October 2019
The ladies ensemble - South Pacific
Welcome!
Welcome to our October newsletter. This is my first opportunity to address you all as the new Secretary and it would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the long tenure, exceptional work ethic and invaluable contributions by my predecessor, Di O'Ferrall. Thank you, Di, for your many years of industry on behalf of the theatre community and congratulations on your well-deserved Life Membership.
We are now only a few weeks away from bringing to stage that beloved classic from the golden age of musical, Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific. The cast and creatives have been hard at work, learning dialogue and choreography, compiling costumes and discussing potential bootcamps in Tahiti that the Committee seem strangely reluctant to fund.
Director Judi Williams has continued the CHMCC tradition of ever challenging ourselves and we are shifting the technological paradigm with this show. We cannot wait to show Coffs Harbour theatre patrons, so make sure you book soon via the link to Jetty Memorial Theatre below.
Once again, Simon Whittaker of En Vogue Wedding and Portrait has excelled in his craft; make sure you check out the web gallery for the show's publicity photos.
As always, we need the support of the theatre community for backstage and Front of House roles. Scroll down or head over to our Facebook page to see how you can get involved.
Next year is shaping up to be an exciting one for Coffs theatre and we at CHMCC are exceptionally pleased that we are finally tackling the 'greatest lyricist ever' in American musical theatre, Stephen Sondheim. Auditions for Into The Woods will be held in December. You can read more information about the show from our director, the incredibly talented Josh Vucicevic, below, and full information on the process has been added to the Auditions page.
We are also very thrilled to have a commitment from Dee Tune, co-director (with Peter Hodges) of our acclaimed production of Wicked, to take on the second of our 2020 shows. Keep your eyes on our Facebook page in coming weeks for a big announcement. And to see what Dee's been up to recently, get along to see the exceptional production of Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap by our sister company, CHATS, currently at the Jetty Memorial Theatre. Click on the poster below to book. CHATS have also recently cast Romeo and Juliet, directed by Beckley Vincent, to kick off next year.
In other theatre news, Naidu Performing Arts Company impressed and generated superlatives with its recent production of Beauty and the Beast; grab tickets to their next show, It Takes A Village, as soon as you can. Grafton's Criterion Theatre is also showcasing CHMCC members in the upcoming production of Monty Python's Spamalot. Make sure you get out and give our whole theatre family as much support as we can!!
We look forward to seeing you in Bali Ha'i soon.
Paul McLeod, Secretary,
CHMCC
We are now only a few weeks away from bringing to stage that beloved classic from the golden age of musical, Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific. The cast and creatives have been hard at work, learning dialogue and choreography, compiling costumes and discussing potential bootcamps in Tahiti that the Committee seem strangely reluctant to fund.
Director Judi Williams has continued the CHMCC tradition of ever challenging ourselves and we are shifting the technological paradigm with this show. We cannot wait to show Coffs Harbour theatre patrons, so make sure you book soon via the link to Jetty Memorial Theatre below.
Once again, Simon Whittaker of En Vogue Wedding and Portrait has excelled in his craft; make sure you check out the web gallery for the show's publicity photos.
As always, we need the support of the theatre community for backstage and Front of House roles. Scroll down or head over to our Facebook page to see how you can get involved.
Next year is shaping up to be an exciting one for Coffs theatre and we at CHMCC are exceptionally pleased that we are finally tackling the 'greatest lyricist ever' in American musical theatre, Stephen Sondheim. Auditions for Into The Woods will be held in December. You can read more information about the show from our director, the incredibly talented Josh Vucicevic, below, and full information on the process has been added to the Auditions page.
We are also very thrilled to have a commitment from Dee Tune, co-director (with Peter Hodges) of our acclaimed production of Wicked, to take on the second of our 2020 shows. Keep your eyes on our Facebook page in coming weeks for a big announcement. And to see what Dee's been up to recently, get along to see the exceptional production of Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap by our sister company, CHATS, currently at the Jetty Memorial Theatre. Click on the poster below to book. CHATS have also recently cast Romeo and Juliet, directed by Beckley Vincent, to kick off next year.
In other theatre news, Naidu Performing Arts Company impressed and generated superlatives with its recent production of Beauty and the Beast; grab tickets to their next show, It Takes A Village, as soon as you can. Grafton's Criterion Theatre is also showcasing CHMCC members in the upcoming production of Monty Python's Spamalot. Make sure you get out and give our whole theatre family as much support as we can!!
We look forward to seeing you in Bali Ha'i soon.
Paul McLeod, Secretary,
CHMCC
From the President

Welcome everyone! Those of you who attended the AGM will know that there has been a reshuffling of the committee. We welcome our new members Dee Tune and Jake Fisher and bid a sad farewell to our President Tim and our Secretary Di. Both of these people have done outstanding work and we thank them most profusely and will miss them both. Fortunately we will still have the support of Tim as Musical Director, another demanding role, but unfortunately Di will ultimately be leaving the area. We hope she will always be close enough to maintain her contact and friendships within the company.
We have had two very successful shows in the last year, Les Miserables and Shrek and those involved from Directors to performers and everyone in the middle you should feel very proud of yourselves. We thank you all most sincerely for the dedication and commitment you have put into these productions. You are the people who maintain our reputation as a committed and successful company.
With South Pacific almost ready to go to the stage we can expect another year of quality productions. For those of you who like to get involved there are still positions vacant for Front of House ushers and backstage crew. Please contact Shalla Thomas or Pam Lane if you are interested.
I want to express my thanks to all those people who attended the AGM and have given me the opportunity to preside over the company for the coming year. Becoming President is a great honour, as is serving on the committee, however, you are the people who make up the company and it is our job to put your thoughts and wishes into action. Unless you convey those wishes and aspirations to us we are flying blind so I encourage you all to become involved. Meetings are open to all members and the meeting time and dates are available on the website.
Similarly if you have a problem we should be the first to know so that we may resolve it. More often than not it is the same few hardworking people who keep the company rolling along so why not make a pledge to be more involved and offer your assistance to help out. Involvement is the only way we can all move onwards and upwards. To plagiarise a well known phrase “Think not what the Company can do for you, but what can you do for the Company.”
Looking forward to seeing you all at the theatre.
Judi Williams
CHMCC President
and Director of South Pacific
We have had two very successful shows in the last year, Les Miserables and Shrek and those involved from Directors to performers and everyone in the middle you should feel very proud of yourselves. We thank you all most sincerely for the dedication and commitment you have put into these productions. You are the people who maintain our reputation as a committed and successful company.
With South Pacific almost ready to go to the stage we can expect another year of quality productions. For those of you who like to get involved there are still positions vacant for Front of House ushers and backstage crew. Please contact Shalla Thomas or Pam Lane if you are interested.
I want to express my thanks to all those people who attended the AGM and have given me the opportunity to preside over the company for the coming year. Becoming President is a great honour, as is serving on the committee, however, you are the people who make up the company and it is our job to put your thoughts and wishes into action. Unless you convey those wishes and aspirations to us we are flying blind so I encourage you all to become involved. Meetings are open to all members and the meeting time and dates are available on the website.
Similarly if you have a problem we should be the first to know so that we may resolve it. More often than not it is the same few hardworking people who keep the company rolling along so why not make a pledge to be more involved and offer your assistance to help out. Involvement is the only way we can all move onwards and upwards. To plagiarise a well known phrase “Think not what the Company can do for you, but what can you do for the Company.”
Looking forward to seeing you all at the theatre.
Judi Williams
CHMCC President
and Director of South Pacific
From the Director
Well I hope everyone has their floral shirts and hula skirts ready for the opening of South Pacific on November 8th. I understand that tickets are selling well so get a group of friends together for a great night at the theatre and get your tickets early.
The show is in final count down mode for onstage with some truly wonderful performances.
Rehearsals are going well despite a rocky start with lack of men and the cast has been super patient with me and have given of their best. A special thank you to my production crew and especially Pam Lane my Assistant Director who has gone above and beyond the call of duty.
There is still some room for anyone who would like to be involved either back stage or as ushers - just get in touch with Shalla or Pam. This is a classic Rodgers and Hammerstein show which is suitable for all ages. There are lots of wonderful songs and some fabulous choreography so we hope to see you there.
Judi
The show is in final count down mode for onstage with some truly wonderful performances.
Rehearsals are going well despite a rocky start with lack of men and the cast has been super patient with me and have given of their best. A special thank you to my production crew and especially Pam Lane my Assistant Director who has gone above and beyond the call of duty.
There is still some room for anyone who would like to be involved either back stage or as ushers - just get in touch with Shalla or Pam. This is a classic Rodgers and Hammerstein show which is suitable for all ages. There are lots of wonderful songs and some fabulous choreography so we hope to see you there.
Judi
Set on an island paradise during World War II, two parallel love stories are threatened by the dangers of prejudice and war. Nellie, a nurse from Arkansas, falls in love with an older man, French planter Emile. Nellie learns that the mother of his children was an island native and, unable to turn her back on the prejudices with which she was raised, refuses Emile's proposal of marriage.
Meanwhile, Lt. Joe Cable falls in love with an innocent Tonkinese girl, but denies himself the fulfilment of a future because of the same prejudice and fears that haunt Nellie.
When Emile is recruited to accompany Joe on a dangerous mission that claims Joe's life, Nellie realizes that life is too short not to seize her own chance for happiness, and must confront and conquer her prejudices. (More photos in the web gallery).
Meanwhile, Lt. Joe Cable falls in love with an innocent Tonkinese girl, but denies himself the fulfilment of a future because of the same prejudice and fears that haunt Nellie.
When Emile is recruited to accompany Joe on a dangerous mission that claims Joe's life, Nellie realizes that life is too short not to seize her own chance for happiness, and must confront and conquer her prejudices. (More photos in the web gallery).
Auditions

“If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.” (Albert Einstein).
Whenever we hear, read, or say the words “Once Upon a Time” we all know that we are about to embark on a journey with a few lessons along the way. Some obvious, some subtle, but no matter our age there is always something that we can take away from them. We also go on the journey expecting that it will, some way or another, end with the words “Happily Ever After”.
So when we take our seat at the theatre and ‘Into The Woods’ opens with ‘Once Upon a Time’, what more can we expect? In Act 1, we have met a number of familiar characters who all embark on a mission, desperate to see their own wishes come true, and at the close of Act 1 it seems “…those who deserved to were certain to live a long and happy life” with their wishes granted.
But jump into Act 2 and unlike other fairy tales we start to look at what happens AFTER ‘Happily Ever After’. These characters have upset the natural order of things when their wishes came true and we start to see how they deal with it, pay for it, after all “Wishes come true, not free.” They now need to turn their individual wishes to a community wish, and work together if they want to ‘save the day’.
What I love about ‘Into The Woods’ is that it certainly takes us on a journey through the ‘woods’, a journey which each and every one of us can relate to in some capacity at one point in time. It’s about the journey of life and what it takes to get through it. The pain, the love, the joy, the triumph, the humour, and that there is a way to get through it all together.
“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.”
I am so excited to be working with CHMCC and a wonderful creative team to bring ‘Into The Woods’ to life on stage at the Jetty Theatre.
Josh Vucicevic
Into the Woods Director
Whenever we hear, read, or say the words “Once Upon a Time” we all know that we are about to embark on a journey with a few lessons along the way. Some obvious, some subtle, but no matter our age there is always something that we can take away from them. We also go on the journey expecting that it will, some way or another, end with the words “Happily Ever After”.
So when we take our seat at the theatre and ‘Into The Woods’ opens with ‘Once Upon a Time’, what more can we expect? In Act 1, we have met a number of familiar characters who all embark on a mission, desperate to see their own wishes come true, and at the close of Act 1 it seems “…those who deserved to were certain to live a long and happy life” with their wishes granted.
But jump into Act 2 and unlike other fairy tales we start to look at what happens AFTER ‘Happily Ever After’. These characters have upset the natural order of things when their wishes came true and we start to see how they deal with it, pay for it, after all “Wishes come true, not free.” They now need to turn their individual wishes to a community wish, and work together if they want to ‘save the day’.
What I love about ‘Into The Woods’ is that it certainly takes us on a journey through the ‘woods’, a journey which each and every one of us can relate to in some capacity at one point in time. It’s about the journey of life and what it takes to get through it. The pain, the love, the joy, the triumph, the humour, and that there is a way to get through it all together.
“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.”
I am so excited to be working with CHMCC and a wonderful creative team to bring ‘Into The Woods’ to life on stage at the Jetty Theatre.
Josh Vucicevic
Into the Woods Director