Welcome!
The newsletter's having a bit of a redesign and relaunch this month - I'd welcome your feedback. I'd love to hear what you like and don't like and whether you find the new format easier to digest. I'm hoping it will be less time consuming for me to write as it avoids duplicating content in the newsletter and here on the website.
You can see at a glance what's in the newsletter directly from your inbox or browser, and if there is something you want to read in more depth, you can click on the link to go directly to the website or the blog, which expands on that content.
For those of you who may be visiting the website for the first time, do stay and have a wander around - there's a lot of information here and it does change regularly, so it's worth stopping by every now and then.
On to matters theatrical! We've just emerged from a successful season of Pirates, which so many of you seemed to enjoy! Thank you to all those who took the time to stop us or email and say how much you'd enjoyed the show. It really does mean a lot.
Director John Greene and I were very happy with it all, despite a lot of trials caused by a perfect storm of cast illnesses. Fortunately we were able to rely on other talented people to replace or understudy the sick - huge thanks to John Greene, Sara Battery and Lewis Hackfath.
Take a look at the Pirates Gallery to see all the wonderful photos! Thank you to Shalla Thomas for the photography.
As always, no sooner does one show close than another one gets under way. We will be holding auditions for our next production, Mary Poppins, on the weekend of June 18/19 for adults, and the following weekend, June 25/26 for children.
Full information about the show, roles available, vocal ranges and auditioning is available on the Auditions page. If you have any questions, start by going to the FAQ page.
You can see at a glance what's in the newsletter directly from your inbox or browser, and if there is something you want to read in more depth, you can click on the link to go directly to the website or the blog, which expands on that content.
For those of you who may be visiting the website for the first time, do stay and have a wander around - there's a lot of information here and it does change regularly, so it's worth stopping by every now and then.
On to matters theatrical! We've just emerged from a successful season of Pirates, which so many of you seemed to enjoy! Thank you to all those who took the time to stop us or email and say how much you'd enjoyed the show. It really does mean a lot.
Director John Greene and I were very happy with it all, despite a lot of trials caused by a perfect storm of cast illnesses. Fortunately we were able to rely on other talented people to replace or understudy the sick - huge thanks to John Greene, Sara Battery and Lewis Hackfath.
Take a look at the Pirates Gallery to see all the wonderful photos! Thank you to Shalla Thomas for the photography.
As always, no sooner does one show close than another one gets under way. We will be holding auditions for our next production, Mary Poppins, on the weekend of June 18/19 for adults, and the following weekend, June 25/26 for children.
Full information about the show, roles available, vocal ranges and auditioning is available on the Auditions page. If you have any questions, start by going to the FAQ page.
From the Director - Mary Poppins
 | Mary Poppins Director |
Well auditions are starting this weekend and I am so excited. I just can’t wait to get rehearsals started!
The adults are up first on Saturday 18th.
Please be prepared to stay for most of the day as we really want to hear what everyone has to offer. Be sure to let us know on your arrival if you need to leave early so we can accommodate you.
All the details on each character including the vocal range required can be found on the Auditions page. We are looking for approximately 30 adults.
On Sunday 19th we are auditioning for six trained dancers, 10am-11am, followed by call backs for adults from the day before.
The children’s audition is the following weekend on Saturday 25th.
There are only two roles, Jane and Michael, and we will be double casting them. Unfortunately there is no children’s ensemble in this show.
We have added some audition material on the website for the children so they can download it and prepare at home and not have any trouble with reading new material on the day. Again, see the Auditions page.
Rehearsals start 17th July and will be Monday and Wednesday nights as well as Sunday afternoons.
There will be 20 performances of the show from 4th – 27th November at the Jetty Theatre.
So check the audition information and we’d love to see you at Bishop Druitt College over the next two weekends to show us your stuff!!
Donna
The adults are up first on Saturday 18th.
Please be prepared to stay for most of the day as we really want to hear what everyone has to offer. Be sure to let us know on your arrival if you need to leave early so we can accommodate you.
All the details on each character including the vocal range required can be found on the Auditions page. We are looking for approximately 30 adults.
On Sunday 19th we are auditioning for six trained dancers, 10am-11am, followed by call backs for adults from the day before.
The children’s audition is the following weekend on Saturday 25th.
There are only two roles, Jane and Michael, and we will be double casting them. Unfortunately there is no children’s ensemble in this show.
We have added some audition material on the website for the children so they can download it and prepare at home and not have any trouble with reading new material on the day. Again, see the Auditions page.
Rehearsals start 17th July and will be Monday and Wednesday nights as well as Sunday afternoons.
There will be 20 performances of the show from 4th – 27th November at the Jetty Theatre.
So check the audition information and we’d love to see you at Bishop Druitt College over the next two weekends to show us your stuff!!
Donna
Gala Arts Winter Ball
Following hard on the heels of the auditions is our annual social event - the Gala Arts Ball. Open to members and non-members alike, this year we are hosting a Winter Ball - a two course dinner and dance at the Race Club. Tickets are only $50 per head, and are available from the Club on 6652 1488.
From the President
 | CHMCC President Maureen Burgess |
Greetings from the Presidential Quarters where despite the frosty ambient temperature the eager anticipation of our upcoming Winter Ball is keeping one's spirits if not one's body toasty warm. It could possibly also be the spiced rum and Green Ginger Wine, the drink of choice for all good pirates.
Speaking of- despite an unprecedented number of illnesses, injuries, dropouts and assorted other setbacks, "Pirates" gave one last hooraaargh to a boisterous Full House. It is testament to debut Director John Green and his Able Assistant Di O'Ferrall as well as the (surviving!) Cast and Crew that they held it all together and made this production such a success. It was a wonderful combination of oldies and newbies in The Pit and the Bio box as well as on stage and I very much hope the experience was a positive one for all of you and that you please come back for more!
As always, one show finishes while another is well into pre production, in this case, "Mary Poppins" to be directed by Donna Fairall. The main auditions will be held over the next two weekends, and I wish everyone who is planning to give it a go all the best of luck. I certainly know how harrowing the audition process can be and can only advise you to be confident (at least pretend to be confident!) and give it your best shot. There's a pretty good chance everyone else will be just as nervous as you, and if they don't appear to be they are probably just better at pretending!
In other news, the intrepid Fay Castle and myself went incognito to a couple of sessions of the Vocal Eisteddfod over the weekend. CHMCC has supported the Eisteddfod in varying degrees for a number of years, but have never really seen where our sponsorship dollars have gone. Fay and I managed to blend in amongst assorted parents and singing teachers and had a very pleasing few hours. As we all know it is no easy task to get up on stage and perform, so a huge congratulations to each child who performed, to Colin Wilkes who Emceed the sections we watched, and to Vanessa Crossley who did an outstanding job in her first outing as organizer.
ACCTS recently held their AGM, and I would like to offer congratulations to Rex Madigan who was elected unopposed as the new President, taking the place of Shirley Barnett who through a variety of reasons decided to resign. Shirley has played a huge role in Community Theatre over many years. In fact she has been it's backbone, mainly through her work with CHATS and it's offshoot CHATTERS, which nurtured countless young people and and gave them an invaluable introduction to theatre and performance. Shirley is also responsible for the formation of ACCTS, and the ACCTS Open Day, and is the reason it has kept going as a powerful and relevant voice to Council on behalf of Community Theatre. Thank you Shirley for all your years of dedication and hard work. Rex has certainly got big shoes to fill.
Someone else who has played a huge role in local theatre is our very own past President Bill Jacobs, who sadly passed away in February after a long illness. Bill's first show with CHMCC was "South Pacific" in the mid 80's, and although he did appear on stage in a number of productions, his first and best love was in set design, construction and painting. His set design for our previous production of "Anything Goes" was legendary. In recognition of all the years of Bill's contribution to CHMCC, we have decided, in consultation with Bill's widow Judy and family, to name the construction shed the Bill Jacobs Memorial Shed, and plan to have a Grande Plaque Unveiling on Sunday, August 21st at 11.30am followed by drinks and a sausage sizzle. Everyone is invited to attend whether or not you had the privilege of knowing Bill. It will be a chance to meet past members and get a sense of the history of the company. More reminders to follow.
And finally....What a huge 2017 Season- "Wicked" followed by (my sentimental favourite) "Sound of Music". Holy cow!
Hope to see you all at The Ball.
Mauz
Speaking of- despite an unprecedented number of illnesses, injuries, dropouts and assorted other setbacks, "Pirates" gave one last hooraaargh to a boisterous Full House. It is testament to debut Director John Green and his Able Assistant Di O'Ferrall as well as the (surviving!) Cast and Crew that they held it all together and made this production such a success. It was a wonderful combination of oldies and newbies in The Pit and the Bio box as well as on stage and I very much hope the experience was a positive one for all of you and that you please come back for more!
As always, one show finishes while another is well into pre production, in this case, "Mary Poppins" to be directed by Donna Fairall. The main auditions will be held over the next two weekends, and I wish everyone who is planning to give it a go all the best of luck. I certainly know how harrowing the audition process can be and can only advise you to be confident (at least pretend to be confident!) and give it your best shot. There's a pretty good chance everyone else will be just as nervous as you, and if they don't appear to be they are probably just better at pretending!
In other news, the intrepid Fay Castle and myself went incognito to a couple of sessions of the Vocal Eisteddfod over the weekend. CHMCC has supported the Eisteddfod in varying degrees for a number of years, but have never really seen where our sponsorship dollars have gone. Fay and I managed to blend in amongst assorted parents and singing teachers and had a very pleasing few hours. As we all know it is no easy task to get up on stage and perform, so a huge congratulations to each child who performed, to Colin Wilkes who Emceed the sections we watched, and to Vanessa Crossley who did an outstanding job in her first outing as organizer.
ACCTS recently held their AGM, and I would like to offer congratulations to Rex Madigan who was elected unopposed as the new President, taking the place of Shirley Barnett who through a variety of reasons decided to resign. Shirley has played a huge role in Community Theatre over many years. In fact she has been it's backbone, mainly through her work with CHATS and it's offshoot CHATTERS, which nurtured countless young people and and gave them an invaluable introduction to theatre and performance. Shirley is also responsible for the formation of ACCTS, and the ACCTS Open Day, and is the reason it has kept going as a powerful and relevant voice to Council on behalf of Community Theatre. Thank you Shirley for all your years of dedication and hard work. Rex has certainly got big shoes to fill.
Someone else who has played a huge role in local theatre is our very own past President Bill Jacobs, who sadly passed away in February after a long illness. Bill's first show with CHMCC was "South Pacific" in the mid 80's, and although he did appear on stage in a number of productions, his first and best love was in set design, construction and painting. His set design for our previous production of "Anything Goes" was legendary. In recognition of all the years of Bill's contribution to CHMCC, we have decided, in consultation with Bill's widow Judy and family, to name the construction shed the Bill Jacobs Memorial Shed, and plan to have a Grande Plaque Unveiling on Sunday, August 21st at 11.30am followed by drinks and a sausage sizzle. Everyone is invited to attend whether or not you had the privilege of knowing Bill. It will be a chance to meet past members and get a sense of the history of the company. More reminders to follow.
And finally....What a huge 2017 Season- "Wicked" followed by (my sentimental favourite) "Sound of Music". Holy cow!
Hope to see you all at The Ball.
Mauz
Save the Date - Shed Dedication Ceremony
Put this date in your diary for the chance to get together and pay tribute to our patron for many years, the late Bill Jacobs. We will be honouring Bill with a little ceremony to dedicate the construction shed as "The Bill Jacobs Memorial Shed". Come and join us, and Bill's family, for a barbecue and bucks fizz - 11.30 am on Sunday August 21st.
There will be a Facebook event set up nearer the time, to which we would ask you to RSVP for catering purposes. If you don't do Facebook, you can RSVP right here.
There will be a Facebook event set up nearer the time, to which we would ask you to RSVP for catering purposes. If you don't do Facebook, you can RSVP right here.
CHMCC 2016 Annual General Meeting
Another date for the diary! The AGM will be held on Sunday August 28th at 12 midday, at 5 Druitt Court.
All positions on the executive (President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary) plus 6 regular committee positions are all open for nomination.
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!
Nomination forms will be sent out by email nearer the time, or you can download one now.
More information can be found on the AGM page.
All positions on the executive (President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary) plus 6 regular committee positions are all open for nomination.
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!
Nomination forms will be sent out by email nearer the time, or you can download one now.
More information can be found on the AGM page.
What else is on?
CHATS' next production, Cosi by Louis Nowra opens on July 20th.
The Arts Council's 'Grease' opens on September 23rd.
The Arts Council's 'Grease' opens on September 23rd.
And that's all the news for the month of June! The next newsletter will be out in August. If you'd like to leave some feedback about the blog, or the new newsletter format, please do contact us.
Thanks for reading.
Di O'Ferrall - Secretary CHMCC
Thanks for reading.
Di O'Ferrall - Secretary CHMCC
