Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki	Toni Sullivan Theatre New Zealand Executive This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Toni has been involved in theatre since the age of 11 when she fell in love with comedy and the thrill of getting a laugh from the audience. Through both school and local theatre groups in Taupo she competed in theatresports, theatrefest and stage challenge as a teenager.

After a break from theatre to explore the world and have children the family moved back to Taupo where she began teaching drama to youth, writing plays and directing. From there she got right back into Centre Stage Taupo in varying roles, whether that was on committee, writing the newsletter, running the bar, on stage, hair, makeup, spfx and costumes. Toni is passionate about live theatre but loves all forms of art and is on the Creative Taupo Committee who champion the arts in the Taupo Region.

In 2023 Toni returned to her love of Short Plays and entered a play into Theatrefest making it all the way to showcase which ignited a passion for ensuring the opportunities created by TheatreNZ are rigorously engaged in by Youth and Adults alike. When Toni is not on or around the stage she is a Vet Nurse and mum of three teenagers who thankfully all love being part of productions.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TNZRegion02/

Click here for the TheatreFest Entry Form for Waikato, Boy of Plenty, Taranaki

Click here for the Playmarket Award Entry Form

Click here for the Poster Exhibition Entry Form

Even with the summer break there has been no rest for the creatives from Region 2! It is wonderful to see all the productions that are coming along.

Centre Stage Taupo has an improvisation workshop on the 15th of March with Leona Revell and Alan Dingley.

16th Avenue Theatre in Tauranga are underway with rehearsals for their production of "The Vagina Monologues" starting on the 25th of March and they have other works like "The Private War of Corporal Cooper". Exciting

Summer Shakespeare in Tauranga is in full swing with this years production of Romeo and Juliet at the Te Puna Quarry. Such a fabulous venue and cast! while Tauranga musical theatre and deep in rehearsals and dancing their socks off for their upcoming production of "The Prom" starting on April 25th.

Rotorua Musical Theatre have already got a sell out season of Sound of Music on their hands! 6 weeks before the show even hits the stage, well done! And if you missed out on tickets to that Rotorua Little Theatre have cast their play "Things I know to be true", a fabulous script tackling family dynamics in a real and moving way. Can't wait to see this on the boards!!

Hamilton Playbox have Gangsta Granny in the Hamilton Arts Festival while also being deep in rehearsals for "James and the Giant Peach" starting on the 26th of March. Hamilton Musical Theatre have just completed the Lion King Junior, with "In the Heights" already in auditions. I can't wait to see all these fabulous productions this year.

Putaruru Theatre Players have just held auditions for "New clothes for the Empress" check them out on facebook for production dates.

Hawera Repertory society are tackling the extraordinary play "Sister Anzac" which will be on the stage in April, while New Plymouth Little Theatre are putting the finishing touches on "Agatha Crusty and the Village Hall Murders".

It is heartening to see many theatres of all sizes tackling these wonderful plays, not only for the benefit of their members but also for the communities they live in. No matter what anyone tells you, with the efforts of our wonderful volunteers, theatre is alive and well. We see you, we notice and we applaud you for all you do.

Region 2 - Community Theatre Groups & Shows

Hamilton

Hamilton Playbox - https://playbox.org.nz/

Centre Stage Taupo - https://www.centrestagetaupo.co.nz/