Schools on Stage

Happy Rehearsal Campers at Ringwood

Struggling to get your cast focused? Perhaps the solution is go bush.

Production camps mean long days, hard work and very little sleep, but they can fire charge your rehearsal. In Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, Ringwood Secondary College has held an annual production camp since the 1980s. Lucy Graham visited this year’s camp to find out why they do it.

Music Theatre Guild of Victoria Awards for Excellence 2011 Junior Section

NOMINATIONS

Junior Production of the Year

The Witches of Eastwick, Ivanhoe Grammar School – Ridgeway Campus

Little Shop of Horrors, Leibler Yavneh College

Seussical – The Musical, Christian College Geelong Jesus Christ Superstar, Notre Dame College

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Emmaus College Performing Arts

The Mikado, Scotch College in conjunction with Presbyterian Ladies’ College

Godspell

The McDonald College (NSW).

Oh no! Not Godspell again!

Hasn’t every school done a production since it premiered in Sydney 40 years ago?

How to make it fresh for today’s audiences?

In The McDonald College presentation, the Musical Theatre Stream of Years 10 – 12, with some experience gaining exposure from the Years 7 – 9 group, Director / Choreographer Dolores Dunbar cleverly returned to the original, successful concept - simplicity.

Dusty at St Vincent’s College Potts Point (NSW).

Right in the heart of cosmopolitan Victoria Street Potts Point, spanning the immense block from Challis Avenue to Tusculum Street, is Australia’s oldest school, St Vincent’s College. The College Hall is one of the original properties built by the Sisters of Charity, who founded the College in 1858, a Dowager of polished woods, period light fittings and painted curlicues. But gloriously, for one week in May 2011, she is transformed into Dusty - The Original Pop Diva.

Queensland Theatre Company calls for youth talent.

Following the launch of its Season 2012, Queensland Theatre Company is calling for tomorrow’s talent, today, with the announcement of the inaugural QTC Youth Ensemble Program and a call for auditions.

The QTC Youth Ensemble is a year-long program, created by QTC Artistic Director Wesley Enoch, to find and foster Queensland’s stage stars of the future, focusing on nurturing the talents of Queensland’s high school students.

Children of Eden

St Andrew’s Cathedral School (NSW) Parade Theatre, March 2011.

Director: Huw Belling. Musical Director: Chris Belshaw. Choreographer: Patricia Cotter. Sound: Coda Audio Services

AIPAH students shoot ‘Phineas & Ferb Fan Spot’ for The Disney Channel.

Nineteen students from AIPAH (Australian International Performing Arts High) were recently given the exciting opportunity to work with The Disney Channel on a fan spot for the cartoon program Phineas & Ferb.

Barking Gecko premieres The Amber Amulet

At the premiere of Barking Gecko's (WA) latest production, an adaptation of Craig Silvey’s short story The Amber Amulet, author, Craig Silvey addressed the opening night crowd, “At Barking Gecko I have always felt in the safest of hands and I think this beautiful show speaks for itself. Perth is tremendously lucky to have John Sheedy.”

Fairfax Festival 2011 Countdown

One month to go until the 15th annual Fairfax Festival – October 25 to 28, 2011.

123 participants... 18 leaders... 14 artists... four days and one gala performance.

The countdown to the longest running festival of its type in Australia has begun!

With groups travelling from Mount Eliza, Red Cliffs, Swan Hill, Balranald, Tooleybuc, Manangatang as well as participants from the Swan Hill Specialist School and the Swan Hill Aboriginal Health Services, the 2011 festival will be the biggest yet.

Chicago - Carey Senior School - April 2011.

Chicago opened at Carey Baptist Grammar School and played to sell-out houses.  A cast of 53 performers brought this darkly humorous and extremely clever show to life with the aid of professional lighting, sound and choreography.  The cast learned 20 dance numbers under the watchful eye of Choreographer Lisa Callaghan and guest choreographers Dana Jollyand Kelly Aykers(So You Think You Can Dance).