2009 is the year Danny comes roaring in with a new ‘live’ show: “His McMaster’s Voices”. A show chock full of celebrity voices, 70 voices, as a matter of fact! From AC/DC to Tom Jones! From the tried and true favourites like Sean Connery, Billy Connolly, Michael Caine and Joe Cocker to new ones that include Christopher Walken, Barack Obama, Joe Pesci and even Morgan Freeman.

Danny has taken on a new format with the help of his new Musical Director, Vic Pascoe. Vic plays all the music for the new presentation that sees Danny’s performance go to another completely different level that will have you gasping in amazement and saying, “How does he do that?”

Another exciting development is that Tracey and I have acquired the performing rights to a dinner-theatre show that has its origin in America. It’s called “Joey & Maria’s Comedy Italian Wedding”. All the characters at this wedding have come straight out of Boston, Massachusetts. That’s pronounced ‘Booorrrrston’. East Coast Italian-American accents abound in this hilarious wedding show. And oh, what characters! 2 families, the Cavatellis and the Gnocchis come together for a night of hilarity, singing, drinking and dancing like you’ve never seen before. Everything Italian! From the food to the music to the wine…and beyond. Hey, it’s a wedding, but not your usual wedding where everything goes off without a hitch. The comedy starts from the beginning and never lets up and the audience is there for the ride, all the way. If you don’t enjoy yourself here, you’re not trying.

 
Sounds like I’m really giving this an endorsementt…I am. I know I own the show, but…I’m really loathe to give praise where it’s not due. The show and especially the local cast are outstanding. I would pay money to go and see this show…it’s that much fun!

The US director Brian Preston, (he flew out and put us through intense rehearsals) was very lavish with his praise, having seen productions in Las Vegas, California, Massachusetts, New York and even Ireland in the U.K., stated that the Aussie cast members were equal to, if not better than, their counterparts anywhere in the world. That is very high praise indeed.

The interaction of the cast with the audience is crazily funny. Cast members, never straying out of character, have to be seen to be believed as they greet audience members like long lost relatives, even sitting at the tables regaling one and all with questions of, “Where have you been? I thought you was doin’ 8-10 at Ryker’s Island Penitentiary! Who’s your lawyer? I gotta get hold of him!” To the female cast members who enquire of the audience, “That dress! It’s to die for. And who does your hair? Gorgeous.”

There are dances that everyone, audience and cast, is involved in (‘Dancing Queen’ for all the single girls, ‘Greased Lightning’ for all the single guys)…even a visit from The Don, Don Cannelloni, has audience members ‘asking’ for a favour from the neighbourhood Don…”I’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse!”

This is such a blast to do. We’ll be looking at taking the show to bigger population centres such as Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne in the very near future. Meanwhile our first show for 2009 is at The Gold Coast Arts Centre on July 11th.

Another venture for me is teaming up with Jamie Myer and ‘Aussie’ Joe Bugner of boxing fame for some special functions throughout Australia. Each show is about Joe reminiscing on his sensational boxing career that took him from war-torn Hungary to victories in the ring in the United Kingdom, USA and Australia, along the way becoming Heavyweight Champion of UK, Europe and the Commonwealth, by defeating Henry ‘The Hammer’ Cooper, fighting for World Titles with the likes of Muhammad Ali (twice went the distance) and Joe Frazier and beating other world contenders along the way. Joe has an amazing post-boxing career in movies as well and the shows we are taking on the road, regale audiences with all the things that go on behind the scenes, the stars he has worked with, the celebrities he’s met and of course, what it was really like in the ring with ‘The Greatest’. It really is a pleasure to be associated with such a world-class sportsman as Joe, and Jamie Myer adds that classy touch to all out functions.

I’ll be back with some breaking news as it happens…there are other great developments for 2009…you’ll be the first to know when they do.

Cheers, Danny.