Michael Hurst Now.com

This website was created to showcase the post-Hercules career of New Zealand actor and director, Michael Hurst.  We will also announce the professional activities of Michael's wife, Jennifer Ward-Lealand . . . More


HOMEPAGE INDEX
(click a title below for more info)

* THE ALMIGHTY JOHNSONS
* BARD DAY'S NIGHT
* COPENHAGEN
* FALLING IN LOVE AGAIN

* FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

* THE GOOD WORD
* SPARTACUS
* TRIBES


ARCHIVE INDEX
See our new ALPHABETICAL INDEX to quickly find information, pictures, programs, etc. for Michael's earlier projects.

WHAT'S AVAILABLE ON DVD?


See articles on this page for current news, or
click the links below to explore Michael's career:

Recent Projects
Future Projects


  

WHAT'S NEW ON THE SITE?


Michael and Jennifer at opening night of
Frequently Asked Questions,
New Zealand International Arts Festival, 2/2012



FOLLOW US ON TWITTER!
Get all of your Michael and Jennifer news on our Twitter feed.  See our most recent Tweets below:


WHAT'S NEW ON THE SITE
Click links below to access respective pages.

14 May  Added Michael's 8 Month to Mars interview to homepage; added Sunday Morning interview to Radio Interviews page

11 May  Added Jennifer Ward-Lealand Falling in Love Again at Concert for the Birds to homepage

8 May  Created Spartacus: Blood and Sand ep. 1.12 'Revelations' page

6 May  Added The Man Who Has Everything and The Footstep Man to Now Available on DVD

5 May  Added name change and season in Auckland to Bard Day's Night (Frequently Asked Questions) and added Spartacus casting news to homepage

30 April  Added pic to Tribes on homepage

25 April  Created Spartacus: Blood and Sand ep. 1.9 'Whore' page

21 April  Added Frequently Asked Questions in Hamilton to homepage

16 April  Created Spartacus: Blood and Sand ep. 1.5 'Shadow Games' page

11 April  Added Tribes to homepage

10 April  Added Michael directing in season 3 of Spartacus to homepage; created Fix page

7 April  Created NZ Festival Art Talk page

4 April  Added Copenhagen to homepage; added Tribes to Future Projects

28 March  Created Inorganic page

27 March  Added Michael on The Good Word to homepage; created Much Ado About Nothing page

26 March  Created Spartacus: Vengeance ep. 9 'Monsters' page

23 March  Added The Good Word to homepage

16 March  Created The Almighty Johnsons ep. 2.1 page; added Spartacus casting news to homepage

12 March  Added pic of Michael as Kvasir on The Almighty Johnsons to homepage

9 March  Added Dominion Post and Theatreview reviews of FAQ to homepage

22 February  Added The Almighty Johnsons to homepage

1 February  Created Widow Twanky at Xena con page

23 December  Added expanded description and performances in Canberrra to Frequently Asked Questions on homepage and Future Projects

16 December  Created The Waste Land page

12 November  Added season 3 Spartacus announcement and Frequently Asked Questions to homepage

6 November  Added Frequently Asked Questions to Future Projects

22 October  Created True Stores Out Loud page

13 October  Created Macbeth lecture page

12 October  Created Open Dialogue page

4 October  Added Almighty Johnsons to Future Projects

3 October  Created Bare for Christchurch page

2 October  Created Radio Interviews page containing five interviews from 2008-2010

26 September  Created Hidden Apartheid page

25 September  Created Red pageVenus Is page, and Six Degrees of Separation page

11 September  Created 'Sundays at Four' page

10 September  Created page for tv shows from the 80's (Casualties of Peace, Daphne & Chloe, Heroes) now available on NZ On Screen; inc. screen captures, synopses, and links to watch online

 

 

 

 



CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE, DETAILED SITE HISTORY


This 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 projects.  We will also announce the professional activities of Michael's wife, Jennifer Ward-Lealand; see her official site for more on her career.

See also:  Michael's curriculum vitae on his official website: www.michaelhurst.co.nz and his listing on IMDB.  Michael is represented by Johnson & Laird Management.

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS IS NOW BARD DAY'S NIGHT!
AND IT'S COMING TO AUCKLAND

Michael premiered his Shakespearean solo show, Frequently Asked Questions, at the New Zealand International Festival in Wellington in March 2012.  It has now been renamed Bard Day's Night

He will perform it in Auckland at The Basement (21-26 May; click here to book), in Hamilton at the Fuel Festival (5-7 July; click here to book), and in Canberra, Australia at The Street Theatre (10-21 July; click here to book).  Written by Michael Hurst, Natalie Medlock and Dan Musgrove; directed by Natalie Musgrove, assistant directed by Dan Musgrove; produced by Royale Productions.  See the Bard Day's Night website.

The show is over, the audience has left, and Hamlet comes home to his dingy flat to face the final curtain.  But can he make up his mind to do it?  Hilarity follows when Macbeth, King Lear, and Othello arrive to help the hapless prince decide whether or not to be or not to be... or not.

In BARD DAY'S NIGHT, Michael joins forces with two of New Zealand's freshest writing talents for an outrageous and at times profound view into one actor's attempt at self-destruction.

Michael's debut solo performance melds his mastery of the Shakespearean form with an irreverent comic edge.

BARD DAY'S NIGHT:  absurdity, schizophrenia, and blank verse.

RADIO INTERVIEW

Michael was the guest on 8 Months to Mars on 14 May 2012 on Radio NZ National.  He talked about the upcoming season of Bard Day's Night at the Basement, and about the show's future touring locations, his rehearsals for Tribes, directing Spartacus, plus what coming to New Zealand as a child meant to his life, and how he became an actor.  He also talked about the music, people, and books he would take along on a trip to Mars.

Reviews

Dominion Post:  " . . . the fourth and funniest and most outrageous Shakespearean offering of the festival.  . . . In a comic tour de force Michael Hurst plays all the roles with relish, sending up styles of Shakespearean acting, poking fun at the language, and providing some gloriously funny physical comedy when Hamlet and Macbeth fight each other.  But miracuously he can also turn the comedy on a sixpence and change the mood almost withut one being aware that he is doing so as he releases the emotional power of the poetry in some of the most famous speeches in the English language".

Theatreview:  " . . . something more than watching an excellent actor at work.  And so Hurst is, an excellent actor, but to a purpose greater than a mere display of talent.  Beyond the metaphysical swirls the physical highlight in the fight he manifests between Hamlet and Macbeth.  That is it not staged to elicit applause (although we want to applaud) confirms there is more to the purpose".


JENNIFER IS MARGRETHE BOHR IN COPENHAGEN

Jennifer will play Margrethe Bohr in Michael Frayn's award-winning play Copenhagen for Northern Lights Theatre Company at The Auckland Performing Arts Centre, Wednesday, 30 May thru Sunday, 10 June 2012.  Also starring Bruce Phillips and Simon Kane with direction by Alex Bonham and design by Rachel Walker. Copenhagen is winner of the Evening Standard Best Play Award (London), the Tony Award (New York) and the Prix Moliere (Paris).

Click here for more info and to book.

Copenhagen, September 1941.  A year after the Nazi invasion, Denmark's most eminent scientist Niels Bohr, a Jew, invited the head of Hitler's atomic research programme, Werner Heisenberg, to dinner.  But as the two nen stepped outside for some air, Bohr realized that Heisenberg had an agenda so ambitious, so terrifying, that he must be stopped at any cost.  The betrayal ended their friendship and changed the course of history forever.


What did Heisenberg say and why did he come?  No one has been able to give a credible explanation of what happened that strange night.  Until now.

MICHAEL IS CHRISTOPHER IN TRIBES

Michael will play Christopher in Nina Raines' Tribes for Silo Theatre, 8-30 June 2012 at Maidment Theatre.  Also featuring Catherine Wilkin, Fern Sutherland and Jodie Hillock, directed by Shane Bosher.

From the press release: 

"The importance of those who are deaf having their own language and identity comes under the microscope as we watch the central character (who is deaf) struggle with the prejudices and social mores of his wonderfully dysfunctional contemporary family unit.

A truly unique play, blending spoken word, sign language and surtitling into its framework, Tribes will leave audiences speechless.  Filled with the sort of one-liners you wish you were quick enough to come up with in real life, this play oozes intelligence, robust humour and profound pathos.


'
Funny and moving--this is as good as theatre gets.  Don't miss it '- The Australian

'the best-written, best-plotted, deepest, most daring--and funniest--new play in recent years' - The Wall Street Journal"

Click here to read the full press release; click here to book.



MICHAEL GUEST STARS ON THE ALMIGHTY JOHNSONS

Michael has a recurring role in season 2 of The Almighty Johnsons playing the god Kvasir. 

He first appeared in episode 2.1 on 28 February on TV3.  See more screen grabs from the episode, plus other information, on our Almighty Johnsons page (warning: contains spoilers!) 

Kvasir will be back for the final episodes on Wednesday 23 May, 


JENNIFER WARD-LEALAND FALLING IN LOVE AGAIN AT CONCERT FOR THE BIRDS

Jennifer will perform her Marlene Dietrich cabaret, Falling in Love Again, at Concert for the Birds, a fund-raiser for Ark in the Park, on 15 June 2012 at 7:30 p.m. at Playhouse Theatre, Glen Eden, Auckland.

The show features an exquisite recreation of one of Miss Dietrich's famous gowns, vividly capturing the style and glamour of a time gone by.  Jennifer will sing 23 of her most memorable songs including highlights from her films, concerts and recordings, featuring songs by Cole Porter, Edith Piaf, Frederic Hollander and Pete Seeger.  Jennifer will be accompanied by Grant Winterburn on piano and Aaron Coddel on double-bass.

"The audience laughed, swayed and got moist in the eyes.  . . . Jennifer Ward-Lealand's performance was scintillating".  (The Press)

This concert is organized by the Waitakere Branch of the Royal Forest and Bird Society to raise funds for returning threatened native birds, including the kokako and the yellow-crowned kakariki, to the Waitakere Ranges. Ark in the Park is a partnership between Forest & Bird and the Auckland Council, supported by Te Kawreau a Maki.

Click here to book.


JENNIFER AND MICHAEL ON THE GOOD WORD

Jennifer will be on the panel for several episodes of The Good Word on Fridays at 9:05 p.m., TVNZ7. 

Ep. 4.13, 25 May: Discussing World's End by T.C. Boyle
Recent episodes available to watch online:

Ep. 4.7, 13 April: Michael talks about his favorite book.
Ep. 4.1, 2 March: Discussing Bligh by Anne Salmond
Ep. 4.4, 23 March: Discussing Atlas of Remote Islands by Judith Schalansk


Ep. 4.5, 30 March: Discussing Nightwoods by Charles Frazier
Ep. 4.6, 6 April: Discussing This is Craig Brown by Craig Brown
Ep. 4.10, 4 May:  Discussing My Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion


FIVE NEW CAST MEMBERS FOR SPARTACUS

Starz has announced five new cast members for season 3:  Australian Todd Lasance (Crownies) has been cast as a young Julius Caesar; British Simon Merrells (The Wolfman, Family Affair) will play Marcus Crassus, the richest man in Rome; New Zealander Anna Hutchison (Cabin in the Woods, Shortland Street, Go Girls) will play Laeta, the privileged wife of a Roman dignitary; Australian Jenna Lind (Underbelly II, Burning Man) will play Kare, a loyal slave to Marcus Crassus; and New Zealander Gwendoline Taylor (Go Girls) will play Sibyl, a beautiful young slave rescued from the Romans.

Season 3 of Spartacus began filming in New Zealand in late April 2012; Michael will direct two episodes.  It will begin airing on Starz in late January 2013.

In 2011, Michael was a producer of Spartacus: Vengeance and directed ep. 1 'Fugitivus' and ep. 6 'Chosen Path'.  He also had a very brief cameo in ep. 9 'Monsters,' playing a Roman soldier.  See screen captures here.

Michael previously directed Spartacus: Blood and Sand ep. 5 'Shadow Games', ep. 9 'Whore', and ep. 12 'Revelations', and Spartacus: Gods of the Arena ep. 3 'Paterfamilias'.  See our pages for 'Shadow Games', 'Whore', and 'Revelations'.


 

 

 


 Recent Projects    Future Projects
 
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 14 May 2012).

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