Members - Jean Wallis

Jean Wallis – Vice President

My introduction to Eldorado Operatic Society (now Eldorado Musical Productions) was a chance meeting my sister had with Valerie Freeman (ex member & wardrobe mistress) during a Gilbert and Sullivan show in 1946 at a local hall. Apparently the Society had been disbanded in 1939 and the search was on to find new members to get the shows going again, so my sister joined and the following year, 1947, she paid my subscription as I was still at school and I was on my way to the footlights. Fortunately the Society was still desperate for new people and I was allowed to dodge an audition, so on reflection I was a member for 58 years under false pretences! My first show was Rose Marie – it was a wonderful show and I was hooked! Our producer was an ex-army man with a sergeant-major’s voice and attitude so rehearsals represented a parade ground! The big hit as far as the chorus girls were concerned was the Totem Dance. We were drilled and drilled until our mentor was satisfied – or so we thought. And then we had to do it all again! The big finish was a canon of three rows comprising 28 girls falling full length face down onto the floor, complete with huge hats. But what a reward, as we lay on the floor, when we listened to the applause. I was in many shows after that, but I guess the first one is the most memorable.

I joined Eldorado’s Committee and served as Social Secretary and later as Assistant Secretary.

In spite of other interests such as Sea Rangers and being a Girl Guide Leader, to name a couple, Eldorado has endured through the years. Far from leaving my family at home, they have all become associated with the Society - my son Brian is married to Jeanette and my daughter Diane is married to John. They all serve Eldorado so ably in their respective jobs: Stage Manager, Director/Choreographer, Secretary and Chairman and I am very proud of them.

I also now take great delight in seeing my grandchildren, Rachael, Nicholas and Chloe, following the family tradition on the stage. Eldorado has always been a family orientated company with generations of families appearing on stage and in the productions of Oliver!, Carousel, The Sound of Music, Fiddler on the Roof and Show Time! there were three generations of Wallis’s on stage, which was a wonderful experience.

I am most grateful for almost a lifetime of enjoyment with Eldorado but decided to hang up my jazz shoes at the end of 2005, having clocked up 111 shows. Although I was sad to leave the stage, I can now sit back and enjoy the shows from my seat in the auditorium.

I was very honoured to be made a Vice President of Eldorado in 2006.

Biography

2005 – EMP Musical Fantasia

2005 – EMP Fiddler on the Roof

2004 – EMP The Sound of Music

2004 – EMP The Pirates of Penzance

2003 – EMP Anything Goes

2003 – EMP Guys and Dolls

2002 – EMP Annie

2002 – EOS Calamity Jane

2001 – EOS Crazy For You

2001 – EOS Carousel

2000 – EOS Mack and Mabel

2000 – EOS Kismet

1999 – EOS Oliver!

1999 – EOS South Pacific

1998 – EOS Pink Champagne

1998 – EOS Me and My Girl

1997 – EOS Hello Dolly

1997 – EOS Half a Sixpence

1996 – EOS Orpheus in the Underworld

1996 – EOS Annie Get Your Gun

1995 – EOS Blitz!

1995 – EOS Meet Me in St. Louis

1994 – EOS The Pirates of Penzance

1994 – EOS Oklahoma

1993 – EOS Fiddler on the Roof

1993 – EOS High Society

1992 – EOS The King and I

1991 – EOS Whitehorse Inn

1991 – EOS Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

1990 – EOS Calamity Jane

1990 – EOS Show Boat

1989 – EOS My Fair Lady

1989 – EOS Charlie Girl

1988 – EOS Carousel

1988 – EOS No No Nanette

1987 – EOS Brigadoon

1987 – EOS The Dancing Years

1986 – EOS Kismet

1986 – EOS The Music Man

1985 – EOS Hello Dolly

1985 – EOS The Pajama Game

1984 – EOS La Belle Helene

1984 – EOS Half a Sixpence

1983 – EOS Fiddler on the Roof

1983 – EOS Annie Get Your Gun

1982 – EOS South Pacific

1982 – EOS The Vagabond King

1981 – EOS Kiss Me Kate

1981 – EOS The Merry Widow

1980 – EOS Oklahoma

1980 – EOS Land of Smiles

1979 – EOS Guys and Dolls

1979 – EOS Carousel

1978 – EOS Show Boat

1978 – EOS Bittersweet

1977 – EOS The New Moon

1977 – EOS Orpheus in the Underworld

1976 – EOS Brigadoon

1976 – EOS The Great Waltz

1975 – EOS Hello Dolly

1975 – EOS King’s Rhapsody

1974 – EOS My Fair Lady

1974 – EOS Kismet

1973 – EOS The Count of Luxembourg

1973 – EOS Charlie Girl

1972 – EOS South Pacific

1972 – EOS The Most Happy Fella

1971 – EOS Lady Be Good

1971 – EOS Chu Chin Chow

1970 – EOS The Sound of Music

1970 – EOS Bless the Bride

1969 – EOS Glamorous Night

1969 – EOS Show Boat

1968 – EOS My Fair Lady

1968 – EOS Annie Get Your Gun

1967 – EOS Me and My Girl

1967 – EOS Whitehorse Inn

1966 – EOS The Pajama Game

1966 – EOS The Vagabond King

1965 – EOS Little Mary Sunshine

1965 – EOS The Belle of New York

1964 – EOS South Pacific

1964 – EOS Pink Champagne

1963 – EOS Call Me Madam

1963 – EOS Calamity Jane

1962 – EOS Brigadoon

1962 – EOS Bitter Sweet

1961 – EOS The New Moon

1960 – EOS Oklahoma

1960 – EOS Kiss Me Kate

1958 – EOS Love from Judy

1957 – EOS Carousel

1956 – EOS The Land of Smiles

1956 – EOS Me and My Girl

1955 – EOS Pink Champagne

1955 – EOS The Arcadians

1954 – EOS Oklahoma

1954 – EOS Belinda Fair

1953 – EOS Magyar Melody

1953 – EOS Floradora

1952 – EOS The Belle of New York

1952 – EOS Dear Miss Phoebe

1951 – EOS Blossom Time

1951 – EOS The Vagabond King

1950 – EOS Balalaika

1950 – EOS The New Moon

1949 – EOS The Lisbon Story

1949 – EOS The Rebel Maid

1948 – EOS Desert Song

1948 – EOS Chu Chin Chow

1947 – EOS Rose Marie

Eldorado Musical Productions

We are an amateur dramatic group performing modern musicals at the Bob Hope Theatre in South East London.