Welcome!Welcome to the August edition of "Upstaged". We're very excited to announce our first show for 2018! If you haven't guessed yet, it's the fun family musical, 'Seussical', to be directed by Ainsley Corbett. The show is based on the works of Dr Seuss and features some of his well-loved characters. If you're not familiar with the show, you can read about Seussical, as well as audition details right here on the website. A wonderful time was had by all those who attended our annual social event, the Gala Arts Gatsby Ball! The Surf Club Restaurant made for a lovely intimate venue, decked out in elegant black and gold decor. Huge thanks to Lauren Corbett and her team of helpers for decorating the venue so beautifully. And thanks to all the guests who all dressed up and looked fabulous! If you didn't get to go to the ball and want to see what you missed, check out the web gallery, for some wonderful photos, kindly provided by Don Hunt. The last couple of months have been busy for all at CHMCC! Auditions were held in July for our next production, 'The Sound of Music'. This was an extensive process, with over a hundred children to be seen, and 50 adults, so as you can imagine, the panel had a huge job. Just take a look at the cast list! Congratulations to all. We'd also like to thank all those who supported our activities at the Jetty Theatre Open Day and Fundraiser in June. Almost $4000 was raised on the day, which will go towards improvements at the theatre, benefiting all user groups, including CHMCC. Scroll down to the Diary dates below to find out what's coming up in the next weeks and months, including our A.G.M., and another performing arts outlet for young people locally, called 'Theatre with Bite'. Di O'Ferrall, Secretary From the PresidentWell here we are after another successful show season and I would like to sincerely thank everyone involved with the production of Wicked. Thank you also to everyone who came to see the show and for supporting CHMCC. The cast of Sound of Music has been finalised and rehearsals are well underway. We were amazed with the turn out of children for auditions and I would like to thank them all for preparing so well for this process. The cast are busy learning the music, choreography and their lines for this classic show. Tickets are on sale so tell everyone to get in early to secure seats for this production. The Gala Arts Gatsby Ball was a wonderful and well attended event. Those who attended all got into the spirit of the occasion by dressing up and congratulations to those who won prizes on the night! I would sincerely like to thank Lauren Corbett and her team of helpers for the organisation of this amazing night - it wouldn't have happened without them. If you missed out, then look out for the 2018 ball and get along. Our Annual General Meeting will take place on Sunday 27th August at Bishop Druitt College. There will be a welcome BBQ from 11:30am and the meeting will commence at Midday. Please come along to have your say in the company and vote for your committee. Tim From the DirectorRehearsals are progressing at a great rate thanks to all the cast , Tim Egan, Maureen Burgess and Donna Fairall. The Nuns are sounding awesome and send chills down my spine whenever they sing. All the cast are working out well and although it is early days in rehearsal I can already see that this is going to be an exceptional show. Currently we are investigating innovative ideas for sets which will provide a new dimension and enjoyment for our patrons. Publicity and T shirts are progressing thanks to Shalla Thomas and Donna and the input from our junior members has been fabulous. I would like to send out a special thank you to all the parents who have taken the time to be involved by delivering their children to rehearsals and making sure lines and songs are learnt. Without your support this would be a far more difficult show to produce. To one and all thank you for your cooperation and I just can't wait for the show to start. Judi Meet the Cast!Meet the Von Trapp Children! (photography: Donna Fairall) Gretl – Isabella Matthews and Amelie Ruge Marta – Lillian Cruwys and Zali Mcleod Kurt – Sam Melinz and Charlie Egan Brigitte – Savannah Penny and Tabitha Follett (not pictured) Louisa – Courtney Martyn and Grace McCormack Friedrich – Sam Booth and James Tune Liesl – Amy Hancock and Emma Hindmarsh Details of which children are performing when are available here on our website. If you want to see a particular child or set of children, please make sure you check the cast schedule before you book. 2018 SeasonOur first show of 2018 will be the family friendly fun musical, 'Seussical'! 'Seussical' is based on the works of Dr. Seuss and weaves together his most famous tales and characters from at least fifteen of his books. The show follows the adventures of Horton, an elephant who one day hears voices coming from a speck of dust. He soon discovers that within this tiny speck exists the smallest planet in the universe, where there live a tiny race of creatures known as 'Whos'. Although ridiculed by the other animals in the Jungle of Nool for believing in something he cannot see, Horton stubbornly persists in his belief that the Whos exist. Traveling everywhere from the Jungle of Nool to McEligott’s Pool, some of the characters fall in love, some have desperate adventures, and some even save the world! Information about the production and performance dates are available right here on the website on the 2018 Season page. For details of auditions, characters and vocal ranges, click here. 2017 A.G.M.Please be advised that CHMCC's Annual General Meeting will be held on Sunday August 27th, 12:00 midday at Bishop Druitt College. All members and friends are invited to come and join us for a sausage sizzle before the meeting, starting at 11:30. Members in good financial standing may vote at the AGM. All positions on the executive (President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary) plus 6 ordinary committee positions are all open for election. Please consider nominating yourself or someone else to get involved with the day-to-day running of the Company. Many hands make light work, and there is always a need for help, and a fresh set of hands! You can download a nomination form here. Nomination forms must be received by the Secretary no later than August 20th. You can email your form to us or mail it to us at PO Box 1466, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450. Even if you don't want to nominate for committee, please do join us for the meeting. Venue: Bishop Druitt College, 111 North Boambee Road, Coffs Harbour. Music Block (at the rear of the campus - follow the smell of sausages sizzling!) Diary DatesA double bill from CHATS in October: 'Frazzled' 7th-14th and 'Love Letters' 13th-20th October Theatre with BiteTheatre with BITE is a new performing arts option in Coffs Harbour – the focus is on skills development, so you don’t have to be experienced to be involved (though people with a background in theatre, dance, or music are always welcome – it helps beginners get their feet to work with others with a bit more experience). We have the beginnings of a cast for our next show but there are quite a few roles left to be filled. Maybe we’re looking for you? There are NO auditions – if you show up regularly, can read the script, and participate willingly, you’re in. The show is true ensemble – everyone gets their moment to shine. Getaway! is Australian (no accent required), set on a cruise ship in the 1980s, and uses classic tunes from that era. We’re currently needing stowaways, a cruise director, a gambler, a doctor, show girl dancers, cheerleaders, cunning kids! It’s a fun musical comedy where you don't actually to have to sing to be in it!! Some roles don’t require singing and/or dancing. Perhaps you’re an actor who’d like to try a musical but you’re convinced you can’t sing or act – we’d love to hear from you. Rehearsals are Wednesday early evening – 5 to 6:30 pm. Some people start a bit later because of work commitments, but that’s fine because the school-aged participants can work on their things for the first half hour. Show dates depend on finalising the venue, but will be no earlier than mid-February and won’t overlap with other productions. Curious? Contact Sue at bitetheatre@outlook.com or 0410 629 739. Please note BITE is not affiliated with CHMCC. Please direct all enquiries to the email or phone number provided here. What else is on?
Farewell to Wicked! Courtney Campbell as Glinda, Jade Naidu as Elphaba, and the ensemble cast of Wicked.
Photo: Rebeccalynne Photography. Welcome!
Welcome to the June edition of "Upstaged". And what a month May was! 19 performances of 'Wicked', 14 of them sold out! Our thanks go out to everyone who worked so hard, both on stage and behind the scenes to make a successful show come together. And especially to all those of you who came to see the show! It was heartening to see that many people came more than once, wanting to see both the lead principals and the understudies. Thank you to all those who sent wonderful feedback and kind messages via Facebook and email.
If you didn't get to see the show and want to see what you missed, check out the web gallery, for some wonderful production photos, courtesy of Bec Elliott. And as usual, we're gearing up for our next production, Rodgers & Hammerstein's 'The Sound of Music', with auditions to be held over the weekend of July 1st/2nd. Scroll down to read more about the auditions and hear from the Director, Judi Williams. Before that though, CHMCC will be taking part in the annual Jetty Theatre Open Day and Fundraiser, to be held on Sunday June 25th. We will be holding an auditions masterclass, a vocal workshop and a recital; scroll down or visit the Open Day page to see the full schedule. We're also very excited to announce plans for our annual social event: the Gala Arts Gatsby Ball! This year we will be holding a 1920's themed dinner and dance at the Park Beach Surf Club. For more information and to buy tickets, scroll down or just click on the link. Di O'Ferrall, Secretary From the President
Well, what a sensational season of 'Wicked' we have had. I would like to thank everyone who came to see the show and support CHMCC over the past month. I would like to sincerely thank our co-directors Peter Hodges and Dee Tune for their vision, tireless efforts and the final realisation of this production on stage. They have continued the amazing success of the company and we hope to see them back again for another production. Personally I enjoyed every moment of working with them as Music Director, along with every single hard working member of the cast, crew and production team. Bravo!
The Jetty Theatre Open Day is on Sunday June 25th and it would be great to see a big crowd there again this year. The events will include various sales of different items including costumes, a vocal recital, audition masterclass and an open rehearsal of CHATS latest venture, Legally Blonde Junior. Please consider coming along and supporting your local live theatre venue. All money raised goes back into the theatre trust fund. Planning for our next production, 'The Sound of Music' is well underway. Judi our Director has been working hard alongside our Production Manager Donna to get things happening. The most important part of this next production is the date of auditions! They will be held at Bishop Druitt College on Saturday July 1st (children) and Sunday July 2nd (adults). All information is on the Auditions page, and you might even consider coming to the audition masterclass on June 25th at the Theatre Open Day to get some inside tips! Tim From the Directors
The photo says it all - we opened to rave reviews and amazing ticket sales.
Since Dave Tune has been recording ticket sales (from 2013/14), Wicked is now only behind Mary Poppins in total percentage of seat occupancy, which is brilliant. We had a total of 14 out of 19 shows sell out, and 13 of those in a row! We couldn’t be happier with our cast. Courtney Campbell as Glinda and Jade Naidu as Elphaba have wowed audiences as have their respective understudies Emma and Katie Goddard. There have been so many wonderful comments about the show and the professionalism of all involved, about the costuming, the dynamism of the set, the choreography and that the cast are tight with all the movement… all incredibly positive and are a true credit to each and every one in the cast and crew. Once again Tim Egan and his band of merry musicians have taken the show and lifted it beyond our wildest dreams. We knew this show was vocally challenging and so much of it depends on the music, but I don’t think we quite grasped the amount of underscoring there truly was. Tim’s hard work, dedication and finesse in working with the cast to make sure the timing was spot on (and the flexibility he shows in conducting the band when it isn’t) is one of the most brilliant factors that has contributed to the show’s success. We are so proud of everyone involved and want to thank the committee for believing that we could manage to down scale this spectacular extravaganza that is 'Wicked' to fit it into our intimate Jetty Memorial Theatre and still do justice to the show, the story and the unbelievable talent we are blessed with from crew, cast, and musicians. Our belief that we could do this and our desire to ensure that we do it the best of our abilities has been the driving force for us for the last 2 years. And we’re still friends… Wicked is a creative success and a ticket sales success, which will hopefully make it a financial success for CHMCC. Not bad for a couple of first time directors. Peter Hodges and Dee Tune Auditions
And we're off, with just a short break before auditions begin for our next production, 'The Sound of Music'. Full information on performance dates, roles available, vocal ranges etc is available on the Auditions page. Don't forget to check the FAQ page as well.
Opportunities for men and women, and children from 6-16 (double cast). We look forward to seeing many of you there! The Sound of Music
Hi To Everyone
After the amazing success of Wicked (all credit to Directors, Cast and Crew) I am so excited to be preparing for our next production, 'The Sound of Music'. I know with all the wonderful talent available in Coffs Harbour we will get an incredible cast. For those of you who don’t know me well I have directed several shows for the Company including 'Oliver,' 'The King and I' , 'Oklahoma' and ironically my first production was 'The Sound of Music' so I am very familiar with the script etc. My Production Manager, Donna Fairall has been keeping you up to date on social media and I advise anyone interested to check out the Auditions page for full details of the auditions. My Assistant Director Pam Lane and I are in the process of finalizing rehearsal schedules and audition details and are very eager to see you all on July 1st and 2nd. I am getting a lot of enquiries from junior members who are travelling to eisteddfods on the day and wanting pre-auditions. Currently I have arranged with the audition panel for a pre-audition on Monday 26th in the evening but there will be limited numbers that we can see on that night, so can I suggest that those wanting a pre-audition should contact me the week before to book a specific time. For juniors and parents of juniors I need to point out the specific requirements I will be looking for in auditions. The production will run for the whole of November with performances on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday matinee, Saturday evening and Sunday matinee. There will be an additional performance on the last Thursday night and the successful Von Trapp children will be alternated through these shows. Our rehearsals will be Monday nights, Wednesday nights and Sunday afternoons and all performers need to be available for each rehearsal. So if your child will be unavailable for those times ( i.e. for a birthday party or eisteddfod performance) I suggest you rethink your applications. We will be rehearsing from August right up until the show dates, and particularly in the last week all cast will be required for dress rehearsals and tech rehearsal most nights. We do endeavor to keep the night rehearsal brief for the children but that is not always possible so parents and children need to be prepared for this. Parents will also be required on a roster system to supervise children during the show. For auditions all children must be able to sing confidently and follow directions, as well as being well behaved and disciplined. The minimum age for children is 6 years old and there are no exceptions to this rule. Parents unless specifically rostered on, will not be present at rehearsals. It may seem that some of these requirements are harsh but having done the show before I am keen to make this an enjoyable experience for all concerned and to minimize the stress levels on our younger performers. Having said that I know this will be a fabulous experience for those who make the cast and I can’t wait to get started. We are so excited to seeing everyone at auditions and get this wonderful show happening. Judi Diary Dates
Jetty Theatre Open Day
This fun annual event features films and live performances in the auditorium, tours of the theatre, fun activities for children and a chance to get together and find out what’s happening in community theatre.
CHMCC will be involved in several of these activities. By popular demand, Tim Egan will be holding an audition masterclass again, and there will be a recital featuring John Greene and guests. There will also be a vocal workshop led by Maureen Burgess, and the chance to take home some costumes in the Big Costume Sale. Plus the usual stalls, sausage sizzle and events from other theatre users - come and be entertained for the day with just a gold coin donation. Gala Arts Ball
This year's social event will be a 1920's themed dinner and dance at the Surf Club, Park Beach.
Tickets are just $50 per head, and include dinner, a welcome drink and a varied program of music. Tickets for tables of 10, or individual seats, are available online at www.Trybooking.com/QHQL (there is a small service charge of 30c per ticket), or you can buy tickets from Maureen at the Lifeline Shop and pay by cash or cheque. So dig out your best 1920s suit or flapper dress and come on down and join in the fun! Bookings are essential for catering purposes. Tickets will not be available on the door. What else is on?Welcome!Welcome to the April blog and newsletter! As you can see the cast of Wicked have been enjoying themselves at rehearsal (but also working quite hard!) We can't wait to unveil our fabulous set and costumes and bring this exciting musical to audiences at the Jetty Theatre. If you haven't got your tickets yet, we suggest you get on over to the website and book, as they're selling fast. Please note the Jetty Theatre has changed their phone number. We apologise if you have had trouble getting through to the box office, but we were not notified of the change of number until after our publicity materials had gone to print. The new number is 6648 4930. If you've ever wondered how a show all comes together, this little video will give you a sneak peek behind the scenes! (With thanks to Jade Naidu) Read on for all the news from the Emerald City and a gallery of preview photos. From the PresidentWell the cast, crew and musicians for the upcoming production of "Wicked" are certainly working hard and it promises to be an absolute blockbuster. It is a demanding show vocally and in general physical terms and our cast are doing an incredibly admirable job to perfect each and every part. An email requesting ushers for the show has been sent, so if you are interested, please send a message to Shalla Thomas at gwandalan54@gmail.com . Tickets for the show are selling very well, with more than 1000 already sold. Be prepared and organise your tickets early, opening night has already sold out and I am sure that many more shows will do the same. Our Junior CHMCC committee has met on two occasions and are planning to have a membership drive over the coming months. This committee wants to hold events for students of high school ages to promote the performing arts. They are also hoping to hold a production of their own across the summer months, so watch this space for more news on that. If you know of anyone who might be interested in this group, please pass on this email address to contact the CHMCC Junior group: chmccjunior@gmail.com. Congratulations to CHATS on their season of "Wyrd Sisters", a thoroughly enjoyable show for all ages! Congratulations also to all of the young people who have been cast in "Legally Blonde", it is absolutely fantastic that there are opportunities for our up and coming actors, I look forward to seeing this production in July. Please note the date for this year's Jetty Theatre fundraiser, Sunday 25th June. This has been an extremely successful day in the past few years and monies raised go towards the maintenance and improvement of our much loved theatre. There will be an audition masterclass, goodies for sale, performances, a BBQ and tours of the theatre. Please put this date in your diaries and support our local theatre! Tim From the DirectorsHere we are, less than four weeks out from opening and we couldn’t be happier with the progress of this amazing show. We have finished all blocking so are in the fantastic position of being able to run large chunks and even full acts, adding the polish as we go. The cast have been working incredibly hard away from rehearsals and this shows, with most of the principals already working off script. The band got together for the first time on 10 April, with sitzprobe happening with the cast the following week. The shed boys have also been hard at work, with the set nearing completion. Some of the tricks have to be seen to be believed, so this show will be a must-see! The set construction team: L-R: Rex Madigan, Merv Allport, Neville Triplett and Kerry Melittas are tasked with making set designer David Tune's plans a reality - all in a really small shed! Our deep thanks go to Tim Egan and Alice Jamison for their musical hard work both at rehearsals and behind the scenes. The score is an incredibly difficult and intricate one and they have attacked it with professionalism and have immensely helped the cast make sense of it. Thanks also to the committee for their continued support, and to all the others working tirelessly behind the scenes to make this show a success. Ticket sales are already very strong, with approximately 25% of available tickets already sold. A special mention must be made of Julie Ross Dance Studio, who have purchased 81 tickets as a group booking to one of the Saturday night performances! Thanks for your support as always guys! Now is the time for everyone else to book, as some of the shows will certainly sell out. See you at the theatre during May! Til next time, Pete and Dee WickedSo with only weeks to go to opening night, we're all very excited! This is going to be a terrific show, and an opportunity to delight not only die hard fans but also many of you who haven't had the opportunity to see Wicked before. Check out the Wicked web gallery and be the first to see some of the amazing costumes! Photography by Rebeccalynne Photography. If you'd like to volunteer to help Front of House for Wicked, please contact Shalla Thomas. If you'd like to volunteer to help backstage for Wicked please contact Pam Lane. If you'd like to help plan this year's Gala Arts Ball, please contact Lauren Corbett. Auditions - The Sound of MusicAnd in other news we're pleased to announce audition dates for our November production of "The Sound of Music". Auditions will be held over the weekend of July 1st/2nd. Full information is available on the auditions page. Don't forget to check out the FAQ's! Our November production hardly needs an introduction, but if you're not familiar with 'The Sound of Music', you can read more about the show here. We will be holding auditions for 'The Sound of Music' over the weekend of July 1st/2nd. This is a great opportunity for men and women of all ages to get involved in this production; as well as the principal roles, (and an understudy for Maria), we will need a largish ensemble of nuns, soldiers, citizens etc. The von Trapp children will be double-cast, so we'll be looking to cast 14 children for these roles, so lots of opportunities for the youngsters as well. For full information about the roles and vocal ranges required, visit the auditions page. There is also an FAQ page which should answer any questions you may have. Diary DatesThis fun annual event is back in June. Be entertained with films and live performances in the auditorium, take a tour of the theatre and see who’s waiting in the wings! Meet your favourite actors and performers and learn what’s happening in the world of community theatre. CHMCC will be holding our popular audition masterclass again, plus a recital, a performance from CHMCC Junior, and the chance to take home some costumes! Plus the usual stalls, sausage sizzle and events from other theatre users - come and be entertained for the day with just a gold coin donation. CHATS Productions Inc presents July 20th - 30th , Jetty Memorial Theatre
L-R: Emma Goddard (Glinda Understudy), Courtney Campbell (Glinda), Jade Naidu (Elphaba) & Katie Goddard (Elphaba Understudy) Welcome!Here we are in February already, with rehearsals for Wicked under way, and goodness hasn't it been hot?! We're fortunate to be rehearsing in the air conditioning at Bishop Druitt but the cast has still been feeling the heat, just ask any of the dancers! We were glad to see a good turn out of our members for the auditions last month, as well as a goodly number of new faces, making for an extremely strong female contingent. Shown above are our Glinda and Elphaba, Courtney and Jade with their understudies, sisters Emma and Katie (who will perform the roles in two shows). We are pleased to announce that the show is now fully cast. You can see the full cast list here. You can also see the new Wicked poster for the first time! During the holidays we sponsored some of our younger members to attend the Young Actors' Masterclass presented by the Eisteddfod Society. The class was very popular, and the youngsters reported that they had a great time and learned a lot. We hope this course or more like it will be offered again in the future. Well done to the Eisteddfod Society for providing the opportunity. We are also delighted to announce that we are establishing a Junior sub-committee, specifically targeting high school ages, as part of our next phase of development. This is the result of our younger members expressing the desire to have a voice in planning future events and productions. We will be holding an information session about this exciting opportunity and encourage any young person aged 12-18 who would like to get involved in any aspect of theatre to come along. Details below in the President's Report and Diary Dates. We're still hoping to hear from people interesting in directing. Please get in touch if you'd like to talk to us about getting involved with directing, or any other aspect of production. Di O'Ferrall - Secretary A new venture..... It is very exciting to be able to announce CHMCC Junior. This will be a sub-committee of young people aged 12-18 years old and the idea came from a few of our own junior members, who wanted to have a more active role in CHMCC. The idea is that we will have a Junior committee who will organise activities such as workshops (acting, singing, dancing), possible concerts and hopefully a production of their own, in the form of a summer school. Members of the Junior committee will also have the chance to shadow directors, choreographers, music directors and stage managers from the CHMCC productions to gain experience through a mentoring program. It will operate under the supervision of current CHMCC committee members but they will make many of their own decisions, to provide opportunities for their own age group. Please spread this announcement to any 12-18 year olds who would be interested and promote our information session, detailed below: CHMCC JUNIOR - Information session Sunday 12th February 5pm* Bishop Druitt College - Music Rooms 111 North Boambee Road, Coffs Harbour *Our "Wicked" directors, Pete and Dee have invited any interested Juniors to arrive at 4pm and witness the final hour of rehearsal. Wicked Auditions were held in January and a stellar cast has been assembled to present this fabulous show. It is challenging in so many ways and is set to be spectacular. Rehearsals have commenced and you can read more about it in Pete and Dee's Directors' report. That's all for now - and please promote our CHMCC Junior information session with your friends and family. Tim First of all, huge congratulations and thank you to everyone who auditioned for ‘Wicked’. The standard was (yet again) outstanding, and you all made our decisions very difficult. It was particularly encouraging to see some new faces, as well as our 'regulars' who continue to make our shows the high quality they are. Well, where to start! Two week into rehearsals and the show is already looking and sounding amazing. Huge thanks need to go to Maestro Egan, repetiteur extraordinaire Alice Jamison and choreographer-to-the-stars Ash Ross for all their hard work, both with the cast and behind the scenes. We have really hit the ground running and if we continue at this rate and with this much enthusiasm (and with a cast like we’ve got, it’s a shoo-in!), this will be THE show to see in Coffs Harbour this year. It is with great pleasure that we announce that we have a full cast, with Josh Kelly returning from a couple of years in Brisbane to join the cast in the role of Fiyero. Welcome aboard Josh, and it’s great to have you back! Our Elphaba (Jade Naidu) and G(a)linda (Courtney Campbell), along with their understudies (Katie and Emma Goddard respectively) have really been putting in a lot of work away from rehearsals and this really shows, with all of them already (for the most part) rehearsing with scripts down! The rest of the cast have all leapt into the journey with equal enthusiasm, and it’s great to start to see some glimpses of character starting to come through. Special mention must be made of the dance team, who are at the stage of polishing their first two big numbers, working under sometimes oppressive heat conditions. We are off to Tamworth next weekend to pick up our costumes, which we are very excited about. Given the complex nature of the costume requirements for this show, we made the decision to hire them from Tamworth Musical Society and we are really excited to be able to start working and rehearsing with them. There are some VERY quick costume changes so I’m sure the cast will appreciate the extra time to start practicing. The Shed Boys, led by Foreman Rex Madigan under the guidance of Designer Dave Tune, are already hard at work creating our unique vision for the sets. We have a couple of surprises in store, and a couple of tricks that haven’t been seen in Coffs before. Curious? You’ll have to come to the show to see what we’re talking about! All in all we are very excited to have finally begun the journey down the yellow brick road (or to the Emerald City) and are very much looking forward to making our visions a reality. Till next time, Pete and Dee WickedSo much happened before Dorothy dropped in! The show tells the story of how two young girls met in the Land of Oz, became rivals, and then friends. One was born with emerald green skin, with a brilliant mind and a fiery spirit. The other was classically beautiful, with great ambition and incredible drive. The green-skinned Elphaba was ostracized by her family and by everyone at school. The beautiful Galinda was destined to be forever popular. Over the course of Wicked, we discover how these two young women became rivals and then the closest of friends – and how they ended up as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. Superficially this is a glitzy musical filled with laughter, fun, magnificent sets and costumes, and wonderful music, and you can certainly enjoy it on that level alone. But the characters in Wicked grapple with moral dilemmas and ethics in a way that is unique among Broadway musicals, exploring notions of good and evil. The story pays homage to the classic Wizard of Oz story while simultaneously changing our understanding of it forever. A cautionary tale about love, friendship and trust, Wicked explores contemporary moral dilemmas such as tolerance and prejudice, and political themes including media manipulation and government corruption. It seamlessly integrates these modern socio-political themes with contemporary music and references to the Wizard of Oz to leave the audience spellbound. We challenge you to think more deeply about some of the issues raised, and if you don't think they're relevant to us today, just turn on the TV news... Diary DatesInformation session for CHMCC Junior (ages 12-18) Sunday February 12th at Bishop Druitt College, 5pm in the Theatre. Stop Press....... Anyone attending the information session and would like to visit the final hour of a "WICKED" rehearsal - you are all welcome! Thank you to directors Peter and Dee for this invitation. Come along at 4pm and experience a rehearsal in action. CHATS presents Terry Pratchett's 'Wyrd Sisters' Thursday 23 March- Saturday 1 April Jetty Memorial Theatre 02 6652 8088 What else is on?CHATS Social Play Reading Night 7.30 pm Friday 17th February Café Bellissimo 28 Harbour Drive Coffs Harbour CHATS Members and Friends are invited to a social play reading night. We will read the brilliant and witty “The Importance Of Being Ernest” by Oscar Wilde. Why? You might ask. Why not? We would say! This play has been produced by CHATS in the past (2003) and was a popular choice for a social play reading. The evening will be a BYO drinks affair (alcohol ok) and CHATS will provide supper at interval. Members and Friends are also invited to submit expressions of interest in being pre-cast as a reader, especially those who are willing to get to know their character of interest somewhat and the other characters they will interact with. We would love to see and hear some “first class snobbery” on the night to help make the characters come to life. The part of Lady Bracknell has been offered to (and been accepted by) a “mystery local celebrity”, whose identity will only be revealed at the reading. There is a prize for a “guess the Oscar Wilde quote by charade” to be performed at end of interval. An electronic copy of the script is provided with this invitation for your perusal. Come one and all and enjoy a relaxed, informal evening of good cheer and company. Marty Elliott, CHATS Play Reading Coordinator. marty.elliott@bigpond.com 0409329185 or info@chats.org.au Orientation Day for CHATS 'Legally Blonde Junior'
Orientation - 2pm, Saturday March 4th, Coffs Harbour High School Hall (enter from Camperdown St. gates, opposite the Pier Hotel) Auditions - 10 am, Saturday March 25th (same location) Callbacks - 10 am, Sunday March 26th (same location) Please note- all performers must be 18 years old or younger at the time of the performances (July 20th to 30th 2017) For further information or enquiries email David Tune - Tuney22@gmail.com More information at chats.org.au Welcome!And it's a wrap! Twenty performances of Mary Poppins done and dusted! And with unprecedented audience numbers too, we lost count of the number of performances that sold out! It's always very satisfying when we produce a show we're proud of, but it's an added bonus when it's well received by audiences as well, so our heartfelt thanks to all those who came and supported us with so much enthusiasm. Thanks as always to all those who labour behind the scenes; you know who you are and we couldn't do it without you. You would be amazed at the number of people it takes to do what we do, and each of them contribute so much. Check out the web gallery for some great production photos, courtesy of Bec Elliott (Rebeccalynnephotography). Producing two full-length musicals a year takes a lot of planning; not only do we have 2017 planned, but we're starting to think ahead to 2018. We've been surveying our audience for the first time recently, and one of the questions we asked was 'Do you have a favourite show that you'd like to see at the Jetty Memorial Theatre?'. Well, the results were surprisingly wide and varied! Top responses however, were Les Miserables, The Sound of Music, Phantom of the Opera, Matilda, Jesus Christ Superstar, Cats, and Carousel. So once again, we're putting the word out that we need people willing to direct! You don't have to pick a show from this list (we already have a director for Sound of Music next year!); you can bring your own ideas or we have plenty of ideas ourselves. They don't always have to be big popular shows either, there is plenty of room for small ensemble shows with artistic merit, and if only we had the time to do a review or a pantomime! As always, there are never enough people to direct, or to take on production responsibilities. So if you've always wanted to direct, or you'd like to get involved in helping to get a show from page to stage, why not send us an email and volunteer? We're already gearing up for Wicked auditions in January. We're thrilled at the opportunity to produce this exciting musical in Coffs Harbour. Read on below for more information about the show and auditions. Before that, why not join us and our friends at CHATS for a joint Christmas party on December 18th - always a fun social occasion. Join us for a bucks fizz and a sausage sizzle to fortify yourself before some Christmas shopping! We look forward to seeing many of you at the Christmas party, and wish you all a very happy Christmas and New Year. Di O'Ferrall - Secretary From the PresidentGreetings everyone! What an amazing season of Mary Poppins we have witnessed! I have to say that this show excelled in every aspect of its production. It is true testament to Donna Fairall and her dedication as a a director. From the sets, the stage crew, lighting, sound, costumes, front of house, the musicians and amazing cast, this production had it all. Well done everyone and thank you to our wonderful members and the general public who came to support Mary Poppins. Now it's no rest for the "Wicked"!! (Dear me......) Please mention and promote our next set of auditions that will take place for the show Wicked - the weekend of the 14th & 15th January at Bishop Druitt College. Finally, you are all welcome to join us at the sheds (Jetty Theatre) for our annual combined CHATS/CHMCC Christmas breakfast on Sunday 18 December at 10am. I hope to see many of you there. Merry Christmas everyone. Tim From the DirectorsWICKED!! It’s a story about looking at things a different way. We all know the story of the Wizard of Oz, well, “Wicked” tells a slightly different story. I saw this show for the first time in March last year on Broadway… (I know, bit of a latecomer to the “Wicked” phenomenon, but there you have it) however, I have loved the story and the music for a lot longer than that. For me, the story of “Wicked” is not just about two young women meeting, seeing past the superficial and becoming friends, even if one of them is blonde…., it’s a story about acceptance, and learning to love difference, and that sometimes, despite everything we try to do to help, no good deed, sadly, really does go unpunished. The story winds its way through the early (pre Dorothy) years and melds expertly with parts of The Wizard of Oz. It has some great lines and very funny moments all the way through the show. The score is full of wonderful harmonies and vocally demanding songs. With that in mind, the decision by Peter and I to cast understudies for the main two female leads was not a hard one. Whilst the two main leads are females, there are a multitude of fabulous characters within the show that have depth and subtlety, from Dr Dillamond and his dismay at the increased restriction on his fellow animal professors to Madam Morrible and her command of the weather, to The Wizard and his ultimate realisation of the consequence of his various actions. Pete and I are excited to be given the opportunity to navigate this ship of dreams we have and be able to deftly guide our performers to bringing a fantastically magical, decidedly greenified, awesomely wicked story to Coffs audiences. Auditions are just around the corner and I would strongly suggest anyone interested in auditioning for us, get a copy of the Audition Pack we have available. Yes, it really does state in there, “Please Do Not Sing Anything From “Wicked” At Auditions”. The reasoning behind this, is that Peter and I want to hear a song “in the style of a contemporary musical” that will showcase the auditionee’s voice. We also want to work with the successful cast members to create their own characters. Let’s face it, the only people who can sing like Idina Menzel or Kristen Chenoweth, are Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth. Dee 'Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz' takes place before L.Frank Baum’s classic Wizard of Oz story ever began. Before Dorothy was even alive, two young girls met in the Land of Oz, became rivals, and then friends. One was born with emerald green skin, with a brilliant mind and a fiery spirit. The other was classically beautiful, with great ambition and incredible drive. The green-skinned Elphaba was ostracized by her family and by everyone at school. The beautiful Galinda was destined to be forever popular. Over the course of Wicked, we discover how these two young women became rivals and then the closest of friends – and how they ended up as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. The story pays homage to the classic Wizard of Oz story while simultaneously changing our understanding of it forever. A cautionary tale about love, friendship and trust, Wicked explores contemporary moral dilemmas such as tolerance and prejudice, and political themes including media manipulation and government corruption. It seamlessly integrates these modern socio-political themes with contemporary music and references to the Wizard of Oz to leave the audience spellbound. Wicked effortlessly reveals that there are indeed two sides to every story. It’s all about perspective... AuditionsPerformance Dates: May 5-28, 2017 Audition Schedule: Open Auditions: Saturday 14 January 2017 – Registrations from 9:30am for a 10am start Dance Auditions: Sunday 15 January – Registrations from 9:30am for a 10am start Location: Bishop Druitt College Theatre, 111 North Boambee Road, Coffs Harbour Callbacks Sunday 15 January 11:30am Full information on characters, vocal ranges etc are available on the Auditions page. If you're not familiar with the show, read about Wicked here, and if you'd like to know more about the auditions, visit the FAQ page and/or download an Audition Information pack. If you'd like to audition, download an audition application form and bring it with you on the day. Diary DatesWhat else is on?For more information on the Young Actors Masterclass, contact Coffseisteddfod.org.au or call Debbie Waters on 0416 100820. Alternatively, download an information sheet or enrolment form. Please note that this event is organised and run by the Eisteddfod Society and not CHMCC. Please direct any enquiries to the Eisteddfod Society. Program, tickets and venues at www.swiff.com.au
Mary Poppins: our two sets of Jane & Michael Banks: Harley, Emily, Grace and Hunter Photography: Bec Elliott Welcome!August was a pretty busy month at CHMCC, with rehearsals for Mary Poppins under way, and the shed dedication ceremony in honour of our former President and Patron, Bill Jacobs on August 21st. Turnout for this little ceremony was high, and I know Bill's family were happy to see so many people who knew and remembered Bill. Bill's Dedication ceremony - photography: Lewis Hackfath We also held our AGM, and thanks to all those who attended and voted in four new members, and a new President! Read on for Tim's inaugural President' s report. From the PresidentIncoming President, Tim Egan Hi everyone It is indeed my pleasure to bring you my first report as President of the Coffs Harbour Musical Comedy Company. For those who don't know me that well, I relocated to the Coffs area in 2007 to be close to my parents, taking up a teaching position at Bishop Druitt College. I became involved in the company as Music Director for Hairspray and haven't left! It has been very rewarding to contribute to the company in that capacity and I hope to continue to foster the promotion of Musical theatre as President. I would like to thank Maureen Burgess for her endless passion and drive as the previous President. Under her leadership the company is in a very strong position creatively and financially. Meetings certainly won't be the same without the vivacious laughter and bubbly personality that Mauz has. Also thank you to the outgoing committee members Laura Smith, Jenny Beatson and Fay Castle for your dedication and commitment to the company. The dedication of the Bill Jacobs Memorial Shed was a fantastic occasion and well attended by many members both past and present. Bill was a much loved member of the company and this celebration certainly paid tribute to the way you n which Bill was so influential in the success of the company. Thank you to all who contributed in any way to this day and the singing was magnificent! Our annual general meeting was very well attended this year which again shows the strengths and interest in the company at present. We were delighted to induct four new life members of the company at this meeting. Congratulations to Russell and Pam Lane, Judi Williams and Maureen Burgess. Again all thoroughly deserved for the fine work you have done and continue to do. It's "Practically Perfect" ........ In every way! Rehearsals for our next production, Mary Poppins are steaming ahead and this promises to be one amazing production. Tickets are now on sale, so book early to avoid disappointment and please spread the word to all your friends and family and support this show. More on the show from Donna our director in her report. Tim With only a month or so to go until Mary Poppins opens, the cast are singing and dancing away, with sterling work by our two sets of kids, Emily, Harley, Grace and Hunter, pictured at the top of this page. Visit the photo gallery for more preview photos. (with thanks to Bec Elliott for these). There is as always the opportunity to get involved behind the scenes, FOH volunteers please contact the FOH Manager. Backstage volunteers please contact the Stage Manager. Take a look at the lovely Mary Poppins poster: download, print and display! From the DirectorMary Poppins Director, Donna Fairall I can’t believe how much FUN this show is!! I have had a lot of the cast say how they just love coming to rehearsals. After 7 weeks of rehearsals we were able to run Act 1 complete with vocals and choreography and I was very impressed! We are now half way through Act 2 and moving full steam ahead. Costumes are being coordinated by Colin Wilkes (most hired by Taree Arts Council but extras being hand made by Colin, Dee Tune, Jennie Touzel and Robyn Brown) and are of course looking amazing. Led by trusty Rex, the boys in the shed are hard at work as they always are building us a beautiful set which also includes a return of the revolve used in The Secret Garden. Thanks to Brett Touzel who is making our ‘make Mary fly’ contraption which is safely being kept under wraps for now and lastly, Sharon who has her hands full with trick cakes and flying kites. Both sets of children (Jane and Michael) are doing a fantastic job and 95% of the time are going without their scripts. Our dancers are working their little butts off, with knees and ankle strapped and it’s great seeing Bert and Mary holding their own with these trained dancers. Everyone enjoyed our little publicity photo shoot recently and you will need to keep your eyes open to see these shots as they appear on facebook, in the paper and around town. Now is the time to get your tickets….seriously people, tell your friends and get your tickets! You are not going to want to miss this show!! Donna As well as being in the thick of rehearsals for our current show, we're also getting geared up for the next. If you're not familiar with the show, read on... 'Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz' takes place before L.Frank Baum’s classic Wizard of Oz story ever began. Before Dorothy was even alive, two young girls met in the Land of Oz, became rivals, and then friends. One was born with emerald green skin, with a brilliant mind and a fiery spirit. The other was classically beautiful, with great ambition and incredible drive. The green-skinned Elphaba was ostracized by her family and by everyone at school. The beautiful Galinda was destined to be forever popular. Over the course of Wicked, we discover how these two young women became rivals and then the closest of friends – and how they ended up as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. The story pays homage to the classic Wizard of Oz story while simultaneously changing our understanding of it forever. A cautionary tale about love, friendship and trust, Wicked explores contemporary moral dilemmas such as tolerance and prejudice, and political themes including media manipulation and government corruption. It seamlessly integrates these modern socio-political themes with contemporary music and references to the Wizard of Oz to leave the audience spellbound. Wicked effortlessly reveals that there are indeed two sides to every story. It’s all about perspective... Wicked AuditionsAudition dates are announced for Wicked! Put these dates in your diary: Main auditions: Saturday 14th January 2017 Registration at 9.30 am Dance Auditions: Sunday 15th January Registration at 9.30 am. Both days at Bishop Druitt College. For full information, character descriptions, vocal ranges etc, visit the Auditions page. You can also read FAQs, download an information pack or an audition application. CHMCC was a proud sponsor of this year's Eisteddfod. Pictured here is the winner of the vocal section, Jaela Hibbard being presented with her certificate by former President, Maureen Burgess. Congratulations also to Jacoa Bailey, winner of the CHMCC scholarship prize. Diary Dates'Grease', presented by the Arts Council runs until October 8th
CHATS presents Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night' from October 13th - 23rd CHMCC's Mary Poppins is on stage from November 4th - 27th |
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