North American Tour Of We Will Rock You Hits The Big Apple

November 13, 2019 by Masterclass Lady 1 Comment


North’American Tour Of We Will Rock You Hits The Big Apple

It isn’t every day that I promote a new musical in New York. I mean, New York is the heartbeat of the musical theatre world and new musicals are mounted there on a regular basis.

However, it also isn’t everyday that the Director of a musical just happens to be a former student of mine, JP Thibodeau. This is the world I live in now, as I sit back and watch my former students reach for the stars and live the dream.

JP Thibodeau, director of “We Will Rock You” , has travelled a long but successful road carving out an enviable and award-winning musical theatre career. It has been arduous and gruelling, but JP always kept his passion and love for the art of musical theatre front and centre. His eye has always been on the ball.

In fact, I teased him once that “you’re aiming for Broadway, aren’t you JP“? I could sense his passion and hunger by watching – on Facebook – his exceptional videos of his Storybook Theatre productions

This re-imagined production of “We Will Rock You“, celebrating the music of the legendary “Queen“, is receiving accolades from audiences and critics , most notably, from the members of “Queen“.

Here is some background:

“The musical, which has been in existence since 2002, received a new reworking courtesy of Music Director Stuart Morley, who was asked personally by Queen guitarist Brian May to oversee the updated version. The result has given We Will Rock You an edgier sound, more reflective of Queen’s live performances.

“I’ve re-Queened the score,” Morley proclaimed during an interview with the Calgary Herald. “I went to Queen’s studio and I listened to old vocals. This new score is far more accurate and authentic. When they were creating the original score for the musical, they made it more theatrical than authentic. I’m a purist so I want to bring the score back to its roots. I’ve been given access to tapes no one else has been given to work with. I feel this new version of the musical can be something not even Brian and [drummer] Roger [Taylor] thought it could become.” Credit: UCR

So grab some tickets in NYC or in a city near you and see what has everyone buzzing like little bees.

HERE is link to the remaining dates of the tour, including four nights in New York at Madison Square Garden.

Congratulations to the entire cast and crew for mounting this phenomenal production. And to JP Thibodeau, what can I say but thank you and kudos for persevering and never stop believing. What an exciting time in your life – but, hold on, this is only the beginning of your new normal.

Broadway, Music, Musical Theatre,
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About Masterclass Lady

Rosanne (Giallonardo) Simunovic began her musical career in Timmins, Ontario. She studied piano with Anne Pizzale and later, at an advanced level, with Soeur Anita Vaugeois (Sister Cecile of Les Soeurs De L’Assomption in Timmins). Her vocal and accompaniment skills were nurtured by her aunt, the late Dorothea Mascioli. When Rosanne graduated from O’Gorman High School, she moved on to the University of Toronto where she continued her piano and vocal studies while attaining a Bachelor of Arts Degree. She was hired as a piano accompanist for several musical companies, most notably, the National Ballet Of Canada. She presently holds an A.R.C.T. Teacher’s Diploma in Voice from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. Rosanne has studied choral conducting with numerous well known Canadian Conductors, including Wayne Riddell of Montreal, Quebec and the internationally renowned Dr. Elmer Iseler. She has been a founding member of numerous community-based arts organizations: the Timmins Arts Council, later known as Arts & Culture Timmins, the Timmins Symphony Orchestra, and, the Timmins Youth Singers…as well as the TYS Alumnus choir, the Timmins Concert Singers. In 1987, she was also selected to be the conductor of the Timmins Board Of Education Choir, comprised of talented students from Grades 5 to 8. In 1988, she was elected to the Board Of Directors of the Ontario Choral Federation (now known as Choirs Ontario), where she served as Chair of the Festivals Committee for six consecutive seasons. In 1996, in honour of the Ontario Choral Federation’s 25th Anniversary, Rosanne was selected as one of 25 recipients of the OCF’s Distinguished Service Award for outstanding contribution to the choral art. The ceremony was presided by Lieutenant Governor, Hal Jackman. In November 1997, Rosanne Simunovic was selected by the Rotary Club Of Timmins to receive the prestigious Paul Harris Award for her years of dedication to the artistic development of young musical talent in Timmins. In August of 2002, Rosanne Simunovic was selected by the Board Of Directors of Choirs Ontario to serve as Conductor of both the Provincial Junior and Teen Choir Camps, now renamed in honour of the Camp Benefactors, Don and Lillian Wright. In November 2002, Rosanne was the one of the recipients of the Commemorative Medal for the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, honouring her work in the development of the arts in Timmins. Under Rosanne Simunovic’s direction, the Timmins Youth Singers and the Timmins Concert Singers have been featured in numerous choral festivals and performing opportunities outside of Timmins. In 1985, they were selected to partici
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One Response to “North American Tour Of We Will Rock You Hits The Big Apple”

  1. Gene W November 14, 2019 at 10:42 pm

    Congratulations to your student, JP Thibodeau, on his successful production,and his rightfully proud teacher!

    Like

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