The Origins of BAM Entertainment...
BAM Entertainment is owned and operated by Chris Middlebrook. Chris hails from Sheffield, England (best known as the setting for the film The Full Monty and hometown to Def Leppard, Robert Palmer, Human League and Sheffield Steel). He grew up in a theatrical family, often playing alongside his mother, father and brother in local productions. Chris graduated from Norton College in Sheffield while continuing to pursue theatre both as a hobby and professionally.
At 19, Chris became a founding member of Meadowhall Performers Company - the very first Equity-sponsored street theatre group in England. It was here that one of Chris's favorite characters, Clonky the Clown, was born. For four years, Chris wrote, directed, trained and performed with Meadowhall Performers Company, both in the UK and abroad. During breaks from the company, he also sang with a band travelling around European military bases.
In 1997, Chris joined Discovery Cruise Lines and became a hit on board the Discovery Sun. Chris joined Norwegian Cruise Lines in 1998 as a featured singer in the production shows (yes, glitter and feathers!). While working for NCL, Chris met his wife, Hannah, a Tulsa native and Holland Hall graduate ('93).
In 2000 Chris and Hannah were married at Trinity Church in Tulsa and moved to London. Chris attended Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts (Dame Judy Dench is President and Patron) and graduated from the prestigious Musical Theatre program. Before graduating, Chris was cast in an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, Whistle Down the Wind. Chris traveled the UK with two tours of Whistle finally landing in London's West End, England's Broadway, his life's ambition! His work in London included Romeo and Juliet - The Musical, Whistle Down the Wind, Shadowless, Beauty and the Beast and Blood Brothers among other productions. in 2006, Chris and his wife made the decision to return to Tulsa. Sun, room to wiggle and a nearly century-old family home called them to start a new life with their three boys in Oklahoma.
BAM Entertainment is the fulfillment of Chris's long-held dream to provide custom entertainment solutions for those with vision. "BAM" not only brings life to Chris's desire to wow his clients but also pays homage to his mother, Barbara Ann Middlebrook, without whose support and encouragement Chris wouldn't have ventured into professional entertainment.
Chris can be heard on local radio and has made appearances for Light Opera Oklahoma and the Tulsa PAC's Brown Bag It concert series. Chris was the emcee for the Philbrook Wine Experience's 2010 Wine Auction, worked with Tulsa Public Schools & TPS and summer camps over the past 3 yearsand was an integral part of the entertainment in the Kids Tent at the 2010 and 2011 Oktoberfest (and has just been hired for 2012) with his science shows, traditional European Punch & Judy puppet shows and Circus performances. Chris is also a regular performer at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame. Chris took his exciting acting classes to Owasso for the first time in January, 2011 and these classes are now a regular fixture with OCT. In November of 2011, Chris joined Tulsa Project Theater and played Horton in Seussical the Musical. This was followed by playing John Paul in the world premiere of "Guess Who's Coming to Seder" for TPT in 2012 and Eddie/Dr Scott in Rocky Horror this September.
2012 has been a bumper year for BAM, as Chris has started to hire performers for the upcoming season.
At 19, Chris became a founding member of Meadowhall Performers Company - the very first Equity-sponsored street theatre group in England. It was here that one of Chris's favorite characters, Clonky the Clown, was born. For four years, Chris wrote, directed, trained and performed with Meadowhall Performers Company, both in the UK and abroad. During breaks from the company, he also sang with a band travelling around European military bases.
In 1997, Chris joined Discovery Cruise Lines and became a hit on board the Discovery Sun. Chris joined Norwegian Cruise Lines in 1998 as a featured singer in the production shows (yes, glitter and feathers!). While working for NCL, Chris met his wife, Hannah, a Tulsa native and Holland Hall graduate ('93).
In 2000 Chris and Hannah were married at Trinity Church in Tulsa and moved to London. Chris attended Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts (Dame Judy Dench is President and Patron) and graduated from the prestigious Musical Theatre program. Before graduating, Chris was cast in an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, Whistle Down the Wind. Chris traveled the UK with two tours of Whistle finally landing in London's West End, England's Broadway, his life's ambition! His work in London included Romeo and Juliet - The Musical, Whistle Down the Wind, Shadowless, Beauty and the Beast and Blood Brothers among other productions. in 2006, Chris and his wife made the decision to return to Tulsa. Sun, room to wiggle and a nearly century-old family home called them to start a new life with their three boys in Oklahoma.
BAM Entertainment is the fulfillment of Chris's long-held dream to provide custom entertainment solutions for those with vision. "BAM" not only brings life to Chris's desire to wow his clients but also pays homage to his mother, Barbara Ann Middlebrook, without whose support and encouragement Chris wouldn't have ventured into professional entertainment.
Chris can be heard on local radio and has made appearances for Light Opera Oklahoma and the Tulsa PAC's Brown Bag It concert series. Chris was the emcee for the Philbrook Wine Experience's 2010 Wine Auction, worked with Tulsa Public Schools & TPS and summer camps over the past 3 yearsand was an integral part of the entertainment in the Kids Tent at the 2010 and 2011 Oktoberfest (and has just been hired for 2012) with his science shows, traditional European Punch & Judy puppet shows and Circus performances. Chris is also a regular performer at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame. Chris took his exciting acting classes to Owasso for the first time in January, 2011 and these classes are now a regular fixture with OCT. In November of 2011, Chris joined Tulsa Project Theater and played Horton in Seussical the Musical. This was followed by playing John Paul in the world premiere of "Guess Who's Coming to Seder" for TPT in 2012 and Eddie/Dr Scott in Rocky Horror this September.
2012 has been a bumper year for BAM, as Chris has started to hire performers for the upcoming season.