Crew

Michael Stebbings-Co Musical Director, Set Realisation

Michael’s first show was the inaugural Taking the Minnie.

His fondest memory of Minnie is how much fun we all had onstage during ‘Zero to Hero’ and  ‘Fixer Upper’, especially getting to perform with Abi. Oh, and also getting to play Mary Poppins in ‘Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’.

Picking a singular favourite is impossible, but highlights have definitely included Roger in A New Brain, as well as MDing Legally Blonde and Chess.

What’s something fun people might not know about Footlights? 

Footlights is based on Michael’s home society in the UK, which has been running for 85 years and will be performing their 170th show in November! In addition, while there are multiple ‘Footlights’, and the Cambridge Footlights is probably the most famous (alumni including Stephen Fry, Emma Thompson, Hugh Laurie, etc), Wellington Footlights is more specifically named after Exeter Footlights Society, the musical theatre society at Michael’s undergrad university.

Shawn Condon-Co Musical Director

Shawn’s first show was as MD of Company in 2019. 

This is one of his most favourite pieces of musical theatre and he was just so excited to be working on it. The cast and band were top notch. The whole production was such a positive experience for him.

As a non-actor these days, he’s really at home in the pit or MDing. In his younger days his acting roles were limited to one of the munchkins in the Lollipop Guild, and some opera chorus roles. 

Describe Thank You, Ten in ten words 

A collection of all that’s good from the last decade!

Mel Heaphy-Choreographer

Mel’s first foray with Footlights was choreographing Guys and Dolls - a show she ended up dancing in on opening night due to the Covid!

Mel’s favourite role was Bambi in Curtains - all high kicks and leg warmers, her favourite things!

What’s something fun people might not know about Footlights? 

And “One more time in” choreo speak NEVER, EVER actually means one more time….

Katty Lau-Choreographer

Katty’s first show with Footlights was If/Then 2018. It was a long time ago!

Her only role with Footlights has been Choreographer. The exception was Speakeasy during Covid times when the director and choreographers were also understudies. It was Footlights members’ turn to teach her their choreography when she had to fill in for an isolating cast member. It was pretty cool to perform on stage, even if it had to be in a leotard.

In ten years time when we do “Where Are They Now?” where will you be?

Probably still trying to throw fankicks after recovering from bilateral hip and knee replacements.

Joel Rudolph-Stage Manager

Joel’s Footlights story started perhaps a week before the first rehearsal after reaching out with the producer’s favourite line: "I'm free and would love to help if you have anything going…”  So Thank You Ten will be Joel’s first frolic with Footlights.

Alas, with no prior Footlights work, Joel looks forward to making these new memories.  However… dig back deep enough into his theatre history, you will find some never-to-ever-be-seen-again snapshots of a 14-y/o Joel playing Ryan in a high school musical production of High School Musical.

Describe Thank You, Ten in ten words 

A musical dream of your favourite shows [realises time]... PLACES!

Sayaka Kirkman-Production Assistant

Sayaka first joined the Footlights whānau in 35mm: A Musical Exhibition, playing violin as part of the band in 2023 then again later that year in Bright Star.

Sayaka’s favourite number with Wellington Footlights was the song ‘Leave Luanne’ from 35mm. Despite only actually playing in it for about 20 or so bars, it would be the number she looked forward to playing every single night of the show’s season.

Describe Thank You, Ten in ten words 

A reverent revue, relatable and riveting, we can really recommend. 😉

Letitia Garrett-Publicity

Letitia’s first show with the Footlights was The Rising Sun - part of the four show Footlights Festival Heart + Music in 2017! Letitia’s favourite part of any show is getting to know the cast and crew, and making new friends. 🙂

Thank You, Ten will be Letitia’s 9th show with the Footlights!

Describe Thank You, Ten in ten words

Celebrating a decade of fun, friendship, acting and sweet harmonies

Abigail Helsby-Publicity, Set Realisation

Abi has been with Footlights since ye olde days, and was in the very first Footlights show - Taking the Minnie, our genderbending Disney revue.

She fondly (?) remembers overcoming her lisp to master the tongue-twisting line “the only fixer-upper fixer that can fix a fixer-upper” in the song ‘Fixer Upper’ you’ve all forgotten was in Frozen.

Her favourite role she’s played with Footlights has been “cast member” - truly she just loves being onstage (and offstage) with her Footlights Family.

What’s something fun people might not know about Footlights? 

Footlights runs on cups of tea - so much so that we have a travelling tea set, complete with kettle, that we take between rehearsal venues! When we rehearsed two shows at once, we bought a second kettle rather than risk anyone missing out on a cuppa.

Alex Rabina-Publicity, Poster Design, Photography

Alex's first show was Monty Python's Spamalot in 2017 where he loved playing the Black Knight and recreating the iconic “Tis but a flesh wound!” scene on stage, complete with detachable limbs (which often malfunctioned!)

Alex’s favourite role with Footlights was Mister Bungee from A New Brain, the unhinged children's show character in a silly frog costume. He was able to fully send it and absolutely devour the scenery.

What’s something fun people might not know about Footlights? 

Alex’s passion/obsession with vintage cameras led to many cameras from his collection being used as props for the media ensemble in Soho Cinders.

Stacey O’Brien-Wardrobe Co-

Stacey’s first show with Footlights was Pippin in 2014. Stacey is known to dislike writing about herself and prefers to remain an enigma.

Lucas Zaner-Lighting Design & Operation

Lucas’s first show with Footlights was Bright Star. 

A memory Lucas has is having to hit a snap cue every single night of Bright Star knowing that he had to wait for the actor to hit their mark before he could do it, and every single night the actor was ALWAYS on their mark perfectly to catch the light.

Lucas’s favourite role has always been operating tech as this means he can watch a show every single night from the best seat in the entire theatre

What’s something fun people might not know about Footlights? 

Lucas cannot answer this as he knows better than to share what he hears the performers say when they forget their mics can be heard through the monitors in the tech booth. 

Chris Hayward-Sound Design and Operation

Chris’s first show with Footlights was Company.

His favourite moment was playing the sex scene voice over effects once, then deciding not to use them in the show.

His favourite role with Footlights is “Pressing buttons, and moving faders.”

Stanford Reynolds-Producer

Stanford’s first show with Footlights was Guys and Dolls in 2021. He put a lot of time into learning the harmonies and the dances, and was delighted when he started getting them right.

Directing Bright Star last year was stimulating and fulfilling, but Stanford’s favourite role on stage has to have been playing the MC in Speakeasy, which was pure fun (and a moment of blind panic after breaking a vibraslap on stage).

In ten years time when we do “Where Are They Now?” where will you be?

In 10 years, Stanford will be getting cancelled on Tweeter (formerly known as X, formerly formerly known as Twitter), for casting himself in the lead role of shows he is directing on Broadway. Others on the audition panel defend him, saying “Nobody else was as good!”

Alternatively, still struggling to learn to play the ukelele and bothering his cat in the process.

Margaret Hill-Front of House Manager

Margaret’s first Footlight’s show was Pippin. Her favourite memory from that was how the whole cast and crew absorbed the many challenges and changes thrown their way through the rehearsals and performances (change of venue, reblocking the whole show, illness, injury) and conjured up an amazing piece of theatre.

Margaret’s favourite role so far was dancing ‘Leave Luanne’ in 35mm: A Musical Exhibition. Getting to bring the audience along every night on Luanne’s journey was enthralling. Vengeful swamp wraith (™) for life!

In ten years time when we do “Where Are They Now?” where will you be?

Making wonder and magic on stage with good friends.