September 2020
Hello and welcome to the first newsletter since our recent AGM!
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our members for their participation at the meeting, and warmly welcome the new committee. A special vote of thanks must be extended to our retiring committee members, Judi Williams, Pam and Russell Lane, and Shalla Thomas, for their years of selfless work for the good of the company. We look forward to continuing to see you “around the traps”.
I am very excited by our new-look committee this year, with some fresh faces and great ideas coming to the table. You can read their bios later in this newsletter. As for me personally, I am incredibly honored to be your new president and look forward to navigating this crazy (hopefully) COVID-free new era. For those who don’t know me, I’ve been involved with CHMCC since 2010, with Jesus Christ Superstar being my first show with the company – I was heavily involved with community theatre in Canberra in the 1990’s before moving to Coffs Harbour in 2000. I have been on the CHMCC committee since 2011 and was treasurer for 5 years during that time. I’ve lost count of the number of shows I’ve done, but I do know that I’ve immensely enjoyed every single one of them, and cherish the lasting friendships that I’ve developed as a result. I am married to my gorgeous wife Jodie, and we have three young adults (I can’t even call them kids anymore!), two dogs and a cat. When I’m not rehearsing or at committee meetings, I am the Executive Assistant and GP Liaison Officer at Baringa Private Hospital.
We have two very exciting productions to bring to you this November, both of which are in full rehearsals. Tickets for Back To The Theatre and Ordinary Days are on sale from the Jetty Memorial Theatre website now – be sure to get in early as we have very limited seats available due to COVID restrictions.
Lastly, I want to remind you that we are your committee; if you have any concerns, questions or ideas about the running of your company, please get in contact with me or any of the other wonderful committee members - our contact details are at the end of this newsletter.
That’ll do from me for now. See you at the theatre!
Peter Hodges
President, CHMCC
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our members for their participation at the meeting, and warmly welcome the new committee. A special vote of thanks must be extended to our retiring committee members, Judi Williams, Pam and Russell Lane, and Shalla Thomas, for their years of selfless work for the good of the company. We look forward to continuing to see you “around the traps”.
I am very excited by our new-look committee this year, with some fresh faces and great ideas coming to the table. You can read their bios later in this newsletter. As for me personally, I am incredibly honored to be your new president and look forward to navigating this crazy (hopefully) COVID-free new era. For those who don’t know me, I’ve been involved with CHMCC since 2010, with Jesus Christ Superstar being my first show with the company – I was heavily involved with community theatre in Canberra in the 1990’s before moving to Coffs Harbour in 2000. I have been on the CHMCC committee since 2011 and was treasurer for 5 years during that time. I’ve lost count of the number of shows I’ve done, but I do know that I’ve immensely enjoyed every single one of them, and cherish the lasting friendships that I’ve developed as a result. I am married to my gorgeous wife Jodie, and we have three young adults (I can’t even call them kids anymore!), two dogs and a cat. When I’m not rehearsing or at committee meetings, I am the Executive Assistant and GP Liaison Officer at Baringa Private Hospital.
We have two very exciting productions to bring to you this November, both of which are in full rehearsals. Tickets for Back To The Theatre and Ordinary Days are on sale from the Jetty Memorial Theatre website now – be sure to get in early as we have very limited seats available due to COVID restrictions.
Lastly, I want to remind you that we are your committee; if you have any concerns, questions or ideas about the running of your company, please get in contact with me or any of the other wonderful committee members - our contact details are at the end of this newsletter.
That’ll do from me for now. See you at the theatre!
Peter Hodges
President, CHMCC
Meet Your New Committee
Dee Tune
Vice-President
I’ve been involved with CHMCC since 2011 and continue to marvel at the talented people in our region. Whether it be talent onstage or the skills, abilities and talent of all of our theatre village behind the scenes that makes the job for everyone onstage so much easier. Bringing a show to the stage isn’t just a cast learning lines, songs and chorey. So much happens behind the scenes before that first audition is even held. And the committee is the guiding hand behind it all.
Thank you for putting your faith in us to guide the company through what is an incredibly uncertain time. Please also know that we are here to represent you, the members.
I am so excited to be a part of our new committee and to continue to contribute to the future of the company. The company lives and breathes through you, the members. The committee is but an extension of the membership and we are keen to bring not just our own voices to the chorus, but yours also.
Vice-President
I’ve been involved with CHMCC since 2011 and continue to marvel at the talented people in our region. Whether it be talent onstage or the skills, abilities and talent of all of our theatre village behind the scenes that makes the job for everyone onstage so much easier. Bringing a show to the stage isn’t just a cast learning lines, songs and chorey. So much happens behind the scenes before that first audition is even held. And the committee is the guiding hand behind it all.
Thank you for putting your faith in us to guide the company through what is an incredibly uncertain time. Please also know that we are here to represent you, the members.
I am so excited to be a part of our new committee and to continue to contribute to the future of the company. The company lives and breathes through you, the members. The committee is but an extension of the membership and we are keen to bring not just our own voices to the chorus, but yours also.
Paul McLeod
Treasurer
I thank the membership for giving me the chance to represent you on Committee for a third year. I have enjoyed a long association with CHMCC, going back to Guys and Dolls a decade and a half ago. As an actor, I have loved working with several casts across the years, my favourite show being Wicked. But the most amazing experience you have all given me was the chance to direct Les Miserables in late 2018. To be again elected to your executive committee is an absolute privilege.
As the incoming Treasurer, I am keen to restructure and simplify our budgeting so that we improve our understanding of how we spend, identify where we can save, and, most importantly, make the process absolutely transparent to our membership! As part of this, I support a general wish by the new Committee toward modernising our processes and documentation.
I would love to hear from any member who has ideas about the Company's future direction. I look forward to working with you and my fellow Committee members in a way that is respectful, both to the significant trust you have placed in us and to the heritage of CHMCC as a civic leader in the arts sector. I have every confidence that, together, we can create strategies to continue to broaden our membership engagement, develop our significant pool of talented amateurs, diversify our cultural offer to the city and deepen collaboration between our major artistic and performing arts groups.
Treasurer
I thank the membership for giving me the chance to represent you on Committee for a third year. I have enjoyed a long association with CHMCC, going back to Guys and Dolls a decade and a half ago. As an actor, I have loved working with several casts across the years, my favourite show being Wicked. But the most amazing experience you have all given me was the chance to direct Les Miserables in late 2018. To be again elected to your executive committee is an absolute privilege.
As the incoming Treasurer, I am keen to restructure and simplify our budgeting so that we improve our understanding of how we spend, identify where we can save, and, most importantly, make the process absolutely transparent to our membership! As part of this, I support a general wish by the new Committee toward modernising our processes and documentation.
I would love to hear from any member who has ideas about the Company's future direction. I look forward to working with you and my fellow Committee members in a way that is respectful, both to the significant trust you have placed in us and to the heritage of CHMCC as a civic leader in the arts sector. I have every confidence that, together, we can create strategies to continue to broaden our membership engagement, develop our significant pool of talented amateurs, diversify our cultural offer to the city and deepen collaboration between our major artistic and performing arts groups.
Jake Fisher
Secretary
I'm thrilled at the opportunity to serve on the Committee for a second year as Secretary. I was first involved with CHMCC at the age of 14 in the 2009 production of Oliver, after almost a decade away building a career, I returned to Coffs Harbour to be cast in Les Misérables in 2018. Returning as a matured young adult I found a real passion in what theatre brings to the community and its members.
I am excited to see what this year holds for CHMCC, this year's committee has what I think is the most important part of a committee and that is balance. We have a great mix of ages, experience and opinions and this makes for a well represented membership.
I look forward to working with you all this year and please don't hesitate to reach out if you need anything.
Secretary
I'm thrilled at the opportunity to serve on the Committee for a second year as Secretary. I was first involved with CHMCC at the age of 14 in the 2009 production of Oliver, after almost a decade away building a career, I returned to Coffs Harbour to be cast in Les Misérables in 2018. Returning as a matured young adult I found a real passion in what theatre brings to the community and its members.
I am excited to see what this year holds for CHMCC, this year's committee has what I think is the most important part of a committee and that is balance. We have a great mix of ages, experience and opinions and this makes for a well represented membership.
I look forward to working with you all this year and please don't hesitate to reach out if you need anything.
Samuel Booth
Committee Member
I have been a part of the Coffs Harbour theatre community since 2017, when I played Emmett Forrest in CHATS Legally Blonde Jr.
Since then I have gone on to perform in many CHMCC shows such as Sound Of Music, Les Miserables and the upcoming production of Ordinary Days. I am looking forward to seeing what the next year has in store for the company and I am excited to be able to provide opportunities for our community to learn and perform.
Sadly, due to COVID-19, we have not been able to put on any shows but we are looking forward to getting back in the theatre and providing Coffs Harbour with some brilliant shows in the coming year.
Committee Member
I have been a part of the Coffs Harbour theatre community since 2017, when I played Emmett Forrest in CHATS Legally Blonde Jr.
Since then I have gone on to perform in many CHMCC shows such as Sound Of Music, Les Miserables and the upcoming production of Ordinary Days. I am looking forward to seeing what the next year has in store for the company and I am excited to be able to provide opportunities for our community to learn and perform.
Sadly, due to COVID-19, we have not been able to put on any shows but we are looking forward to getting back in the theatre and providing Coffs Harbour with some brilliant shows in the coming year.
Billie-Jo Dukes
Committee Member
I have been a passionate member of CHMCC since my debut on the Jetty stage as Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes. I also played Elsa in The Sound of Music, Madame Thenandier in Les Misérables and my most recent role with the company was as Bloody Mary in South Pacific.
Outside of the theatre I am a local singing teacher and run my own studio 'Singing with Billie', I also teach singing and theatre/acting classes at Woolgoolga performing arts.
I am very excited to be apart of this year's committee and will work alongside the other committee members to continue to bring quality shows to the Coffs Harbour community. It has been a strange year for the arts industry and I believe, more now than ever theatre is a core need of a community.
Committee Member
I have been a passionate member of CHMCC since my debut on the Jetty stage as Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes. I also played Elsa in The Sound of Music, Madame Thenandier in Les Misérables and my most recent role with the company was as Bloody Mary in South Pacific.
Outside of the theatre I am a local singing teacher and run my own studio 'Singing with Billie', I also teach singing and theatre/acting classes at Woolgoolga performing arts.
I am very excited to be apart of this year's committee and will work alongside the other committee members to continue to bring quality shows to the Coffs Harbour community. It has been a strange year for the arts industry and I believe, more now than ever theatre is a core need of a community.
John Greene
Committee Member
I have been blessed on my journey through life thus far that for a good part, almost 49 years I have had the privilege of being active in professional and amateur community theatre on four continents.
Live theatre performances in musicals, song recitals, drama, dance, arts and entertainment are all a great passion of mine.
On our CHMCC committee my plan is to be part of a team, to grow our wonderful existing and developing talent to reach out across our Coast and surrounds.
We have a vibrant new committee to whom it is going to be my privilege to contribute to make this happen for you our members; active on stage in so many ways; to bring the best we can offer to our audience.
I look forward to that journey.
Committee Member
I have been blessed on my journey through life thus far that for a good part, almost 49 years I have had the privilege of being active in professional and amateur community theatre on four continents.
Live theatre performances in musicals, song recitals, drama, dance, arts and entertainment are all a great passion of mine.
On our CHMCC committee my plan is to be part of a team, to grow our wonderful existing and developing talent to reach out across our Coast and surrounds.
We have a vibrant new committee to whom it is going to be my privilege to contribute to make this happen for you our members; active on stage in so many ways; to bring the best we can offer to our audience.
I look forward to that journey.
Nick Price
Committee Member
I am thrilled to be part of the CHMCC committee, and thanks to all who came to the AGM to vote. We have a fantastic team with a great mix of returning committee members and a healthy number of new faces.
I thank our previous committee, who faced extremely challenging times this year and made some very tough decisions. It is reassuring to know that although many have stepped down from their roles, they will still be around to share the valuable experience and knowledge gained over countless years of involvement in community theatre.
CHMCC is a company that thrives on input and contributions from our members. Our membership numbers seem to ebb and flow based around the musicals we produce and who is involved in them. I would like to focus on better membership engagement through separate programs in conjunction with our two shows a year. There are other ways to remain involved, and we rely on input and feedback from our members on the type of activities we could put in place.
I also believe we need to focus on maximising the resources we have and minimising unnecessary expenditure. While we are in a relatively comfortable position financially, we are still facing uncertain times. It is especially important that we take stock of what we have and how we put it to best use. There are many things out of our control but we can control ourselves. We need to ensure that we come out of these difficult times in as strong a position as possible.
I look forward to working with and for you all to make CHMCC as great as it has ever been. Feel free to reach out with any thoughts, concerns or ideas. It is your company and what you think matters.
Committee Member
I am thrilled to be part of the CHMCC committee, and thanks to all who came to the AGM to vote. We have a fantastic team with a great mix of returning committee members and a healthy number of new faces.
I thank our previous committee, who faced extremely challenging times this year and made some very tough decisions. It is reassuring to know that although many have stepped down from their roles, they will still be around to share the valuable experience and knowledge gained over countless years of involvement in community theatre.
CHMCC is a company that thrives on input and contributions from our members. Our membership numbers seem to ebb and flow based around the musicals we produce and who is involved in them. I would like to focus on better membership engagement through separate programs in conjunction with our two shows a year. There are other ways to remain involved, and we rely on input and feedback from our members on the type of activities we could put in place.
I also believe we need to focus on maximising the resources we have and minimising unnecessary expenditure. While we are in a relatively comfortable position financially, we are still facing uncertain times. It is especially important that we take stock of what we have and how we put it to best use. There are many things out of our control but we can control ourselves. We need to ensure that we come out of these difficult times in as strong a position as possible.
I look forward to working with and for you all to make CHMCC as great as it has ever been. Feel free to reach out with any thoughts, concerns or ideas. It is your company and what you think matters.
David Tune
Committee Member
I have been involved in community theatre since the age of eighteen. I met my wife Dee when starting a new amateur company called Blackboard Inc in Brisbane.
During my time in theatre I have acted, sung, directed, designed sets, run box office and front of house, stage managed, worked backstage, run the sound and lighting desks and been on committees in many roles over the years. I am still excited about improving community theatre in Coffs Harbour, and look forward to being an active part of this new committee.
Committee Member
I have been involved in community theatre since the age of eighteen. I met my wife Dee when starting a new amateur company called Blackboard Inc in Brisbane.
During my time in theatre I have acted, sung, directed, designed sets, run box office and front of house, stage managed, worked backstage, run the sound and lighting desks and been on committees in many roles over the years. I am still excited about improving community theatre in Coffs Harbour, and look forward to being an active part of this new committee.
Joshua Vuvicevic
Committee Member
Having recently moved to Coffs Harbour, my welcome into the local community theatre scene here has been so incredibly warm, inviting, and enriching.
After performing in CHMCC’s 2018 production of Les Misérables (Jean Valjean), I was excited to be welcomed back to the company in 2019, this time directing their 2020 production of Into The Woods - however COVID-19 had other plans unfortunately...
Prior to Coffs Harbour I had been heavily involved with theatre in Victoria for over 10 years. Performing, Directing, Music Directing, Choreographing, and Producing shows in Ballarat, Geelong, and Melbourne. Teaching also formed a large part of my involvement with Music Theatre, having founded Gateway Performing Arts Studios in 2014 and working with keen enthusiastic artists young and old for several years.
I am thrilled to now be a part of the CHMCC Committee, and look forward to creating more opportunities for the community and membership base in areas such as choirs, smaller concert style performances, and also nurture and develop the junior component of the company by creating both learning, and performance opportunities for the amazing pool of talented youth we have here in Coffs Harbour.
Committee Member
Having recently moved to Coffs Harbour, my welcome into the local community theatre scene here has been so incredibly warm, inviting, and enriching.
After performing in CHMCC’s 2018 production of Les Misérables (Jean Valjean), I was excited to be welcomed back to the company in 2019, this time directing their 2020 production of Into The Woods - however COVID-19 had other plans unfortunately...
Prior to Coffs Harbour I had been heavily involved with theatre in Victoria for over 10 years. Performing, Directing, Music Directing, Choreographing, and Producing shows in Ballarat, Geelong, and Melbourne. Teaching also formed a large part of my involvement with Music Theatre, having founded Gateway Performing Arts Studios in 2014 and working with keen enthusiastic artists young and old for several years.
I am thrilled to now be a part of the CHMCC Committee, and look forward to creating more opportunities for the community and membership base in areas such as choirs, smaller concert style performances, and also nurture and develop the junior component of the company by creating both learning, and performance opportunities for the amazing pool of talented youth we have here in Coffs Harbour.
Ushers Needed!
CHMCC is excited for our upcoming productions of 'Ordinary Days' and 'Back to the Theatre.
November is fast approaching and we are looking for 3-4 willing volunteers to act as ushers/program sellers for each performance. There are 20 x performances between 05th November - 29th November.
Further information is available on the volunteer page of our website or you can contact the front of house manager David Tune here
November is fast approaching and we are looking for 3-4 willing volunteers to act as ushers/program sellers for each performance. There are 20 x performances between 05th November - 29th November.
Further information is available on the volunteer page of our website or you can contact the front of house manager David Tune here