A search through the collections shared on Kōtuia provides some stepping stones from Broadway, Newmarket to Broadway Manhattan in a personal essay reflecting on performance dreams by National Services Te Paerangi intern, Zac Fitzgibbon.
Ever since I was a kid, I have loved shows. It has been a lifelong dream to perform on a stage in New York City.
Broadway, in Manhattan, New York City, is the cultural hub for theatre enthusiasts, particularly musicals. But Aotearoa New Zealand has its own Broadway too—in Newmarket, Auckland. This was a place I frequented as a kid as my father worked there.
Get your tickets ready for a journey from Broadway to Broadway through collection items on Kōtuia.
Broadway, Newmarket
The New Zealand Broadway is a street in Newmarket, Auckland where my dad worked. In this image, you can see the Rialto Cinema, and right across from it is where my father’s work would be many, many years after this image was taken.
Photo Frenzy
My family are big physical photo collectors, and I have memories of going around town with my Dada (Hindi for grandfather) to get photographs processed. This particular Kodak shop where this envelope was from wasn’t around when I was a kid, but there was certainly one down Broadway we would frequent!
Queen of the Night flower
This cacti is close in name to the Queen of the Night, a character from Mozart’s opera, The Magic Flute.
I was part of a cast set to perform this opera in Hawke’s Bay—not once, but twice, but both attempts were cancelled: first due to the looming pandemic, and then again because of the devastating Cyclone Gabrielle.
More than two years after the first cancellation we finally brought the music to life in a one-night-only performance of highlights from the opera, alongside the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.
This performance, like the rare and exquisite Queen for the Night flower, reminded our cast that some of the most beautiful things are worth waiting for, even if they’re fleeting.
Broadway, New York City
Pictured is the hub of musical theatre worldwide, ‘The Great White Way’—Broadway.
My mother passed away many years ago, but a strong memory of her was when she got to visit NYC, and I was overjoyed to see her again. When my mother was in New York she sent us postcards like this one. My grandparents gifted me the one they received, and it is one of my greatest treasures
I am so lucky to have already watched some shows on Broadway and hope sometime soon in the future I can return!
Feminism
This lithograph by the Guerrilla Girls, an anonymous group of female artists fighting sexism, presents a very good point. Most plays and musicals on Broadway are written by men. However, some of my favourite musicals of all time are written by women, including Six, Tina – The Tina Turner Musical, and Once on This Island. These great shows are worth highlighting. #femaleempowerment
Ariel Marionette
Although I’ve never been much of a Shakespeare fan, I’ve always had a fondness for The Tempest. This awesome marionette depicts the spirit Ariel from the play, a dream role of mine. I feel Ariel embodies both Broadways rather well— rich and raucous (in a good way).
A dream role in The Tempest, alongside a dream to perform on stage in NYC. As good place as any to end my Broadway to Broadway journey, for now.
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