MTG returns to the Duke of Richmond Hotel for its latest celebration of musical theatre – The Sound of Schwartz

Following the success of its popular Sound of Rodgers and Hammerstein event, Music Theatre Guernsey is continuing its ‘Sound of…’ dinner series with an exploration of the work of Stephen Schwartz – the creator of Godspell, Wicked and a host of other much loved works. ‌

The Duke of Richmond is once again the venue for a collection of enduring songs performed by accomplished singers and interspersed with the story of the composer’s life and works.

This is a great opportunity to hear his best-known works in an intimate setting, while exploring many hits which most people don’t realise he composed. Many of his songs have been made famous through pop covers, such as the Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston rendition of When You Believe from The Prince of Egypt. While many more will be familiar with his enduring musicals Godspell and Wicked. ‌

The American composer and lyricist, now in his 70s, has built a strong reputation in the world of animated movies, being the composer of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Pocahontas and Enchanted. The concert concludes with a set from the ever-adored Wicked and features a live band led by the excellent Jude Wegerer and 14 local performers. We are very grateful to the Duke of Richmond hotel for serving up a two course meal prior to the show, giving the evening that cruise-ship feel. ‌

A few words from some of our singers…

Alison Castle
Schwartz’s music is complex but not too complex, so you can get into the melodies but there are also surprises within. So that makes it interesting to perform and if it’s interesting to perform, it’s going to be interesting to listen to. Grown ups like me will remember Godspell and probably remember most of the tunes and then a lot of other people will be more into Wicked. I’ve discovered musicals that I hadn’t come across before and I’m loving Hunchback of Notre Dame. ‌

Emma Cunningham
 When Darren Alderton told me he was going to do this Schwartz show, I thought he would never find enough songs to fill it. I’d only really known about Wicked and Godspell. But what’s happened is he’s introduced me to these amazing songs from musicals I’d never heard of and now we have the chance to introduce the audience to songs they’ve probably never heard before, but amazing songs that have been lost in history. Many won’t even have known that the person who wrote the lyrics for say, Pocahontas, also wrote the lyrics for Wicked, so it’s going to be a show that has lots of surprises and people are really going to enjoy it. ‌

Bella Westgarth-Smith
 I left Guernsey and went to Italia Conti and I was doing acting and musical theatre in London. I then came back and was doing nothing – I moved into finance and sort of gave up the professional gig. So for me, MTG reintroduced me to performing and made me realise that it doesn’t need to be professional for it to feel professional. This is my third production with MTG and it feels like a really professional performance and team, with some serious talent in the room, just like we had with Rodgers and Hammerstein. So I’m really looking forward to doing it.

‌ Ticket Details Performances are nightly from Tuesday – Friday 27 – 30 September. Dinner and show tickets are priced at £32.10 (doors open at 6.00pm and food is from 6.30pm). Show only tickets are £12.84 (doors open at 7.45pm). The show begins at 8.00pm. Book online at [www.mtgsy.gg](http://www.mtgsy.gg “‌”) or call 0333 666 33 66