John was not exactly a-lad-in 1980 when he joined the Company for his stage debut in “Aladdin”.
Since then he has performed in the chorus of most of the DMTC shows, has had a number of cameo parts therein, and has thoroughly enjoyed being part of, and feels privileged to have been in, so many musicals (and Music Halls!).
His favourite shows have been “My Fair Lady”, “Titanic” and “Fiddler on the Roof” – with “Scrooge” likely to be added to that list at the end of this week!
A Dream Come True
A long held ambition is about to be realised for one ex-Durham teacher, John Cuckson. John, a long time member of Durham Musical Theatre Company is about to achieve this unusual ambition, which is to sing the title song from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical “Oklahoma!” on stage at the GALA Theatre in June this year.
In 1972, early in his teaching career, John did an exchange from Neville’s Cross Junior School and went to work in America at a school in Sulphur, Oklahoma. At the end of his time there the State Governor made him an ‘Honorary Citizen of the State of Oklahoma’ and he was presented with the State Flag and other memorabilia. As a performer of musical theatre, it has been a long held wish of John’s to at least sing the title song from the show that bears the name of his second home, especially as this became the State’s anthem in 1953. This dream is finally going to be realised when DMTC stages its latest musical, “Some Enchanted Evenings”, telling the life story of the amazing Broadway composer Richard Rodgers at the GALA Theatre for 4 performances only: 20-22 June 2013.
John is proud that there will at least be one ‘authentic’ Oklahoman in the company to bring this rousing number to life! He is looking forward to it with great pride and enthusiasm!