We have had a great start to the year in the Performing Arts department. The launch of The Addams Family School Musical was a memorable moment at the Opening Assembly, and now rehearsals are in full swing.
We have welcomed two new staff members to the Performing Arts team. Elisabeth Luke is a Drama/Dance teacher who brings a wide variety of skills and expertise to the department. Chloe Smedley is our AFL trainee who specialises in theatre production and arts administration.
VCE Theatre Studies students are working on their class production of Radium Girls by D.W. Gregory. This is a poignant, true-story play about 1920s factory workers who develop radiation poisoning from painting watch dials with luminous paint. It explores corporate greed, the fight for justice, and the human cost of industrial progress.
Students are working hard in their two production roles, designing, directing, and acting in the play. The show will be on Tuesday, May 12th at 7:00 pm. Stay tuned for booking details. Not only is this a formal assessment, it will also be a wonderful celebration of the students’ skill and talent.
The corridor is alive with the sound of the Year 9/10 elective classes exploring, composing, refining, and rehearsing. Students’ performance skills continue to improve, and each lesson we are humbled by the creative risks they take.
Year 7 Music students have started well, working on their rhythmic skills on various percussion instruments. They have loved improving their singing skills, learning movement sequences to enhance the lyrics. Students are just about to learn the Marian School song. The Year 8 Rock Band Program has shown us that we definitely have some rock stars in our midst!
Year 7 and 8 Drama students have committed wholeheartedly to improving their collaborative team skills while learning about comedy and mime. The students’ support of one another is never-ending, and the sound of applause is a regular feature in our lessons.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Congratulations to Leikny Heimdal Reed and Mikayla Connolly for their involvement in the sold-out season of Altona City Theatre’s production of Cinderella.
Nikki Kihumba and Leikny Heimdal Reed have also successfully secured lead roles in an upcoming community production of Legally Blonde.
SPECIAL MENTION
Another piece of wonderful news is that Leikny Heimdal Reed has been selected to represent Marian College as the Melbourne Theatre Youth Ambassador. We will have updates later in the year about this program.
Thank you to all the Performing Arts staff who are keeping the spirit of the arts alive!
