MTA Newsletter


	vol. 5
	Welcome to the 5th edition of MTA's e-news It has been an exciting few months down at the MTA office. With the creation of our spellbinding new show "MUSE", the Commonwealth Games rush for gold and the addition of several new acts to our ever-growing national portfolio, time has flown and we have just realised that August is here! We are continually updating www.MusicTheatreAustralia.com.au with new acts, video footage and music clips, so remember it is a great place to start looking for entertainment ideas!	· MTA Website · MTA Act Directory · Pot-Pourri Website · Subscribe · Email us
	August edition features: Theme of the month - Masks, Music and Magic New Concept Feature Act - MUSE = music + enchantment Book Your Christmas Entertainment Now Bob's Corner - Magic Trick QLD & NT On Show Spring Festival of Song, Theatre and Cabaret Competition What's more, this Newsletter is linked to the website. So click on the the heading of each section to go to the relevant web page and see the photos, videos and / or sound clips for that act!
	Theme of the Month - Masks, Music and Magic Stuck for a theme for your next event? A simple yet fabulous theme is the Masquerade, where all guests are requested to wear a mask, their true identities hidden until such time as you request all masks to be removed. Guests can either wear their own masks, or we can supply them as they arrive. To go along with your Masquerade theme pick your favourite Magician for some intriguing close-up magic or a fabulous illusion stage show. Of course no event is complete without some music, either as a sophisticated back-drop to enhance the elegance of your event or simply to get your guests up and dancing the night away. Whatever you decide to do with your event, MTA can organise the best of everything for you to make it your most wonderful event ever! Here are some suggestions of acts suiting the Masks, Music and Magic theme. To enquire about any of these acts, click here. Masks The Baroques - Sydney These two Elizabethan characters glide demurely through crowds in a halo of light, lit by their own 12 Volt lighting system. Spectacularly elegant. Manoeuvre - Ma'amselle Claire - Brisbane Enveloped in her cloud of bubbles Ma'amselle Claire leaves a trail of enraptured, smiling faces. Watch the bubbles burst their surprises in the sunshine or notice the magic of floating balls in the half light of evening. Masked Fire Performers - All States Masked fire performers are trained in many forms of fire artistry including breathing, eating, juggling, twirling, and dancing. Human Statues / Body Sculpture - All States Body sculpture is the art of designing and painting the body of a performer trained in dance and movement who then through static or animated performance enhance the theme and essence of an event. Venetian Stilt Walkers - Melbourne Grand and tall, we have them all! These fabulous characters come in a huge range of exquisite costumes. Supply of Masks MTA can also assist with supply of stunning Venetian and feather masks and all sorts of other theming, technical production and accessories for your special event. Music Parisienne Swing - Melbourne Parisienne Swing can draw on their vast repertoire of classics and gems to provide fabulous music for any special event or function. Tantalising melodies, infectious Latin rhythms, swing dance and sophisticated ambient music are all part of this Jazz and Gypsy swing band. Ricky Loca Experience - Melbourne Experience the brilliance and energy of Ricky Loca in a stage performance that captures the essence of contemporary popular music - a show that dazzles with colour, movement and energy Kira Strings - Melbourne & Sydney Kira String Quartet is one of eight string quartets selected from around Australia to participate in the Australian National Academy of Music String Quartet program. The Enormous Horns - Sydney Enormous Horns have been called a smouldering funk band, a brassy soul revue, a hip jazz combo and a wild rock & roll band. In truth, they're a little bit of all those things - but most of all, they're a party band. Sydney Jazz Trio The Sydney Jazz Trio draws on some of the most experienced and sought after musicians in Australia. Consisting of saxophone, guitar and double bass the Sydney Jazz trio specialises in the repertoire of the Great American Songbook: standards by Cole Porter, Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Duke Ellington, to name a few. Scott Martin & Band - Brisbane Presented as a solo artist, with a combo, big band or his own 26-Piece Jazz Orchestra, Scott presents a varied repertoire including Jazz Standards, Musical Theatre, and much more. His 'Sinatra Tribute Show' has been very popular around Brisbane venues for the past few years. Honey - Brisbane Honey is a seven piece powerhouse combining lush vocal harmonies with glamour, costumes and dynamic choreography. Three outstanding female vocalists join with the four piece band to deliver your favourite songs from the 60's through to 2000 and beyond. Magic Intimate Magic - Nigel - Melbourne Nigel completed his study in the art of magic at the 'Cirque Fratellini' in Paris. He has over ten years of international professional experience as a comedy magician, and was recently awarded gold at the Australian Magic Awards. Cath - Woman of Deception - Melbourne The Woman of Deception is Australia's leading female Magician. She has won many awards including the 1st place in the 26th Australian Convention of Magicians and a Rainbow Award for Best Australian Female performer. Ellis & Webster - Melbourne From stage to boardroom Ellis & Webster produce grand illusions that will astound and stimulate. Notorious for their hilarious twists on the classics of magic, Australia's most sought after magical entertainers will definitely make your next function truly unforgettable. Ray Crowe - Adelaide Raymond Crowe is described as one of Australia's leading contemporary magicians. His innovative, fresh approach delights audiences both intimate and grand. Sam Powers - Sydney Sam Powers' unique style of magic has mesmerised audiences around the world earning him the title of Australia's 'Stage Magic Champion'. From walking through a solid glass mirror to producing a living dove right before your eyes, Sam guarantees to surpass every expectation and leaves audiences totally spellbound. Matt Hollywood - Brisbane Matt Hollywood is both an international award winner and Australia's number one comedy magician. He will bring you a performance specifically tailored to meet the needs and objectives of your special evening. Enquire	Photo courtesy of DX Industrial
	New Concept Feature Act - MUSE = music + enchantment Be amused and bemused by the seductive and sensational MUSE featuring 4 goddesses of magic and song! This new show brings together the vocal and theatrical skills of Diva! with the wonderfully magical illusions of Sue-Anne Webster - in a show full of fantasy, magic, song and comedy. Singers will appear and disappear before your eyes, magic and music will meld, and a member of the audience (or your Managing Director!) will be so entranced by the beautiful divas that he will float on air! Presented by Music Theatre Australia, these glamorous goddesses will seduce your audiences with their golden voices, theatricality, flirtatious humour and mesmerizing magic and illusions. The show includes hits from Opera to Broadway including Phantom of the Opera, The Magic Flute, Turandot, La Traviata, Carmen, Westside Story and songs by Shirley Bassey, Edith Piaf, Bocelli, and the beautiful Flower Duet from Lakme. They can perform with backing CDs, pianist, chamber or symphony orchestras in a variety of venues from grand mansions and ballrooms to theatres and concert halls ...and for all sorts of special events, where a little seduction and sorcery is in order! Don't miss this breath-taking new act! MUSE can also prepare a special illusion, effect or song, with elements related to the client and industry. Enquire
	Book Your Christmas Entertainment Now Wow, where has the first half of the year gone?? It is August already and time to start thinking about the annual Christmas party. Yes I know, I know, you tell yourself there are so many events to organise before then and Christmas is still some months away, surely there is plenty of time to organise a date, a venue, invitations and the all important entertainment. Well, like every year, the big day creeps up like a cheeky Christmas elf and it will be here before you know it. So do yourself a favour and avoid the annual last minute stress and frantic ring around, being told the venue you planned the party around is unavailable, or that the perfect entertainer and the perfect band that you just 'have to have' to make the night work was booked months ago... It's time to start thinking about the big party now… Will it be a big shindig with themed rovers to set the fun, party mood from the start and a great cover band to dance the night away? Will it be a sophisticated affair, maybe a luncheon with the smooth sounds of background Jazz to ease your guests into the afternoon and the holiday mood. Hmm... or maybe, just maybe, this year is the year to live your dream... take everyone back to the fabulous post war 40's era with the men looking all suave in dinner jackets or tuxedos, the ladies all dolled up and looking glamorous, roving performers mingling with guests to create the mood and then swing the night away with one of our fabulous big bands. It will be a night your guests will never forget!! Is every year becoming busier than the next? Why not make this the year to stop, contemplate your successes and reward your staff and clients for yet another fantastic year of effort and results with a short dinner feature... amaze them with fire, circus, magic or music. MTA has some wonderful new productions and we pride ourselves on superior quality performers in all areas of entertainment. However, because we are so particular in who we recommend it also means the availability list is not endless so DON'T MISS OUT … Book now and ensure that you get the perfect entertainers to make the night you dreamed of a reality, or you may just end up with second best or worse still, nothing at all. Enquire
	Bob's Corner Another instalment in 'How To Be A Performer' "THE BUNKO BOOTH BOTTOM DEAL" INSTRUCTIONS Before the trick, place the ace of spades on the bottom of a deck of cards. You will also need to be sitting next to a computer with an internet connection. "We are going to play the easiest card game in the world. It's called Card Cutting. As the name suggests, all you have to do is cut the cards. Could you cut off half the cards and place them on the table?" Pick up the bottom half and place it on the top half at right angles as per the picture below. You will now need to speak to the spectator for 20 seconds. This is called "Time Misdirection" and assists in the force. "Sometimes it's played where the person with the highest card wins, sometimes you have to cut to a king to win but today, in order for me to win, I need to guess EXACTLY what card you cut to. The THREE OF DIAMONDS!" Pick up the half of the deck sitting at right angles and show them bottom card without looking at it. This will be the ace of spades but thanks to the time misdirection, they won't remember that this is NOT the card they cut to. "Was I right? No?! Lucky we didn't put money on it! Don't worry, I have a website that I go to when this doesn't work." Send the spectator here where they will find a photo of Australia's Honest Con Man - Nicholas J. Johnson holding their card! This trick donated by Tricky Nick - The Bunko Booth specialist -'Heads I win, tails you lose!' - Deceptions, illusions and comedy for all occasions. Enquire
	QLD & NT On Show 9th August at RACV Centre, Melbourne A dedicated exhibition showcasing conference & event venues, event suppliers and events & accommodation services from Queensland & Northern Territory. The exhibition is a first for Melbourne and will include some of the most sought after products and services in the Queensland & Northern Territory events & accommodation industry. Don't miss out seeing some of MTA's talented roving performers around the exhibition and our special performance by DIVA! during the cocktail party. Come and say hello to us at stand 23. You can register to attend QNT on their website at: http://www.conferenceworks.net.au
	Spring Festival of Song, Theatre and Cabaret . Geishas, Lovers and Divas Sunday 24th - Sunday 1st October 2006 Pot-Pourri "LIVE" in Concert Season Chapel off Chapel, 12 Little Chapel St, Prahran, VICTORIA Tickets from $20-39.50 Website: www.pot-pourri.com.au Enquiries: 03 9682 9689 Bookings: 03 8290 7011 Pot-Pourri will record their new CD Nella Fantasia during this live performance season. Plus special guest performances by- David Gould in Profundo Rebecca Morton in Moulins de mon Coeur Kaori Hamamoto in Call Me Komachi and Spirit Diva "Find your Voice" Workshop with Tania de Jong and Dominique Oyston
	Competition Answer the question below for a chance to win! Prizes: 1 double pass to Pot-Pourri's Nella Fantasia performance on Sunday 24th September at 4pm. 1 double pass to Moulins de mon Coeur 1 double pass to Call Me Komachi All at Chapel off Chapel Question: What is the name of MTA's new show combining music and magic? **To enter the competition, please send us an email at competition@musictheatreaustralia.com.au with your answer. The prizes will be drawn at the end of August and the winner will be contacted by email. Good luck!!
	Music Theatre Australia www.MusicTheatreAustralia.com.au www.pot-pourri.com.au Phone: +61-3-9682 9689 If you wish to remove email address $email$ please use this link.