CPA College Faculty Biographies

Colin’s Performing Arts Limited

“Today’s training for the professionals of tomorrow…”

Principal: COLIN PUTZ

Course Director / Dance Coordinator: MICHELLE BLAIR

Michelle trained at Bridget Espinosa’s London Studio Centre and is a freelance Director and Choreographer. Her work includes: the ‘X’ Factor for ITV1, ‘Music Time’ on Playhouse Disney, ‘Razzle Dazzle’  (Hackney Empire) and the Royal Gala’s  ‘Night of Nights’ and ‘This is the Night’ (Richmond Theatre) She has been involved in Pantomime for many years and has been on the production team for numerous versions of Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Dick Whittington, Aladdin, Peter Pan and Mother Goose. She is also involved in directing, staging and choreographing many workshops, corporate events, College productions and touring shows and worked with many celebrities in both the pop industry and film and television.  She has just finished directing ‘West End Rocks’ Rocks’ starring Kerry Ellis (Wicked & We Will Rock You) and Chris Holland (Whistle Down the Wind & We Will Rock You). As a performer theatre credits include ‘Doctor Doolittle’  (Apollo Theatre, Hammersmith),  ‘Into the Woods’ (Donmar Warehouse),  ‘Woodstock’  in ‘Snoopy the Musical’ (Watermill theatre , Bagnor) , ‘Tommy the Cat’ in ‘Dick Whittington’ (Charter Theatre, Preston)  ‘Fairy Patti’ and ‘Nuts the Monkey’ in ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ (Salisbury Playhouse) and ‘Carmen’ the Opera (European Tour). Television credits include: ‘The Really Useful Show’, ‘Southern Eye’, ‘Live and Kicking’, ‘The Disney Channel’, ‘Sky Sports’, ‘Tell it to me Straight’ and ‘When Will I be Famous’ which documented the day to day life of the Sylvia Young Theatre School. As well as being Course Director at CPA, Michelle has been associated with The London Studio Centre, Sylvia Young’s Theatre School, English National Ballet School, The Royal Ballet School, Italia Conti Academy, Bodywork Dance Studios, Elmhurst Ballet School, Central School of Ballet and the BBO.

Drama Coordinator: SUSAN RAASAY

 

Susan trained at the Guildford School of Acting and her most recent role was as Signora Fioria in Sondheim’s Do I Hear a Waltz?(Landor Theatre). Other theatre credits include Jenny in The Threepenny Opera, (Northern Stage); Johanna in Sweeney Todd; Christine in Ken Hill’s Phantom of the Opera; Mrs Bradman in Blithe Spirit, Christina in Murder on the Nile and Beryl Stapleton in Hound of the Baskervilles, (Dundee Rep). Celia in As You Like It, (Nova Theatre Co); the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet, (OversmanTheatre Co); Marlene in Top Girls, (Focus Theatre Co); Rosie in Seats in all Parts, (Kings Head Theatre); Helen in Ten Times Table, (Bellairs Theatre); Sigma in Nightingale, (Channel Theatre Co); Godspell (Brunton Theatre); Romantic Comedy, (Connaught Theatre), and Bill Kenwright’s production of A Tale of Two Cities.  Film and Television credits include; Evita, (Alan Parker); Ladybird, Ladybird,  (Ken Loach); All Or Nothing At All, (Carnival Films); The Men’s Room, (BBC); Forever Green, (LWT), and Personal Effects, (BBC Radio 4).  For the London Studio Centre’s ‘Dance Overture’ she devised and directed City Segue, (Peacock Theatre); Beached, (Shaw Theatre); Kitchen Crazy and Celebration Rain, (Wimbledon Theatre). For the Seedtime Company she has directed and designed Caryl Churchill’s Top Girls and Fen; Sharman MacDonald’s After Juliet; Mixed Doubles; Maria Marten and Lady Audley’s Secret; and earlier this year, Olwen Wymark’s Find Me. Last year she was Associate Director for Seedtime Company’s tour of Oh! What a Lovely War which then played at the Pleasance Theatre. Following this she worked as Associate Director for the world premiere of a new Charles Miller musical Jason and the Argonauts; (Cochrane Theatre) For CPA Susan Directed ‘Oliver’ at the Towngate, Basildon and is currently Drama Coordinator. Susan is also Head of Drama at the London School of Musical Theatre.

Vocal Coordinator: MICHAEL HOWCROFT

Michael trained as an actor at Rose Bruford College. Since graduating Michael has worked extensively as an actor-musician, most frequently in the multi - award winning Watermill Theatre productions of John Doyle and Sarah Travis (Piaf, Cinderella and her Enchanted Slipper, Fiddler on the Roof, Carmen and Sweeney Todd). Other acting credits include: West End: As You Like It (Young Vic/Wyndhams), Sweeney Todd (New Ambassadors/Trafalgar Studios). Regional: Privates on Parade (New Victoria Theatre - Stoke), Poor Ted (UK tour, OnO Theatre Co.) Musical Direction credits include: Sweeney Todd (UK Tour with Jason Donovan), Annie (Aberystwyth), Cinderella (Porthcawl Grand Pavilion) and resident/associate MD on the West End run of Sweeney Todd. Michael is also a visiting tutor at The Urdang Academy, CPA, Millennium Dance and Italia Conti. Michael has returned to performing in a new West –End production of Amadeus directed by 2006 Tony Award winner John Doyle.

Resident Musical Director: DAVID BARBER

 

David is delighted to be working on this production of Back To The 80’s following his success on CPA’s production of ‘Oliver!’. David was recently music arranger and director of ‘It’s A Fine Life!”, a musical based on the life of Lionel Bart, presented by The Queens Theatre, Hornchurch, continuing David’s long association with Lionel Bart. David had the privilege of working as Lionel’s personal music assistant for six years, and today, through the Lionel Bart Estate, is regularly consulted on Lionel’s musical work. By 20, David had already conducted a world premiere, worked on two major musicals and moved from his native Australia to London where his first commitment was “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” at the London Palladium. Shortly after, David became involved in the West End production of LUST at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket and “GREASE” at the Dominion Theatre – beginning a 10 year involvement with the show which saw him work as an associate to Broadway orchestrator Larry Wilcox, a musician, and Musical Director on the European and UK first-class tours. His other West End credits include PRISONER CELL BLOCK H:THE MUSICAL with Lily Savage (Production Musical Director and Arranger) MARTIN GUERRE and SNOOPY.

 

David has worked with some of the world’s leading songwriters, playwrights and artists including Prince and Alan Ayckbourn. He co- orchestrated the revue THE BEST OF TIMES for Broadway composer Jerry Herman. Most recently, David has been arranging and orchestrating for the Academy Award winning songwriter and lyricist Robert B. Sherman.  David has also orchestrated and arranged for Blue’s Lee Ryan, and was arranger for several of Tony Award winning Frances Ruffelle’s sell- out performances at Ronnie Scott’s. David is also producer of Frances's latest album, being released later this year.  David has also provided arrangements for the BBC Big-Band and the London Pops Orchestra.  As director of ADL Music, David has numerous music associate, arranging and preparation credits including the Sonderyllands Symphony Orchestra, the Conley Show (LWT), the Jimmy Tarbuck Hour (ITV) and Tussaud’s Studios, producing and co-arranging music for their attractions and theme-parks. David is currently working as Music Supervisor on two forthcoming West End productions.