Our Long and Colourful History
Established in 1903, Mosman Musical Society kicked off in grand style with a concert performance. This was quickly followed with the society’s first fully staged production of a musical show, The Mikado, in 1904. There was no looking back, apart from a brief cessation of activities due to World War II, when most of the society’s singers were absent in the services. Year after year, MMS staged productions (often three a year) and concerts, covering the whole repertoire from opera and oratorio to operetta and light musicals, with vocal and orchestral concerts thrown in for good measure. Some of these shows were so successful they transferred to city theatres for short runs, something inconceivable today. The roster of shows produced by MMS reads like a history of the musical in the 20th century.
Home grown talent
Home grown stars thrilled their audiences for decades. In his autobiography Chapters and Chances, Reg Livermore talks about his involvement with MMS as a boy, wondering why its stars such as Betty Cheal and Betty Parsons were not being seen in big professional theatres. They deserved to be. Tastes and styles have changed over the years, but we will always be proud of our rich history and conscious of our place in its tradition.
MMS turns 100
In the late 1990s MMS updated its constitution and incorporated, before proudly celebrating its 100th Birthday in 2003 with a Gala Dinner, a concert entitled 100 Years of Song and the critically acclaimed and record breaking Centenary Production of Guys And Dolls.
Together At Last – Mosman Music Club
Celebrating our 110th birthday in 2013, we teamed up with our musical neighbours at Mosman Music Club (MMC) for the first time. Since then we have built a creative collaboration with these talented musicians for concerts and Christmas celebrations.
MMS productions since 2000
2023 – The Pirates of Penzance + VIP-Studio 54 (cabaret) + Handel’s Messiah Choruses ( concert with MMC)
2022 – Thoroughly Modern Millie + Handel’s Messiah Choruses ( concert with MMC)
2021 – Handel’s Messiah Choruses ( concerts with MMC) March and December
2019 – Comedy Tonight ( concert with MMC) + A Night on Broadway + Christmas is Coming ( concert with MMC)
2018 – Fly Me To The Moon (cabaret) + Simply The Best (cabaret) + Handel’s Messiah Choruses ( concert with MMC)
2017 – Music For The Silver Screen (concert with MMC) + Urinetown + Handel’s Messiah choruses (concert with MMC)
2016 – Annie + Broadway Reversed (cabaret)
2015 – The Golden Age of Broadway (concert with MMC) + The Who’s Tommy + Baz & Bond (cabaret) + Handel’s Messiah highlights (concert with MMC)
2014 – Feelin’ Groovy (concert) + 10 (cabaret) + Pantomime: Cinderella
2013 – Together At Last! (concert with MMC) + Guys and Dolls + Messiah highlights (concert with MMC)
2012 – Xanadu + Blue Skies (concert)
2011 – HMS Pinafore
2010 – Bringing The House Down + Double Bill (concert and Trial By Jury)
2009 – My Favourite Things (concert) + Summer Loving (concert)
2008 – Autumn Leaves (concert) + Fiddler On The Roof
2007 – Altogether Now! (concert) + Bat Boy: The Musical + A Night On Broadway (original)
2006 – Jesus Christ Superstar
2005 – Bibs & Bobs (concert) + Sweet Charity
2004 – Cabaret
2003 – GALA CENTENARY CONCERT 100 Years of Song + Guys and Dolls
2002 – The Gondoliers
2001 – Be Entertained, Be Very Entertained (concert)
MMS productions 1980 – 2000
2000 – Little Shop Of Horrors
1999 – Concert (Mostly Mikado) + The Boy Friend
1998 – Anything Goes + The Mikado
1997 – The Pirates of Penzance + Concert
1996 – Some Enchanted Evening
1995 – How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying + Jerry’s Girls
1994 – Chicago + Red Hot and Cole
1993 – Pride & Prejudice
1991 – No No Nanette + You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown
1990 – A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum
1989 – Guys and Dolls
1988 – Revue – Watching All The Girls
1987 – The Boy Friend + Salad Days
1986 – Revue: Olde Time Music Hall + Revue: Here We Go Again
1985 – South Pacific + The Arcadians
1984 – The Pajama Game + Annie
1983 – The Yeomen of the Guard + Fiddler On The Roof
1982 – Brigadoon + La Belle Helene
1981 – The Belle of New York + HMS Pinafore
1980 – The Mikado (200th production) + Rio Rita