After the success of her inaugural live show in 2009, Maureen's launching her next creative adventure that you're going to love. Between the Lines is a new theatre production with original script and music.
Hear the stories of four women, set in a local library. As we get to know each character, we learn that - as in real life - there is always more to the story than first meets the eye when you read between the lines and look behind the mask.
Dates: 24th & 25th July
Time: 8pm
Venue: Royal Exchange Theatre, 32-34 Bolton Street Newcastle
Tickets: $14pp
Bookings: through the Theatre on (02) 4929 4969.
Thundering along in 2010
Posted:
Monday, 27th December 2010
Gosh this year started with a bang and it hasn't slowed down yet!
March has been particularly busy, travelling more than 2000 kms to share my music to appreciative audiences throughout NSW from Coolah and Barraba in the Central West and all the way down to Narrandera in the South West. Thank you so much for the warm welcome in each of those towns - it certainly makes the travel worthwhile.
Got some funny anecdotes from life on the road ... like drawing the short straw on the room allocation in Coolah! I got the one right next to the party girls - who partied hard and long into the night, snatched a few short hours of sleep, and rolled out at the crack of dawn ready to party again! Made it very hard for non-morning-Maureen to turn out the next morning for a 2-hour set. Meanwhile the boys slept on oblivious. Reckon I might have enough material from that weekend to write a few more songs.
I'm furiously working on a new show - theatre and original music - which opens at the Royal Exchange, Newcastle, in June. Entitled Between the Lines, it's the story of four women's lives and set in a local library. A human interest comedy, this is a new challenge for me and I'll appreciate all the support I can get when it opens (as well as constructive critique). I'm planning to blog this project beginning in April so for any of you interested in the process and the challenges of pulling it all together, you can keep track via Moz In Oz at http://mymaureenobrien.blogspot.com (oh, and this blog is also where I often give away free MP3s).
I'm also involved in organising a Tri-Act Tour in September called Woman in the House. Along with two other all-female acts, the tour is covering *the Illawarra *South Coast *Central West and Gundagai regions. If you'd like to get a copy of the promotional flyer for further information, simply send me an email from the website ... and of course if you'd like us to bring the tour to YOUR area then we may have a few free dates available so don't hesitate to ask about availability.
On top of all that, I've taken on an additional festival this year - now the Festival Director for the annual Newcastle Cultural Stomp - as well as co-director of the Folk in Broke festival. Two very different events and both requiring an extraordinary amount of work. If you can make it along to either or both then say hello; I'd love to meet you.
Vocal Workshops
Posted:
Friday, 31st December 2010
I've resumed the small group workshops for people looking to learn or develop their singing.
Choose from the following:
Introductory Singing Course - covers voice physiology, beginner techniques, warm-up exercising, finding the right voice, different styles of singing and effective song delivery.
Put Some Zing in your Sing - takes up from the introductory course and is for those who have done the first course, are already singing in front of an audience or with a group, or have had formal singing lessons in the past. This session covers a variety of methods including *singing in rounds *effective backing singing *rhythms/accents/punctuations/phrasings *singing without words and *putting it all together/getting adventurous.
One-on-One Vocal Tutoring - for those desiring personal and intensive training. Casual rates or attractive block rate discounts.
Corporate Training - for workplace teams, this is a great way to bond your team and learn the ability and benefits of working together in harmony or One-on-One Vocal Tutoring for individuals in the organisation who rely on their vocal skills for communicating with customers/clients such as delivering seminars and client briefings.
I've recently completed my first book of bush poetry and lyrics and it's now available for purchase.
Entitled 'A Bird in the Bush', the book contains 18 works and is available either as an E-Book (electronic book in PDF) or in a hard copy.
Currently prices are $12 for the E-Book and $15 for the hard copy, which includes postage and a free handcrafted bookmark.
Email your order for payment details. I have an online payment facility in place but am still waiting for my webmaster to do the technical stuff on the site which makes it happen.
New project
Posted:
Friday, 31st December 2010
I had the privilege in August of collaborating with fellow writer/musician Clark Gormley to co-write and produce a Radio Play called 'A Tribute to Prairie Home Companion'.
Containing all-original material, and with a cast of thousands (well 6 actually - there was no budget for the other 994+) we opened on the 5th September to an almost full house at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Newcastle.
The show got great reviews and the theatre invited us to return, which we'll be doing in November.
I've got a taste for it now so expect to see similar projects appearing in the future!
Join the mailing list
Posted:
Friday, 31st December 2010
New events and opportunities often come up at short notice and it can take some time to get the information loaded on the website.
Things like special concerts and shows, and special offers like FREE giveaways.
To find out the latest news - faster - get on the mailing list where I can talk to you direct. How? Just send us an email and we'll add you straight away ....too easy!
