Singer sails on theatre success

It's more than 20 years since Tim Beveridge gave up life as a lawyer to become one of New Zealand's better known and appreciated singers. At the age of 29, he was one of the youngest people to play the phantom in Phantom of the Opera and had his first paid gig in Tauranga. He is looking forward to returning to perform in his current show, Vegas, and spoke to Betty Jeeves about his work and the show"

Tim Beveridge once had a passion for law. "I enjoyed practising but it waned," he said.

His musical fans are no doubt overjoyed that the baritone then pursued his passion for music.

His first professional job was in 1992 in the musical Chess. "I had the opportunity to tour the country doing something I liked. I didn't stop to think about it, I just went.

"We toured four main centres in six months, it was a big deal then. It got me started doing professional stuff and I got stuck into work," he said.

After landing the role of Peter in Jesus Christ Superstar, he became the understudy to Rob Guest in Phantom of the Opera and played the part of Raoul for the next 18 months.

"I spent most of my time rehearsing with a beautiful soprano. I had a ball doing that. It was fantastic and it was the show that made me want to get into musicals. It was an exciting time in Sydney," Beveridge said.

He then won a place in the final of the world's most prestigious music theatre competition, the BBC Voice of Musical Theatre in Britain, in 2000 and 2002 - the only person to ever appear in two consecutive finals.

His first recording, Singer, with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, went gold within four weeks of release.

In 2004, he collaborated with arranger Russ Garcia (who worked with Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Count Basie and others) on a big-band recording in Hollywood that culminated in the release of his second CD, Come Rain, Come Shine, featuring Buddy Childer's Big Band.

Beveridge has also sung with well-known New Zealand performers, including Sir Howard Morrison, Dame Malvina Major and Hayley Westenra, in every major venue in New Zealand as well as the Sydney Opera House and Melbourne Concert Hall.

He has conceived, produced, directed and starred in his own festival productions during the past 10 years - "you have to have a few strings to your bow" - and the singer has produced concerts at major venues throughout New Zealand with his Neophonic Orchestra.

The current one is Vegas: A Tribute to the Golden Years of Entertainment.

The show pays tribute to the classics of the Las Vegas swing era. "It's a wonderful era of music. There were great live entertainers and support artists at that time - Bobby Darin, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Elvis, of course."

So far, the performers have clocked more than 2500km in the South Island and have embarked on the North Island leg of the tour, which should see this figure double.

"It's hard yakka but great fun. I did my first paid gig in Tauranga, Me and My Girl, in 1991, and I'm really looking forward to coming back," said Beveridge.

The Neophonic Orchestra, 14 Diamond Showgirls and Beveridge will perform 24 numbers including melodies such as Viva Las Vegas, New York New York, My Way, Devil in Disguise, Love Me Tender and Sex Bomb.

"The band is sensational - they are smokin' and people will be blown away by them. The girls are absolutely amazing. The band and showgirls all help me look good," he said.

Vegas: A Tribute to the Golden Years of Entertainment will be held at Baycourt on Tuesday, September 6, 7.30-10pm. For bookings contact Baycourt TicketDirect 577 7188 or 0800 484 2538, email baycourtboxoffice@tauranga.govt.nz or go to www.ticketdirect.co.nz