Jeremy Miller has been a mainstay of the Manning Entertainment Centre for years, both behind the scenes as the centre’s manager and on centre stage, starring in many Taree Arts Council productions.
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Now the city beckons and Jeremy Miller is off to take on a role as the executive director of Monkey Baa - one of Australia’s largest touring companies with an international reputation for creating exceptional theatre for young people and their families.
Jeremy will leave his role as manager of the Manning Entertainment Centre at the end of the month, a role he has held for the past six and a half years.
“I will miss the people and the place, but I’m going to enjoy watching what the centre continues to achieve in its next phase. There is a fantastic team who are passionate about the MEC and I will be cheering from the sidelines as they continue to do great work for the community.”
Originally from Canberra, Jeremy moved to the Manning 22 years ago where he became a well-known personality on local radio and on the stage of the Entertainment Centre in shows such as Jesus Christ Superstar, before heading off to Sydney to work on major events including World Youth Day 2008.
Jeremy and his wife Frith and family returned to the Manning in 2011 when he was appointed the manager of the MEC.
During his tenure there have been a number of highlights, one of which came just last year when the MEC was named as a finalist for the Australian Performing Arts Venue of the Year.
“This was a wonderful recognition by the industry of the strength of our team,” Jeremy said.
The MEC itself has evolved under Jeremy’s leadership, with a number of building improvements such as the renovated bar, foyer toilets, dressing rooms.
Solar panels and a new air conditioning system have also been installed.
The MEC has also showcased the region by hosting large conferences including the NSW Local Government Tourism Conference in 2017 and the Rotary Regional Conference in 2016.
For Jeremy the greatest highlights have been to see the stars – both the big names and emerging performers - on the MEC stage.
“The Australian Ballet, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Guy Sebastian, David Helfgott, Marina Prior, Kitty Flanagan the list goes on and on. However, the real thrill for me is watching young people learning their craft at the Manning Entertainment Centre.
“Seeing a young dancer take their first steps in front of an audience, a young musician hearing the reaction from the crowd for the first time, or a young technician learning the art of lighting for the stage - you really can see lives change right before your eyes. That’s unbeatable.”
And through it all, Jeremy has been a regular on the stage as well.
A Taree Arts Council favourite, he was most recently seen as Bert in Mary Poppins, where he took to the skies, showing the advantage of the theatre’s fly tower by tap dancing across the roof. Jeremy also made a memorable Emcee in the recent production of Cabaret.
While Jeremy will be working with Monkey Baa in Sydney, it is not the end of his association with the Manning. His family, wife Frith and children Sam, Harry and Lily will remain in Taree while Jeremy travels to and from Sydney for his new role.
Based in its own theatre in Darling Harbour, Monkey Baa Theatre Company creates works that tour every state and territory in Australia and, increasingly, overseas.
In its 20-year history, the company has conducted 27 National tours to 138 communities in every state and territory of Australia and completed four International tours to 34 US theatres, performing to more than 1.3 million young people.