Singers bringing Broadway to Rotorua

MUSICAL FUN: The Operatunity Daytime Concert Series will present a show filled with the hits of Broadway in Rotorua next week. PHOTO/FILE 270814OPERATUNITY

Musical fans will be in for a treat when the Operatunity Daytime Concert Series presents a show filled with the hits of Broadway next week.

The show, Rodgers and Hammerstein and Friends, will be held at the Rotorua Baptist Church next Tuesday and will feature the best songs of Rodgers and Hammerstein and the musical theatre greats of the '60s and '70s.

The show allows audiences to relive films and shows made famous by greats like Julie Andrews, Dick van Dyke and Rex Harrison with timeless joyful songs from such shows as Sound of Music, South Pacific, Carousel, The King and I and Oklahoma.

Operatunity founder and director John Cameron said the show also featured five talented young artists.

"One of the aims of the Operatunity Daytime Series is to showcase talented New Zealand artists," he said.

Mr Cameron said in an age of commercialism within universities, it was alarming to see how many singers and musicians were graduating from universities in New Zealand.

The standard was generally high but where do all these budding performers find work in a small arts scene, Mr Cameron asked?

Managing director of Operatunity Sue Boland said, "There is a concern that with so many people graduating that many will never enjoy a professional career in the arts.

"There are so many factors in play when considering if people can really make it in this tough world. If we can help give people a break we are delighted. To maintain our professionalism, they need to be of a high standard and already have a lot of experience but we help them get to the next level".

The young musicians performing include Alex Milligan, Ella Smith, Robert Enari, Helene Holman, and Paul Carnegie-Jones, a classical jazz pianist and accompanist to Russian-born multiplatinum artist Yulia MacLean.The show will run from 11am.

To book call 0508 266 237 or visit www.daytimeconcerts.co.nz