It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of our beloved friend and collaborator, Anna Marinelli, after a courageous fight against a long term illness.
Anna, known as ‘Mamma Marra’ or ‘Marra’ to all of us who looked up to her, was a major contributor to WMTC over the years, beginning with her involvement in the inception of the renewed and re-branded WMTC in 2006. She acted as Secretary of the company from 2007 to 2009, returned as a committee member in 2014 and assisted both with our costume department as well as our junior productions in various roles. In addition, she came up with the name for our inaugural Cabaret Festival in 2007 “Mechelec” being a combination of the words Mechanics and Electra Street. Apart from this, Anna was a much loved mentor and friend to all that passed through our doors, whether a performer, volunteer or management member. Her enthusiasm and love of theatre was infectious and no more apparent than when she was directly involved in a theatre production, ten of which were with WMTC as follows:
‘Work in Progress’ Company Relaunch and Concert (2006 - Director); ‘SHOUT! The Legend of the Wild One’ (2006 - Director); ‘Into the Woods’ (2008 - Director); ‘That Musical Feeling’ Concert (2010 - Director); ‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’ (2010 - Cast Member “Muriel”); ‘DUSTY - The Original Pop Diva’ (2011 - Director); ‘Red, Hot and COLE’ (2012 - Director); ‘Sweet Charity’ (2013 - Cast Member); ‘Urinetown’ (2013 - Director); ‘WMTC’s 10th Anniversary Concert’ (2017 - Director).
Anna will be incredibly missed by the WMTC family and we thank her with endless love for everything that she has imparted to all of us, as well as to Melbourne’s theatre community.
Our heartfelt condolences, thoughts, and love to Marra’s family and friends.
Vale our ‘Mamma Marra’
4 weeks ago
