"The Scenic Route provides
real opportunities for production and their commitment to the future of the
art form is admirable."
Tom Atkins, www.chrisgrady.org
The Scenic Route was established in early 2008 as a new writing company committed to providing a platform for contemporary musical theatre writers to have their work seen and developed. We aim to explore material that is brave, engaging and takes a fresh approach to the boundaries of its genre, and to introduce the telling of stories through music and song to children and young people.
We are as excited about the creative process that contributes to the emergence of a new musical as we are about the final product, which is why we offer creative development opportunities to new writers in addition to developing and staging full scale productions.
Our acclaimed Sneak Preview cabarets provide a regular opportunity for writers to showcase new work, receive feedback and meet future collaborators and industry professionals. To compliment the cabarets, 2010 will see the launch of a calendar of events, masterclasses and workshops for musical theatre creatives to develop new work and new skills.
Education and children's theatre are equally at the heart of our work, providing opportunities for children and young people to discover the magic and excitement of musical theatre both as audience and creator. The next few years will bring the development of further school tours and workshops, a growing youth theatre, touring productions and 'D.I.Y' musicals for schools to produce themselves.
We look forward to working with a range of new writing to create these experiences.
Please do not hesitate to get in touch to find out more.
The Scenic Route are:
Tammy Mendelson - Artistic Director
Tammy originally started her career as an actress growing up in the National Youth Theatre, and training at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, then later at The Lee Strasberg Institute in New York. As a performer her work has consisted of an exciting blend of theatre, film and television roles, working for the BBC, National Theatre, and at the Hackney Empire amongst others.
Tammy moved into directing in 2005 with Andersen's Women, a one-woman show she co-directed whilst living in New York, and made her directorial debut for The Scenic Route in 2008 with The Big Ending for which she won the LOST Theatre's award for Best Direction.
Tammy has also been a core tutor on the Foundation Course in Acting at Arts Educational Schools, London and coaches actors privately.
For The Scenic Route ,Tammy, as its founder, has produced and directed The Big Ending, You Beautiful Ewe, and several cabarets and is looking forward to heading up the new education department and programming more full scale productions. She is a production associate of Mercury Musical Developments and a member of the Young Vic Genesis Directors Project.
Tammy has a passion for children's theatre and has directed and created numerous productions starring children for a number of London's leading drama providers, for whom she continues to direct and lead workshops. In addition she writes theatre and nonsense literature for children and is represented by David Higham Associates for her literary work.
Holly Reiss - Associate Producer
Holly's producing credits include Oklahoma! and Jesus Christ Superstar (Leeds Stage Musicals Society), The Romeo and Juliet Syndrome (Underbelly, Edinburgh Fringe), Assistant Producer for the premiere of Joshua Sobol's I Witness (The Finborough), Associate Producer for You Beautiful Ewe (Roundhouse Studio), Eyebrow's production of Crazy for You (London Palladium), and most recently, producer for Pages:Promised Land and Once Upon a Time at the Adelphi (Union Theatre).
She has also worked for Signature Theatre Company in New York on the August Wilson and Chuck Mee seasons. Holly is one of the Creative Producers of MokitaGrit Productions. She is also currently an Apprentice Producer at The Ambassador Theatre Group and has worked on The Misanthrope (Comedy Theatre, West End), Rocky Horror Show (UK Tour) and Spamalot (UK Tour). Last year Holly was awarded a placement under the Stage One/ SOLT New Producers Bursary Scheme.
Nick Pegden - Resident Musical Director
Nick began his career as a performer after having gained a BA hons in Music at Chichester University and completing his training at the London School of Musical Theatre. Whilst still actively performing Nick never lost touch with his musical roots and has taken on several MD roles. These include Music 2000 Chichester, Openwide International, Mind the Gap, and Arts Educational Schools along with The Big Ending and You Beautiful Ewe for The Scenic Route.
He has extensive experience developing musicals with children and young people, with whom he also teaches singing. In addition he is the head of music at Parochial and Christchurch Primary Schools in Hampstead and leads their choirs and coordinates events, most recently at The Royal Albert Hall.
Nick also composes. His main love. His family musical You Beautiful Ewe received great acclaim at a recent run at 'The Roundhouse'. He has since composed for The London Shakespeare Workout's TWA Awards with one of his songs selected to be performed again at the Cochrane Theatre having won the 'Best Performance' category.
Nick is a member of MMD and was chosen to take part in composition development workshops lead by Chris Grady, Stiles and Drewe and Jeremy Sams amongst others.
Haf Jones - Production Assistant
Haf graduated from The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) and has since performed in numerous productions.
Having specialised in recent years in children's theatre, Haf has enjoyed bringing to life several characters including a Tooth Troll called Baktus and Welsh singing sheep, Gwyneth. She has a wealth of experience in puppetry and skin work as well as working as a drama teacher and workshop facilitator. She is also a very strong musical theatre performer, and has a passion for Shakespeare recently appearing as Katherine for Paul Gladwin's Principal Theatre Company.
Haf came to The Scenic Route as one of the original sheep in You Beautiful Ewe and made herself so invaluable she never left!
The Scenic Route are happy to support