Denise Robinson – Current Producer / Choreographer

Joined the company in 1976 and has since played numerous parts including Jane in IRENE, Lotte MACK AND MABEL, Gladys THE PAJAMA GAME, Phyllis Dale 42ND STREET and Ziegfield's Favourite THE WILL RODGERS FOLLIES. Started her dancing training at the age of four and thirteen years later gained her diploma with two Teaching Associations. Apart from running her own dancing school in Wolverhampton she was also choreographer for the Company's productions of GEORGE M and HELLO DOLLY and currently directs the Company's Summer Shows. In 1998 she directed CALAMITY JANE at the Wulfrun Hall during the Grand Theatre refurbishment, following this it was back to the Grand with CRAZY FOR YOU, MACK AND MABEL, OKLAHOMA, GUYS AND DOLLS, COPACABANA and 42nd STREET. She has also Choreographed the Bilston Operatic Company's productions of THE KING AND I, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, CAROUSEL, HELLO DOLLY and SCROOGE, and last year Directed and Choreographed their production of THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE.

Tim Harding - Musical Director

Tim has established himself as one of the busiest Musical Directors in the Midlands. Recent productions have included RAGTIME and SUMMER HOLIDAY (WBOS), HELLO DOLLY (Arcadians), SEUSSICAL and LES MISERABLES (Telford), and ME AND MY GIRL (Willenhall), He recently made a return to the stage after 12 years in JEKYLL AND HYDE. An experienced singing teacher, Tim has worked at both Birmingham School of Acting and GSA Conservatoire, Guildford, as well as having a private practice based in Dudley Born in Colchester, Tim trained in conducting at the Welsh College before moving to Birmingham to study for a MA in Musical Theatre. During this time he also gained experience conducting Opera and Choral works, before moving to Shrewsbury to teach singing and musical theatre full time. He returned to the West Midlands in 2003 to become a freelance teacher / MD.

Michael Cotton - Accompanist

Michael is 19 and in his 2nd year at Birmingham Conservatoire studying percussion, He has been playing piano since the age of 7, taking up percussion later at secondary school aged 12. Pursuing a career in musical direction and accompanying he currently works for numerous theatre societies around the Midlands. Michael has worked on a number of shows including PIRATES OF PENZANCE, LES MISERABLES, HONK!, MIKADO, PICKWICK,GODSPELL, KISS ME KATE, GUYS AND DOLLS, FAME and ANNIE. Currently he is also working on THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, OLIVER! and ANYTHING GOES. As well as rehearsing Michael also works as a theatre keyboard player and percussionist and has played as a member of the Joe Loss Orchestra.

BEN KENNEDY (BMus Hons, ATCL) – MUSICAL DIRECTOR

Ben graduated from Birmingham Conservatoire in June 2005, where he now works as an official accompanist, and visiting musical director. He has been Assistant Musical Director for two opera productions at the Conservatoire working alongside renowned conductors Andrew Greenwood and Lionel Friend. In June, Ben will be conducting the Conservatoire’s production of the hit musical, Jekyll & Hyde. His work as an official accompanist involves playing for masterclasses, workshops and accompanying students in their end of year recitals.
Orchestrally, he regularly appears with the CBSO as substitute principal pianist, and also works with the CBSO Chorus. As soloist, he has performed Rachmaninoff’s 2nd Piano Concerto, and in February he played in the England premiere of Goldrush Concerto by Jacob ter Veldhuis (for 2 percussionists, harp and piano) – alongside percussion duo Maraca2 and the Birmingham Conservatoire Symphony Orchestra.
Ben also works regularly as a pit keyboard player for musicals in theatres throughout the country.

Russell Harrold - Musical Director

In 2003 Russell gained his Associated Board diploma in piano performance. He has won many awards in various music festivals and competitions in the region. He is also in great demand as MD and pianist with other operatic societies including ALDRIDGE OPERATIC, KINVER OPERATIC, South Staffs and the Wolverhampton Male Voice Choir. He is also seen regularly as a pit keyboard player.

John Biddulph – Musical Director

John’s interest in amateur theatre started in 1958. He has since played all the principal tenor roles in the Gilbert & Sullivan operettas with Trinity, Walsall G&S Club, Tettenhall College and Stourbridge G&S Society. Since taking up the baton he has also been Musical Director of South Staffs and Bridgenorth Operatic Societies. His Tenor voice is heard frequently in oratorio recitals.

Mike Capri – Director / Choreographer

Mike Capri was born in Hanover, Germany in 1954 and came to England at the age of nine, when he immediately started upon a dancing career. Within a few years he was appearing in local shows as a dancer and later taking on the task of Choreographer. In more recent years he has been Director / Choreographer for more productions than he cares to remember and seen a number of them win Evening Mail awards. Mike joined the secong generation in 1977 and since then has worked at home and abroad with, among others, Dickie Henderson, Jimmy Tarbuck, Vince Hill, The Krankies, Bernie Winders, Lena Zavaroni, Les Dawson and John Pertwee in the Musical Worzel Gummidge. During the later years with the Second Generation, Mike was often called upon to assist Choreographer Dougie Squires in staging and choreographing shows as well as taking on the responsibility of Dance Captain.
The name Capri is now regularly seen as Producer / Choreographer of many summer seasons and pantomimes with such as Rolf Harris, Max Boyce, Don McLean and Keith Harris. Mike is also in demand to stage individual acts often for television appearances, as well as choreographing fashion shows, ice dancers and videos for the ‘pop’ market.
When time permits, Mike enjoys working in television himself and has appeared in Barchester Chronicles, The Singing Detective and The Ritz as well as choreographing the dance routines in the BBC production of East Lynne. He also appeared as a dancer in the multi-million pound file Heaven’s Gate for United artists.

Steve Bracey – Producer

Steve Bracey first trod the boards in a college production of Harold Pinter’s The Birthday Party in 1964 and later appeared in two BBC TV Series, namely United and The Newcomers, before giving up the profession to appear in many amateur productions. Throughout the seventies he played a number of leading roles with the Dudley Little Theatre and the Crescent Theatre, Birmingham, where he first got a taste for musicals whilst playing Clifford Bradshaw in Cabaret.
Keeping his contact with the professional stage, Steve became Mike Capri’s Personal Manager in 1979 and has been his permanent Producer since 1982. In the role of Producer, Steve has the responsibility of directing the principals in all dialogue, and any musical numbers not requiring the expertise of the trained choreographer. Together, Mike and Steve have directed and produced over fifty shows throughout the Midlands, won a number of Evening Mail awards and, more surprisingly, have managed to remain reasonably sane.

Jonathan Hill G.B.S.M.A.R.C.M & A.B.S.M– Musical Director
John trained at the Birmingham Conservatoire in vocal studies, keyboard, composition and conducting, gaining his degree. His musical career has included roles in opera, oratorios and concerts as a baritone soloist. For over twenty years he has been musical director for various operatic companies in the Midlands.
Credits include : JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, WEST SIDE STORY, BARNUM, MY FAIR LADY, ME AND MY GIRL, GREASE, GUYS AND DOLLS, ANYTHING GOES, CRAZY FOR YOU, HOT MIKADO, FAME …………….. And many many more.

Peter Hobson – Musical Director
With great sadness we record the death of a former popular Musical Director Peter Hobson, who died from Cancer in July 1998. Peter had been ill for some time but continued to take an active part in musical theatre.
eter joined the company in 1969 and played many supporting lead roles, his favourite being Og the Leprechaun in FINIANS RAINBOW. In 1978 he was invited to take the post of Musical Director and remained so for many of our successful productions including KISS ME KATE, IRENE, ANYTHING GOES, THE PAJAMA GAME, HALF A SIXPENCE and MACK & MABEL.

Ricard Calkin – Tap Routines for 42nd Street
Richard’s last appearance with Muscom was as a young boy in FINIANS RAINBOW in 1974. Trained at the Pattison academy Coventry for 3 years. Then joined the Second Generation Dancers and appeared in Monte Carlo, Miami, and on television with the James Last Show in Holland and Germany. Played the Genie of the Lamp in ALADDIN in Glasgow with Iris Williams in the title role. British Tevevision appearances include the Little and Large Show, the Grace Kennedy Show, The Stanley Baxter Christmas Show, The Olivier Awards at Her Majesty’s Theatre, two Royal Command Shows and more recently as Paco the Latin American Dancer on Bruce Forsyth’s Generation Game. Richard danced in the original production of 42nd Street at Drury Lane for two and a half years, followed by Gremyo in KISS ME KATE at the Savoy Theatre. He then went into the original production of MISS SIAGON again at Drury Lane. At the Queens Theatre London he played a leading part in MATADOR opposite Stephanie Powers. This was followed by the part of the Pharaoh in JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT at the London Palladium.
Then came the lead role of Danny GREASE at the Dominion and Cambridge Theatres in London. A short spell in BOOGIE NIGHTS with Shane Richie at the Churchill Theatre, Bromley, followed by Aladdin at Southend.
Richard has just finished appearing in the successful production of SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER at the London Palladium. As a matter of interest Richard is the son of Olwen Rowley, our Vice Chairman and Wardrobe Mistress.