Big Night Out For Baby Boomers

Big Night Out For Baby Boomers

76 trombones, a Knight and a Dame will lead the big parade opening The 2003 NBR Stadium Spectacular at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium on Saturday, 22 February at 8.00pm.

In a Spectacular twist, the new 2003 show takes a Broadway-Pop theme. Popular hits from ABBA, Queen and the Bee Gees mix with toe-tapping musical show-tunes from Lloyd Webber and Rogers & Hammerstein, alongside some well-loved Classical favourites.

A fresh line up of acts and stars come together as well as the welcome return of a few audience showstoppers from the inaugural 2002 event. Event director, Alan Smythe, promises punters more pageantry, glamour, feathers, sequins, special effects and double-the-fireworks, this time round.

“It’s our second annual show and it’s all new. The only thing that hasn’t changed is the sheer excitement!” Smythe enthuses. “We’ve turned up the heat to make 2003 even more spectacular!”

“The NBR Stadium Spectacular is a huge, family entertainment extravaganza with a feel good factor and extra pizzaz that’ll appeal to the Baby Boomers!”

Leading the stars who will perform on the 360-degree open air stage and 22.5-metre high tower, are two of New Zealand’s most highly esteemed show business artists - Sir Howard Morrison and Dame Malvina Major.

They will be joined by kiwi cultural icons The Topp Twins; Tim Beveridge, recognised as one of the world’s top voices in musical theatre (Phantom of the Opera, Sunset Boulevard, Evita, Me and My Girl, Carousel); Pavarotti protégé, Shaun Dixon; and upcoming, emerging classical talents Victoria Simonsen (2002 New Zealand Young Musician of the Year) and Anna Leese (2002 Mobil Song Quest winner).

Big Night out for Baby Boomers

Some of the world’s best loved music from stage, screen, pop, rock, Broadway, sacred, opera and classical worlds will be presented on a grand scale, accompanied by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra conducted by Brian Law. A massed choir of 200 voices, dancers and impressive military and brass bands will also add to the grandeur.

Among the musical numbers is an Overture of famous show tunes, alongside operatic favourites - Gershwin’s “Summertime”, Norma’s “Casta Diva” and The Pearl Fishers famous duet “Au fond du temple saint”. Moving spiritual anthems include “How Great Thou Art” and “Hine e Hine” as well as majestic orchestral works such as the sensational 1812 Overture.

The ever-graceful Dance of the Diggers return with new choreography and “extras” performing to the “Finale of Swan Lake” by Tchaikowsky. While in complete contrast, 17 year old Wellington guitarist, Calvin Pfeffer, will rock the Stadium with a Queen dedication, “Bohemian Rhapsody”.

And it is not just the performers who get to strut their stuff! The audience gets a chance to be a Dancing Queen with the ABBA karaoke led by renowned entertainers, Jackie Clark, Phil Madsen, Keri Harper and Chris Powley. As well as an opportunity to boogie-on-down with Bee Gees and get some “night fever”. They can test out their yodelling skills and help make history as The Topp Twins and Dame Malvina Major led the charge with an attempted entry into the Guinness Book of World Records for the world’s largest mass yodel.

Topping off the night’s entertainment will be a stunning display of laser special effects and breathtaking fireworks lighting up the sky overhead.

In Wellington once a year, for one performance only, The 2003 NBR Stadium Spectacular just got more spectacular!

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