In this edition:
- From the President.
- Officially announcing Coffs Harbour Musical Comedy Company's 2024 season.
- Behind the scenes with the secretary.
- Expanding Skills in 2024.
- Tech Talk.
- Xero, Policies, Procedures and ACNC.
- CHATS/ CHMCC Combined Christmas Party!
- CHMCC Meetings & Membership.
From the President
And that's a wrap for 2023!
A what a year. Congratulations to all of our cast, crew, volunteers and everyone who adds their time and efforts to making CHMCC what it is. We've welcomed new committee members and said farewell to others. We've expanded our life member ranks and have already received a nomination for one already for our next AGM. So many people put their heart and soul into this company time and time again and we are all the better for it.
Thank you's are big for both the Directors and Production Teams for our two shows this year, School of Rock, Directed by Fiona Shaw and Rebecca Nicholson, and ATOMIC, Directed by Rebecca Riches and Assitant Directed by Tahlia Stagg. In the current climate where many are still recovering from the economic impacts of COVID and the current cost of living crisis, we have been able to continue to provide a spark of light, of entertainment and of hope for our community.
As we move into 2024, there are some exciting things afoot, but I'm not going to do the spoilers here, you'll have to read the newsletter for that. Suffice to say, 2024 will hopefully have opportunities for all of our members to be actively engaged with the company, through both on and off stage activities.
I wish everyone a wonderful festive season and hope that as 2023 closes out and 2024 extends before us all, it is filled with joy, laughter, love and hope.
Merry Christmas.
Dee Tune
President CHMCC
A what a year. Congratulations to all of our cast, crew, volunteers and everyone who adds their time and efforts to making CHMCC what it is. We've welcomed new committee members and said farewell to others. We've expanded our life member ranks and have already received a nomination for one already for our next AGM. So many people put their heart and soul into this company time and time again and we are all the better for it.
Thank you's are big for both the Directors and Production Teams for our two shows this year, School of Rock, Directed by Fiona Shaw and Rebecca Nicholson, and ATOMIC, Directed by Rebecca Riches and Assitant Directed by Tahlia Stagg. In the current climate where many are still recovering from the economic impacts of COVID and the current cost of living crisis, we have been able to continue to provide a spark of light, of entertainment and of hope for our community.
As we move into 2024, there are some exciting things afoot, but I'm not going to do the spoilers here, you'll have to read the newsletter for that. Suffice to say, 2024 will hopefully have opportunities for all of our members to be actively engaged with the company, through both on and off stage activities.
I wish everyone a wonderful festive season and hope that as 2023 closes out and 2024 extends before us all, it is filled with joy, laughter, love and hope.
Merry Christmas.
Dee Tune
President CHMCC
Officially announcing
Coffs Harbour Musical Comedy Company's
2024 season
*********************************** DRUM ROLL PLEASE ***********************************
Directed by Vanessa Crossley
Directed by Greg Wilson Jnr
Behind the scenes with the secretary.
It has been a busy time behind the scenes as the Secretary. Along with the typical jobs (agendas, meeting minutes) I have been busily organising the 2024 season!
As we have all seen, Jersey Boys will be our May 2024 show! Congratulations to Vanessa and team! Make sure to head over to our Auditions page to find out what to do to audition for this wonderful show. Auditions are being held THIS WEEK!
Our 2024 season will be in Stage Whispers in the new years! If you are a subscriber to their magazine, make sure to keep an eye out for that! And tag us on Facebook or Instagram with your copies! Along with our 2024 season being in Stage Whispers, we will also have some photos from our 2023 season in the same magazine!
The Jetty Memorial Theatre 2024 program launch is happening December 8th! There is an awesome line up (Kelly Mac, Milko Foucault-Larche, Corinne Andrew), and CHMCCs 2024 season will be in this launch! Make sure to head along and support our theatre and the community and have a fun night out with like-minded friends. Tickets are $25.00 each, and you will be one of the first in the area to see what the 2024 theatre program will include!
In other news, a massive congratulations is to be given to Rebecca Riches and Tahlia Stagg on the NSW Premier of ATOMIC closing this past weekend. The show was an amazing mix of well thought out set, projections, costumes, music, lighting, sound, acting - everything! There was nothing that Rebecca and Tahlia did not cover in their rehearsals and in their preparation in the lead up to opening. They were also so incredibly lucky to have the writer and composer of the show, Danny Ginges and Philip Foxman come to three of the shows on the opening weekend! These men wrote and composed this show over 10 years ago in Sydney, with the CHMCC's production being the 9th of the show! On the first Sunday show, Danny and Philip spoke to the audience, doing a Q&A chaired by Director Rebecca Riches! How lucky is Coffs Harbour and CHMCC to have had this opportunity! If you want to see more photos from Atomic, head over to our Atomic page. This production was outstanding and the photos are a brief insight into the show and its important story. Again, a huge congratulations to Rebecca and Tahlia!
Last but not least, we have our Combined Christmas Party happening at The Plantation Hotel, December 16th from 6pm! The CHMCC/CHATs social group have organised a themed night based on popular movies! Come along dressed as your favourite movie character to be in the running to win some fabulous prizes! This event is FREE for all members of both companies, but we will be running raffles on the night along with prizes for trivia and best dressed! It is sure to be a night to remember! If you are intending to come, please make sure you hit 'attending' on our Facebook event page, so our wonderful social group can make sure they have everything set for all to attend! If you are intending to play trivia, make sure you are at The Plantation Hotel backroom by 6:15pm at the latest! Trivia will start at 6:30pm.
Make sure to keep an eye on our social media pages to keep up-to-date on the all things happening at CHMCC! Facebook and Instagram links here.
See you at the Christmas Party!
Fiona Shaw
Secretary
As we have all seen, Jersey Boys will be our May 2024 show! Congratulations to Vanessa and team! Make sure to head over to our Auditions page to find out what to do to audition for this wonderful show. Auditions are being held THIS WEEK!
Our 2024 season will be in Stage Whispers in the new years! If you are a subscriber to their magazine, make sure to keep an eye out for that! And tag us on Facebook or Instagram with your copies! Along with our 2024 season being in Stage Whispers, we will also have some photos from our 2023 season in the same magazine!
The Jetty Memorial Theatre 2024 program launch is happening December 8th! There is an awesome line up (Kelly Mac, Milko Foucault-Larche, Corinne Andrew), and CHMCCs 2024 season will be in this launch! Make sure to head along and support our theatre and the community and have a fun night out with like-minded friends. Tickets are $25.00 each, and you will be one of the first in the area to see what the 2024 theatre program will include!
In other news, a massive congratulations is to be given to Rebecca Riches and Tahlia Stagg on the NSW Premier of ATOMIC closing this past weekend. The show was an amazing mix of well thought out set, projections, costumes, music, lighting, sound, acting - everything! There was nothing that Rebecca and Tahlia did not cover in their rehearsals and in their preparation in the lead up to opening. They were also so incredibly lucky to have the writer and composer of the show, Danny Ginges and Philip Foxman come to three of the shows on the opening weekend! These men wrote and composed this show over 10 years ago in Sydney, with the CHMCC's production being the 9th of the show! On the first Sunday show, Danny and Philip spoke to the audience, doing a Q&A chaired by Director Rebecca Riches! How lucky is Coffs Harbour and CHMCC to have had this opportunity! If you want to see more photos from Atomic, head over to our Atomic page. This production was outstanding and the photos are a brief insight into the show and its important story. Again, a huge congratulations to Rebecca and Tahlia!
Last but not least, we have our Combined Christmas Party happening at The Plantation Hotel, December 16th from 6pm! The CHMCC/CHATs social group have organised a themed night based on popular movies! Come along dressed as your favourite movie character to be in the running to win some fabulous prizes! This event is FREE for all members of both companies, but we will be running raffles on the night along with prizes for trivia and best dressed! It is sure to be a night to remember! If you are intending to come, please make sure you hit 'attending' on our Facebook event page, so our wonderful social group can make sure they have everything set for all to attend! If you are intending to play trivia, make sure you are at The Plantation Hotel backroom by 6:15pm at the latest! Trivia will start at 6:30pm.
Make sure to keep an eye on our social media pages to keep up-to-date on the all things happening at CHMCC! Facebook and Instagram links here.
See you at the Christmas Party!
Fiona Shaw
Secretary
Expanding Skills in 2024.
As the end of 2023 is upon us (wow, where did this year go?), the CHMCC committee has been exploring ideas of how we can engage more with our membership outside of rehearsing and performing in shows. Ways for the company to provide opportunities for members to refine current or even learn new creative skills and abilities.
With that focus, committee member Mel Winkler proposed that we facilitate a series of workshops relating to performing.
Whilst this is still in the early stages of being developed, the company has opened dialogue with Belinda Lemair, from The Young Actors Studio (YAS) and identified three areas to feature:
If you have ideas of other topics for workshops in the future, please contact us at info@coffsharbourmcc.com
Keep an eye out for the CHMCC creative workshops on our website and social media pages for details as we embark upon 2024 and come get involved.
With that focus, committee member Mel Winkler proposed that we facilitate a series of workshops relating to performing.
Whilst this is still in the early stages of being developed, the company has opened dialogue with Belinda Lemair, from The Young Actors Studio (YAS) and identified three areas to feature:
- Auditioning: Auditioning can be a nerve-wracking experience. There are tips and tricks that can assist in maximising your preparation for an audition and help you showcase yourself, whilst keeping those nerves under control.
- Movement: How a character moves is just as important as the dialogue they speak and the notes they sing. Movement is not just about learning the dance steps the choreographer crafts for you, it’s about how a character, walks, sits, and the small gestures that fill out who that character is.
- Acting: We have such a fabulous mix of experience in CHMCC with some members having had professional training and others having not done anything since their school days. Every cast member, whether you have a role with dialogue or are in the ensemble, you portray a character on the stage. Learning acting skills enhances your ability as a performer to provide a greater depth to your character, which in turn, adds depth and flavour to the show.
If you have ideas of other topics for workshops in the future, please contact us at info@coffsharbourmcc.com
Keep an eye out for the CHMCC creative workshops on our website and social media pages for details as we embark upon 2024 and come get involved.
Tech Talk
One of the challenges we face with each production is finding people with the right technical skills to set up and operate the sound and lighting desks. We have been lucky enough to have the services of extremely skilled operators in recent years but this could change at any time.
With this in mind the company recently purchased a sound desk to add to our inventory of equipment. This will allow us to undertake training sessions for interested members, pre-program shows to make tech week a little easier, and run mics at rehearsals, which is particularly useful when there is a band or backing tracks playing. The desk is the same brand as the Jetty Theatre desk, just a more compact version. This means any skills learned will be transferrable to the larger desk during a show.
We hope to hold small group sessions in the new year for CHMCC 2024 members keen to learn basic aspects of digital desk control, audio techniques and real time operational skills to assist and control audio for future CHMCC shows. Keep an eye on our social pages and website for details. If anyone has access to a space suitable for holding training sessions (and a bit of noise isn’t an issue) please send us an email, info@coffsharbourmcc.com.
On the lighting front, we are waiting for confirmation of training sessions early next year. Once again keep an eye on our social pages for details.
Nick Price
CHMCC Vice-President
With this in mind the company recently purchased a sound desk to add to our inventory of equipment. This will allow us to undertake training sessions for interested members, pre-program shows to make tech week a little easier, and run mics at rehearsals, which is particularly useful when there is a band or backing tracks playing. The desk is the same brand as the Jetty Theatre desk, just a more compact version. This means any skills learned will be transferrable to the larger desk during a show.
We hope to hold small group sessions in the new year for CHMCC 2024 members keen to learn basic aspects of digital desk control, audio techniques and real time operational skills to assist and control audio for future CHMCC shows. Keep an eye on our social pages and website for details. If anyone has access to a space suitable for holding training sessions (and a bit of noise isn’t an issue) please send us an email, info@coffsharbourmcc.com.
On the lighting front, we are waiting for confirmation of training sessions early next year. Once again keep an eye on our social pages for details.
Nick Price
CHMCC Vice-President
Xero, Policies, Procedures and ACNC.
The things I have to talk about are not terribly exciting. Aaah, the life of being the treasurer. So, what’s been happening…. We have moved away from manual entering and entered the digital age with Xero with the assistances of Diana Does Books. I have entered everything for this financial year so that we can start fresh. Using Xero means that there is no need to keep copies of receipts as this can be uploaded and we can easily track expenditure and income by using our own chosen codes. Using Xero will make an easy transition for anyone who is in this role in the future.
In other news, I am continuing to work with the committee to have policies and procedures in place. I know this sounds boring and cumbersome but it is important as it protects all of us. Without this, everyone can do as they wish, within the parameters of the law, without any liability. This can include such things as directors only choosing friends to be involved in shows, pre-casting, only shows of friends being chosen and the list could go on. Having policies and procedures in place minimises risks and provides members with an avenue to raise issues with the backing of these agreed measures.
And in my last bit of news, I have made an application to the Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commission (ACNC) in our first step to charity status. Once we have been approved by ACNC, the next step is to become a registered on the Register of Cultural Organisations. Having both of these will provide us with the opportunity to apply for grants and to seek sponsorship as any donations received will be tax deductible.
Annamarie Cohen
CHMCC Treasurer
In other news, I am continuing to work with the committee to have policies and procedures in place. I know this sounds boring and cumbersome but it is important as it protects all of us. Without this, everyone can do as they wish, within the parameters of the law, without any liability. This can include such things as directors only choosing friends to be involved in shows, pre-casting, only shows of friends being chosen and the list could go on. Having policies and procedures in place minimises risks and provides members with an avenue to raise issues with the backing of these agreed measures.
And in my last bit of news, I have made an application to the Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commission (ACNC) in our first step to charity status. Once we have been approved by ACNC, the next step is to become a registered on the Register of Cultural Organisations. Having both of these will provide us with the opportunity to apply for grants and to seek sponsorship as any donations received will be tax deductible.
Annamarie Cohen
CHMCC Treasurer
CHATS/ CHMCC Combined Christmas Party!
The CHATS/ CHMCC Combined Christmas Party is coming December 16th at 6pm!
Location: The Plantation Hotel Coffs Harbour
Time: From 6pm to late
Activities include:
- Trivia from 6.30pm (Ultimate Movies)
- Karaoke
- Photo Booth
- Best Costume Prizes (come dressed as a Movie Character)
- Raffles* at the door/ roaming (EFTPOS available)
- Music and Dancing, and
- A special performance!
This event is for all CHATS/ CHMCC members, families, friends and anyone else who has been involved in any productions or helped out throughout the past year with either company.
Make sure you hit 'attending' on the Facebook page so we can finalise who will be coming along!
*funds raised will be used to improve CHATs/ CHMCCs tech
Location: The Plantation Hotel Coffs Harbour
Time: From 6pm to late
Activities include:
- Trivia from 6.30pm (Ultimate Movies)
- Karaoke
- Photo Booth
- Best Costume Prizes (come dressed as a Movie Character)
- Raffles* at the door/ roaming (EFTPOS available)
- Music and Dancing, and
- A special performance!
This event is for all CHATS/ CHMCC members, families, friends and anyone else who has been involved in any productions or helped out throughout the past year with either company.
Make sure you hit 'attending' on the Facebook page so we can finalise who will be coming along!
*funds raised will be used to improve CHATs/ CHMCCs tech
CHMCC Meetings & Membership
Just a reminder that the CHMCC committee meet once a month and you can keep up-to-date on where and when our meetings are being held here. If you intended to attend our meetings, or you have an item you wish to be raised by the committee at the next meeting, please let us know at our email address.
All annual membership will expire December 31st. Please make sure to renew your membership for 2024 as soon as possible. Cost is $10.00 p/p or $20 for a family (parent/s and all children under 18 years). Being a member is your way of supporting your community theatre group to continue to do what we do, and permits you to vote at our AGM and to attend committee meetings.
All annual membership will expire December 31st. Please make sure to renew your membership for 2024 as soon as possible. Cost is $10.00 p/p or $20 for a family (parent/s and all children under 18 years). Being a member is your way of supporting your community theatre group to continue to do what we do, and permits you to vote at our AGM and to attend committee meetings.