characters, we’re sure The Wedding Singer is going to be totally rad!

You can find a full synopsis of the show at http://www.guidetomusicaltheatre.com/shows_w/weddingsinger.html

We are looking for talented, dedicated and enthusiastic applicants for the following roles:

• Director and Assistant Director
• Musical Director
• Choreographer
• Production Manager

Your submission should include any relevant previous experience, other anticipated show, work or university conflicts during Semester 1 and an expression of your creative vision for the show (if relevant). Performance dates will be the 14th – 22nd of May 2010, in the Union Theatre at The University of Melbourne.

Applications must be sent to  by Wednesday the 25th of November.

Expressions of interest and requests for further information should also be directed to .

We are also happy to receive expressions of interest for the following roles, with application dates to be announced soon:

• Technical Director
• Lighting Designer
• Sound Designer
• Stage Manager
• Costume Designer
• Set Designer
• Vocal Coach
• Rehearsal Pianist

We look forward to hearing from you!

Review by Leeor Adar (Union House Theatre)

The tale surrounding Camelot is timeless, whereby we watch the rise and fall of a King and Queen at the very hands of what binds Camelot and them together: love and honour. Based on T.S. White’s variation of Arthur and his knights of the round table, The Once and Future King, Camelot was originally staged on Broadway, prior to John F Kennedy’s election. Coincidently, the Kennedy White House has become synonymous with Camelot and its ideology of freedom and justice. In reference to this, UMMTA’s staging and costume had some seriously 60’s inspired glam. As Director Shaun Fitzgerald noted, Assistant Director Ellie Morrison’s knack for a “well placed Vanity Fair” depicting Marilyn Monroe, of all celebrities, in the hands of a Guenevere modeled on Jackie Kennedy added that extra touch of irony.

UMMTA had wisely chosen to stage Camelot in the intimate Guild Theatre. The impact of the production on a physical and musical level was far greater in close proximity than in the potentially alienating space of the Union Theatre. On top of some of the incredible musical talent, the acting was of a good standard, which often falls by the wayside in amateur musical theatre. King Arthur (Charlie Sturgeon) had a remarkably magnificent and mature voice as well as some softer moments with his sensitive acting. Arthur’s leading lady, Guenevere (Anna Voshege) had a beautiful, rich voice, which she carried masterfully throughout her songs. I was also pleased to see Daniel Czech and his wonderfully spirited voice in the role of Lancelot, whom notably dazzled in UMMTA’s previous production of Sweet Charity.

With such strong leading voices, I was very pleased with the overall casting choices; some unforgettable moments included the plotting between the lazily deviant Morgan Le Fey (Emily Frawley) and her candy-soliciting, charismatic counterpart Mordred (Matt Holt), and the musings of Merlyn (Nicolas Brown) between conversations with Arthur. I also cannot forget the standout performance of UMMTA founder, Emma Leaver as Pellinore, whose acting was so superb and honest the audience was often in fits of laughter, brightening up at her entrances.

Regardless of the musical highlights, “Take Me to the Fair”, “If Ever I Would Leave You” and the dreamy “Follow Me”, the orchestra often slumped and did not do justice to Frederick Loewe’s music or the performers voices. Being so close to the orchestra which was hardly camouflaged, the audience could at times read boredom and smirks from the orchestra, which perhaps in future productions of UMMTA could remain completely out of sight, or a little more focused. This is not to say that they did not have their moments; some melodies they produced were at times heartbreakingly lovely.

The production closes with Arthur’s heartbreak and final show of valour and honour; Camelot is a reminder of what true strength of character means in this world and that in the aftermath of great loss, only the greatest of men will stand up with their dignity in tact.

Originally posted at http://union.unimelb.edu.au/theatre/review-camelot

So, you like musical theatre, huh? All your life you’ve been ostracised for knowing your Sondheim from your Seussical, having to forego any social life ‘cos you’ve got rehearsal all weekend, knowing exactly where the Manuka honey in your supermarket is kept, and rolling your eyes when you hear the words “box” and “step” in the same sentence… Well, the good news is, you’re not alone! UMMTA people are just like you – students and others associated with the University of Melbourne that share the joy of musical theatre in its many facets – whether performing on stage, in the orchestra, helping out in a production team, technical or backstage.

UMMTA is the only group operating on the University of Melbourne campus, one hundred percent dedicated to producing musical theatre shows – each semester you’ll find us in the Union or Guild theatres in Union House, bringing another fantastic show to University and public audiences. Not associated with any particular student group or college, we are able to draw upon the extensive talent base of the whole University community – enabling productions of the highest standards. Founded in 2002, UMMTA is run by fellow students, so we understand the pressures of juggling study with show involvement – and this has been proven countless times, with the hundreds of students who have had a great time involved in shows, and excelling in their studies – while still maintaining a healthy social life as well!

So whatever your situation – whether you’ve just left school and are missing being involved in shows, at college and looking to fill that Semester One gap, studying in performance and looking to add some more experience, or just plain want to give it a try – we encourage you to get involved! Sign up for an audition, register your interest in production or crewing, join the orchestra, or just send us an email to say hi – we look forward to seeing you in the theatre!