Thomas And Friends On Track

Thomas And Friends On Track

The acclaimed children’s musical “THOMAS & FRIENDS LIVE ON STAGE” opened its first Southern hemisphere performance in Brisbane last Saturday. The show, which visits New Zealand in late October, has been hailed as “outstanding children’s entertainment”.

Most significant for the THOMAS fans, following the spectacular Brisbane opening on Saturday, was the sheer size of the show. Three fully dimensional steam engines share the stage with an enormous set and a talented human cast including the Fat Controller, the Engineers and townspeople of the Island of Sodor.

The scale of the show is credited with giving all patrons, including those in rear seats, good views and a feeling that they too are a part of the performance.

Stages in the New Zealand venues are being strengthened – some completely re-built – to take the weight and size of the three 3 tonne engines, and what is perhaps the most colourful set ever seen with a children’s show. A battery of 595 state-of-the-art lights, video and special digital effects bring the set, the engines and the cast to larger than real life.

A specialist crew of 32 is required to assemble and run “Thomas & Friends - Live On Stage”, and a convoy of trucks will carry the show to Rotorua, Auckland, Palmerston North, Wellington and Christchurch.

Jim Millan, the show’s writer and director recently gave his own insight into the show…..  “The kids truly love the trains - three-dimensional models with animatronic faces. They move about on stage and interact with each other, their drivers and engineers. When Thomas first appears on stage, the audience screams, claps and yells ‘Thomas! Thomas!’ It is so incredible to see.”

 “It has wonderful props, beautiful costumes and scenery and is accompanied by great singing, choreographed dancing and special effects – all the elements that make good theatre. We use a narrator similar to the one on the television series, to make it easy for young audience members to follow the storyline.”

Following the Australian opening, the producers have also just announced that as viewing is so good from all areas, more good seats will be going on sale this week in all New Zealand Centres.

The Producers will be inviting a local child to become “Chief Controller” at each show. The holders of this coveted role will be selected after Radio contests conducted by the Radio Network’s Classic Hits stations in each participating city.

A 5th extra show has also just been added in Auckland. This brings the expanded NZ itinerary to:

Thomas & Friends LIve!
Where & When
Rotorua, Energy Events Centre, Thursday, October 18, 4pm
Bookings: Ticketek
 
Auckland, North Shore Events Centre, Saturday, October 20, 10am, 1pm, 4pm
Sunday, October 21, 10am & 1pm NEW
Bookings: Ticketek
 
Palmerston North, Arena Manawatu, Monday, October 22 (Labour Day), 2pm
Bookings: Ticket Direct

 
Wellington, TSB Events Centre, Tuesday, October 23, 4pm
Wednesday, October 24, 10am & 1pm  
Bookings: Ticketek
 

Christchurch, Westpac Arena, Saturday, October 27, 10am, 1pm
                Sunday, October 28, 10am
Bookings: Ticketek

Coming soon:
We Will Rock You – the electrifying stage show guaranteed to blow your mind. Opens October 26, The Civic
 
Silverchair/Powderfinger – Across the Great Divide tour. Starts October 16.
 
Wicked – The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz. The worldwide phenomenon from Broadway. Opens Melbourne July 2008. If you're heading to New York or London, please let me know and I'll organise for you to see this amazing stage spectacular.
 
The Irish Rovers -- 17 venues nationwide. September and October.

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