David Spicer Productions - Simon Gallaher's Savoy Trilogy

Essgee Entertainment's Smash Hit Touring Savoy Trilogy Available Now

" As dazzling ...as the Best of Broadway"
Brisbane Courier Mail.

" Pinafore is a 24-carat triumph"
The Australian.

" An unfolding caravan of delights"
Sydney Morning Herald.

PIRATES, H.M.S PINAFORE, THE MIKADO

Based on Gilbert and Sullivan's all time classics.

New orchestrations by Kevin Hocking. Additional Lyrics by Melvyn Morrow.

WHAT THE CRITICS SAID

" As Dazzling as the Best of Broadway" " No Praise could be too excessive"

" An unfolding caravan of delights"

Millions have enjoyed these Broadway bound adaptations of Pirates, Pinafore and the Mikado. Order your perusal video now .

SIMON GALLAHER's Essgee Entertainment has brought Gilbert and Sullivan into the 21st Century through modern orchestrations, tighter funnier script, a fabulous megamix finale, and the unique funky female chorus known as the Singlettes. In Pinafore Essgee has also borrowed some other classic G and S to take a fresh look at this classic. Yet almost all the original songs and tunes are included and despite the 'pop feel' of many of the chorus numbers the most beautiful solos are untouched. The end product is true to the spirit of Gilbert and Sullivan but much more accessible for the 21st Century.

Package includes Six Piece Orchestrations for all three : 3 keyboard, percussion, guitar, drums OR optional 16 piece Broadway Score for Pirates. There is also suggested Choreography and Direction by Craig Schaefer and Optional SET HIRE in Australia and New Zealand. Royalties : A

Contact DSP for perusal details (david@davidspicer.com)

Wouldn't you love to own your own " musical society" , that tours Australia , for ten years staging successful productions???

Simon Gallaher has done just that , with his fabulous SAVOY TRILOGY Pirates, Mikado and HMS Pinafore now released for amateur and school theatre. David Spicer, his agent, speaks to Simon about the Savoy trilogy and also his latest two productions The Merry Widow, and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.

Exclusive Interview with Simon Gallaher

SIMON GALLAHER : Mr Producer and Mr Tenor.

Simon when did you first fall in love?

When I was twelve

No Simon I meant with Gilbert and Sullivan?

Well it was at the same time I was doing my first school production of " The Pirates of Penzance" . G& S captivated me from the moment I saw an amateur production done by my local Light Opera Society. I then subscribed to the society and saw everything they did throughout my school years and then joined them in my first year out of school (and did The Merry Widow).

Were you a member of an amateur musical society?

I joined The Queensland Light Opera Company in Brisbane where I cut my teeth in the chorus and understudying lead roles.

Were they fabulous?

Yes, and they progressed from their local church hall to the major theatre of the city (her Majesty's) and finally overtook the state-run opera company. The opera company then folded and the government had the Light Opera Company's name changed to become the newly state-run Lyric Opera of Queensland.

How did you break into show business?

Working in a piano bar one night and was discovered by June Bronhill who was visiting to make a guest appearance on a local TV show and she asked me to play something for her. I played the entire score or The Merry Widow and she sang. She then proclaimed to the TV producers that I should appear on the show. It was my first appearance as a piano playing singer which went on from there to be a recording artist and popular performer across television Australia-wide.

You always had faith that a new contemporary production of Pirates, would do well, did you attract any investors?

No one would invest and as a last resort I put all my own money into it.

So how did you finance the first production in 1994.

I sold off two guaranteed short seasons for Brisbane and Perth (one to The Lyric Opera of Qld) which guaranteed certain return. From there I took the entire risk in Sydney and Melbourne where it became a huge hit. The profits went on to produce The Mikado in Australia and then to form Essgee Entertainment (NZ) Ltd and create the first New Zealand production of the trilogy.

What is the formula that makes your SAVOY Trilogy so unique?

A strange cross between making it fresh and contemporary but still being true to the melodies and script of the originals. Also casting contemporary artists which a modern day audience can identify with.

Do they translate well for amateur or school theatre productions?

Yes. Gilbert & Sullivan has always translated well it can highlight the talents of many people in very stereotyped and most 2-dimensional characters. It also allows for large numbers of ensemble players. It's also a good sing for chorus members as well as principal characters.

How have the amateur theatres that have staged one of the Savoy productions so far, adapted the groovy female chorus roles performed by the Singlettes?

Some have translated this literally into their own production, others have added (one production made it 5 girls) with others having a full female chorus (one with all beehive hairdos).

What else does the Essgee package offer companies?

Because we have all of our professional productions recorded on video, this is a great reference point for directors and performers as well allow all aspects of the production to be used or borrowed. All direction and choreography can be used or modified to suit. The revised script of course. We have 2 styles of orchestrations available. The first is for 6 musicians and identical to the videos. For Pirates we also have a new 16 piece Broadway score which we have done for our proposed New York production.

What do you say to purists who argue that the original orchestrations are best?

Time to move on. Let your hair down and don't take life so seriously.

A couple of final questions. Do you think the principles of good marketing apply to professional and amateur theatre? If so what is the most important thing to get right?

Very much. It's everything. You have to sell it and encourage people to see the live theatre and leave their TV sets for another experience. We compete more and more with TV as well as film and also new things like the Cafe society and the internet for the leisure dollar. You have to try to push the right button to make the audience choose YOU and your production and essentially strive to make your audience have the best time and want to come back for more.

And you own your own " Musical Society" and get to play the roles you want, is that every tenor's dream?

To entertain and make people happy is in my blood and always my ultimate goal.


	Essgee Entertainment's Smash Hit Touring Savoy Trilogy Available Now " As dazzling ...as the Best of Broadway" Brisbane Courier Mail. " Pinafore is a 24-carat triumph" The Australian. " An unfolding caravan of delights" Sydney Morning Herald. PIRATES, H.M.S PINAFORE, THE MIKADO Based on Gilbert and Sullivan's all time classics. New orchestrations by Kevin Hocking. Additional Lyrics by Melvyn Morrow. WHAT THE CRITICS SAID " As Dazzling as the Best of Broadway" " No Praise could be too excessive" " An unfolding caravan of delights" Millions have enjoyed these Broadway bound adaptations of Pirates, Pinafore and the Mikado. Order your perusal video now . SIMON GALLAHER's Essgee Entertainment has brought Gilbert and Sullivan into the 21st Century through modern orchestrations, tighter funnier script, a fabulous megamix finale, and the unique funky female chorus known as the Singlettes. In Pinafore Essgee has also borrowed some other classic G and S to take a fresh look at this classic. Yet almost all the original songs and tunes are included and despite the 'pop feel' of many of the chorus numbers the most beautiful solos are untouched. The end product is true to the spirit of Gilbert and Sullivan but much more accessible for the 21st Century. Package includes Six Piece Orchestrations for all three : 3 keyboard, percussion, guitar, drums OR optional 16 piece Broadway Score for Pirates. There is also suggested Choreography and Direction by Craig Schaefer and Optional SET HIRE in Australia and New Zealand. Royalties : A Contact DSP for perusal details (david@davidspicer.com)
	Wouldn't you love to own your own " musical society" , that tours Australia , for ten years staging successful productions??? Simon Gallaher has done just that , with his fabulous SAVOY TRILOGY Pirates, Mikado and HMS Pinafore now released for amateur and school theatre. David Spicer, his agent, speaks to Simon about the Savoy trilogy and also his latest two productions The Merry Widow, and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Exclusive Interview with Simon Gallaher SIMON GALLAHER : Mr Producer and Mr Tenor. Simon when did you first fall in love? When I was twelve No Simon I meant with Gilbert and Sullivan? Well it was at the same time I was doing my first school production of " The Pirates of Penzance" . G& S captivated me from the moment I saw an amateur production done by my local Light Opera Society. I then subscribed to the society and saw everything they did throughout my school years and then joined them in my first year out of school (and did The Merry Widow). Were you a member of an amateur musical society? I joined The Queensland Light Opera Company in Brisbane where I cut my teeth in the chorus and understudying lead roles. Were they fabulous? Yes, and they progressed from their local church hall to the major theatre of the city (her Majesty's) and finally overtook the state-run opera company. The opera company then folded and the government had the Light Opera Company's name changed to become the newly state-run Lyric Opera of Queensland. How did you break into show business? Working in a piano bar one night and was discovered by June Bronhill who was visiting to make a guest appearance on a local TV show and she asked me to play something for her. I played the entire score or The Merry Widow and she sang. She then proclaimed to the TV producers that I should appear on the show. It was my first appearance as a piano playing singer which went on from there to be a recording artist and popular performer across television Australia-wide. You always had faith that a new contemporary production of Pirates, would do well, did you attract any investors? No one would invest and as a last resort I put all my own money into it. So how did you finance the first production in 1994. I sold off two guaranteed short seasons for Brisbane and Perth (one to The Lyric Opera of Qld) which guaranteed certain return. From there I took the entire risk in Sydney and Melbourne where it became a huge hit. The profits went on to produce The Mikado in Australia and then to form Essgee Entertainment (NZ) Ltd and create the first New Zealand production of the trilogy. What is the formula that makes your SAVOY Trilogy so unique? A strange cross between making it fresh and contemporary but still being true to the melodies and script of the originals. Also casting contemporary artists which a modern day audience can identify with. Do they translate well for amateur or school theatre productions? Yes. Gilbert & Sullivan has always translated well it can highlight the talents of many people in very stereotyped and most 2-dimensional characters. It also allows for large numbers of ensemble players. It's also a good sing for chorus members as well as principal characters. How have the amateur theatres that have staged one of the Savoy productions so far, adapted the groovy female chorus roles performed by the Singlettes? Some have translated this literally into their own production, others have added (one production made it 5 girls) with others having a full female chorus (one with all beehive hairdos). What else does the Essgee package offer companies? Because we have all of our professional productions recorded on video, this is a great reference point for directors and performers as well allow all aspects of the production to be used or borrowed. All direction and choreography can be used or modified to suit. The revised script of course. We have 2 styles of orchestrations available. The first is for 6 musicians and identical to the videos. For Pirates we also have a new 16 piece Broadway score which we have done for our proposed New York production. What do you say to purists who argue that the original orchestrations are best? Time to move on. Let your hair down and don't take life so seriously. A couple of final questions. Do you think the principles of good marketing apply to professional and amateur theatre? If so what is the most important thing to get right? Very much. It's everything. You have to sell it and encourage people to see the live theatre and leave their TV sets for another experience. We compete more and more with TV as well as film and also new things like the Cafe society and the internet for the leisure dollar. You have to try to push the right button to make the audience choose YOU and your production and essentially strive to make your audience have the best time and want to come back for more. And you own your own " Musical Society" and get to play the roles you want, is that every tenor's dream? To entertain and make people happy is in my blood and always my ultimate goal.