PEOPLE - ACTORS

Penny Dodd / Actor

Penny Dodd is a pianist, conductor, arranger, composer and musical director of over 30 years experience in NZ, Australia and the UK. Making her professional debut in a speaking role as Mrs Fraser in this production of STEPPING OUT, her previous spoken word experience amounts to the immortal "5, 6, 7, 8" in the overture for CHICAGO, at the Mercury Theatre, and on tour in NZ in 2001.

Penny is best known for conducting musicals (such as CATS and EVITA), musically directing twelve seasons of Coca Cola Christmas in the Park, and as arranger/conductor for the APO and the CSO in Symphonic Rock concerts. She is also well known as an orchestral arranger for artistes as diverse as Dame Malvina Major, Helen Medlyn, John Rowles, Mika, Che Fu, Brooke Fraser, Hollie Smith, and The Topp Twins. But less well known is Penny's illustrious back room career as repetiteur, rehearsal pianist and dance class pianist.

Highlights have included rehearsals for Opera New Zealand including DON GIOVANNI with Dame Kiri te Kanawa, dance classes for Limbs Dance Company and London Contemporary Dance School, and assorted classes at Pineapple Studios and RADA. A particular highlight was playing for Tommy Tune (Tap Your Troubles Away) in rehearsals for Mack and Mabel at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, and channelling Mrs Fraser by playing for community tap dance classes in Clapham, London in 1989.