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Harrison Wood

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Harrison Wood : Bassist

Harrison Wood's Musicals And Theatre Work On Electric And Double Bass


"I love playing in the theatre for musicals and shows. Luckily I've been asked to play for quite a lot now and would love to do more".

Like many young professional theatre pit players, my first experience of playing for musicals came through school productions when I did the likes of 'Les Miserables', 'Bugsy Malone', 'Pack Up Your Troubles' and Sweeney Todd'. When I was fifteen, two local professional Musical Directors (Joanna Jeffreys and David Tattersall), had heard that I played and read well and they gave me my first chance of playing (for a fee, which is a dream when you're fifteen) in the theatre. I owe so much to them because not many MD's would have taken a 'leap of faith' with a young fifteen year old bassist.

Since then, the word's spread that I'm reliable, always well prepared and do a good job and now the work keeps coming in. I've played both double bass and electric bass for many musical theatre productions in venues in Manchester, Lancaster, Blackpool, Liverpool, Kendal, Oldham etc.

I now spend many a happy week in the theatre and the musicals I've played professionally for are ... 'Carousel'

'Guys & Dolls'
The 1950 award winning musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. It is based on "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" and "Blood Pressure", two short stories by Damon Runyon.

'West Side Story'
The 1957 musical with a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim is a contemporary musical adaptation based on William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

'My Fair Lady'
The 1956 musical based on George Bernard Shaw's 'Pygmalion'. Book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. The 'My Fair Lady' story line concerns Eliza Doolittle, a rough flower seller who takes speech lessons from professor Henry Higgins so she can pass as a lady. Does she? Doesn't she? I won't spoil it but it's a great story and the music's fab.

'The Railway Children'
The 2005 musical with Music by Richard John and Lyrics by Julian Woolford adapted from the novel by Edith Nesbit. The story line concerns a young family who move to a home near the railway after their dad was imprisoned (falsely) for espionage. Don't worry, it all turns out ok.

'The Producers'
The 2001 musical adapted by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meeham from Brooks' 1968 film of the same name with lyrics by Brooks and music by Brooks and Gene Kelly. 'The Producers' story line is a comedy about a theatrical get rich scheme to get the funding up front to stage a musical that is supposed to flop but unexpectedly turns out to be successful.

'South Pacific'
The 1949 musical with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. 'South Pacific' is regarded by many as one of the greatest musicals ever and many of its songs have become famous standards.

'The Full Monty'
The 2000 musical with music by David Yazbek and book by Terrence McNally. 'The full Monty' is an Americanized version adapted from the 1997 British film of the same name

'Funny Girl'
The 1964 musical with music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Bob Merrill and a book by Isobel Lennart. 'Funny Girl' is a semi-biographical plot based on the life and career of Fanny Brice (the famous Broadway and film star) and her stormy relationship with entrepreneur and gambler Nicky Arnstein.

'The King and I'
The 1951 musical with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. 'The King and I' is based on the book 'Anna and the King of Siam' by Margaret Landon. The plot comes from the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, who became school teacher to the children of King Mongkut of Siam in  the 1860's.

'Oliver!'
The 1960 British musical with music and lyrics by Lionel Bart. 'Oliver' is based on the novel 'Oliver Twist' by Charles Dickens.

'Big'
The 1996 musical with music by David Shire and lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr. 'Big' is a musical adaptation of the 1988 Tom Hanks film of the same name where a twelve year old boy becomes an adult overnight after being granted a wish. After living like an adult, he becomes a boy again when he gets another wish.

'42nd Street'
The 1980 musical with music by Harry Warren, lyrics by Al Dubin and a book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble. '42nd Street' is the Musical about Musicals. It follows the main character (Peggy Sawyer) from a young wannabe chorus girl to a Broadway star. The shows title number (42nd Street) can only be described as "Taptastic!" (oh, sorry).

Please give me a call my mobile (07706 931810) or email me at harrison@harrisonwood.com if you'd like to book me.
 

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