History

The Blue Mountains Musical idea, initiated by two music loving ladies; Heather Gwilliam and Jenny Edmonds, who just happened to know a music loving bloke; Barrie McNicol, who just happened to know a ‘CRAZY’ but talented piano player Phyllis Huthnance, who all agreed a Musical Society would be just the place for stage folk and musos alike to get together and produce good music and lasting friendships.

A public meeting was called and with an enthusiastic group of 45 people the very first BMMS production of ‘Trial By Jury’ at Springwood Uniting Church was in full progress. For just $3 a ticket the audience packed into the church hall. So successful was the response that members decided to produce full stream and formed a committee. This all happened in 1981! Not that long ago really, when one considers how far BMMS has come since those early days.

The committee then staged ‘The Sorcerer’ at the bigger venue of Springwood High School Auditorium. Friends, Lovers, associates and relatives worked many fun filled hours behind the scenes building not only the sets required, but a tremendous goodwill, which greatly contributed getting the show on the road. With members joining the society by the dozens, it was evident that not only did we have the talent for operetta, but the company was versatile enough to produce musical comedy and so ‘Viva Mexico!’ proved to be another success and it goes on.

Since 1986, BMMS has been rehearsing and proudly presenting operetta, musical comedy, concerts and youth programs at the Springwood Civic Centre. In 2013, renovations began on the venue leaving the society without a home. That year BMMS brought ‘Sweeney Todd’ to the Joan Sutherland Centre in Penrith, in 2014 ‘Monty Python’s Spamalot’ was staged at Penrith Panthers, and ‘Cats’ at Penrith Anglican College. 2015 will see a return to Penrith Panthers with ‘The Who’s Tommy’, and a long awaited return to the Mountains with ‘Phantom of the Opera’ being performed at the newly named Blue Mountains Theatre and Community Hub.