Marty Newell - Marty’s the man

When Marty Newell arrived in Queenstown in late 1994, his weekly rent was just $75 a week and his Pizza Hut wages not much better. He shared a chilly flat beneath a Frankton Road house with older brother Damian Newell, a well-known local radio DJ, working at Pizza Hut by day and partying at night.

“I worked split shifts and I’d head home for a nap during the day as bed was the only warm place in our house during winter, then head out at night and do it all again,” he says.

A stick was used to break the ice in the toilet bowl, and the windows were iced over.

A seasoned young musical performer in his hometown of Invercargill where Mum and Dad had both been very involved in musicals, Marty heard the Queenstown Musical Society was auditioning for its 1995 season of Grease.

“I auditioned and got the part of T-Bird, Sonny LaTierre. I never looked back,” he says. “I’d found my people.”

Thirty years on Marty is one of Queenstown’s most renowned performers, and more recently directors, with a wad of regional awards under his belt, not to mention the many inhouse Showbiz awards. Just a few weeks ago he was named ‘best director’ in the Otago Southland Theatre Awards (OSTAS) for Showbiz Queenstown’s adaptation of Into The Woods, which also picked up the major award for ‘best overall musical’, among an impressive haul of six awards this year, and many nominations. “We don’t do it for the awards, but this was all mind blowing. I’m very humbled.”

If there’s been a show going locally these past 30 years then Marty’s probably been involved, whether it be for Showbiz, Remarkable Theatre, formerly Queenstown Shakespeare, or Margaret O’Hanlon’s Whirlwind Productions.

Marty’s also loved working on the Christmas Show for years and helping foster musical talent in local kids.

He’s played star roles in everything from Les Mis – his favourite, and Blue Sky Boys to Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar during which unfortunately Marty couldn’t quite match the power. “I’m the only Jesus I know who performed him nine times and only died eight,” he grins. “That night during the dramatic temple scene Jesus came in screaming, ‘My temple!’ at which point the power went off,” Marty says. “As a good cast we carried on singing and all the instruments had died. All I could hear was Peter Doyle still banging on the drums, then Cheryl Collie waved us all off stage and had to send the audience home. Lightning had struck something at that very moment,” he says. “Ironically, the show was being sponsored by Central Electric.”

Marty’s wooed audience votes as Prince performing ‘Purple Rain’, Barry Gibb ‘Stayin’ Alive’ and Roy Orbison ‘Crying’, placing second three times in the popular local Starry Eyed show.

Songstars, another local competition, was a lot harder. “In other roles I always thought people were judging my character not me, but in this I was performing as me. Playing a character is easier than playing yourself,” he says.

“We’ve always had an amazing theatre community here, always punched way above our weight in what we do and we’re very open, and closeknit,” Marty says. “I was lucky that I found my musical theatre people here straight away.”

He didn’t even start singing until at Invercargill’s Verdon College, but their family home was filled with music, despite his dad – a well-known band member, passing at a young age.

“I was a bit of a rebel at school, wearing two earrings instead of one and believing if girls could dye their hair I could too.”

Marty starred in Verdon musicals and performed in the Panache Choir in the Sydney Opera House, as well as playing for the First 11 Football Team – a Southland U18 Football rep, and captaining the Second 11 Cricket Team.

A year at uni studying commerce and tourism wasn’t his thing, but after a short stint at Pizza Hut, Marty worked at Alpine Village, then as assistant restaurant manager at Sherwood Manor before scoring his dream job at Play It Again music store. He then worked for 10 years at Fiordland Travel (Real Journeys), eventually managing the Visitor Centre, before heading to Mediaworks 18 years ago, where he’s an account manager.

Marty’s performed on stage in 43 shows, nine off stage, either directing as stage manager, set designer or other roles, and he’s designed 13 sets.

He’s worked under numerous professional out of town directors, who he says have all had a real impact on him. “I’m constantly honing in on all I can learn. All the directors here have had amazing knowledge that they’re willing to share and I’ve just soaked that up.”

Showbiz celebrated 50 years recently and Marty’s served on the committee and as president for numerous terms, also a Life Member for some time.
Marty’s taken a few years out from Showbiz to recharge, but last week he performed an Oasis gig in Arrowtown, telling the story of his life. Tickets sold out long before, which says a lot for the man, and he’s now hoping to do a second show in August due to popular demand.

“I’ve had an amazing group of people to work with and I’m very honoured for the opportunities they’ve given me.”