Generation whY - Star's Hip New Spin On the 80's

Generation whY - Star's Hip New Spin On the Eighties

STAR'S HIP
NEW SPIN ON
THE EIGHTIES

INTERNATIONALLY acclaimed stage star Hayden Tee is set to take New Zealand by storm in his new, critically acclaimed concert ‘Generation whY?

Hayden – a star of international stage productions including Les Miserables, South Pacific, Cats, Titanic, Little Women and My Fair Lady -- explores 'Generation whY?' and its influences on an historic era of music. It presents events of the generation visually and acoustically to deliver inspired re-workings of some of the most popular music of the era from artists including Michael Jackson, Crowded House, Cyndi Lauper, Dave Dobbyn and many more.

The concert will be held at The Civic Theatre’s Wintergarden on Sunday, April 26. Tickets are on sale now @
The Edge ticketing. $35 advance sales and $40 door sales.

www.buytickets.co.nz

0800 BUY TICKETS (0800 289842) or (09) 357-3355

Generation whY?, produced by Your Management brings together critically acclaimed musical director Nigel Ubrihien on piano and director Darren Yap along with backing vocalists, Disc Jockey and Video Jockey mixing live. Hayden will also be joined by special guest and fellow My Fair Lady performer Sheridan Harbridge, winner of Australia's 6th Annual Cabaret Showcase she was last seen in Auckland in Fiddler on the Roof and soon takes her show to The Adelaide Cabaret Festival later in 09.

Tee said, “there is something for people of all generations in this unique concert. We'll be delivering re-workings of some of the most popular music of the era to comment on personal anecdotes, Maori mythology and historical events. We've grown up through events including the discovery of the hole in the ozone, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the AIDS epidemic and a revolution in communication.”

Tee assures no song is just a cover or replication of its original form. “Each song will undergo a special treatment and is supported by visual media.” Songs include Phil Collins’ In The Air Tonight, Dave Dobbyn’s Slice of Heaven, Michael Jackson’s Man In The Mirror and Don’t Dream It's Over by Crowded House.

“Each song Nigel and I have selected reflects a significant, historical and personal event for Generation Y. Spandau Ballet’s 1985 hit Through The Barricades, juxtaposes the divorce and breakdown of a family with the troubles in Ireland – the song a metaphor for the battle ground of a family. For me this song is important on many levels, the title itself 'Through The Barricades' correlates with the critically acclaimed musical 'Les Miserables' (also written in 1985) which is about France, revolution and the breakdown of families. 'Les Miserables' has played a pivotal role in my life and career – it gave me my West End debut. The year 1985 also saw France bomb the 'Rainbow Warrior' in Auckland Harbour, plus it was the year my own parents divorced. For me Through The Barricades encapsulates these significant global and personal events” he said.

The concert accompanies the release of Hayden's second album 'Generation whY? LIVE'. The fully orchestrated album was recorded live during two exclusive performances at Fox Studios, Sydney in February. A percentage of the sale of each CD will also support the good work of Father Chris Riley’s Youth Off the Streets. Tee said, 'while we were putting this album and show together we wanted to make a positive contribution to the people of my generation who need it most. Every child of every generation should have a home.”

Hayden's first self titled album recorded in 2003 was voted top 5 male vocalist of the year 2003 in New York and is now available to download online at various digital music stores including iTunes.

Hayden TEE Bio

Hayden Tee, New Zealand born, lives and trained in Australia at NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Arts). He is acclaimed for his work as both performer and director in theatre,

concert and cabaret throughout the U.K, U.S, Australia and New Zealand.

Last appearing in Little Women as Professor Bhaer (dir. Stuart Maunder) for Kookaburra (Australias National Music Theatre Company) which he received rave reviews for including The Daily Telegraph saying “Hayden Tee displayed again that he is one of the great male talents of the Australian musical stage. His voice is superb and his stage presence obvious”.

2008 saw Hayden join the world touring cast of Cats as Bustopher Jones/Gus/Growltiger (dir. Trevor Nunn / Joanne Robinson, Seoul KR) and has recently completed the Kookaburra  tour of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (dir. Darren Yap) and Songs for a New World (dir. Peter Cousens).

2007 marked Hayden's Opera debut, appearing in the Helpmann Award winning Australian production of Dead Man Walking (dir. Nigel Jaimeson) in the lead tenor role of Father Grenville. In 2006 Hayden won much critical acclaim for his portrayal of Thomas Andrews in Titanic: The Musical (dir. John Deidrich) and created the role of Cuddlepie in the workshop of The Adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie (dir. Neil Armfield).

Hayden was selected by the BBC as one of the top twelve voices of music theatre in the world in the 2005 BBC Voice of Musical Theatre (Cardiff UK) He went on to play the leading role of Marius in the West End production of Les Miserables (dir. John Caird / Trevor Nun London UK). Before moving to London, Hayden performed the role of Lt. Joe Cable in South Pacific (dir. Joanne Robinson) Grumio in Kiss Me Kate (dir. Elric Hooper, Christchurch NZ) and appeared in The Wizard of Oz (dir. Nancye Hayes)

In 2003 Hayden released his self-titled debut album, which was selected as one of the five best male CDs of that year by Cabaret Hotline Online and won the New York Award at the 2002 Sydney Cabaret Convention which led to performing in prestigious cabaret venues across New Zealand, Australia, England and The United States. Hayden received considerable praise for his satirical tonight show Muftee which played for twelve months in Australia and one month in New York, featuring guest appearances from some of the top names in Australian and American show business.

Hayden's credits as a Director include Godspell: Prepare Ye (CMRI, Sydney AUS), The Magic Flute and A42A3 for the Short, Sweet and Song Festival (Sydney AUS) which also won the People’s Choice Award.

Nigel UBRIHIEN Bio

Nigel Ubrihien graduated from the Sydney Conservatorium in 1995 with a Bachelor of Music and then studied at the Academy of Music in Prague in 1998. Nigel is highly regarded across the industry for his arrangements, composition, musical direction and work in musical theatre and cabaret and has received many accolades throughout New York, Europe, Sydney, Melbourne and New Zealand including The Sydney Morning Herald’s “…superb accompaniment by Nigel Ubrihien” and BNews, Melbourne said “…Ubrihien’s keen musical direction… was pure magic…”

Nigel starred with Hayden in the cult show “Muftee” and in 2004 he was musical director,

arranger and conductor on Hayden’s debut album ‘Hayden Tee’. He has worked on many major productions in a range of musical capacities including The Lion Kin (Sydney), the 2008 seasons of The Phantom of the Opera and Billy Elliot (Sydney). He has accompanied many of Australia’s best known artists including David Campbell, Tim Draxl, Kane Alexander and Tyran Parke. Nigel received the 2000 Green Room award for his comedy show “Friends of Barbra: the Way We Weren’t”. He teaches music at the National Institute of Dramatic Art, the Australian Institute of Music and was guest coach at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art London in January 2008.

Darren YAP Bio

Darren Yap is a graduate of the NIDA Director’s Course and has just completed directing the City of Sydney’s 2008/9 Chinese New Year Parade.

His credits include Associate Director of the 2008 Tour of Miss Saigon and the 2000 Sydney Olympics Closing Ceremony and has acted in various film and theatre productions including Mission Impossible (Paramount Pictures) and M. Butterfly (MTC) Previously Darren has directed Hayden in I Love You,You’re Perfect, Now Change! for Kookaburra Productions

Darren was Resident Director for the Australasian Tour of MAMMA MIA! (Perth, Adelaide, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Brisbane and Melbourne) and the World Premiere of The Boy From Oz starring Todd McKenney for which he received a Green Room Award for Best Re-Staging by a Resident Artist. In June 2009, Darren will direct Steel Magnolias for Blackbird Productions starring Jacqui Weaver, Geraldine Turner and Jennifer Hagan.

Hayden Tee in Generation whY?

With support act Sheridan Harbridge

The Wintergarden (Beneath the Civic Theatre)

Sunday April 26th April 2009

7.30pm

One Night Only!

Tickets: $35 Advance Sales $40 at the door.
ends

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