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Hugh Maynard

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Hugh Maynard
Born27 March 1975
Birmingham, England
Occupation(s)Actor, singer
Musical career
GenresRock, Soul, Musical Theatre
Websitehugh-maynard.com

Hugh Maynard is a British actor and singer of African-Caribbean descent. He is known for his roles in Miss Saigon and Sweeney Todd on the West End.

Early life and education

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Hugh Maynard was born in the UK and grew up in Torquay, Devon.[1] His mother abandoned him, and then due to neglect by his father, he was taken into the care of Birmingham social services at just a few months old. He lived in various children's homes for a number of years.[2] At the age of seven, he appeared on the Birmingham-made TV show Tiswas. At the age of 8 years, he was permanently fostered and he moved with his new family to settle in Torbay, Devon.[3]

Maynard participated in the Sea Cadets; he played trumpet for the Devon Youth Jazz Orchestra; he entered various talent competitions and was compere for a local show Devon's Got Talent. While studying and preparing for drama school he worked in fast food outlets and as a lifeguard, and modelled sportswear.

Hugh Maynard initially studied sports science at the University of Bath, but he then changed direction to drama and music. He attended the Academy of Live And Recorded Arts in London on a two year scholarship.[1] He also attended the Arts Educational Schools in Chiswick, London on a scholarship.[4]

Career

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Musical Theatre

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Maynard made his West End debut by playing the principal role of Simon Zealotes in Jesus Christ Superstar, produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Theatre Group.[1] From 1999 to 2000, Maynard landed lead roles in The Lion King and Notre Dame de Paris theatre productions, playing Simba and Clopin respectively. In 2002, he went on to star in We Will Rock You The Jackson 5 and in Follies playing young Ben. In 2004, Hugh Maynard first played John in Laurence Connor's revival of Boublil and the first UK tour of Schönberg's classic musical melodrama Miss Saigon,[5][6] In 2006, Maynard played Marvin Gaye in Dancing in the Streets. In 2009, he performed at the London Palladium, in Whoopi Goldberg's stage production of Sister Act. Ten years after his with performance in Miss Saigon, Maynard reprised his role of John in Cameron Mackintosh's new production of Miss Saigon at The Prince Edward Theatre in London. He was nominated as "Best Featured Actor in a New Production of a Musical" in Broadway World Awards 2014.[7] and "Best Supporting Actor in a Musical" in 15th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards,[8] for this performance. In 2016 Maynard performed in Travels with my Aunt at the Minerva Theatre in Chichester.[9][10][11] The same year, he became the first Black performer to play Sweeney Todd in Sweeney Todd in the Mercury Theatre Colchester’s production, in partnership with Derby Theatre.

TV

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In addition to his highly successful acting on stage, Hugh's TV credits include ITV Superstar 2012, Wycliffe, The Bill, Casualty and Royal Variety Performance.

Music

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Maynard is a member of the rock group, Tenors of Rock (TOR). They have toured the UK, Europe and America and performed at the 2012 London Olympic Games. Their debut single, "Brothers in Arms", reached No.20 in the official UK rock chart. The group also took part in the 2013 series of the talent show, The X-Factor, reaching the judges home stage with Gary Barlow.[12]

Maynard has performed live at various venues, including the 2007 British Red Cross Gala Ball, a 2013 halftime show at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada, TOR Live at Palms Resort in Las Vegas, and the 2012 Olympic Games at BT London Live.

In March 2015, Hugh Maynard released his solo debut Album, Hugh Maynard – Something Inside so Strong. The album is a collection of rock, soul and musical theatre numbers, including Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On", John Farnham's "You're The Voice", Seal's "Kiss from a Rose" and "Bui Doi" from Miss Saigon.[13]

Philanthropy

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Hugh Maynard has been a guest speaker at a number of conferences organized by Lincolnshire Children's Services, sharing his experiences of living in residential and foster care. He has also performed at events and conferences for the Lincolnshire Sensory Impaired Service.

Maynard has also supported the Lincoln-based project Action for Children and Saint Francis School, a specialist provision in Lincoln for disabled children and Plan UK's campaigns of "End Child Marriage". He also promoted participation in the arts through involvement in West End Week[14] and has links to the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom.

Personal life

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When Maynard is not busy with music and theatre work, he participates in cooking, athletics and photography.

Studio album

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2015| Hugh Maynard – Something Inside So Strong Track Listing:

  1. Something Inside So Strong
  2. Let’s Get It On
  3. Bring Him Home
  4. You’re The Voice
  5. Kiss from a Rose
  6. I Who Have Nothing
  7. When a Man Loves a Woman
  8. Get Here
  9. Creep
  10. Back at One
  11. Bui Doi
  12. Love Is On the Way

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Network Role
1997 Frenchmans Creek Carlton Servant
2015 The Heat Is Back On, The Remaking of Miss Saigon Universal John
2016 Miss Saigon Live Universal John

Television

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Year Title Network Role
1992 Box Pops BBC Presenter
1999 Royal Variety Performance Variety Lion King
2007 Magic of the Musicals: Variety Children’s Charity London Himself
2008 Happy Show Global TV Himself
2010 Royal Variety Performance Variety Sister Act
2012 ITV Superstar ITV Himself
2014 Royal Variety Performance Variety Miss Saigon

Stage

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Year Title Venue Role
1997 Jesus Christ Superstar Lyceum Theatre Apostle James
u/s Judas Iscariot
1999 The Lion King Lyceum Theatre Simba
2000 Notre Dame De Paris Dominion Theatre Clopin
2001 Jesus Christ Superstar UK Tour Simon Zealotes
2002 Follies Royal Festival Hall Young Ben
2002 We Will Rock You The Jackson 5
2004 Miss Saigon UK Tour John Thomas[15]
2006 Dancing in the Street Aldwych Theatre/UK Tour Marvin Gaye
2009 Sister Act London Palladium Theatre Ensemble/US Eddie & Cutis
2014 Miss Saigon Prince Edward Theatre John Thomas
2016 Travels with My Aunt Chichester Minerva Theatre Wordsworth
2016 Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Derby Theatre Sweeney Todd

Workshop

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Year Title Role
2005 Avenue Q Nicky, Trekkie Monster & Gary Coleman

Awards

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  • 2014 – Broadway World UK/West End Awards – "Best Featured Actor in a New Production of a Musical" nomination[7] – John in Miss Saigon
  • 2015 – 15th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards – "Best Supporting Actor in a Musical" nomination[8] – John in Miss Saigon

References

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  1. ^ a b c Limited, London Theatre Direct (28 October 2014). "EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Miss Saigon's Hugh Maynard Talks Training, Auditions, And Upcoming Album". www.londontheatredirect.com. Retrieved 21 November 2020. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  2. ^ "Miss Saigon's Hugh Maynard Speaks Out On Child Protection" Archived 10 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine. TheatrePeople, 22 May 2014
  3. ^ Roz Laws (4 October 2014). "Birmingham theatre star draws strength from the toughest of childhoods". Birmingham Mail.
  4. ^ London Theatre Direct Limited. "EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Miss Saigon's Hugh Maynard Talks Training, Auditions, And Upcoming Album". londontheatredirect.com.
  5. ^ "Westcountry West End star Hugh Maynard talks Miss Saigon". West Morning News, 25 March 2015
  6. ^ Robert Ignatius Letellier (4 January 2015). Operetta: A Sourcebook, Volume II. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. pp. 997–. ISBN 978-1-4438-8508-9.
  7. ^ a b "West End star needs your vote to win award". sleafordstandard.co.uk.
  8. ^ a b "Shortlists announced for 15th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards, voting opens". WhatsOnStage.com. 5 December 2014.
  9. ^ "Travels with my Aunt is a club class ticket to feel-good enjoyment – review". The Telegraph, Dominic Cavendish, Theatre Critic, 27 April 2016
  10. ^ "Travels With My Aunt review – calypsos and cannabis in Graham Greene musical". The Guardian, Michael Billington, 27 April 2016
  11. ^ "A Musical Worth Travelling For: Travels With My Aunt At Chichester Festival Theatre". HuffPost, 05/04/2016 Polly Allen
  12. ^ "Hugh Maynard Miss Saigon X-Factor Life Story Interview". Celebrity Radio By Alex Belfield.
  13. ^ Neil Cheesman. "Miss Saigon's Hugh Maynard launches his debut solo album". London Theatre 1 for London Theatre.
  14. ^ Carrie Dunn (26 August 2014). "BWW Interviews: MISS SAIGON's Hugh Maynard!". BroadwayWorld.com.
  15. ^ "Miss Saigon: Prince Edward Theatre" Archived 10 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine. TheatrePeople, Glenn Rice 22 May 2014
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