A Remarkable Collaboration between Guildford School of Acting, the Institute of Sound Recording, and the University of Surrey's Department of Music and Media.
Following the success of the cast recording of Grab Me a Gondola in 2025, students from Guildford School of Acting's BA (Hons) Musical Theatre students, in partnership with BMus Music and Sound Recording (Tonmeister) students from the Music and Media department at the University of Surrey have once again joined forces to produce a professional cast recording, this time of the Broadway musical High Button Shoes.
The project continues a valued collaboration between the two departments, bringing together performers, musicians, producers and sound engineers in a professional recording environment. Through this interdisciplinary partnership, students gain practical experience of the processes involved in creating a cast album while developing skills that reflect current industry practice.
Premiering on Broadway in 1947, High Button Shoes features music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Sammy Cahn and a book by Stephen Longstreet. Known for its energetic score, colourful characters and comedic storytelling, the musical provided an exciting opportunity for students to capture a classic work of musical theatre in the recording studio.
For the BA (Hons) Musical Theatre Class of 2026, the recording offered a unique chance to preserve their work on the production while broadening their understanding of studio performance. Unlike live theatre, cast recording sessions require a particular focus on vocal detail, consistency and musical precision, encouraging performers to explore new approaches to storytelling through sound.
Working alongside the cast, students from the BMus Music and Sound Recording (Tonmeister) were responsible for recording, editing, mixing and mastering the album. Their technical expertise and close collaboration with the performers ensured that the energy and character of the production were successfully translated into a professional-quality recording.
As well as producing a lasting record of the production, the project highlights the benefits of collaborative working across disciplines and showcases the exceptional talent of students from across the University of Surrey.
This 2026 production blends the talents of performers and sound engineers to bring this vibrant and tuneful Musical Theatre score to life. Under the guidance of the BA (Hons) Musical Theatre Programme Leader Stewart Nicholls and Christopher Wiley (Head of Music and Media), colleagues, and industry professionals, our students have demonstrated exceptional dedication, artistry, and technical prowess in every aspect of the project. Chris Wiley who also served as assistant producer for the album says:
Congratulations and thanks to the extraordinarily talented GSA cast of final-year BA Musical Theatre students; to their director and producer for the album, the amazing Stewart Nicholls; to Musical Director Brady Mould and the score's arranger Rowland Lee performing on our two Steinway pianos, together with James Armstrong on bass and Richard Burden on drums/percussion; to Racheal Owens, who patiently waited in the studio throughout the recording sessions, always ready to step in at a moment's notice and offer valuable last-minute vocal coaching to the cast; to Tim Hendy Pianos Ltd for expertly tuning our Steinways in unison on both days of the recording; and to Gabe Smith, the final-year Tonmeister student whose sheer hard work, unflappable demeanour, and skilful leadership of the student sound engineering team ensured a productive weekend's recording.
GSA congratulates all students and staff involved in the recording of High Button Shoes. Their dedication, creativity and professionalism have resulted in a recording that celebrates both a beloved musical and the strength of collaboration across the University community. The recording will be released by Stage Door Records in the coming months. Keep an eye out on our website and social media! Photo credit: Chris Wiley
