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The passing of friends

Hamilton Operatic Society was saddened to learn today of the passing of two dear friends of the society, Fred Rowe and Don Ryrie. We send our condolences to both families....

Strategic Plan 2024-2026

This year has been an opportunity for the board to step back from our day-to-day operations, solidify our identity, and consider our priorities. We are delighted to present our 2024-2026 Strategic Plan which includes three strategic paths underpinned by Creative People doing Creative Things for Creative Good to “Bring the Experience of Musical Theatre to the Waikato”. ...

Welcome Hannah Doherty to the Board

Hannah’s appointment to the board offers a broad range of experience, passion, and a strong desire to foster a diverse, community-focused space that embraces innovation and provides a platform for burgeoning artists to flourish in the Waikato and beyond.Hannah started on her performing arts journey 20 years ago as a student of the Drury Dance studio for 12 years, where she went on to combine dance with her love of singing and acting in musical theatre productions such as HOS productions of Mam...

Farewell from The Board to Dave Smith

The board of Hamilton Operatic Society wishes to acknowledge the many decades of service by Dave Smith, who retired from his position on the board at the recent AGM. Dave has been involved in the Society since 1984, a co-opted member of the Board of Management since 2000, and an elected member since 2002. Dave was also Chairman of the Board of Management from 2006 until 2008. Dave is a Life Member of the Society and has a raft of knowledge about theatre technologies, large-scale produc...

FROM THE ARCHIVES - Annie Get Your Gun (1986)

Our July 'From the Archives' features our 1986 production of "Annie Get Your Gun".Annie Get Your Gun is a musical with lyrics and music by Irving Berlin and a book by Dorothy Fields and her brother Herbert Fields. The story is a fictionalized version of the life of Annie Oakley, a sharpshooter who starred in Buffalo Bill's Wild West, and her romance with sharpshooter Frank E. Butler.The 1946 Broadway production was a hit, and the musical had long runs in both New York and London, spawning reviva...

The Rocky Horror Show 50th Anniversary

Hamilton Operatic Society Inc. is honoured to call Richard O'Brien the Patron of our society. So, it was a no-brainer that when the 50th anniversary of Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show came about, it would take over all our operations for the month to celebrate.Over on our Facebook and Instagram accounts we posted a photo each day from our two productions of The Rocky Horror Show from 2005 and 2016. Both shows were directed by David Sidwell....

Jersey Boys 2023 Season Update

It is with a heavy heart that, due to some significant challenges, the board of Hamilton Operatic Society, in consultation with the creative team, has made the decision to postpone our 2023 season of Jersey Boys.Some of the factors that led to this difficult decision include the timing of the season as it conflicted with other creative performances, significant absences during rehearsal time, casting constraints, undue pressure on the cast due to the absence of understudies, and the very tight t...

CUT! at Hamilton Art Festival Toi Ora ki Kirikiriroa 2023

CUT! features songs that were shockingly excluded from well-known musicals including Little Shop of Horrors, Waitress, Evita, Follies, and more.Reasons for exclusion include “cut because the actress was afraid of heights”, “cut because two power ballads were too many in one show”, and “cut to shorten the running time of the musical”.This festival highlight was directed by David Sidwell and featured talented Waikato vocalists Julia Booth, Courteney Mayall, Michaela Gilling, Scot Hall,...