Schools on Stage

The Addams Family

John Curtin College of the Arts

By Marshall Brickman, Rick Elice and Andrew Lippa. Directed by Stephen Carr. The Ellen Street Theatre, John Curtin College of the Arts, Fremantle, WA. Mar 26 - Mar 29, 2025

Anything Goes

By Cole Porter, P.G. Wodehouse, Guy Bolton, Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. Directed by Tyler Jones. The Judith Cottier Theatre, Perth College, Mt Lawley, WA. Mar 19-22, 2025

Perth College, equipped with its own professional standard theatre, always produces a good show, and their latest offering, the classic musical comedy Anything Goes, was well received by its audience. With high production values and a highly motivated cast, this was a show that sparkled with fun.

SPARK2025

The 2025 School Performing Arts Resource Kit (SPARK) is out now.

The free on-line magazine includes a comprehensive national guide to shows that are available for school students for excursion and incursion.

Plus specials features to assist teachers staging a show with chapters on Sound and Light, Choosing a Show, Costumes, Props, Sets and Education Resources.

SPARK is available year round at www.stagewhispers.com.au/spark

Features include:

How to create a ensemble.

High School Musical Brilliance

Leah Crockett explains how Inspired Productions helped a high school take a giant leap in quality, scale and s

New York Educator Scholarship

Drama Teacher Wins New York Trip

A passionate drama teacher and director at Viewbank College in Melbourne, Pasquale Bartalotta (pictured above), has been awarded the highly coveted Travel Gang Theatre Educator Scholarship.

The prize will take him to New York City, where he will gain invaluable experiences that will shape his work as an educator and mentor. Pasquale was  selected from 112 applicants vying for the scholarship.

Arsenic and Old Lace

By Joseph Kesselring. St Mark’s Anglican School. Directed by Scott Robertson. Barbara Godwin Performing Arts Complex, St Mark’s Anglican School, Hillarys, WA. Oct 24 - 25, 2024

This well-known 1942 black comedy was performed with enthusiasm and flair by Year 10 Drama Students from St Mark’s Anglican School. 

Ninth Annual Junior Theatre Festival Australia Returns To Newcastle

Festival to Showcase New Broadway Junior Musicals and Feature Global Theatre Experts

The Junior Theatre Festival Australia (JTF Australia) is set to return to the Civic Theatre Newcastle from October 25-26, 2024 for its Ninth Annual Festival, bringing together some of the best young musical theatre talent from across Australia and New Zealand. This year’s festival promises to be the most spectacular yet, featuring exciting performances, workshops, and special appearances by some of the industry’s top talent.

Queens

By Kristen Doherty. St Marks Anglican Community School. Directed by Chris McRae. Barbara Godwin Performing Arts Complex, St Marks Anglican Community School, Whitfords WA. 12-13 September, 2024

The Lion King Jr

By Elton John, Tim Rice, Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi. Kalamunda Senior High School. Directed by Anna Head. Kalamunda Performing Arts Centre, WA. Aug 30-31, 2024

Kalamunda Senior High School’s production of Disney The Lion King Jr, was a huge production that featured a cast of 92, hundreds of costumes, contribution from multiple departments within the school and parent involvement. Playing for a very short season, the final day included three public performances to capacity audiences.

Bring It On

By Tom Kitt, Linn Manuel Miranda, Jeff Whitty and Amanda Green. Mercedes College Perth. Directed by Kathleen Cox. The Regal Theatre, Subiaco, WA. Jul 26-28, 2024

Mercedes College presented the vibrant “cheer” musical Bring It On, at The Regal Theatre, in a well-directed, highly exuberant show, with outstanding production values, that showcased the talents of the college while giving the audience a great time.