Vale Alan Mundy
A Tribute to Alan Mundy
The recent passing of Alan Mundy marks the end of a magnificent era for Miranda Musical Society. Alan, together with Laurel Gee, George Rixon and Shirley Oberg were instrumental in the establishment of Miranda Musical Society in October 1967. Alan directed our first production The Desert Song in March 1968, and directed 72 shows from 1967 until our June 2009 production of More Showstoppers. Over the years, Alan directed such iconic shows as Hello, Dolly!, Oliver!, My Fair Lady, South Pacific, The Music Man and Mame. When asked to name his favourite musical productions, he listed shows which, whilst not necessarily the most commercially viable, were personal achievements for him as a director - Little Me (Australian Premiere), Sugar (Australian Premiere), Pippin, Seesaw, Follies and of course Les Miserables (NSW Amateur Premiere) (3 times). A full list of Alan’s shows is below. Alan’s influence and guidance has had a positive impact on thousands of people over his time in community theatre, with the very real fact that Miranda Musical Society would not exist today if not, in part, for Alan. He was the creative genius responsible for the direction of almost all productions in the first 40 years of the Society’s existence and created a high standard that has been maintained. When not in charge of productions, Alan continued his participation as Front of House Manager, as our Treasurer and even onstage. |
He was an outstanding singer and actor, receiving Best Actor Awards in the Sydney Drama Festivals for his leading roles in Breaking Point and Shakespeare’s Richard II at the Guild Theatre, Rockdale. He was one of the 100 Faces of the Shire in 2006 and was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award in the Spotlight Awards in 2011. He was elected a Life Member of Rockdale Musical Society, and an Honorary Life Member of the Miranda Musical Society in 1976, a significant accomplishment to be made a Life Member of 2 community groups!
As well as his multitude of theatre activities he also held down a high pressure job at Citibank while raising a family of three children (Craig, Grant and Lisa) with his beloved wife Marjory. The entire Mundy family was involved in Miranda Musical Society at some stage over many years, but he always considered that his 50+ year marriage to Marjorie, and his family, as his “most successful productions”. A great and beloved man of this Society, his presence at our shows will be sorely missed. Miranda Musical Society and its members extend their deepest condolences to the Mundy family and friends. The service for Alan was held at 10am, Tuesday 22/10/2019 at the South Chapel, Woronora Memorial Gardens, Linden St, Sutherland. |
Alan directed the following shows for Miranda Musical Society
March 1968 Desert Song
September 1968 The Pajama Game March 1969 Kiss Me Kate September 1969 The Music Man March 1970 South Pacific September 1970 The King and I March 1971 Bye Bye Birdie October 1971 Kismet March 1972 Calamity Jane September 1972 Can Can March 1973 The Bells are Ringing September 1973 Hello, Dolly! September 1974 Finian’s Rainbow March 1975 Oklahoma! September 1975 Mame March 1976 My Fair Lady September 1976 Show Boat March 1977 Damn Yankees September 1977 Paint Your Wagon March 1978 Little Me (Australian Premiere) October 1978 Brigadoon March 1979 The Pajama Game September 1979 Sugar (Australian Premiere) March 1980 Annie Get Your Gun September 1980 Oliver! March 1981 Guys and Dolls September 1981 Fiddler on the Roof March 1982 Kiss Me Kate September 1982 Pippin March 1983 Gigi September 1983 Sweet Charity September 1984 South Pacific March 1985 Annie March 1986 Li’l Abner October 1986 The King and I April 1987 Barnum October 1987 Seesaw |
March 1988 Man of La Mancha
Sept/Oct 1988 Camelot April 1989 Godspell August 1989 Damn Yankees September 1990 Oliver! March 1991 Pippin September 1991 Mame March 1992 Anything Goes September 1992 Irene March 1993 Applause September 1993 Les Miserables (NSW Amateur Premiere) March 1994 Les Miserables (Return Season) September 1994 Follies March 1995 Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales September 1995 Meet Me in St Louis March 1996 42nd Street (Australian Amateur Premiere) September 1996 Jesus Christ Superstar March 1997 Funny Girl September 1997 How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying April 1998 Annie September 1998 Me and My Girl (Played the role of Sir John Tremayne) March 1999 Sweeney Todd September 1999 Guys and Dolls March 2000 The Pirates of Penzance September 2000 Oklahoma! March 2001 Les Miserables June 2002 Nunsense March 2003 Hello, Dolly! March 2004 42nd Street June 2004 Nunsense II March 2005 A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum June 2006 High Society March 2007 Jekyll & Hyde June 2007 Showstoppers…Celebrating 40 Fabulous Years of MMS September 2007 Thoroughly Modern Millie (NSW Premiere – All Inclusive) June 2009 More Showstoppers |