Spector: The phenomenon of The BeatGirls

Honorary “BeatBoy” Jason Chasland chats about the phenomenon of the Beatgirls . . . 

Jay Chasland.

About seven years ago I had my first BeatGirl experience. The sequinned costumes had me hypnotised, the choreography was slick, the voices were big and the hair was bigger! I was hooked! Cut to five years later and I meet Andrea Sanders after the opening night of the Circa production The Nero Show I was doing at the time. Our mutual love for all things music and pizazz was like fireworks and thus began my eventual  inauguration as the honorary "BeatBoy". I had my first taste as a BeatBoy performing with the girls at Toast Martinborough, after which I practically begged and bribed them to let me do more with them. When I was contacted to perform in SPECTOR I said "Yes!" before Andrea had finished asking. The music is from my favourite era,  when music was real music and the songs had real singers. Although, in saying that a lot of current and great music since has been inspired by Phil Spector most notably the late, great Amy Winehouse whom I love just as much. 


The BeatGirls. . . these woman are as lovely as they are talented, as funny as they are, well, bloody hilarious; rehearsals are a playground and a creative joy! I cannot wait for us to share this wonderful theatrical concert which features one of my favourite songs. I get to sing  'Unchained Melody' every night in a killer costume, how am I not the most fortunate guy around right now?!

Spector opens 14 July in Circa One and runs until 28 July - that's only a two week season and tickets are going to go fast, so get yours right away! Call the Circa Box Office on 801-7992 or go online at http://www.circa.co.nz/. 

Celebrating 15 Years of the BEAT!

Callin’ out around the world, are you ready for a brand new beat?

Lead singer and co-founder of The BeatGirls, Andrea Sanders says the winning girl-group combination originally started off as a ‘fun thing to do’ and 15 years down the track the beat goes on.

“We took our name from the 1960s movie Beat Girl and originally the band did primarily Beatles covers which was unique at the time because, although there were many Beatles tribute bands, none of them were female.”

With the driving force of husband and co-founder Billy Watkins behind them, The BeatGirls quickly built up a loyal customer base, performing regularly at bars and pubs with their jazz and swing, disco, pop, motown and soul routines.

“Having all the genres and eras covered means that we can cater for corporate functions with a slightly older audience but also younger groups who prefer the more modern repertoire,” says Andrea.

This group really does cover all the bases and with their recent introduction of The Lollipop Hour, even children can boogie on down to The BeatGirls.

The BeatGirls’ unrivalled approach to providing an overall amazing event, bursting with energy, positions them in a league of their own.

“I don’t think any act I’ve seen even gets close to the professional performance that you put on every time. Long live the BeatGirls!” – Dominion Post

Around 24 girls have had the privilege of calling themselves BeatGirls over the years and today, nine talented women wait for the call to take the stage as one of the infamous trio.

Proud to call Wellington home, The BeatGirls travel extensively around New Zealand, as well as Australia and most recently Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Colorado Springs, San Francisco, Des Moines, Rapid City, Palm Beach, Fiji, Hong Kong, and Singapore

The group has also been broadcast to millions on NBC’s The Today Show and has performed in front of some of the world’s greatest athletes at not one, but two official Olympic Games in Sydney 2004 and Athens 2008.

But The BeatGirls love calling Circa home when they take to the theatre stage. They have had a wonderful relationship with Circa Theatre over their 15 year incarnation and have performed 5 sell out shows here, with sell out return seasons, to excited and enthusiastic crowds!

Let The Beat go on!

BeatCamp! opens in Circa Two on Saturday, 16 April. Tickets are available and going fast! Book yours by calling the Circa Box Office at 801-7992 or go online at www.circa.co.nz.

BeatCamp!: Entertainment for the Masses

After traveling all over the country and the world with New Zealand’s favourite girl group for the last 14 years, The BeatGirls creator Andrea Sanders tells us all about her current show, BeatCamp!, currently rocking the house in Circa Two.

DOTW: I understand that you created The BeatGirls – can you give us a bit of the history of the group?

AS: The BeatGirls were born 14 years ago in a show called Blame It On the Bossa Nova at Downstage. The format of 3 women in a girl group was popular and the idea to play only Beatles music was the initial musical direction. Since then the repertoire has broadened to include all eras, from the 1940s to now, Lady Gaga.

DOTW: What can you tell us about your current show, BeatCamp!?

AS: BeatCamp! is a similar format to previous shows, such as It’s My Party, although the focus is not so much on ‘60s girl groups. This show incorporates all styles, from The Andrews Sisters to Madonna, from Peggy Lee to Amy Winehouse, with a little Motown on the side. All the usual comedy, fab costumes and tight choreography. Suitable for all ages – kids to grandparents.

DOTW: What can you tell us about your fellow BeatGirls in BeatCamp!?

AS: It is great to be working alongside long-standing member Carrie Mclaughlin – a fab and trusted performer who really goes the extra distance. Kali Kopae, a fantastic young performer with a beautiful voice and a rising star! It’s great to work with both of these talented women who each bring their own yummy flavour to the line up.

DOTW: Your past shows at Circa have all but sold out; what is it about The BeatGirls that audiences respond so well to?

AS: I think our shows sell out because people like the format which is basically entertainment for the masses. We combine popular music with razzle dazzle (lots of sequins!) and also accentuate the humourous side of a lot of the songs. There is no pretention, just an honest delivery along with often informative banter about the artist we are covering. Unlike a lot of bands, The BeatGirls have a theatrical style which means they are equally at home in a theatre or at a party where the dance floor is packed. Over all, I think The BeatGirls have a fantastic vibrant energy which you can’t see but you can feel. How else can you explain how three performers can keep a dance floor of 300 people full? Energy is infectious! The fact that the music appeals to a wide demographic also helps.

DOTW: The BeatGirls have traveled extensively throughout NZ and Australia – what has been one of your favourite performances, and why?

AS: Festivals are always a buzz to perform at, such great atmosphere! We’ve had so many fantastic trips overseas and extensively throughout NZ, its hard to pick but obviously performing in Athens at the Olympics for all the Sports Illustrated parties was a real buzz. They could have had any band in the world, but they chose us from little old new Zealand, and that in itself deserves a huge round of applause! Some of the best gigs could be in someone’s lounge at a birthday party, so it’s not necessarily based on the location or size of the event. Performing our Anzac show We’ll Meet Again is always lovely, especially when the folks who served in World War II turn up with medals and all sing along to ‘We’ll Meet Again’. We know this generation won’t be around forever, which makes it all the more poignant.

DOTW: Finally, being a member of NZ’s favourite girl group gives you the opportunity to sing a lot of great songs by a lot of great artists. What are your top five favourite songs of all time?

AS: Tough question, as there’s sooooo many songs and they were all #1’s in their day so they are all well written and iconic. Generally, the new songs you learn are your favourites, but here goes:

-         Beatles – ‘She loves You’

-         David Bowie – ‘Rebel Rebel’ or ‘Golden Years’

-         Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66 – ‘Agua de Beber’

-         Smokey Robinson – ‘Baby I Need Your Loving’

-         K.C. and the Sunshine Band – ‘Give It Up’

This list will of course change and I’ll be sick of singing these songs, but for now, that’s it!


BeatCamp! runs in Circa Two until 30 October. Tickets are going fast (23, 29 and 30 October are already SOLD OUT) so call the Circa Box Office at 801-7992 or go online at www.circa.co.nz to get yours today!