Tom Sweeney, OAM

 

Tom Sweeney has been a driving force in the voluntary community on Sydney’s North Shore for over 40 years. His involvement in the community theatre life of Willoughby started in 1969 at the age of 22, when he joined the Willoughby Musical Society.

A year later he joined the Committee as a volunteer. Both Tom and his wife Joy have been members of WTC for over 54 years and during that time Tom has directed over 40 musicals for that company and directed plays and musicals for other companies in Sydney.

Tom has directed such shows as Les Miserable, The Boy From Oz, Titanic, Zorba, Meet Me in St Louis, The Scarlet Pimpernel, 42nd Street and Strictly Ballroom.

He has also appeared in many productions, done costuming, props, backstage and made the tea.

In 2007 Tom became President. In this role he guided the Society to a name change becoming the Willoughby Theatre Company and moving the company to The Concourse, where the company has been performing since the venue opened in September 2011.

Tom was directly involved with the development of The Concourse and the organisation of the opening celebration. The Willoughby Theatre Company was asked to present a production as part of the soft opening of the Concourse, to which he directed The Boy from Oz.

Now past President of Willoughby Theatre Company (2004), Tom and his wife Joy, also an accomplished director and costume designer, spend most of their leisure time involved with the theatre.

Willoughby Theatre Company regularly attracts approximately 10,000 patrons a year to its shows and spends an everage of $275,000 on each production.

Tom will be our guest speaker at the museum on 1st April at 2:00 p.m. Put the date in your diary now so you don’t miss out.

 

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