ODT Big Night In National Artists

TINA CROSS: Tina Cross is a pop princess, song contest winner and recording artist turned musical theatre star who has performed worldwide and headlined TV specials and a series, both at TVNZ and BBC Television. Tina has worked alongside luminaries such as, Sammy Davis Jnr, Tom Jones and the Village People amongst others and she has won a host of awards including NZ’s Top Female Vocalist, an Australian Johnny O’Keefe Mo and the prestigious Tui for Best Theatrical Performer. As a recording artist Tina has conquered charts on both sides of the Tasman, as a soloist, and as lead singer of Australian techno pop group Koo De Tah. In Musical Theatre, Tina has triumphed in lead roles in The Rocky Horror Show, Cats, Chicago, Boogie Nights, Once Were Warriors, and the Australian production of Sisterella. In 2007 Tina received the ONZM for services to the music industry and in 2008, Tina cha cha’d her way through a series of Dancing With The Stars, a true test of fitness and courage!! Live performance highlights include the Christmas In The Park series as well as performances with the Auckland Philharmonia and The NZSO . Tina also moonlights very regularly with her girlfriends, the Ladykillers, a stellar lineup of New Zealand’s top female vocalists. In mid 2009, Tina reprised the role of Grizabella in Cats, after fourteen years. The NZ Herald review headlined with, ‘Stellar Cross performance electrifies poetic memories Downunder” – her performance was hailed as ‘a standout’. Earlier this year, Tina performed in two very popular musicals, once again at Auckland’s beautiful Civic Theatre where she played the role of Gigi in a sell out season of ‘Miss Saigon’ followed by the role of Chorus Queen, a role created just for her, in the timeless classic, ‘Wizard Of Oz’.

 

 

JACKIE CLARKE: Jackie Clarke is one of New Zealand’s most versatile entertainers. Jackie has tread the boards in many fine productions; Anything Goes, Sweet Charity, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, A Christmas Carol, Let’s Do It, Porgy and Bess, The Underwatermelonman, Little Shop of Horrors, The World Goes Round, Mums the World and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. Television experience includes judging NEW ZEALAND IDOL and SHOWCASE, co-hosting Saturday Live, , starring in ground-breaking comedy shows Skitz and The Semesis, guesting on the JACQUIE BROWN DIARIES and hosting four documentaries; Here to Stay ( Scottish episode) Anzac Songs, Wise Woman & Song, and Twins. Music highlights include singing with the NZSO, APO, CSO, DUNEDIN SINFONIA, DAVE DOBBYN, ANNIE CRUMMER, MIDGE MARSEN and recording with THE LADY KILLERS, WHEN THE CAT’S BEEN SPAYED, THE DARLINGS, DON MCGLASHAN (Bathe in the River) and JUBILATION GOSPEL CHOIR. Jackie is also a regular at iconic outdoor events like COCA COLA CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK and SYMPHONY UNDER THE STARS. Jackie has co-devised three music theatre revues; SIRENS, BROADWAY SONGBIRDS and LOVE HATE RELATIONSHIP. She is currently refining her solo cabaret show LA BELLE JACQUELINE. Jackie is in demand as a chanteuse/raconteur and has hosted many glittering corporate, community and arts events exploiting her uncanny ability to scrub up reasonably well in a sparkly frock and vocalise!

 

 

 

AINSLIE ALLEN: Ainslie Allen has worked with the best in the business. At the age of 16 she started her own grunge band the Avocardo babies, and headlined the hugely well known and successful Weta and Fur Patrol. The Avocardo babies were considered the crowd favourites and the most popular band in the smokefree rock quest. Ainslie’s song “Can U Handle” has been recognised around the world and has been used on the NZ on Air kiwi hit disc. Ainslie was chosen to star in 'Mc Donald’s Young Entertainers', resulting in securing the extremely coveted role of singing the national anthems for the top countries of world rugby today, reaching an international audience of millions. She was asked to travel to East Timor’s war zone on a good will mission along with NZ’s comedy elite Mike King, Te Radar, Cal Wilson, Ewan Gilmore, and slapstick Brendhan Lovegrove to help raise the morale of the NZ / Australian forces. Ainslie has performed numerous times at the ‘Coca Cola Christmas in the Park’ that attracts over 350,000 revellers every year and starred in Auckland Theatre Company’s productions of ‘Hair’ and ‘The Rocky Horror Show’. Her enthusiasm for stonking music took her to Sydney, where she formed an all-girl rock band ‘The Rockettes’ who toured with John Rowles, opening his show throughout New Zealand and Australia.

 

 

 

 

CHRIS FENNESSY: Chris’ career to date has seen him perform on some of the biggest musical theatre stages throughout the world. His London West End credits include Les Miserables at the Palace Theatre and Napoleon at the Shaftesbury Theatre. While in the UK, Chris sang at Twickenham in front of a crowd of 75,000 and was a top six finalist at the 2005 BBC Musical Theatre Singer of the World contest in Cardiff. His favourite musical theatre roles to date include Che in Evita and especially Jean Valjean in Les Miserables where he has amassed an incredible 2500 plus performances, performing the leading role to audiences throughout Australia, NZ, Asia, South Africa and London. Chris is a regular guest artist on the concert platform and within the corporate market and is the Director of his own production company, Epiphany Productions. A proud Kings High School old boy, Chris grew up in Dunedin and has many fond memories that have continued to shape his desire to succeed in the entertainment industry. Married with two children aged 10 and 6, Chris is determined to help foster young talent within the performing arts and to create as many performance opportunities as possible for performers.

 

 

 

 

LA FORZA: - Pop Opera Sensations La Forza, meaning ‘the force’ is just that and a whole lot more! In the spirit of Il Divo, the three male performers of La Forza with its prestige tag live up to all expectations and deliver entertainment of the highest calibre! It's not very often you get a chance to sit back and be entertained by three gorgeous guys with extremely beautiful and powerful voices singing some of the most stirring songs ever written. Blending the talents of some of Australia and New Zealand’s top professional musical theatre performers who have performed throughout Asia, South Africa, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and London's West End, together they exude class and pure vocal power not to be matched. La Forza performs spine tingling renditions of modern day classics from the likes of Josh Groban, Il Divo, Andrea Bocelli, Michael Buble´ and many more. La Forza promises entertainment of pure enjoyment and delivers the 'wow' factor to your event.