The following is the second and final part of a feature on musical director Douglas Bennett. Part one was carried last week.

Michael Reckord, Gleaner Writer

The final curtain threatened to fall on the Jamaica Musical Theatre Company (JMTC) in 1981. Hundreds of children and thousands of adults are now happy that it did not.

Thanks must go to Douglas Bennett, the man who has been chairman of the company from then until now. He related the story to The Sunday Gleaner recently.

"In 1981, the company was supposedly celebrating 21 years of activity, but at the annual general meeting that year, members were asked to support a resolution disbanding the organisation due to financial constraints in a depressed economy.

"I countered the suggestion and made the point that instead of a death sentence, the company should be given a vote of confidence and I was appointed chairman. I have retained this position, which precludes financial reward, for over 27 years."

The Sunday Gleaner asked: "At that AGM, what made you disagree with those who wanted to disband the company? What did you see that the others did not see?"

Bennett explained that he was "startled and disappointed" at the proposal to disband. He continued, "There was a company with a proud record already established, with 34 good-quality productions in 21 years. Financial difficulties had prevented its mounting a show in 1980 or 1981, but was the company to be wiped off the map because few members had the determination to work and overcome the money problems? Abandon the old and let us rise again like a phoenix from the ashes as the proposers suggested. Well, no way!"

Happily, after Bennett was elected chairman, members started returning. Two years later, in 1983, he founded the Jamaica Junior Theatre (JJT), the JMTC's affiliate for children and teens.

Its 2009 show, Beauty and the Beast, whose run recently ended at the Philip Sherlock Centre for the Creative Arts, was its 26th full musical. Some 500 children and teens have performed in them and one talented teen, Jhanelle Graham, won the Actor Boy Award for Best Actress for her title role in Sarafina. That award was one of 22 earned by the JJT.

Outstanding performers

Since his founding of the JJT, Bennett has produced every one of their shows and concerts and has been musical director of all their shows since June 1991. Working those posts has given him tremendous satisfaction, generally, and specifically, the success of the JJT's 1999 production, The Lion King.

"It was really quite an incredible show," he recalls, "with a cast containing unusually fine talent."

Many young performers have, over the years, made him proud, he said, naming the following (in no particular order) as being the more outstanding:

Danah Lawson, who played many lead roles in JJT shows in the 1990s and who was an outstanding dancer and had a beautiful and enormously expressive soprano. Her performance as Cinderella in 1993 was particularly outstanding.

Robyn Kerr, who excelled in acting and dancing and had a fine soprano voice. As a young teenager, she gave a superb performance as Eliza Doolittle in the JMTC's My Fair Lady in 1993.

Rory Baugh, who played a number of outstanding roles, with his most memorable role perhaps being that of 'Timon' in The Lion King. He is developing his exceptional tenor voice and is in much demand on the concert stage.

Ana Strachan, who entranced audiences with her magnificent soprano voice as Princess Dunyazade in Scheherazade's Tale in 2003. Later she gave two successful song recitals and was a phenomenal success in Hollywood where she was proclaimed Grand Champion of the World in Performing Arts, along with her younger sister, Samantha. Ana, who excels in opera, is getting further voice tuition in New York.

Jhanelle Graham, who is one of the finest singing actresses produced by the JJT, shone as 'Zazu' in The Lion King, then won the Best Actress in a Major Role award in Sarafina. She has embarked upon a medical career and after gaining her first degree was appointed a two-year research fellow in Maryland. She has had two of her research papers published.

Daenya McDonald, who won a Miss Teen Jamaica title, showed excellence as an actress, singer and dancer. Her most memorable roles were as the narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and as 'Christine' in The Phantom of the Opera. She is currently abroad pursuing an acting career.

Julius Brown, who was one of JJT's outstanding tenor voices, gave a remarkable performance as the 'Phantom'. He left Jamaica to study at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Canada and has become involved with the Disney organisation.

Keisha Patterson, who took part in many JJT musicals, especially thrilled audiences as 'Rafiki' in The Lion King. Now a professional singer, she has produced a CD and appears regularly in various shows.

Bennett elaborated on ways in which performing with the JJT had helped to develop the young performers.

"The youngsters," he said, "are exposed to various theatrical disciplines and many receive tuition in singing, acting and dancing. A theatre show becomes a wonderful episode in their lives and the friendships they forge can last a lifetime.

"Performing before many audiences helps their confidence and self-assurance to soar. They realise that they are helping to raise funds for deserving charities, and in all of this, they have abundant fun!"

He concluded, "That's why so many return year after year."