Essgee Entertainment
Encyclopedia
Essgee Entertainment is a professional performing and publishing
company formed in 1981 in Australia. Its founder and chief executive officer is entertainer Simon Gallaher
.
In 1994, Essgee Entertainment produced its version of The Pirates of Penzance
by Gilbert and Sullivan
, which toured successfully. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation
broadcast the production on television throughout Australia, and the video/DVD enjoyed triple platinum sales, becoming the top-selling music video in Australian history. The following year, the company produced a new version of The Mikado
, which was also immediately successful both on stage and on video. In 1996, Essgee presented The Mikado throughout New Zealand, following this with a new production of Pirates. In 1997, Essgee introduced its adaptation of H.M.S. Pinafore
in both Australia and New Zealand. All three Gilbert and Sullivan productions starred Gallaher and Jon English
.
In 1998, Essgee presented a large-scale production of the operetta The Merry Widow
by Franz Lehar
in Brisbane
Australia. It starred baritone
Jeffrey Black
as Danilo, soprano
Helen Donaldson
as the Widow, Gallaher as Camille and Susan Dunn
as Valencienne, with narration by Jon English
, who played Zeta. In some performances, Jason Barry-Smith
appeared as Danilo. The production was repeated the next year in other major cities in Australia, in a new translation, starring Marina Prior
as the Widow, John O'May as Danilo, Gallaher as Camille, Donaldson as Valencienne and Max Gillies
as Zeta. The same year, it toured the musical A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum
throughout Australia and New Zealand. At the same time, Essgee presented the play Master Class
, starring Amanda Muggleton
and directed by Rodney Fisher.
Essgee revived its Pirates in the 2001–2003 season and continues to license productions of its three Gilbert and Sullivan adaptations to theatre companies around the world. In 2004, the company presented a new musical called Eureka, premiering at the 2004 Melbourne International Arts Festival. This also starred Amanda Muggleton and was nominated for a Helpmann Award as Best Musical and six Green Room Awards. The company then co-produced concerts starring Julie Anthony
and Gallaher. In 2007 Essgee released a CD with Gallaher and Anthony entitled Together at Last. It also presents musical theatre
workshops. In 2008–2009, Essgee revived its version of The Mikado, earning favorable reviews. The wrote, "suspend your loyalty to the original and there can be no quibble about this enjoyable, laugh-a-minute updated delivery."
Publishing
Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of literature or information—the activity of making information available to the general public...
company formed in 1981 in Australia. Its founder and chief executive officer is entertainer Simon Gallaher
Simon Gallaher
Simon Gallaher is an Australian singer, actor, director and pianist.He was born in Brisbane and attended Anglican Church Grammar School. During the early 1980s, Gallaher had his own television program, The Simon Gallaher Show, in which he sang and played the piano...
.
History
Essgee began by financing and producing recording artists and recordings under licence to the Australian record company Festival Records. Within its first three years, the company had produced four Gold albums. Essgee then expanded into music publishing and concert promotion, beginning with national tours of Simon Gallaher's concerts. In 1990 Essgee produced two new recordings with Sony Music (Columbia Records), which also promoted its tours with major symphony orchestras.In 1994, Essgee Entertainment produced its version of The Pirates of Penzance
The Pirates of Penzance
The Pirates of Penzance; or, The Slave of Duty is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. The opera's official premiere was at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York City on 31 December 1879, where the show was well received by both audiences...
by Gilbert and Sullivan
Gilbert and Sullivan
Gilbert and Sullivan refers to the Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the librettist W. S. Gilbert and the composer Arthur Sullivan . The two men collaborated on fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896, of which H.M.S...
, which toured successfully. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
broadcast the production on television throughout Australia, and the video/DVD enjoyed triple platinum sales, becoming the top-selling music video in Australian history. The following year, the company produced a new version of The Mikado
The Mikado
The Mikado; or, The Town of Titipu is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert, their ninth of fourteen operatic collaborations...
, which was also immediately successful both on stage and on video. In 1996, Essgee presented The Mikado throughout New Zealand, following this with a new production of Pirates. In 1997, Essgee introduced its adaptation of H.M.S. Pinafore
H.M.S. Pinafore
H.M.S. Pinafore; or, The Lass That Loved a Sailor is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and a libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It opened at the Opera Comique in London, England, on 25 May 1878 and ran for 571 performances, which was the second-longest run of any musical...
in both Australia and New Zealand. All three Gilbert and Sullivan productions starred Gallaher and Jon English
Jon English
Jonathan James "Jon" English is an Australian rock singer, musician, actor and writer. English emigrated to Australia with his parents in 1961...
.
In 1998, Essgee presented a large-scale production of the operetta The Merry Widow
The Merry Widow
The Merry Widow is an operetta by the Austro–Hungarian composer Franz Lehár. The librettists, Viktor Léon and Leo Stein, based the story – concerning a rich widow, and her countrymen's attempt to keep her money in the principality by finding her the right husband – on an 1861 comedy play,...
by Franz Lehar
Franz Lehár
Franz Lehár was an Austrian-Hungarian composer. He is mainly known for his operettas of which the most successful and best known is The Merry Widow .-Biography:...
in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
Australia. It starred baritone
Baritone
Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
Jeffrey Black
Jeffrey Black
Jeffrey Black , is an internationally acclaimed opera singer. He studied singing at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, and appeared in many of the operas staged by the Conservatorium students and post-graduate students, including appearing in the role of "Figaro", as a First year Opera...
as Danilo, soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
Helen Donaldson
Helen Donaldson
Helen Donaldson is an Australian opera singer best-known for her performances of the heroines in Gilbert and Sullivan operas.-Biography:...
as the Widow, Gallaher as Camille and Susan Dunn
Susan Dunn
Susan Dunn is an award winning American spinto soprano who has graced many of the world's finest opera houses, concert halls, and theaters in operas, oratorios, and concert performances. Dunn is particularly admired for her portrayals of Verdi heroines...
as Valencienne, with narration by Jon English
Jon English
Jonathan James "Jon" English is an Australian rock singer, musician, actor and writer. English emigrated to Australia with his parents in 1961...
, who played Zeta. In some performances, Jason Barry-Smith
Jason Barry-Smith
Jason Barry-Smith is an Australian operatic baritone, vocal coach, composer and arranger. He works with organisations such as Opera Queensland, The Queensland Orchestra, Seven Network, and the Queensland Youth Choir.- Education :...
appeared as Danilo. The production was repeated the next year in other major cities in Australia, in a new translation, starring Marina Prior
Marina Prior
Marina Prior is an Australian singer and actress.- Early life :When she was a young child her parents returned to Australia and she grew up in Melbourne, attending Syndal South Primary School and Korowa Anglican Girls' School...
as the Widow, John O'May as Danilo, Gallaher as Camille, Donaldson as Valencienne and Max Gillies
Max Gillies
Max Gillies AM is an Australian actor.Gillies was a founding member of the experimental theatre company, the Australian Performing Group, which was active throughout the 1970s....
as Zeta. The same year, it toured the musical A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart....
throughout Australia and New Zealand. At the same time, Essgee presented the play Master Class
Master Class
Master Class is a play by Terrence McNally, with incidental music by Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini, and Vincenzo Bellini.The play originally was staged by the Philadelphia Theatre Company and the Mark Taper Forum. After twelve previews, the Broadway production, directed by Leonard Foglia, opened...
, starring Amanda Muggleton
Amanda Muggleton
Amanda Lillian Muggleton is a British-born theatre, television and film actress. She is best known for her role on television soap opera Prisoner.-Early life:Muggleton was born in Stepney, London in 1951 and emigrated to Australia in 1974...
and directed by Rodney Fisher.
Essgee revived its Pirates in the 2001–2003 season and continues to license productions of its three Gilbert and Sullivan adaptations to theatre companies around the world. In 2004, the company presented a new musical called Eureka, premiering at the 2004 Melbourne International Arts Festival. This also starred Amanda Muggleton and was nominated for a Helpmann Award as Best Musical and six Green Room Awards. The company then co-produced concerts starring Julie Anthony
Julie Anthony (Australian singer)
Julie Moncrief Lush OBE AM , better known as Julie Anthony, is an Australian entertainer. She sang the Australian National Anthem at the Opening Ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympics with Human Nature....
and Gallaher. In 2007 Essgee released a CD with Gallaher and Anthony entitled Together at Last. It also presents musical theatre
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
workshops. In 2008–2009, Essgee revived its version of The Mikado, earning favorable reviews. The wrote, "suspend your loyalty to the original and there can be no quibble about this enjoyable, laugh-a-minute updated delivery."
External links
- Essgee Entertainment on the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
- Essgee Entertainment official website
- Essgee and Simon Gallaher — David Spicer Productions
- The Essgee HMS Pinafore (1997) at A Gilbert and Sullivan Discography