<p>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.<br /><br />“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. <br />“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.<br />Kevin’s theatrical background includes well-known productions like Cats, Starlight Express, <br />Shakuntala, Saturday Night Fever among several others, both in Bangalore and Dubai. <br /><br />He even worked with the cast of The Lion King in Toronto, Canada.<br />About his current production Rock U he says, “I grew up listening to the group called Bread and especially loved Simon and Garfunkle. <br />I did not go to bed in the early days without listening to the Beatles.” <br />“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.<br /><br />“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.” <br />“Working on songs like Radio Ga Ga, Somebody to Love, Bohemian Rhapsody, Another One Bites the Dust, We Are The Champions, <br />and the title We Will Rock U was truly a huge challenge,” he explains.<br />He further adds, “And I would spend three hours in a day just working out the complex music and harmony.”<br /><br />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. <br />Choreographing fashion and styling shoots is another passion as is playing the piano at least once a day. <br /><br />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.<br /></p>
<p>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.<br /><br />“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. <br />“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.<br />Kevin’s theatrical background includes well-known productions like Cats, Starlight Express, <br />Shakuntala, Saturday Night Fever among several others, both in Bangalore and Dubai. <br /><br />He even worked with the cast of The Lion King in Toronto, Canada.<br />About his current production Rock U he says, “I grew up listening to the group called Bread and especially loved Simon and Garfunkle. <br />I did not go to bed in the early days without listening to the Beatles.” <br />“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.<br /><br />“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.” <br />“Working on songs like Radio Ga Ga, Somebody to Love, Bohemian Rhapsody, Another One Bites the Dust, We Are The Champions, <br />and the title We Will Rock U was truly a huge challenge,” he explains.<br />He further adds, “And I would spend three hours in a day just working out the complex music and harmony.”<br /><br />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. <br />Choreographing fashion and styling shoots is another passion as is playing the piano at least once a day. <br /><br />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.<br /></p>
