Schools on Stage

Jesus Christ Superstar

Scotch College Student Production

Fisher Chapel, Scotch College, Adelaide

July 29-August 1, 2015

Popstars! The 90’s Musical

By Neil Gooding and Nicholas Christo

St Patrick’s College, Shorncliffe QLD

Popstars! was staged for the first time this year at nearly 20 schools across Australia and New Zealand. It is a celebration of the great decade of the 90’s driven by a soundtrack by artists such as The Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys, N Sync, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey, MC Hammer and many more.

It’s a battle of ‘Boyband v Girlband’ to win the state talent show.

The Importance of Being Earnest

By Oscar Wilde. Directed by Kristen Twynam-Perkins. Helena College (WA). June 18-20 2015

A very ambitious project for a Year 11 Drama class, Helena College's production of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest featured every member of the class.

Designed and set with a 1950s Mad Men influence, the students thrived on the challenge and the show was beautifully received.

Noah Watkins and Stefan Brown worked very nicely together as Algernon and Jack respectively, showing wonderful charm and wit (although perhaps a little too pacy in Act One).

Jesus Christ Superstar

The senior students of Scotch College Adelaide have taken on a substantial musical theatre challenge this year. Not content with simply studying Jesus Christ Superstar as part of their theatre education, they have selected the rock opera to perform as a school production. Lesley Reed reports.

Urinetown The Musical

Music and Lyrics by Mark Hollmann. Book and Lyrics by: Greg Kotis. Rosny College. Rosny College Theatre, Tasmania. Director: Darren Sangwell. 21 – 30 May 2015

Producing Urinetownthe Musicalmust have been a gift for director Darren Sangwell. College musicals provide an ever-renewable resource of talented performers of the same age cohort, with energy to burn and talent to spare. Teacher Sangwell had an enjoyable job shepherding this crew through a wonderful production.

Annie

Book: Thomas Meehan. Music: Charles Strouse. Lyrics: Martin Charnin. Coomera Anglican College, Gold Coast.Director: Kirsty Terry. 30thApril – 2ndMay, 2015.

I have seen countless professional and community productions of Annie, I have even directed it, so I went along to see this presentation expecting just another version. Boy! Was I wrong! This was possibly the best offering I have experienced!

The Laramie Project - 10 Years Later

Directed by Kristen Twynam-Perkins. Helena College Performing Arts Centre.

A very challenging text for Year 12 Performers, The Laramie Project - 10 Years Later, was superbly performed by Helena College's Year 12 Drama Class, in a very mature and cleverly staged production.

Director Kristen Twynam-Perkins has coached her young charges well and they performed with a sophistication and understanding that belies their youth - and it is easy to forget that these young performers are only 16 or 17 years of age.

SPARK: Free School Performing Arts Magazine

Stage Whispers is excited to release its second edition of SPARK.

Click HERE to read it.

The School Performing Arts Resource Kit is an electronic magazine providing tips on all aspects of putting plays and musicals on stage.

There are sections on Costumes/Props, Sound and Light, Finding Scripts and more.

Plus there are comprehensive listings for shows that are available for tour to schools or excursions in all states of Australia.

Singing Out Against Cyber Bullying

CONNECTED, a new Australian musical aimed at teaching kids about the dangers of cyber bullying, is about to tour NSW schools. Writer Craig Christie speaks to Neil Litchfield about the musical.

OMG! LOL! Teenage kids today can’t function without being connected to the internet: chatting with their friends via facebook, instagram, twitter, skype or snapchat and texting or posting selfies via their mobile phones.

Little Shop of Horrors

By Alan Menken and Howard Ashman. Directed by Kerri Hilton. Musical Direction by Alicia Walter. Xanten Centre, St Norbert College, Queens Park, WA. 25-28 March 2015.

St Norbert College staged this quirky little musical in their own theatre, with great style. A smaller than usual cast for a school musical, it was a tight production that highlighted some excellent emerging talent.