Welcome to Echoes of Broadway!
Thanks for coming to support Kauri Theatre and our ever expanding community. In musical theatre you don't often get to pick what songs you're singing or sometimes even how you get to sing them. You could be the best singer out there but if a role doesn't suit your style you may not get to show yourself at your best, and that's exactly what Echoes of Broadway allows singers to do.
Kauri Theatre aims to give performers a platform to show their friends, family, and community just how much they shine when they get to make the decisions. It also gives singers the opportunity to perform something they might never get to otherwise - whether they don't conform to the right gender or aren't the right age or ethnicity to play the role in its staged setting, or maybe it's just a show that might not ever get produced in Wellington, a concert like this opens every door.
We asked producers of similar concerts series around the country what their favourite part was and the consistent reply was "finding the hidden gems", and by that they meant both music they hadn't heard before as well as performers who seemed to be getting lost in the crowd but actually had so much more to give. We have a fantastic line up of performers for you tonight that we know you'll only want to see more of by the end of it.
Saturday 18 July, 7.30pm
Thistle Hall, 293 Cuba St, Te Aro
Set List Act 1
Gayle Hammersley
What Baking Can Do - Waitress
Flowers - Hadestown
Sadie Lynch
On The Steps of the Palace - Into The Woods
Somewhere That's Green - Little Shop of Horrors
Anna Bebbington
Alto's Lament - song by Marcy Heisler & Zina Goldrich
Don't Cry For Me Argentina - Evita
Ethan Guest
Sunset Boulevard - Sunset Boulevard
Shiksa Goddess - The Last Five Years
Set List Act 2
Special guest performance by MC Tia Minnoch
Sonya Li-McHenry
Still Hurting - The Last Five Years
Disneyland - Smile
Jane Birdling
Heart of Stone - SIX
One Hundred Easy Ways - Wonderful Town
Emily Brown
Who's Sorry Now - Just In Time
Michael in the Bathroom - Be More Chill
Cast and Crew
Accompanist: Sue Windsor
MC: Tia Minnoch
Followers of Kauri may recognise Sue as the Musical Director for recent Kauri productions Shortland Street the Musical (2021), Dusty the Musical (2023), and The Toxic Avenger (2025).
Sue strongly advocates for the growth of musical theatre and uses her skills to enhance performance for others. She has played for us in fundraiser concerts, mentored younger musicians in an assistant MD role, and has been a stand-in rehearsal pianist when needed.
Outside of Kauri, Sue has played and musically directed for companies across the region, and is a founding member of Capital Theatre Trust. Due to her many years of experience, Sue is known to bring together an abundance of musical talent to produce high quality sound in the productions she is a part of.
Tia is a versatile entertainer with an extensive performance background. Singing and dancing since age 5, she had carved out her slice of the Wellington music scene when fronting as a vocalist for top funk, jazz and tribute bands over two decades.
She has a long list of theatre credits, often taking on demanding lead roles. Her recent appearances include portraying the formidable Killer Queen in Capital Theatre Trust’s We will Rock You at St James Theatre, the self-absorbed and comically cynical Broadway star Dee Dee Allen in The Prom (Upper Hutt Musical Theatre), twice played Dusty Springfield in Dusty, the Original Pop Diva (UHMT 2014), (Kauri Theatre 2023).
Tia continues to be involved in various music projects; sometimes as a vocal coach or musical director. She loves to stay involved in the theatre community by mentoring and championing new talent, while occasionally taking on new roles to refine her craft. Additionally, Tia is a registered celebrant and MC, so she is excited to introduce each performer bringing ‘le panache’ to the Echoes of Broadway evening.
Gayle Hammersley
Gayle is a theatre artist from Spokane, Washington, USA. They moved to Aotearoa almost 4 years ago with their fiancée (now spouse) and plans to stay here indefinitely!
Gayle has music directed and performed in a wide variety of shows and projects throughout Wellington. Their most notable recent performance was singing backing vocals with Wellington-based band Skram as the opening act for One Republic at Spark Arena in Auckland. Other New Zealand credits include Music Director for CPNZ’s Hollywood to Broadway: What the World Needs Now, Music Director and alternate Jutta in CPNZ’s In the Green, Music Director/Performer in PLT’s Hollywood to Broadway: Coven, Ensemble in Capital Theatre Trust's We Will Rock You, Cast/Vocal Director in PLT’s Hollywood to Broadway Cabaret, Ensemble in Wicked with Capital Theatre Trust, and Cinderella in WITCH Music Theatre’s Into the Woods.
When she’s not performing, Gayle can be found teaching other people to sing, attending a dance class, having a long wander, or at home with their family (2 cats, a dog, and a spouse).
Sadie Lynch
Sadie is a 3rd year composition student at Victoria University who has always loved musical theatre. You might have seen her on the programme of Kauri's The Toxic Avenger and Catch Me If You Can as the assistant MD, or on stage in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, The Lizards Lie Within!, or Victoria's Law Revue - and that's just in the last two years! With another few theatrical projects in the works for 2026, Echoes of Broadway is a chance for her to sing for an audience again after a long time being behind the stage or in an ensemble. Follow her music instagram page at @skyebirdmusic to see what she's up to next (especially if you're looking for a composer for a project!)
Anna Bebbington
Anna has loved music since before she was born thanks to her mum playing music non stop to ensure that she didn’t inherit her dad’s ear! Anna has been involved in choirs and theatre non stop, including the New Zealand Secondary Schools Choir. She competed in vocal competitions in the Manawatu and gained a distinction for her ATCL in classical performance.
Since moving to Wellington for Uni in 2021, music has been on the back burner but Anna is looking forward to dipping another toe in the vibrant Wellington Music scene and is very excited for Echos of Broadway.
Ethan Guest
Ethan Guest is an actor, filmmaker, and vocalist originally from Buena Vista, Colorado. Performing theatre in both the United States and New Zealand, Ethan has gone on to star in shows such as Singin' in the Rain, Guys & Dolls, The Addams Family Musical, The Great Gatsby, and most recently, Kauri Theatre's 2026 season of Catch Me If You Can: The Musical. He is soon to be seen at the St. James Theatre as a backing vocalist in Capital Theatre Trust's spring season of Matilda: The Musical.
When off stage, Ethan is a student of Massey University, currently in the second year of his bachelor's degree in film and television production.
Sonya Li-McHenry
Sonya Li-McHenry is currently in her second year at Toi Whakaari New Zealand Drama School studying towards a Bachelor of Performing Arts (Acting). Originally from Ōtautahi, Sonya has been involved in shows such as She Kills Monsters (Court Theatre Youth Company), Much Ado About Nothing (Top Dog Theatre) and A Little Night Music (Enchanting Productions). Singing and everything-Broadway consumes a lot of Sonya’s life, but it’s been almost two years since she performed in a musical, the last one being Frozen Junior (Court Theatre) where she played Anna, so Sonya is thrilled to finally go back to her musical roots in this concert.
Jane Birdling
Jane is having a great time rediscovering her high school love of singing and performing in musical theatre. A mum and registered nurse "by day”, she’s appeared in recent shows in and around the Hutt including The Wedding Singer, The Prom, and Jesus Christ Superstar. She’s very excited for Echoes of Broadway not only for the chance to sing for an audience with the support of the amazing Kauri Theatre team, but also to get to admire all the other talented performers too!
Emily Brown
Amelie is a a first-year student at Victoria University studying a Bachelor of Music and then Education. This will be her first performance in Wellington since moving from Auckland, and is very excited for the opportunity.
Previously Amelie has performed in productions of Legally Blonde, Wendy, Changing Minds, Cats (Munkustrap), We Will Rock You (Killer Queen), Addams Family (Pugsley), Alice (Cheshire Cat), Big Fish (The Witch), Sunshine on Leith (Hazel), and Seussical (Mayzie La Bird). Amelie's favourite musical though is The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which she had the privilege of seeing live earlier this year. Outside of music and theatre, Amelie loves sailing, skiing, and shopping!
Amelie Snell
Emily K Brown is a director and performing artist from Chicago, IL. She moved to Wellington in 2019 and has since found such an amazing community within the Wellington Theatre scene. When she isn’t working on or backstage, she can be found working as a photographer, playing D&D and watching Dimension 20.
Previous credits include: Rent (Seasons of Love soloist, Kauri Theatre), Bright Star (U/S Alice Murphy, Wellington Footlights), Les Mis (Ensemble, Capital Theatre/G&T), and Guys and Dolls (Sarah Brown, Wellington Footlights). Emily is so excited for this opportunity to be back onstage alongside such amazing performers and hopes you enjoy the show!
Due to illness, Amelie will be rescheduled to a future concert
Production and Stage Manager: Millie Fuller
Front of House Manager: Bex Ward
Technical Lead: Tom Smith
Kauri Theatre President: Cheryl Moeau
Kauri Committee: Carl Johnstone, Bri Allen, Chloe Faulkner-Ball, Ethan Guest
With thanks to Steve Morrison for supplying the sound equipment.
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