News and Latest Events

Our previous show was Calamity Jane

Staged at the Barrington Theatre, 26th - 29th September 2012. Performances 7.30pm with a sat matinee at 2.30pm

Director: Janet Barrow;
Musical Director: Jean Roach
Choreographer: Sonia Gilson

This musical Western is adapted from the celebrated stage-play and film. Calamity Jane dresses like a man, totes a gun and drives the Deadwood City stagecoach. Well-meaning, but disaster-prone, she tries to help the local saloon proprietor out of a jam by promising to fetch a music-hall star from Chicago. A hilarious comedy, it nevertheless has many tender moments and some very famous numbers, including "Secret Love", "Black Hills Of Dakota, "Deadwood Stage" and "Windy City".

Storyline:

Deadwood City's two most famous peace officers, Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickock, get involved in saving the neck of Henry Miller, the local saloon operator. It seems that "Millie" has been promoting a beautiful actress named Frances Fryer, but Frances turns out to be a boy, Francis. Millie's attempt to cover up is soon unmasked by the angry miners, and only Calamity can cool the crowd with her trusty pistols.
To keep the peace, Calamity sets out for Chicago to bring back the miner's real heart-throb, Adelaide Adams. In Chicago Calamity mistakes Adelaide's maid, Katie Brown, for the actress and hauls her back to Deadwood. Onstage Katie is greeted warmingly, but breaks down and confesses that she is not the famous star. Calamity once more has to restore order and persuades the audience to give Katie a chance. They do, and she wins the heart of every male in town including Calamity's dashing love hope, Lt. Danny Gilmartin. Calamity reluctantly overcomes her jealousy over losing Danny and discovers her true love for Wild Bill.

PRINCIPLE CHARACTERS

Calamity Jane - Rachel Leggett
Wild Bill Hickock - Lee Neal
Lieutenant Danny Gilmartin - Jason Harris
Katie Brown - Lindsay McGowan
Francis Fryer - Duncan Trew
Adelaide Adams - Charlotte Giddins
Henry Miller - Derek Holden
Susan - Karina McCormack

Also Featuring Rattlesnake- Scott Price
"Doc" Pierce - KD Johnson
Joe (Bartender)- Brian Lodge
Hank and Pete - Two Scouts Matt Tyler & Rob Reynolds
Colonel of Fort Scully - Derek Salt
Cowpunchers, Bullwhakers, Prospectors, Trappers, Drunks, Indians, Women of the town, Chorus Girls, Officers, Soldiers and their Wives, Stage Coach Passengers, etc

MUSICAL NUMBERS

Deadwood Stage
Careless with the Truth
Adelaide
Everyone Complains About the Weather
Men
"Can Can"
A Hive Full of Honey
I Can Do Without You
It's Harry I'm Planning to Marry
Windy City
Keep It Under Your Hat
A Woman's Touch
Higher Than a Hawk
The Black Hills of Dakota
Love You Dearly
Secret Love

Just a week to go till Calamity Jane.

The Cast are very excited and have put together a very enjoyable show. With favorite Musical Numbers such as Windy City and Deadwood Stage, Secret Love, Black Hills of Dakota.

Publicity Photo attached

Beauty and the Beast is in the final Rehearsal stages and Looks set to be a good show.

If anyone would like to assist front of house or assisting the show on show week 22nd - 35th Feb 2012 Please could you contact us enquiries@phoenixmusicalsociety.co.uk or use the contact form.

Well done to Emily Giddins aged 10, who was awarded the "Gina Starkey" Award for Young Performer of the Year for her outstanding performances this year in "Love is a Many splendored thing" when she performed her first Solo, "where is love" from "Oliver" and later playing Young Ann and other roles in Half a Sixpence.

The award was given to Emily on stage after our last performance of Half a Sixpence by Gina's daughter.

We are very proud of Emily and wish her success in her future career of musical theatre.

Emily follows Hermoine Mason, a talented young performer, who won this award in 2010 for Outstanding performances in Scrooge and Carousel.

Join Phoenix at Ferndown Carnival on 9th July 2011

We are in the Village Hall, Church Road, after the procession Serving Cream Teas!!

From 11am to 3.30pm

IT IS FERNDOWN PHOENIX'S 25TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR 2011

We are Thrilled to be putting on a Musical production of

"HALF A SIXPENCE"

Based on the Novel "Kipps" by HG Wells

28th September 2011 - 1st October 2011 7.30pm (sat 2.30)pm
Barrington Theatre, Ferndown.

25th Anniversary Show "Half a Sixpence" (NEW VERSION)

£12 Adults, £10 Senior, £6 Child

A sparkling new version of the classic show, fresh from Bill Kenwright’s national tour, featuring “Flash, Bang, Wallop!” and all the old favourites plus NINE new songs.

Wells wrote Kipps - The Story of a Simple Soul a century ago and this musical version set in Edwardian Folkestone is partly based on his own life.
Originally staged in the West End in 1963, it later became a film (Tommy Steele). Now the script has been re-worked and a few new songs added - notably Warner Brown’s show-stopping belter What Should I Feel?

The heart of the story is the English class system of the early 20th century and how, with money, the lower class could transfer to the “la-di-dah” gentry. Spending his early years as an orphan, Kipps moves into society after inheriting a £1,200-a-year fortune. Which means he forgets his first love, Ann, another orphan, with whom he has filed a sixpence and given her half as a love token.

Half a Sixpence must be classed as one of the great family musicals full of great songs, mixed with an all-important love story and a happy ending to boot. The story revolves around Arthur Kipps and his childhood sweetheart Ann. Before they are parted, Kipps gives Ann half a sixpence to treasure. Many years later, Ann tracks Kipps down to Folkestone. As money enters their lives, Kipps changes and tries to become part of the upper set, and becomes engaged to Helen Walsingham. After enjoying his new wealth and status, Kipps realises he doesn’t belong in this new world. The Walsingham family are treating Ann very badly and realises the girl who still carries her half of the sixpence, Ann, is the girl for him.

DIRECTED BY JANET BARROW
MUSICAL DIRECTOR JEAN ROACH
CHOREOGRAPHER: LEANNE DADE

CAST

Arthur Kipps - Jason Harris
Sid- Matt Tyler
Buggins - K.D Johnson
Pearce - Duncan Trew
Kate - Catherine Ruff
Victoria - Charlotte Giddins
Flo - Sally Blythe
Mr Sandford - Derek Holden
Mrs Walsingham - Trish Ruff
Helen - Lindsey McGowan
Ann - Rachel Leggett
Young Walsingham - Andy Trant
Chitterlow - Lee Neal
Laura - Ann Hutchings
Young Ann Emily Giddins
Young Kipps Albie

Plus Chorus and supporting parts who play, Coachman, Orphanage Maid, Townspeople, Children, Ice Cream Seller, Clowns, Vendors, Gentleman, Lady, Showgirls, Tumblers, Jeremiah, Edith, Deckchair Attendant, Mayor, Lady Mayoress, Groundsman, Cricket Team, The Duchess, Toastmaster, Waiter, Reporter, Photographer, Gwendolin, children, Ballroom Guests, Dancers.

This is the list of musical numbers for the new version.
Act One:
1. A Normal Working Day
2. All In The Cause Of Economy
3. Half A Sixpence
4. My Heart’s Out There (What Should I Feel?)
5. This Is It
6. Money To Burn
7. Be Determined
8. I Don’t Believe A Word Of It
9. A Proper Gentleman
10. Too Far Above Me
11. If The Rain’s Got To Fall
12. The Cricket Match
13. If The Rain’s Got To Fall (Reprise)

Act Two:
14. No Need Of Economy
15. The One Who’s Run Away
16. Finesse
17. Long Ago
18. Flash, Bang, Wallop
19. I Know What I Am
20. That’s What Money’s For
21. What Should I Feel?
22. Half A Sixpence (Reprise)
23. All In The Cause Of Economy (Reprise)
24. All In The Cause Of Economy (Reprise)
25. A Normal Working Day (Reprise)
26. Company Bows
27. Encore (Flash, Bang, Wallop)

After the success of Carousel and the Brilliant feedback we received. We have been on a high!

Now We are looking forwarding to putting on our latest production of "love is a many spendored thing" directed by Trish Ruff and Musical Director Jean Roach.

We are enjoying putting this show together, we are currently coming to the end of the rehearsals of what looks to be, a very uplifting musical journey into all the aspects of love, with tears of sadness and many moments of happiness. We know this will be a hit with everyone both young and old.

Please see the Box office if you would like to purchase online or our future production page for more details.

Georgina Starkey
"GINA"

Founder Member and President of Ferndown Phoenix Musical Society, Passed Peacefully away at her home on Saturday 27th February 2010.

She was loved and respected by all who knew her.

The amateur musical, theatrical world of this area, have lost a friend, musician, actress, musical director and director, she will be sadly missed.

SCROOGE was a complete success and now we look forward to our next production Carousel.