Derek John Metzger is a New Zealand singer and actor best known for his performances in musical theatre in Australia. Metzger began his career in 1978, winning ''The Entertainers'', a talent contest on New Zealand television. He represented New Zealand in two International competitions; The Asian Song Contest ong Kongwhere he was placed 3rd. In 1980 he sang a duet, "Once Again With You", with

Tina Cross Tina Marie Cross (born 27 January 1959) is a New Zealand singer. She sang the winning entry in the 1979 Pacific Song Contest, and was the lead vocalist of synthpop band, Koo De Tah, whose single "Too Young for Promises" was a top ten hit in Aus ...

in the Pacific Song Contest

anada Anada (russian: Анада; av, АнгӀада) is a rural locality (a selo) in Khidibsky Selsoviet, Tlyaratinsky District, Republic of Dagestan, Russia. The population was 49 as of 2010. Geography Anada is located 19 km north of Tlyarata ...

written by

Carl Doy Carl William Doy (born 1947) is a British-born New Zealand pianist, composer and arranger. One of New Zealand's most successful musicians, Doy is probably best known for his multi-platinum selling ''Piano By Candlelight'' albums. Life and caree ...

. The song was placed second and Derek and Tina won the 'Performance Award'. The same year he was voted Zealand's 'Rising Star'. He was a regular on NZ television through the 80s, including his own special ''Derek and Friends''. His 1982 single "Don't Say Goodbye" debuted at #35 on New Zealand's singles chart. In 1981, Metzger was cast in the lead role of Jonathan for the world première and cast album of Eaton Magoon Jr and Sir Robert Helpmann's Hawaiian musical ''Aloha'', for Hamilton Operatic Society. In 1983 Derek revived the role in a Hawaii production of the show. It was followed in 1985 by a

Michael Edgley Edgley International is a theatre and concert promotions company from Australia, first started in the 1930s and run by several generations. It has also been known as Edgley & Dawe Attractions, Edgley Ventures, and Michael Edgley Internationa ...

revival production at His Majesty's Theatre, Auckland, directed by

Joe Layton Joe Layton (May 3, 1931 – May 5, 1994) was an American director and choreographer known primarily for his work on Broadway.Dunning, Jennifer. (9 May 1994). Page B7.'Joe Layton, Choreographer And Director, Is Dead at 64' Obituary. New York Tim ...

, also starring Metzger in the same role.Day, Paul. (19 October 1981). 'Hamilton Says Aloha To Musical'. ''

The New Zealand Herald ''The New Zealand Herald'' is a daily newspaper published in Auckland, New Zealand, owned by New Zealand Media and Entertainment, and considered a newspaper of record for New Zealand. It has the largest newspaper circulation of all newspaper ...

'' In 1986 Metzger moved to London where he joined the company of ''42nd Street'' at

Theatre Royal, Drury Lane The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, commonly known as Drury Lane, is a West End theatre and Grade I listed building in Covent Garden, London, England. The building faces Catherine Street (earlier named Bridges or Brydges Street) and backs onto ...

. He also appeared in a production of the musical ''Matador'' at the

Donmar Warehouse The Donmar Warehouse is a 251-seat, not-for-profit theatre in Covent Garden, London, England. It first opened on 18 July 1977. Sam Mendes, Michael Grandage and Josie Rourke have all served as artistic director, a post held since 2019 by M ...

and a Tribute to Noel Coward at the

Piccadilly Theatre The Piccadilly Theatre is a West End theatre located at 16 Denman Street, behind Piccadilly Circus and adjacent to the Regent Palace Hotel, in the City of Westminster, London, England. Early years Built by Bertie Crewe and Edward A. Stone ...

. One of the highlights of his three years in London was appearing in th
Royal Variety Performance
He returned to New Zealand to play Anatoly in the NZ tour of ''Chess'' and to record his debut solo album ''Me and My Songs'' produced by his friend

. Metzger relocated to Australia in the early 90s, where he played leading roles in a succession of productions including '' Me and My Girl'', ''

Pirates of Penzance ''The Pirates of Penzance; or, The Slave of Duty'' is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert, W. S. Gilbert. Its official premiere was at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York City on 31 ...

'', ''The'' ''Mikado'', ''

She Loves Me ''She Loves Me'' is a musical with a book by Joe Masteroff, music by Jerry Bock, and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick. The musical is the third adaptation of the 1937 play '' Parfumerie'' by Hungarian playwright Miklós László, following the 1940 ...

Follies ''Follies'' is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by James Goldman. The plot takes place in a crumbling Broadway theater, now scheduled for demolition, previously home to a musical revue (based on the ''Ziegfeld Fo ...

'', ''

Chess Chess is a board game for two players, called White and Black, each controlling an army of chess pieces in their color, with the objective to checkmate the opponent's king. It is sometimes called international chess or Western chess to dist ...

The Wizard of Oz ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' or ''The Wizard of Oz'' most commonly refers to: *'' The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'', a 1900 American novel by L. Frank Baum often reprinted as ''The Wizard of Oz'' ** Wizard of Oz (character), from the Baum novel serie ...

Pippin Pippin or Pepin may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Pippin'' (comics), a children's comic produced from 1966 to 1986 * ''Pippin'' (musical), a Broadway musical by Stephen Schwartz loosely based on the life of Pepin the Hunchback * Pippin T ...

Titanic RMS ''Titanic'' was a British passenger liner, operated by the White Star Line, which sank in the North Atlantic Ocean on 15 April 1912 after striking an iceberg during her maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York City, Unite ...

,'' and '' How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying''. He received a Green Room Award for Male Actor in a Leading Role in music theatre for ''Me and My Girl''. He received a Helpmann Award nomination for Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical for his role of Patsy in the Australian production of ''

Spamalot ''Spamalot'' (also known as ''Monty Python's Spamalot'') is a musical comedy with music by John Du Prez and Eric Idle, and lyrics and book by Idle. It is adapted from the 1975 film '' Monty Python and the Holy Grail''. Like the motion pictu ...

''.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Metzger, Derek 20th-century New Zealand male singers New Zealand male musical theatre actors Living people Year of birth missing (living people)