SMS
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Southampton Musical Society is Southampton's premier amateur musical society bringing musical theatre to Hampshire since 1928.


Currently rehearsing: School Daze

3rd - 5th October 2024, The Point Eastleigh

3rd - 5th October 2024

The Point, Eastleigh

In association with Gantry Youth Theatre

In a unique collaboration with Gantry Youth Theatre,SMSbrings you ‘School Daze’ a musical tour de force exploring the joys and anguish of school life, growing up and figuring out who you are.


Featuring songs from an exciting range of musicals, the show is guaranteed to excite and move you in equal measure as we showcase the combined performance talents of two of Southampton’s premier musical theatre groups.

SHOW TIMES

Thursday 3rd October

7.30pm

Friday 4th October

7.30pm

Saturday 5th October

2.30pm

Saturday 5th October

7.30pm

COMING SOON

THANKS TO OUR PATRONS!

OUR LAST SHOW

5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche

The Stage Door, SOuthampton

31st July - 3rd August 2024



Director - Jon Chalkley

Musical Director - Dotty Evans

Producer - Lee Paselle

Choreographer - Dotty Evans


Cast

Carrie Bellett, Charlotte Hollin, Danielle Fletcher, Freya Von-Claire, Suzanna Tompkins

RECENT SHOWS

2017 Made in Dagenham

2016 Rock of Ages

2015 West End Exchange

2015 Our House

2014 The Wedding Singer

2014 Copacabana

2013 Big Screen to Broadway

2013 Jekyll and Hyde

2012 The Producers

2011 The Best of Times

2011 Boogie Nights

2010 Dick Whittington

2010 The Great American Songbook

2010 Up Among the Stars


2009 Crazy For You

2009 The Broadway Collection

2008 Me and My Girl

2008 Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

2007 The Boyfriend

2007 West Side Story

2006 Calamity Jane

2005 Carousel

2005 Anything Goes

2005 Concert 2005

2004 42nd Street

2003 Creation to Crazy

2003 Crazy For You


2002 Copacabana

2002 Sweet Charity

2001 Little Shop of Horrors

2000 Cabaret

1999 South Pacific

1999 Pal Joey

1998 Oklahoma!

1998 The Sound of Music

1997 Annie

1997 Chicago

1996 42nd Street

1996 Some Enchanted Evening

1995 Kiss Me Kate

1995 Golden Showstoppers

1994 The King and I

1994 Guys and Dolls

1993 La Cage Aux Folles

1993 Anything Goes

1992 Half a Sixpence

1992 Red, Hot and Cole

1991 Brigadoon

1990 Showboat

1990 Irene


1989 My Fair Lady

1989 My Cinders

1988 South Pacific

1988 Annie Get Your Gun


1987 Hans Anderson

1987 Camelot

1986 Cabaret

1986 Dick Whittington

1985 Oliver!

1985 Annie

1984 The Sound of Music

1984 Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

1983 Paint Your Wagon

1983 Hello Dolly

1982 West Side Story

1982 Gigi

1981 Carousel

1981 Kismet

1980 Guys and Dolls

1980 Cinderella

1980 The Wizard of Oz


1979 Oklahoma!

1979 The Wizard of Oz

1978 Calamity Jane

1978 Pickwick

1977 Viva Mexico

1977 Mame

1976 Brigadoon

1976 The Great Waltz




1975 Oliver!

1975 The Pyjama Game

1974 Half a Sixpence

1974 The New Moon

1973 Camelot

1973 Fiddler on the Roof

1972 My Fair Lady

1972 Flower Drum Song

1971 South Pacific

1971 Kiss Me Kate

1970 Oklahoma!


1969 The King and I

1968 Rose Marie

1968 Song of Norway

1967 The Merry Widow

1967 Bless The Bride

1966 Carousel

1965 Chu Chin Chow

1964 Show Boat

1963 The New Moon

1962 The Dancing Years

1961 The Desert Song

1960 The Merry Widow


1959 The White Horse Inn

1957 Rose Marie

1957 Oklahoma!

1956 Goodnight Vienna

1955 Lilac Time

1954 Floradora

1953 Merrie England

1952 Waltz time

1951 The Vagabond King

1950 The Geisha


1949 The Arcadians

1948 A Country Girl


1938 Goodnight Vienna

1937 The Quaker Girl

1935 Tom Jones

1934 Hiawatha

1932 Elijah

1931 Hiawatha


1929 Messiah

1928 Haydn's The Creation

SEE US IN ACTION:

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2016 Rock of Ages (27)
2018 Note in time (14)
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2017 Made in Dagenham (2)
2017 Made in Dagenham (16)
2016 Rock of Ages (16)
2016 Rock of Ages (3)
2017 Made in Dagenham (19)
2018 Note in time (7)
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2018 Note in time (12)
2018 Note in time (28)
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2019 Magic Touch (1)
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2019 Magic Touch (8)
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2018 Note in time (17)
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THE SOCIETY

Southampton Musical Society has been performing in the Southampton and Winchester area for nearly 100 years. Our previous shows range from the traditional such as Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Me and My Girl to more recent releases including the discotastic Boogie Nights and the hilarious The Producers!


We also put together regular concerts which has a dual purpose of raising money for the society and to allow members to perform great songs from musicals that aren't often available to amateur groups.

We are lucky to have a great range of ages in our membership allowing us to tackle some great shows and numbers. We also are lucky to have directors and choreographers in the society who are up for any challenge we give them.


We are a very a sociable society, holding regular events including summer BBQ's, fundraising balls and karaoke nights.


We rehearse on Tuesday's and Thursday's at 7:30pm to 10:00pm at St Mark's Institute, Victoria Road, Woolston (the hall with the red door, just up the road from Masala Indian Restaurant).

THE COMMITTEE

Officers

General Committee

THE HISTORY OF SMS

A little shy of a century ago, in 1927, Southampton Musical Society was formed under the musical direction of Arnold Williams with the intention of broadening the local musical repertoire.

SMS, as the Society is more fondly referred to, held its very first performance of Haydn's The Creation on the 26th September 1928 at the Central Hall, Southampton.

1931 saw SMS broadening its horizons by showcasing Hiawatha, the premiere for the show outside of London. And from 1935 the Society performed numerous operettas, at the Palace Theatre, Above Bar, Southampton.

The Second World War had a major impact on front line Southampton and destroyed many iconic buildings including the society’s home, The Palace Theatre. As a result, SMS did not return to the stage until 1948. However, the Society returned in style with a performance of The Country Girl boasting a lavish set and elegantly dressed cast.

Following the aftermath of the war the next two decades saw SMS host one major show a year; performing in a series of venues, including the Royal Pier Pavilion and the Plaza Theatre.

In 1960, financially strong from its steady success through the 1950s, SMS arrived at the 2,000+ seated Gaumont Theatre. Under the direction of long standing members Dorothy Snook and Frederick Duerden, SMS performed for the first time Lehar's The Merry Widow. The Society grew from strength to strength and under the direction of Charles Rose between 1963 and 1971, and large scale productions were staged biannually at the Gaumont Theatre (now the thriving Mayflower Theatre).

In 1972 SMS took a new direction, employing professional producers who staged classics such as My Fair Lady, West Side Story, Showboat and Cabaret. The Society also became renowned for staging innovative productions which included the spectacular La Cage Aux Folles, Chicago, Little Shop of Horrors and the South Coast premiere of Copacabana.

In 1999 SMS staged South Pacific, its final performance, at the Mayflower Theatre. The difficulty in competing with touring professional companies and ever rising costs meant SMS had to move on. The Society performed regularly with great success at the Nuffield Theatre, Southampton with shows including Sweet Charity and Return to the Forbidden Planet.

In 2004 SMS commenced their 10-year residence at Theatre Royal Winchester, with the Society’s second performance of 42nd Street. Over the coming years a number of shows including West Side Story, Boogie Nights, Copacabana and the Producers drove the success and reputation of the Society within local musical theatre scene.  In 2014 The Wedding Singer became the last show performed by SMS at Theatre Royal Winchester after which the society moved to The Berry Theatre, Hedge End to showcase successful productions of Our House and West End Exchange.

Increasing in number, SMS continues to evolve with enthusiasm using social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to drum up a strong following with both new members and audiences. SMS continues to perform at The Point in Eastleigh and it’s sister theatre The Berry in Hedge End.

Nearly 100 years on from the first curtain up, SMS continues doing all it can to keep amateur musical theatre alive in Southampton.

WANT TO JOIN?

Interested in becoming a member? You will need to audition, but don't worry, it isn't scary, it just allows us to see what you can do.

At the audition you will:
- Sing a song of your choice. You will need to provide a backing track on mp3 or you can even sing a capella!
- Act out a small piece of script we will give you on the night.
- Perform some simple movement that we will teach you on the night.

The application form and fact sheet can be found below. If you have any further questions or wish to confirm your attendance at our next audition, contact us on Facebook or complete the contact form. You must let us know you are intending on auditioning before you arrive.

We usually hold new member auditions twice a year before launching our next show.

Downloads:

If you’re interested in joining us fill out your details below and we’ll get back to you ASAP!