Friends! The Musical Parody Creative Team
Robert C Kelly: Producer
Robert has over 35 years’ experience as a Producer of plays, pantomimes, musicals and concerts.
He has presented concerts starring Elaine Paige, Jane McDonald, Joe Longthorne, Elkie Brooks and Lena Martell. Also, variety shows with such stars as Brian Conley, Danny la Rue, Bobby Davro, Dean Park, Andy Stewart, Keith Harris and Orville, Gary Wilmot and The Nolans.
Robert’s shows have starred such actors as Bernie, Linda and Maureen Nolan, Beverly Callard (Coronation Street), Blythe Duff (Taggart), Patsy Palmer (EastEnders), Cheryl Fergison (EastEnders) and Jenny Éclair (Grumpy Old Women). He has given stage acting “breaks” to singers including Carol Decker (T’Pau), Maureen Nolan (The Nolans), Lorraine McIntosh (Deacon Blue) and Brianna Corrigan (Beautiful South).
In 2010, with RTÉ Television, Robert co-produced and appeared as head judge in the 10-week RTÉ1 reality television series to find the male and female leads for Fame The Musical, which Robert then toured across Ireland throughout the autumn of that year.
Robert has produced and co-produced many plays and musicals including nine UK and Irish tours of Menopause The Musical, Olivier Award Winning Defending the Caveman, two tours of The Dolls Abroad and a tour of their new show The Dolls Dragged Up, 51 Shades of Maggie, Whingeing Women, Girls Night the Musical, Dirty Dusting (UK, Ireland Australia and New Zealand), Pam Gem’s Piaf, eleven productions (including a West End run) of the comedy Mum’s the Word, also Mum’s the Word 2 – from Toddlers to Teenagers in the UK and Germany, Prunella Scales in Too Far to Walk (London), the musical comedy Always Patsy Cline (UK and Australia), It’s Wine O’Clock and many more lost in the mists of time and alcohol.
Across his long career, Robert has produced over 30 pantomimes. Pantomime season 2020/21 will see Robert return to the University Concert Hall, Limerick with Jack and the Beanstalk.
In 2021 Robert will tour across the UK and Ireland with the brand-new show Menopause The Musical 2 Cruising Through Menopause, Friends! The Musical Parody, The Dolls Rerr Terr, and others yet to be revealed!
Óskar Eiriksson: Producer
Based in Reykjavik Iceland, Óskar Eiriksson, along with partners, started the world-renowned Production Company Theater Mogul in 1999. Since then, they have been mounting, investing, co-producing and producing successful theatre productions internationally, from the USA to South America, Europe, Asia and South Africa.
Their original production was the international and Broadway hit comedy Defending the Caveman and Theater Mogul produces and mounts up to 150 performances, every month of the year playing to packed houses in over 150 cities worldwide. In addition to the hugely successful Caveman, Óskar currently produces the hysterical comedy hit Defending the Cavewoman – the long running retort to the Caveman. Also, the hilarious American three-hander Triple Espresso. Óskar has also produced or promoted international hits such as the successful Shaolin Monks, Menopause the Musical, The Blues Brothers, Umoja, Lovelace- A Rock Opera, Sexy Laundry and 100% Sex Therapy, in Europe, South Africa and Iceland.
Theater Mogul’s New York debut was Silence! The Musical, a critically acclaimed comedy based on the classic cult movie Silence of the lambs. Theater Mogul then went on to co-produce the award-winning Broadway musical Groundhog Day which premiered in September 2017. The premiere of Friends! The Musical in 2018, based on the hit television series, marked yet another great success in New York with rave reviews and has since opened in Las Vegas and is set to follow with worldwide productions.
With his very personal, creative and hands on approach to theatre production, Óskar works with partners and friends world-wide and continues to open Theater Mogul’s current shows in new markets while always keeping his ear to the ground for new fresh talent and original productions.
Daniel Maguire: Director & Choreographer
Daniel trained at The Billie Barry Stage School in Dublin and later at The Academy of Musical Theatre Wales. He enjoyed a long career as performer appearing in musicals, pantomime, cabaret, TV and film before becoming involved in production and becoming a director, choreographer and theatre producer.
Daniel worked as a scriptwriter for The Gaiety Theatre’s productions of Cinderella (2012) and Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs (2013). He also has provided scripts for Santa’s House Express and Irish Ferries.
Daniel has directed Beauty and The Beast (T.L.T, Drogheda, National Opera House, Wexford and INEC, Killarney), Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella (National Opera House, Wexford and INEC, Killarney).
Productions that Daniel has both directed and choreographed include A Slice of Saturday Night (Draoícht), SHOUT! The Mod Musical (The Powerscourt Theatre, The Tivoli Theatre, The Viking Theatre and a 22 date National Tour in 2017) and Stepping Out (Seán O’ Casey Theatre). He also devised and directed the cabaret entertainment show for The Billie Barry Ball at The Round Room in The Mansion House in Dublin that was held in 2014 to celebrate 50 years of the school in operation.
Daniel has choreographed Guys and Dolls (Inchicore College), Sweet Charity (INEC, Killarney), Side By Side By Sondheim (The National Concert Hall), Jack And The Beanstalk (The Corn Exchange, Newbury) and earlier this year Blitz! (The Union Theatre, London).
Ross O’Connor: Musical Director and Additional Vocal Arrangements
Ross O’Connor (BMus, PMTC) has been working professionally as a musical director, composer and teacher for the past 15 Years. He completed his BMus at the College of Music, specialising in classical guitar and composition.
This year saw the premier of his original musical New Fish in Dublin, which opened to sell out audiences and great acclaim. Working alongside his wife, Ross also wrote all original songs and music for RTE television’s Once Upon a Christmas. He has been the musical director for Anthem Productions for the past 15 years, and currently works for Robert C Kelly as Musical Director in the UK and Ireland. Most recently for Robert C Kelly, Ross was Musical Director for Menopause the Musical and the brand-new show Menopause the Musical 2 Cruising Through Menopause. As a composer and arranger Ross has had the pleasure of working with the likes of the RTE Concert Orchestra, David Foster and Rod Stewart, and has had his compositions used on RTE and BBC. As well as this, he has been involved in scoring numerous award-winning films.
Ross is delighted to be part of the production team of Friends! The Musical Parody
Ian Westbrook: Set Designer
Ian studied Theatre Design & The Creative Arts at Nottingham Trent University where he gained a 1st Class degree. His first shows for Lord Bernard Delfont was on the Lenny Henry; The Nolan Sisters; Cannon & Ball and Dick Emery Shows. After seasons at Nottingham playhouse, Leicester and Theatre Royal Plymouth, Ian became resident Set Designer/ Scenic Artist at Theatre Royal Norwich and since 1986, The Cromer Pier shows.
Since 1985 his scenery and prop construction Company have designed and created hundreds of operas, musicals, plays, pantomimes, films, TV and corporate productions, Sea life centres across Europe. His designs for world touring arena shows include Michael Flatley’s Feet of Flames world arena tour; Evita & Chicago in Lebanon’s Amphitheatre. Five world tours for Iron Maiden, Robbie Williams; Pete Waterman; The Spice Girls; West Life; Blur. (Yusuf Islam)-Cat Stevens “Peace Train Hammersmith Apollo and the Tea for the Tillerman world tour.
Sets for Thomas the Tank Engine arena tour and five Royal Commissions for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Sandringham House museum and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee National Beacon, London.
Film location work on Pirate’s In The Caribbean (St. Thomas Island) TVs Suffolk Tales. TVs Misfits. Ellie Goulding– Ex Factor and Game of Thrones. & Disney TV.
Theatre credits include UK and London’s West End productions of Proof-Arts. Horrible Histories; Treasure Island. All the Fun of the Fair–Garrick. Sir Peter Hall’s Blithe Spirit– Savoy Theatre. Truth Lies, Diana-Charing Cross. Sangre-Hammersmith Studios. Santa clause & the Christmas Adventure–Ambassador’s Theatre. International tours of Friends The Musical Parody and Menopause 2 the musical.
Some of Ian’s most creative set designs are on Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth, Mary & Victoria ships. US Celebrity, P&O Cruise ships all featuring his lavish designs.
Since 2006, Ian is responsible for creating a huge portfolio of new pantomime designs for Qdos Entertainments that include the Olivier nominated Cinderella; Olivier winner–Dick Whittington, Snow White and Goldilocks, all at The London Palladium.
Awards include: The Hy Kurzner’s Norfolk Arts Entrepreneur Award. Best Scenic design for Cinderella at The London Palladium. Great British Pantomime Awards.
Duncan Gillies: Lighting Designer
Duncan’s credits include: Friends! The Musical Parody (UK and Ireland Tour 2020) Menopause the Musical 2 Cruising Through Menopause (UK and Ireland Tour 2020). Snow White (Gardyne Theatre), Defending the Caveman (Robert C Kelly), Snow White (Angus Alive), Sunset Boulevard (BFAOS), Angus Council and Angus Alive Light Night.
Duncan’s highlights in previous years have been Back to the 80’s (Rising Young Stars Theatre Group), Legally Blonde (ST Pauls RC Academy), Dundee and Angus College Fashion Show (Space Theatre) and the national UK and Irish tour of Menopause the Musical.
Duncan is delighted to be returning to design the lighting for Friends! The Musical Parody and Menopause the Musical 2 Cruising Through Menopause in 2022.
For further information on Duncan’s work please visit www.dglx.co.uk