A WORD FROM THE DIRECTOR

As one of the original sixteen people who have been involved with Footlights since its creation in 2014, I’ve had an abundance of opportunities to try out all facets of musical theatre; from singing and dancing on stage to props, stage and production management behind the scenes. All of the work involved with putting together a show like this comes with its own unique joys and satisfaction, and I was unbelievably excited to turn my mind to creative direction for our ten year celebratory production.

As a Committee, we knew that ten years was a milestone worth acknowledging, and when the question was raised around what type of show we could possibly stage to commemorate it, we realised that no existing piece of musical theatre could really summarise all the fun, love and talent that Footlights has been responsible for. That realisation in itself was the inspiration that led me to conceptualise Thank You, Ten: A Musical Celebration.

Wellington Footlights is a sum of its parts. Every Footlights Member, every musician, every audience, and every creative who has formed over two dozen production teams, is partially responsible for not only the wonderful theatre we have staged but also the unique whānau and community that has flourished as a result. By taking one song from every Footlights show (with a few added extras from my own personal list of favourites) we are paying homage to every person who has left their fingerprint on the legacy of Footlights, whilst showcasing the incredible talent of the current-day troupe, through two acts of song and dance that are guaranteed to bring joy to each and every person in the audience… whether this is your first Footlights show, or your twenty-first! 

Thank you to the incredible friends who have supported me in bringing this show to life, particularly Michael and Abi who have been right there beside me for all ten years. 

And most importantly, thank you, our wonderful audiences, for making it possible for us to keep coming back year after year to bring joy through that which we love.

Laura xx

CAST

CREW