''Symphonic Rock'' – a musical extravaganza!

Media Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
19 August 2003

“Symphonic Rock” – a musical extravaganza!

In the successful tradition of Symphonic Rock, a line-up of New Zealand’s hottest stage performers join the Auckland Philharmonia on Saturday 27 September to present great moments in rock music, from the ’50s until today.

Jackie Clarke, Phil Madsen, Rima Te Wiata and Joel Tobeck team up with the Auckland Philharmonia to perform rock classics from bands such as Queen, The Who, The Moody Blues, Led Zeppelin and Fleetwood Mac, to new hits from the likes of Robbie Williams and Alanis Morissette – a sensational programme arranged by Auckland’s “ace arranger”, Penny Dodd.

Jackie Clarke is the original “jack of all trades” – she’s a singer, actor, comedian and all round entertainer, as comfortable on stage as she is on screen and in the studio.

Recent stage appearances include the smash hit New Zealand tour of Mum’s the Word, and the Narrator in the international production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. She is also a mainstay of the perennial Hairy McLary theatre shows, and has three critically acclaimed Broadway revues under her belt.

Jackie, who was a member of When The Cat’s Been Spayed (the Kiwiana kitsch trio which boasts two successful albums, countless national tours, a plethora of Lotto advertisements and its own Country Calendar special!) has made numerous television appearances, including judging the TVOne talent show Showcase, and she regularly appears in large scale outdoor events such as Christmas in the Park, the NBR Stadium Spectacular and Sky City Starlight Symphony. She has toured and recorded with Kiwi rock legends Dave Dobbyn and Annie Crummer, and has performed with the NZSO, Auckland Philharmonia, Christchurch Symphony and Dunedin Sinfonia.

Phil Madsen is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and songwriter, who is now also in demand on the stage with the cream of New Zealand’s actors. With two Top 20 hits under his belt as half of Kiwi pop band Nurture, Phil has performed alongside seasoned performers such as Annie Crummer and Dave Dobbyn, and has shared the stage with the likes of Hootie and the Blowfish, Jimmy Barnes, and The Supremes.

Phil’s musicianship and stagecraft has grabbed the attention of audiences the world over, with performances in the US, Middle East and Australia. A regular guest artist for many years in Christmas in the Park, Phil has headlined several major New Zealand events including the opening and closing ceremonies of the America’s Cup (1999 and 2002). Earlier this year he performed with the Christchurch Symphony, and with the NZSO singing “We will Rock You” and “Bohemian Rhapsody” in the NBR Stadium Spectacular.

Rima Te Wiata completed a two year apprenticeship at Auckland’s Mercury Theatre before graduating from the New Zealand Drama School – Toi Whakaari – in the early 1980s. Since then she has taken leading roles in many plays, musicals and television series on both sides of the Tasman, and has garnered a variety of awards for her performances.

Television highlights include More Issues, Sons and Daughters, Full Frontal and Shark in the Park; theatre highlights include Cabaret, Macbeth, Death of a Salesman, Madam Melville and Happy End. Since moving to Dunedin Rima has directed and performed in The Vagina Monologues, directed Middle Age Spread, and performed in Macbeth, Noises Off and The Taming of the Shrew. Recently Rima played Pope Joan in Colin McColl’s sell-out production of Top Girls in Wellington.

Joel Tobeck first appeared on stage at the age of five when he was cast in The Dutchess of Malfi at the Mercury Theatre. He landed his first television role aged 16, and since then has been a regular face on our screens, appearing in a number of New Zealand dramas including Shortland Street, Street Legal and Mercy Peak. From 1995-2000 he worked regularly on the US television shows Hercules: The Legendary Journeys; Xena: Warrior Princess; Young Hercules; and Cleopatra 2525.

After playing guitar in rock bands for years, Joel decided to have a go at singing, and in 2001 he landed the role of Berger in the Auckland Theatre Company’s production of Hair. In 2002 he was cast as Dr Frank ‘n’ Furta in The Rocky Horror Show, which after sell-out seasons in Auckland and Wellington became the Auckland Theatre Company’s most successful show.

Joel also has an extensive film career, including Harry Sinclair’s Topless Women Talk About Their Lives, for which he won best actor at the 1997 Film & Television Awards; and Niki Caro’s Memory and Desire. He has just finished filming on The Lord of The Rings: Return of The King due for release at the end of the year. January 2004 sees the release of Gaylene Preston’ s Perfect Strangers, in which he appears alongside Sam Neill and Rachel Blake.

Jackie Clarke, Phil Madsen, Rima Te Wiata and Joel Tobeck are four rockers to be reckoned with, and combined with the full orchestral force of the Auckland Philharmonia, they promise a night to remember!

“Symphonic Rock”

Saturday 27 September – 8pm, Aotea Centre

Adult tickets from $32. Phone the Ticketek Orchestra Hotline on 307 5139.

Telecom Pops is sponsored by Telecom New Zealand with support from MORE FM. ENDS

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