Shar Shamai

Musical Theatre Creative | Vocal Coach

For almost a decade, I have been trying to find balance between the four main forces that shape my professional life - London, Israel, creation, and teaching. Yet my work has always revolved around refining the ability to tell a story and to touch others through the voice, through text, and through music.

After completing a Master’s degree in Classical Singing at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, I travelled to England to study Musical Theatre at GSA. Since then, I have founded a theatre collective in London, written several musicals staged in both England and Israel, joined the faculty of numerous academic institutions in the city, worked as a vocal coach on commercial productions, established a network of Israeli musical-theatre creators, trained singers performing on some of the largest stages, mentored voice teachers in their work with students - and much more.

You are welcome to dive with me into some of my main fields of practice -

MY WRITING

As a librettist and lyricist, Shar is currently developing several original pieces in Israel. SONIA premiered in December 2023 at Haifa Theatre and the Israeli Opera House, marking a significant milestone in Israeli musical theatre. His second project, Manhood Part 1, recently had a workshop at The Cameri Theatre, which Shar also directed.

He is an active participant in London’s prestigious BML (Book, Music, Lyrics) program for emerging musical theatre writers. His latest large-scale commission, GRACE - a 15-minute oratorio for orchestra, choir, and two soloists, commissioned by The Revolution Orchestra as a musical response to Bach - is due to premiere in November 2025.

In addition to that Shar writes and composes in various styles and genres, in Hebrew Shar is also a published poet. A short film based on a cycle of three poems by Shar was commissioned to be premiered at Worchester’s Loud & Queer Festival 2023.

הדרכה קולית

שיעור שבועי קבוע או שיעורים מזדמנים בהתאם לצרכי ויכולת התלמיד/ה

אני מלמד במספר מוסדות גבוהים למשחק בלונדון - PPA, URDANG, ICMT, LSC, CityLit ובקרוב אתחיל גם באקדמיה למוסיקה ולמחול בירושלים. רבים מתלמידי משתלבים בתעשיית מחזות הזמר והמשחק המקומית באנגליה ואני גם עובד מרחוק עם תלמידים שעובדים בתעשייה בישראל.

הקול האנושי תמיד ריתק אותי, ומאז שאני זוכר את עצמי - אני לומד עליו ועל אספקטים שונים בהפקה קולית. בשנים האחרונות לימדתי סדנאות בהולנד ובאיטליה, כמו גם בתל אביב ובירושלים. הדרכתי קולית את המחזמר "מלצרית" שעלה בקאמרי, "סוניה" בתיאטרון חיפה, העברתי סדנאות באיגוד השחקנים הישראלי שח"ם, בתיאטרון האימפרוב ואני גם עובד כמדריך למורים לפיתוח קול.

אני כאן לכל דבר ועניין, מוזמנים לפנות!

MY WRITING

Librettist, Lyricist, Composer and Poet.

As a librettist and lyricist, Shar is currently developing several original pieces in Israel. SONIA premiered in December 2023 at Haifa Theatre and the Israeli Opera House, marking a significant milestone in Israeli musical theatre. His second project, Manhood Part 1, recently had a workshop at The Cameri Theatre, which Shar also directed.

He is an active participant in London’s prestigious BML (Book, Music, Lyrics) program for emerging musical theatre writers. His latest large-scale commission, GRACE - a 15-minute oratorio for orchestra, choir, and two soloists, commissioned by The Revolution Orchestra as a musical response to Bach - is due to premiere in November 2025.

In addition to that Shar writes and composes in various styles and genres, in Hebrew Shar is also a published poet. A short film based on a cycle of three poems by Shar was commissioned to be premiered at Worchester’s Loud & Queer Festival 2023.

THE jeWish CABARET

Shar co-founded the JEWish cabaret in 2016 together with David Djemal.

Shar wrote, composed, directed and produced several shows under the umbrella of The JEWish CABARET, a theatre group which aims to create innovative, socially aware, and entertaining music and theatre productions that challenge perceptions and stereotypes through humour and satire, while drawing from our Jewish and LGBTQ+ identity and culture.

The Group's Musical 'Café Named Desire' has been invited to tour in Israel after a successful production in London. With his theater group, Shahar he is currently working on a new original musical called Stages, which deals with the experiences of immigrants from different backgrounds in London’s performing arts industry.

Angela's Pen

A new cabaret song!

Written by - Shachar Shamai

Arranged by - Anna Senger

Performed by - Monika Lopuszynska & Alexandra Placzek

SAY SOMETHING

A stand-alone musical theatre ballad

I'M GONNA HAVE A BABY

A stand-alone musical theatre comedy song

EIGHT GAY JEWS IN LONDON

Written for the musical DATE.COM (Waterloo East theatre)

FROM THE PRESS:

"It is clear that Djemal and Shamai understand the ingredients of a successful musical."

Sepy Baghaei - London Pub Theatres Review

"Risky subject matter is niether new or scary for Shamai, who has been writing such songs as "Everybody Love a Dick Pic", "Eight Gay Jews in London"..."

Jennifer Greenberg - Jerusalem Post

Vocal Coaching

As a teacher Shar focuses on finding an ideal posture for singing, engaging body parts that are not creating restrictions on the throat and working with the whole body to find grounding and vocal freedom.

Since graduation GSA Shar's been teaching at PPA, ICMT, Urdang academy and other pre-academy schools such as TheatreTrain, Love Theatre Arts and was invited to teach and lecture in Israel, The Netherland and Italy. Meeting different kinds of students with different types of strengths and weaknesses and familiarizing himself with vast amount of repertoire.

Shar teaches singing technique in group sessions for musical theatre students as well actors with much less experience in singing. He teaches private singing students from first year to graduating – preparing them for auditions and improving their technique.

STUDENTS RECOMMEND:

Anna Oggero - singer, actress, dancer

“Shar made me improve as a singer as never before. His knowledge and experience make him a wonderful teacher.

He is passionate about theatre, and has so many talents that really make him a well rounded theatre professional.”

performer.annaoggero.com

Ashley Racov - Actress, singer, producer

I have had over 25 years of vocal training and for a long time I felt that there were many doors that I could not open vocally. In the 3 years that I have been trained by Shar, I have managed to achieve what I thought I was incapable of and more! Not only that, but his lessons are fun and encouraging and full of knowledge that inspires you to keep working. I am so thankful that he is now my teacher!

@ashleyracov