ORCHESTRA

PHIL EDWARDS -- Musical supervisor

Edwards is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. He has performed with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and as a percussionist and keyboard player in many West End productions. Phil became Music Director of the U.K. national tour of Annie and subsequently fulfilled the same position in the West End production of Starlight Express whose tour of Japan and Australia he also supervised. He was the original Music Director of the West End production of Miss Saigon. He works regularly as a composer and manager for TV and radio in Great Britain. He has written and orchestrated several film scores including The Most Dangerous Moment and Cupid broadcast on R.T.E. and composed incidental music for the Las Vegas show E.F.X. He works as an arranger for several pop bands, notably Natural Born Hippies. He was Music Supervisor for the New Zealand production of Cats and the first German production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat. He was the supervisor of Starlight Express in London and Germany and the Hamburg production of Cats. Phil was Music Director and co -orchestrator of the original production of Saturday Night Fever at the London Palladium, which subsequently had a two year run on Broadway. He composed and produced music for the Closing Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games. A fascinating and enjoyable recent project was as Musical Director and vocal coach for Vinnie Jones on his debut album Respect. Phil is Musical Supervisor and co-orchestrator of Sleeping Beauty, a new musical which was in workshop in 2005 and due to open in the West End in 2007. He has recently conducted the London Symphony Orchestra and is currently Musical Supervisor of the U.S. National Tours of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat and Jesus Christ Superstar, the German production of Saturday Night Fever and the UK National Tour of Starlight Express.

MICHAEL MITCHELL (Musical Director/Conductor),

Mitchell is a musician/ songwriter from St. Louis, has an eclectic style of playing pulling from his classical training, gospel roots, love of jazz, and gift of God. This style has been enriched by his desire to learn, teach and travel. Michael obtained his Bachelors of Arts Degree in Music Business from DePauw University. He has performed extensively throughout North
America, Europe, and Japan. His off-broadway credits include Crowns and he was the Assistant Musical Director for Pure Gospel Valentine.
His regional credits include: assistant music director for Oklahoma, Little Shop of Horrors, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Bye Bye Birdie. Currently he is the Music Director of the National Tour of Jesus Christ Superstar starring Ted Neely from Jesus Christ Superstar the motion picture and Corey Glover from the 2-time Grammy winning group Living Colour. Michael would like to thank his wife, Arlene, family and friends for their continued support and prayers.