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Michael Hurst Now.com


This website was created to showcase the post-Hercules career of New Zealand actor and director, Michael Hurst. It is not an official site, but we will keep it current with news of Michael's professional activities, as well as an archive of his recent projects. 
We will also include information on the professional activities of Michael's wife, Jennifer Ward-Lealand.

Links to official sites:  Michael's curriculum vitae on his official website: michaelhurst.co.nz; his listing on IMDB


Check out the articles on this page for the latest news, or click on the links below to explore Michael's career:

 Recent Projects Future Projects & Appearances Jennifer Ward-Lealand



Michael on the set of Hansel and Gretel

 


CURRENT PROJECTS
click a title below for info on that project)

ACTORS EQUITY ON YOUTUBE
BITCH SLAP
HANSEL AND GRETEL
"HURST SO GOOD" (NZ Herald)

THREEPENNY OPERA--PHOTOS
WAIHEKE ART GALLERY CABARET

ON TV AND DVD

HERE TO STAY
MADDIGAN'S QUEST
MURDER ON THE BLADE?

THE TATTOOIST
TREASURE ISLAND KIDS
WE'RE HERE TO HELP


WHAT'S NEW ON THE SITE
(click links below to access respective pages)

8 July  Added Michael's Hansel and Gretel interview on The Big Idea to homepage

7 July  Added Listener and NBR reviews of Hansel and Gretel to homepage

4 July  Created Threepenny Opera Photo Gallery page; added Metro review of Hansel and Gretel to homepage

3 July  Added booking information for Waiheke Art Gallery benefit to homepage

1 July  Added reviews of Hansel and Gretel to homepage from NZ Herald and theatreview; added The Map Reader at Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival to Future Projects

30 June  Added NZ Herald article to homepage

24 June  Added Waiheke Art Gallery cabaret to homepage and Future Projects

23 June  Added Michael's bFM interview about Hansel and Gretel to homepage

20 June  Added infonews.co.nz preview article on Hansel and Gretel to homepage

18 June  Added Hansel and Gretel photos and preview articles from The Bay Chronicle and NZ Herald to homepage; created The Threepenny Opera page

17 June  Added Michael on Concert FM to homepage

13 June  Added Maddigan's Quest being shown in NZ to homepage

12 June  Added UK dvd release info for The Tattooist to homepage and The Tattooist page

11 June  Added link to Equity's new website to homepage

10 June  Added links to pictures and an interview about Bitch Slap

7 June  Created We're Here to Help page with screen captures, reviews, etc.

28 April  Added link to Voopa the Goolash press release to Future Projects

26 April  Added The Tattooist in China to homepage and The Tattooist page

18 April  Created Grand Slam Summit page

15 April  Added Hansel and Gretel to homepage; added The Tattooist US release date to homepage and The Tattooist page

14 April  Added Wizard's First Rule to Future Projects

10 April  Added link to Bitch Slap official site on homepage

5 April  Added Bitch Slap synopsis excerpts to homepage

31 March  Added Bitch Slap to homepage

30 March  Added a link to the promo video for Voopa the Goolash to Future Projects; added Bitch Slap to Future Projects

8 March  Added Tattooist region 1 dvd release date to homepage

7 March  Created The Tattooist page

3 March  Added more pictures to The Mystery of Irma Vep page

2 March  Added Treasure Island Kids US dvd release to homepage; created The Mystery of Irma Vep page

15 December  Added Blackbird to Future Projects

13 November  Added Murder on the Blade? dvd info to homepage; created Murder on the Blade? page

30 September  Created The Pillowman page

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE, DETAILED SITE HISTORY



"MICHAEL HURST'S HI-ENERGY PRODUCTION OF HUMPERDINCK'S HANSEL AND GRETEL . . . IS READY TO TAKE ON THE COUNTRY" (Wm. Dart, NZ Herald)

New Zealand Herald:  "Hurst injects a touch of grand guignol panto into this classic fairytale opera and his cast of five play it to the hilt.  . . . As a lively, provocative night at the theatre, Hansel and Gretel is a winner."

National Business Review:  "Director Michael Hurst has given the opera a freshness and unity, balancing the fairy tale, the cautionary tale and the sinister with a careful hand and an understanding of the links between the dramatic and musical elements of the work."

Listener:  "The fact that this is a touring production has limited nothing.  In fact, it has spurred Hurst and Verryt to feats of imaginative storytelling and interpretation.  . . . The performance in Kerikeri was sold out, so grab your tickets in a town near you while you still can."

theatreview.co.nz:  "Director Michael Hurst acquits himself very well with this, his first opera.  He works with the grain of the music to present a clear telling of the story with occasional peeks at the dark side of the Grimms tale."

Metro:  "It’s director Michael Hurst’s first opera, and under his guidance, the production is energetic and fast-paced."

Michael directed the Englebert Humperdinck opera Hansel and Gretel for NBR New Zealand Opera.  It is touring throughout New Zealand (Kerikeri, North Shore, Manukau, Wanganui, Wellington, Blenheim, Christchurch, Timaru, Invercargill, Wanaka, Greymouth, Hastings, New Plymouth, Rotorua, Tauranga) from 29 June-13 August 2008.  Click here for more information and to book.

From the press release:  "Michael Hurst is no stranger to New Zealand audiences. He has brought intelligence, energy and charisma to classical theatre, fringe theatre, musicals and cabaret, movies and television dramas for decades.  Now, for the first time, he is directing opera – The NBR New Zealand Opera’s 15 centre nationwide tour of Engelbert Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel."

The Bay Chronicle:  "'We are having a lot of fun.  It has been very rewarding for me and I would be keen to do more opera, depending on what it is.  This one suits me.'  His level of energy and commitment to the art of performance is what is expected to make this production something special and Kerikeri is the first town to see it."

New Zealand Herald:  "Hurst is directing Hansel and Gretel straight on the back of his production of Threepenny Opera at the Maidment.  'I thought this would be easier, less people,' he says.  'True - less people, but this sea of music.  I am a bit stressed.  I am blinking a bit slower than I would normally do,' he adds with a laugh."

 

(photos: Adrian Malloch for NZ Opera)

infonews.co.nz:  "Medlyn says she is loving Hurst's take on the opera and she thinks audiences will too.  'Aficionados will be interested in seeing a man who is a classical actor and greatly renowned for his Shakespearian work and you'll see elements of that in the opera.'"

Michael talked about directing Hansel and Gretel on Upbeat on Concert FM; listen to it here.  He also talked about it on bFM on 23 June; listen to it here.

Michael answered readers' questions on The Big Idea website.  He talked about the opera, the difference between acting and directing, what he likes about his job, what he would be doing if he weren't acting and directing, etc.  Read it here.

Click here for more information and to book.


MICHAEL AND JENNIFER TO PERFORM CABARET TO BENEFIT WAIHEKE ART GALLERY

Michael and Jennifer will perform a cabaret, "A Night in Berlin" to benefit the Waiheke Art Gallery on Friday, 25 July 2008 at 6:30 p.m. at Morra Hall in Oneroa.  The evening will celebrate the Gallery's 2008 Artist in Residence programme.

Tickets are $140 each and include wine by Man o' War Vineyards and a three course themed dinner by the Great Catering Company.  Tickets can be booked by calling the Gallery at 372-9907.


MICHAEL IN THE SUNDAY HERALD

Michael was the subject of the article "Hurst So Good" in the 29 June 2008 Sunday Herald:  "While he loves all genres, he keeps coming back to theatre.  'You get to see the audience going 'Ooo, aah, gasp, shock, chuckle, recognition' right in front of you'."  Read the whole article here.


MICHAEL AND JENNIFER ON YOUTUBE VIDEO FOR ACTORS EQUITY

Michael and Jennifer are among several New Zealand actors promoting New Zealand Actors Equity in a short video on YouTube.  Jennifer is President of the union.  See the video here; see New Zealand Equity's new website here.


MICHAEL TO STAR IN BITCH SLAP
CAST INCLUDES OTHER HERCULES/XENA ALUMS

Michael is starring in the American feature film Bitch Slap playing Gage, a notorious underworld kingpin.  The film will also feature Michael's Hercules co-star Kevin Sorbo as Mr. Phoenix (the most secretive covert agent the world has ever known), with cameos by Xena co-stars Lucy Lawless as Mother Superior and Renee O'Connor as Sister Batrill.

It's described as an exploitation film--with a healthy dose of comedy; a "thinking man’s throwback to the “B” Movie/ Exploitation films of the 1950’s-70’s as well as a loving, sly parody of the same.  . . . Bitch Slap will mix girls, guns, outrageous action and jaw-dropping visuals with a message… don’t be naughty!  . . . What makes Bitch Slap different is a complicated 'B' story device that runs throughout the film to illuminate character, backstory and relationship histories not previously revealed. . . . Bitch Slap also employs a mysterious Female Narrator who comments periodically on the folly of humanity, the plight of the human condition and the vagaries of life and love through quoting the likes of Dostoevsky, T.S. Eliot, Sun Tzu and even Buddha.  (Bet you never heard THAT in Jailbait Babysitter!)"  Read the full synopsis here.

The cast also includes Julia Voth, Erin Cummings, America Olivo, Ron Melendez, William Gregory Lee, and Minae Noji.

Stunts are being coordinated and performed by Xena stunt double Zoe Bell, and the film is written and produced by Eric Gruendemann and Rick Jacobson; Jacobson is also directing.  Gruendemann was Co-Executive Producer of Hercules, Xena, Young Hercules, Jack of All Trades, and Cleopatra 2525, and Jacobson directed two episodes of Hercules and twelve of Xena.  Anticipated release date:  late 2008/early 2009. 

See the official site (updated 10 May 2008); see images from Bitch Slap here.  Read an interview with Rick Jacobson on Zoe Bell Fans on LiveJournal.



ON TV AND DVD


MADDIGAN'S QUEST BEING RE-SHOWN ON TV3

Family tv show Maddigan's Quest is now being shown on TV3 in New Zealand on Saturday mornings at 11 a.m.  Michael plays the cyborg Maska.  See our Maddigan's Quest page.


THE TATTOOIST RELEASED ON DVD IN THE U.S. 24 JUNE 2008; IN THE U.K. 29 SEPTEMBER 2008

The Tattooist was released in the US on region 1 DVD on 24 June 2008 and will be released in the UK on region 2 DVD on 29 September.  It is already available on region 4 DVD in New Zealand and Australia.

Michael plays Crash in the New Zealand film The Tattooist from Eyeworks Touchdown Productions, MediaCorp Raintree Productions, and The New Zealand Film Commission. 

Click here to go to our Tattooist page for review, pictures, etc.

In June 2008, The Tattooist will be one of five films to be shown at New Zealand's first solo film festival to be held in China.  See the New Zealand Herald for more information.



Michael with Rodney Hide
 


WE'RE HERE TO HELP
NOW AVAILABLE ON REGION 4 DVD IN NEW ZEALAND

Michael plays the major support role of Rodney Hide in the New Zealand film We're Here to Help directed by Jonathan Cullinane and produced by South Pacific Pictures.

See our We're Here to Help page for more information, pictures, reviews. etc.

 


MURDER ON THE BLADE? NOW AVAILABLE ON DVD

Michael played a defence lawyer in the 2003 tv documentary Murder on the Blade?, written, directed, and produced by Keith Hunter, which received a New Zealand Screen Award for Best Documentary 2003/04.  It is now available on dvd from Hunter Productions.

See our Murder on the Blade? page for additional information and images. 


TREASURE ISLAND KIDS II NOW AVAILABLE IN THE US



Michael as the ferry captain in Treasure Island Kids: The Monster of Treasure Island


Michael directed the second and third films in the Treasure Island Kids series, The Monster of Treasure Island (in which he also briefly appears) and The Mystery of Treasure Island.

The Monster of Treasure Island is now available Region I dvd (US and Canada).

The films are also available on dvd in Australia and several European countries.

See our Treasure Island Kids page.


HERE TO STAY NOW AVAILABLE ON DVD

Documentary tv series Here to Stay is now available in New Zealand on region 4 dvd's.  This six-episode series features a different Kiwi celebrity as presenter and star of each episode as it explores the contributions to NZ life of various ethnic groups that settled there.  The presenters introduce segments, interview people, participate in activities indicative of their group, etc.  Michael's episode is about the English; others in this first season include the Irish, Scotch, Chinese, Germans, and Croations.  The series has good pacing and high production values, making it fun to watch as well as informative.

Michael in Here to Stay

See our Here to Stay page for images from Michael's episode.


 

 

 Recent Projects Future Projects & Appearances Jennifer Ward-Lealand
 
Note: We try to ensure that everything here is correct, but mistakes do happen,
and things can change, so please contact the venues directly for verification.

This site is non-commercial and no money is being made from it. No copyright infringement
is intended. All copyrighted materials remain the property of the original copyright holder.
We believe that everything on this web site falls within the legal description of "fair use".
The site has no formal affiliation with Michael Hurst.

For site update history, click here (latest update 18 July 2008).

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