Bangaloreans are in for a rocking musical adventure with their very own home grown boy Kevin Oliver back in the City to stage an abridged version of Rock U — a musical based on the songs by Queen.
“I studied in St Germain’s and St Joseph's. Although I started off in advertising, teaching music is really what drives and motivates me. My first job as a music teacher was with the Frank Anthony Public School,” he says.
“I am now the Group Cultural Coordinator for GEMS (Global Education Management Systems) which run 25 schools in the UAE doing what I do best — producing and directing more musicals among other things,” he adds.
Kevin’s theatrical background includes well-known productions like Cats, Starlight Express,
Shakuntala, Saturday Night Fever among several others, both in Bangalore and Dubai.
He even worked with the cast of The Lion King in Toronto, Canada.
About his current production Rock U he says, “I grew up listening to the group called Bread and especially loved Simon and Garfunkle.
I did not go to bed in the early days without listening to the Beatles.”
“Since my mom was a music teacher I started playing the piano at four years of age. I never really got into the music of Queen till I decided to direct an abridged version of the musical We will rock U,” he adds.
“This version runs for 1hour 15 minutes without an interval with a cast of 37,” he explains adding, “once I decided to direct this production I had to immerse myself in the music and discovered how brilliant Freddy Mercury was.”
“Working on songs like Radio Ga Ga, Somebody to Love, Bohemian Rhapsody, Another One Bites the Dust, We Are The Champions,
and the title We Will Rock U was truly a huge challenge,” he explains.
He further adds, “And I would spend three hours in a day just working out the complex music and harmony.”
A foodie, who has a special fondness for dosas and bisi bele bath, he also loves Kowsway, a family favourite from Burma where his mom was originally from.
Choreographing fashion and styling shoots is another passion as is playing the piano at least once a day.
As for his future plans, “I would love to see my original rock musical ‘Shakuntala’ being produced in India and then hopefully go on to make a movie based on it,” he smiles and signs off.
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