History
This ensures there will be representatives elected on the trust by those who have a long standing affiliation with MTNZ at all times. If the trustees elect to appoint interest to loans the Early Contributors as at 2023 ( or whenever the trust is first established) will be exempt from this interest allocation for the 9 years following.
Key People
Cheryl Simpson
Cheryl is a solicitor who became involved in this trust as a rescue mission after seeing a draft deed circulated for adoption which was not based on charitable trust law (delegation of powers contrary to charitable trust law) and which had a huge number of potential issues that needed a lot of consultation and drafting to correct. She is someone who does not shy away from challenging conversations, getting involved in situations where people need help but cannot pay for the services. She has a long history of pro bono work, setting up numerous charitable trusts, helping get the Guardians of Our Children charity into shape, drafting bespoke employment contracts for Papakura Music School, writing Papakura Theatre's constitution to name a few.
Cheryl became involved in theatre as a musician through the '90s up until the present. She has performed on French Horn from the Sydney Opera House to Beijing and been involved in top quality orchestras, bands and operas for many years. She plays Trombone in a big band and is learning tenor drumming. She has played keyboard for various shows and was a keyboard/percussion player for a (more than - with several extra showings add in last minute) sold out season of Mamma Mia. Her most recent role was the production manager for Noises Off at Papakura
Cheryl did her law degree in 2 ½ years, working several jobs and taught music at high school and in her spare time for years. She taught at and ran Papakura Music School for 11 years and 5 years respectively, and while in charge bringing the roll up from 120 to 550 kids introducing a wider range of instruments, expanding the orchestra, band and combined instrument programmes and giving out scholarships to students from Papakura Intermediate. When told no Cheryl will try to create a solution that flips to yes rather than give up, when there was no budget to teach French horn she took the student for free in her own time then had a class with horn in one corner and keyboards in the other, working around shared custody issues (like children attending only every second week) rather than . She is the kind of person who would frequently dip into her own pocket to buy books or reeds or gear for students who couldn't afford to pay and she had a staff of over 40 part time teachers and young adult assistants.
Cheryl now manages a law practice in Mt Eden, is on the board of Papakura Theatre Company, trying to slow down a bit in middle age but has been given a puppy and a kitten recently so that might have to wait...
Kevin Murphy
Kevin’s contribution to musical theatre at both a local and national level has been significant.
Kevin has been a member of New Plymouth Operatic for over 45 years working primarily in administration but also has been an active backstage helper for many of the major shows. He is a Life Member and served as NPOS President from 1991 to 1996. On a national level Kevin served on the Executive of MTNZ as Vice President from 1997 – 2001 and then President 2001 – 2004. He was awarded Life Membership of MTNZ in 2006 for his outstanding service and contribution to MTNZ. Kevin was also part of the management committee, that formed the first society consortium in 1994 - staging Les Miserables and continues his involvement with the Consortium to this day.
Kevin has had a very successful career in banking working for TSB Bank for 38 years where he rose from a shop floor teller position to the role of CEO / Managing Director, a position he held for 8 years. He now works as a Professional Director serving on several boards.
Kevin met his wife Carolyn at Operatic, and their family involvement has continued with all three of their children being involved with the society over the years.
Kate Ghent
Kate’s debut on stage was in a ballet pantomime—as a tree. Unfortunately, composers don’t tend to write roles for “leading altos,” and her most memorable onstage moment was playing a nude Japanese prostitute in Ken Russell’s Madam Butterfly for the 1994 Festival of the Arts—dress rehearsal took on a whole new meaning.
Alongside various onstage roles over the years, Kate has also worked extensively behind the scenes in community theatre—mainly directing, production management, committee work, crew, and wardrobe roles. In professional theatre, she has worked as an assistant production/project manager for major productions including Miss Saigon, Hairspray, Jersey Boys, Kinky Boots, and Mamma Mia!, and is currently touring as Wardrobe Manager for Jersey Boys and Kinky Boots. She has also been Head of Dressing on large productions, including working with Tim Minchin and his band, and has contributed to WOW.
She is a Patron of Kauri Theatre Company, was awarded Life Membership of Musical Theatre New Zealand in 2020, and received a Merit Award in 2015 for her services to the New Zealand theatre and arts community.
Professionally, Kate has worked across sport, government, and arts organisations in executive assistant, project, and event management roles—including managing the national public apology event for abuse in care survivors. She served as General Manager for Musical Theatre New Zealand for 19 years and now works with G&T Productions on & Juliet as a production/project assistant, touring New Zealand in 2026.
Zac Johns
Zac is a pianist, conductor, and award-winning Music Director whose work spans over a decade of youth theatre, cabaret, recording, concerts, local productions, and large-scale touring musicals.
His credits as Music Director, Conductor, or Assistant include Priscilla, We Will Rock You, Jersey Boys, Mary Poppins, Les Misérables, The Last Five Years, The Kingdom of Bling, Sister Act, Evita, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Legally Blonde, Godspell, and the NZ premieres of Kinky Boots and Dogfight. As a keyboardist, Zac has performed in productions such as The Music Man, Chess, The Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia!, In The Heights, and with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra on projects including Synthony in the Domain and Art of the Score: The Music of Hans Zimmer.
Zac is also passionate about contributing to the theatre community and beyond, with involvement in the NAPTA Charitable Trust, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Trust NZ, and currently works in the fundraising team at the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.
Allan Nagy
Allan has been a member of the Palmerston North Operatic Society for over 45 years. During this time, he has filled just about every role in theatre—from sweeping the stage to stage management, production management, Board and Committee member, Chairman, and President. Allan is currently President of the Society (trading as ACT THREE PRODUCTIONS), a role he has held on several occasions over the past 15 years.
Allan has previously served as the Zone Three Representative on the Musical Theatre New Zealand (MTNZ) Executive and is currently the Logistics Co-ordinator for the MTNZ Consortium, managing and overseeing set movements. In 2006, Allan was awarded an MTNZ Merit Award for outstanding service to musical theatre, and in 2011 he received a Civic Award from the Palmerston North City Council for services to community theatre.
In his non-theatre life, Allan has been a general and national manager for some of New Zealand’s largest trucking companies and is well experienced in finance, budgets, and forecasting. He is currently the Fleet & Supply Manager for the Palmerston North City Council, managing Council fleet and equipment procurement, maintenance, and storage, while also assisting in developing the Council’s long-term plan.