April 2020
Welcome!
Well this is not the April newsletter I had ever imagined. Usually in April we're just weeks out from opening our first show of the year, and have a wealth of publicity shots to share from photoshoots and rehearsals. The April newsletter is one I usually enjoy putting together as I have so much information to share and the resources to do it, with lots of good photos of the current show, and details on auditions for the next show ready to go. This is a very strange time we're living in, so for now, all we can do is just check in with you, and tell you as much as we can about the current situation.
As you know, we had to suspend rehearsals for Into the Woods last month, and take the difficult decision to defer the production to the end of the year. This was heartbreaking for the cast as they had devoted considerable time and effort to working, bonding, and learning this wonderful, difficult work. The opening prologue alone is incredibly complex, and the cast had this down pretty securely, including blocking and choreography. It was a tough decision, but one we had no choice but to make. We'd like to thank everyone for their dedication thus far, and hope we will be able to start rehearsals again in the Winter.
At the moment, Into the Woods had been deferred to November, and Mamma Mia has been pushed back into next year. We'll update you as soon as we have any further clarity in the next few months. Further info on our deferred season is provided below. Information for those who have bought tickets to either of our productions is available at jettytheatre.com and on our website's 2020 Season page.
It's a difficult time for everyone at the moment, especially theatre folk, who are used to getting together several times a week to rehearse, socialise and hug each other, a lot! If there is an upside to all this, it's that there are incredible resources being made available online, with plays and musicals being live-streamed, behind the scenes tours, etc, all free. Keep in touch with your friends and family, and look after yourselves.
Don't be a spreader! Don't be one of those people who shares rumours and conspiracy theories about Covid-19. Don't rely on Facebook for your information. There are plenty of reputable sources out there - the World Health Organisation, NSW Health, reputable news websites (ABC, BBC, etc). The ABC has a daily news podcast called 'Coronacast', which is an excellent source of information and myth-busting. It has also had a couple of episodes answering questions from children, so if you have kids, you might want to check it out and listen to it with them.
Lastly we would like to remember Louwanna Kaur, who passed away recently, and thank her for her generous assistance with costuming over many years. She will be missed.
Stay safe everyone, and we'll bring you any new information via social media and/or newsletter when we have it.
Di O'Ferrall
Newsletter Editor
As you know, we had to suspend rehearsals for Into the Woods last month, and take the difficult decision to defer the production to the end of the year. This was heartbreaking for the cast as they had devoted considerable time and effort to working, bonding, and learning this wonderful, difficult work. The opening prologue alone is incredibly complex, and the cast had this down pretty securely, including blocking and choreography. It was a tough decision, but one we had no choice but to make. We'd like to thank everyone for their dedication thus far, and hope we will be able to start rehearsals again in the Winter.
At the moment, Into the Woods had been deferred to November, and Mamma Mia has been pushed back into next year. We'll update you as soon as we have any further clarity in the next few months. Further info on our deferred season is provided below. Information for those who have bought tickets to either of our productions is available at jettytheatre.com and on our website's 2020 Season page.
It's a difficult time for everyone at the moment, especially theatre folk, who are used to getting together several times a week to rehearse, socialise and hug each other, a lot! If there is an upside to all this, it's that there are incredible resources being made available online, with plays and musicals being live-streamed, behind the scenes tours, etc, all free. Keep in touch with your friends and family, and look after yourselves.
Don't be a spreader! Don't be one of those people who shares rumours and conspiracy theories about Covid-19. Don't rely on Facebook for your information. There are plenty of reputable sources out there - the World Health Organisation, NSW Health, reputable news websites (ABC, BBC, etc). The ABC has a daily news podcast called 'Coronacast', which is an excellent source of information and myth-busting. It has also had a couple of episodes answering questions from children, so if you have kids, you might want to check it out and listen to it with them.
Lastly we would like to remember Louwanna Kaur, who passed away recently, and thank her for her generous assistance with costuming over many years. She will be missed.
Stay safe everyone, and we'll bring you any new information via social media and/or newsletter when we have it.
Di O'Ferrall
Newsletter Editor
From the President
Happy Easter to everyone in these unusual times. The Covid-19 has certainly played havoc with the performing arts but it is fabulous to see so many shows being broadcast for free. A real opportunity to catch up on the productions you have’nt seen previously . I am also impressed with the amount of musical numbers that have appeared on facebook and of course the huge bin isolation fad which has been sweeping the world.
As someone pointed out to me it is interesting that the thing that is getting the most time on social media is the arts. How lucky are we to be a part of something that makes people happy.
Regrettably around this time we would normally be getting into final preparations for “Into the Woods” however I must say a big thank you to all those people who spent so much time in rehearsals. It will happen folks but in the mean time we have to be smart and practice our social distancing.
Of course with so many inventive people in our company that doesn’t mean we will miss out completely. Put on your thinking caps and see what you can come up with to entertain people. In the mean time stay safe and have a fabulous Easter with your families.
CHMCC President, Judi Williams
As someone pointed out to me it is interesting that the thing that is getting the most time on social media is the arts. How lucky are we to be a part of something that makes people happy.
Regrettably around this time we would normally be getting into final preparations for “Into the Woods” however I must say a big thank you to all those people who spent so much time in rehearsals. It will happen folks but in the mean time we have to be smart and practice our social distancing.
Of course with so many inventive people in our company that doesn’t mean we will miss out completely. Put on your thinking caps and see what you can come up with to entertain people. In the mean time stay safe and have a fabulous Easter with your families.
CHMCC President, Judi Williams
From the Director
As I sit here trying to make sense of the current situation, and what it means for our production, our cast, our team, our theatre family, I keep getting stuck on the lyric from ‘Frozen 2’, “Into the unknown”, as I feel like that is where we are heading.
I, like so many, I’m sure, are filled with questions all beginning with “How? When? Where? To which I have no answers. So, rather than talking about the unknown, I’m going to rewind a little bit to what I do know…
ONCE UPON A TIME in a land not so far away, a community of artists young and old set out to embark on a musical adventure together. They played hard, and worked harder. Moment by moment on their journey through the woods together, these artists were making discoveries, friendships, memories, and magic inside the rehearsal room.
The community of artists was getting bigger, particularly as more work outside of the rehearsal room was taking place with sets, sound, lights, and costumes. These artists were very busy and VERY excited as they began counting down the weeks leading them out of the woods and into the theatre. Everyone and everything was coming together…
THEN, word of a Giant starting spreading through the land, and before they knew it, this big, tall, terrible Giant was at their door. To survive the Giant, things would need to change. So, back through the woods they headed home, awaiting for the Giant to clear from their path.
As they waited, feeling isolated, and a little lost, they were reminded of some wise words…(compliments of Stephen Sondheim!)
“Though it’s fearful, though it’s deep, though it’s dark and though you may lose the path…There are always wolves, there are always spells, there are always beans, or a giant dwells there. So…Into the woods you have to grope, but that’s the way you learn to cope. Into the woods to find there’s hope of getting through the journey…Into the woods. Into the woods. Into the woods, then out of the woods…To be continued…"
As we wait for the “Happily Ever After” I would like to thank EVERYONE who was involved with our production of ‘Into the Woods’ to date. I thank you for your work, your respect, your generosity, and your artistry. I WISH you all nothing but love and support through this challenging time. Remember, “You are not alone. No one is alone”. We WILL come out of the other end of this and when we do I cannot wait to greet you all again in the rehearsal room with big squeezes as we start our journey ‘Into the Woods’ again.
Into the Woods Director, Josh Vucicevic
I, like so many, I’m sure, are filled with questions all beginning with “How? When? Where? To which I have no answers. So, rather than talking about the unknown, I’m going to rewind a little bit to what I do know…
ONCE UPON A TIME in a land not so far away, a community of artists young and old set out to embark on a musical adventure together. They played hard, and worked harder. Moment by moment on their journey through the woods together, these artists were making discoveries, friendships, memories, and magic inside the rehearsal room.
The community of artists was getting bigger, particularly as more work outside of the rehearsal room was taking place with sets, sound, lights, and costumes. These artists were very busy and VERY excited as they began counting down the weeks leading them out of the woods and into the theatre. Everyone and everything was coming together…
THEN, word of a Giant starting spreading through the land, and before they knew it, this big, tall, terrible Giant was at their door. To survive the Giant, things would need to change. So, back through the woods they headed home, awaiting for the Giant to clear from their path.
As they waited, feeling isolated, and a little lost, they were reminded of some wise words…(compliments of Stephen Sondheim!)
“Though it’s fearful, though it’s deep, though it’s dark and though you may lose the path…There are always wolves, there are always spells, there are always beans, or a giant dwells there. So…Into the woods you have to grope, but that’s the way you learn to cope. Into the woods to find there’s hope of getting through the journey…Into the woods. Into the woods. Into the woods, then out of the woods…To be continued…"
As we wait for the “Happily Ever After” I would like to thank EVERYONE who was involved with our production of ‘Into the Woods’ to date. I thank you for your work, your respect, your generosity, and your artistry. I WISH you all nothing but love and support through this challenging time. Remember, “You are not alone. No one is alone”. We WILL come out of the other end of this and when we do I cannot wait to greet you all again in the rehearsal room with big squeezes as we start our journey ‘Into the Woods’ again.
Into the Woods Director, Josh Vucicevic
Into the Woods
At the moment, Into the Woods is scheduled for 6-29 November, 2020. You can now book tickets via the Jetty Theatre website, and you may see the Facebook event for these dates. Presenting the show in November would mean we'd need to be able to start rehearsing again in August or thereabouts, and at the moment we have no idea whether that will be possible.
We hope you understand that the situation is fluid, and no-one can say what will happen over the next few months. Do we still plan to present Into the Woods? Yes absolutely. Will it be on in November? Yes, hopefully. Can we guarantee that it won't have to be pushed to next year? No, no-one can guarantee anything for now.
We hope to bring you an incredible production in November, and we hope you'll all be able to turn out and support us when we do.
Click here for more information on the 2020 Season update.
We hope you understand that the situation is fluid, and no-one can say what will happen over the next few months. Do we still plan to present Into the Woods? Yes absolutely. Will it be on in November? Yes, hopefully. Can we guarantee that it won't have to be pushed to next year? No, no-one can guarantee anything for now.
We hope to bring you an incredible production in November, and we hope you'll all be able to turn out and support us when we do.
Click here for more information on the 2020 Season update.
Mamma Mia
We have postponed Into the Woods into the November slot previously occupied by Mamma Mia. This means that our planned production of Mamma Mia has been moved to May, 2021. As already said, the situation is subject to change, but that's the situation at the moment. We thank Mamma Mia director, Dee Tune and her team for their flexibility in the current situation.
We don't have confirmed dates for our 2021 Season at the moment, but you'll hear all about it when we do!
Click here for more information on the 2020 Season update.
We don't have confirmed dates for our 2021 Season at the moment, but you'll hear all about it when we do!
Click here for more information on the 2020 Season update.
Diary Dates
Everything is postponed and subject to this ever-evolving situation. At the moment CHATS is still planning to present their delayed production of Romeo and Juliet in July, so keep an eye on CHATS social media and the Jetty Theatre website for information about this much-antipated production.
Stay Safe and Stay Home
