High School Musical Souvenir Ed. LowRes

Special Issue August 2014
SM
H
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NIRED
BRUNSWICK SECONDARY COLLEGE MAGAZINE
VE
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S
ITRIO
THE BRUNSWICK
THE BRUNSWICK
SM
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NIRED
V
SOU E
FROM THE
PERFORMING
ARTS
CAPTAIN
The journey to bring Brunswick Secondary
College’s own ‘High School Musical: On Stage!’
to life has been extremely rewarding –
not only for the students, staff and ‘production
family’, but also as an achievement celebrated
by the whole school community.
Over the last 5 months, I have witnessed
changes in confidence, skill, stamina and the
development of camaraderie from our company
of 82 students; displaying exemplary examples
of our 6 school values.
The result? A new and improved Performing
Arts Department, inspired students and a
fantastic week in the theatre!
Having the opportunity to share
the stage with the cast as Kelsi,
the witty composer of the East High
winter musical, as well as being a
cheerleader in the opening scene
meant that I was pushed to my
limits – one minute I was exuberant
and lively, the next, being shy and
awfully clumsy! It was a real joy to
be able to play two very different
characters!
The doubling of student participation
numbers since 2013 is testimony
that performing arts is becoming
more popular at Brunswick and
has become an integral part of our
school’s culture.
Being Performing Arts Captain has
been an honour. The shared workload, with the assistance of the
Performing Arts Committee, was
all worth it - especially seeing
students exclaim in surprise when
they exceeded their dreams and
aspirations, often walking out of
rehearsal with a new found confidence and beaming smiles.
I can’t explain how incredibly proud
I am of their achievements and
thankful to have been able to work
with the HSM Company.
I thank the incredible teachers Tracie, Mr Tranter and Kathleen for making my final high school
production a memory that I will
keep close to my heart.
Without their expertise, endless
encouragement, inspiration, hard
work and sacrifice behind the
scenes there would simply be no
show. They have been integral
to my discovery of a love for theatre
which has in turn led me to form
amazing friendships within the
HSM company.
Both my love of theatre and the
friendships made will long outlast
my school years.
As the Year 12 students complete
their final weeks of schooling,
I look back in pride knowing that
each student has benefited from
this experience. I cannot wait to
come back and cheer on my fellow
‘thespians’ in their future theatre
endeavours and I know, without a
doubt, that they will excel beyond
our greatest expectations.
Larissa Li
Performing Arts Captain
‘Kelsi Neilson’
ITRIO
This is vital in developing skills in confidence, self-belief, leadership
and resilience. We started with a blank canvas, a company of 82
students, a production team, stage technicians and a vision of
how we could bring this production to life. I am sure you would
agree that the overall result was an energetic, vibrant and
polished performance.
I would like to acknowledge the collective creative expertise of
Nick Tranter and Kathleen McGuire for their willingness to
share their time and talents which undoubtedly enhanced the production.
I believe there is a creative capacity in all students that should
be fostered and encouraged. The professionalism and combined
efforts of the cast and crew ensuring the highest quality of performance was both gratifying and uplifting for all involved. I
am excited to see Brunswick Secondary College students excel
in the arts and I am certain some of our most talented students
will continue to explore and develop their creative potential for
years to come. You have all ‘reached for the highest star…
now the world can see you in a way that’s different from who
you are’. Tracie Eastwood Director/Choreographer
Many actors say that what they love about theatre is
the ability to be somebody else on stage. Adopting a
character’s persona in front of an audience can be an
exhilarating experience. Many staff have told me how
they were amazed to see such convincing and entertaining characters on stage, brought to life by the
students they teach. Indeed, the performances exceeded
my expectations and I continue to be impressed by the
talent of students at Brunswick SC. However, while
I was thrilled to see such distinct and vibrant characters on stage, I have been more proud at seeing these
students be themselves. In other words, it has been my
privilege to see students interacting with their peers
and enjoying each other’s company without judgement
or fear of being different.
The High School Musical company has become a
close-knit group of young artists who worked together
and created something amazing, and the friendships
forged and strengthened throughout the rehearsal and
performance period are truly special. The rapid growth
of Performing Arts at our school was visible on stage, in
the pit and backstage, with all students taking on positions of responsibility and demonstrating professionalism that would rival those in the industry.
I am particularly proud of our graduating students who
have demonstrated our school values in an exceptional
way. High School Musical was an absolute joy to be a
part of, mostly thanks to the staff with whom I work:
Tracie Eastwood and Kathleen McGuire are outstanding teachers who inspire, invigorate and challenge
me. High School Musical made me even more aware of
what a fantastic place Brunswick SC is to be a teacher.
Nick Tranter
Assistant Director/Stage Manager
High School Musical was so much fun to put together,
especially with a significant increase in the number of
students participating compared with our 2013 production.
As well as the wonderful singers on stage, for this years
production we had twenty-six student instrumentalists
(from Years 7 – 11) performing. This included six students
in the pit orchestra plus another twenty in the marching
band. Many of the students started playing their instruments only this year. The musical production provides a
unique opportunity for our students to work alongside
those from other year levels and truly feel part of a community. I was extremely proud of the entire cast and crew;
their work individually and collectively epitomised the
school’s values of excellence, perseverance, responsibility,
achievement, teamwork and respect.
Dr Kathleen McGuire
Musical Director
Kathleen McGuire
Tracie Eastwood
With each new school production at Brunswick Secondary
College I am more and more swept away by the power of
community. The cast, crew and production team worked tirelessly
to bring Disney’s High School Musical on Stage to you amidst
much excitement, teamwork, laughter and the pure joy of
working together.
The challenge in directing this production was to bring something fresh and different to such a well-known musical as we
were transported into the social strata of high school and
reminded that young people can achieve their dreams.
One of the most critical decisions for staging a school production is the choice of musical and it has to be manageable for
actors, musicians, designers and crew.
For this production the performers could identify and
relate to the content which allowed for greater creative
freedom in accessing students’ talents and most
importantly, their imagination.
Nick Tranter
PRODUCTIONTEAM
THE BRUNSWICK
journey. Togetherness: that is
THE BRUNSWICK
Sasha Gillies-Lekakis
‘Chad’
Chad is an energetic,
sporty jock at East
High, and is best
friends with Troy,
the captain of the
basketball team.
High School Musical
has been a great
experience for me.
I have developed so
many new skills throughout this journey
as well as improved my acting, singing and
dancing. I have learned so much about the
theatre and how to put an amazing show
together and perform it on stage. I have
found many new friends with others that
have taken part in High School Musical,
and have strengthened my bond with the
production team and cast. Most importantly
however, I have had lots of fun working
with everyone to make the show a reality.
This fantastic opportunity has left me with
so many memories that I will treasure
forever.
Elian Haddad
‘Science Captain,
Taylor McKessie’
Being a part of the High School
Musical production was one of
the best experiences I’ve had in
my 13 years of schooling.
It brought me closer to my
fellow Year 12 classmates and
gave me the chance to meet
many students from all the
other year levels at Brunswick.
It was amazing to watch everyone grow; especially
those who started off shy who then turned out to be
just as crazy as the rest of us.
I had the pleasure of playing the science captain,
Taylor McKessie. This was the first time I had played
a principal role in a musical and I was nervous at the
beginning, but with the help of the three wonderful
teachers we had supporting and guiding us I managed to get really into the character of Taylor.
Overall the production was an amazing experience
that I would recommend to anyone! There are so
many ways to get involved - there is something in it
for everyone.
VE
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Elise Louey
‘Gabriella Montez’
There is nothing else out there
that gives you that sensation:
when you perform on the stage
and look out into the audience,
it truly amazes you. You stand
there and you think, “I can’t
believe I’ve come so far!” From
the beginning of the High School
Musical journey to the end, every
single person in the company
can say that they’ve surprised
themselves, and that they’re a part of something bigger.
There is no doubt that playing Gabriella Montez was an
incredible experience. I remember watching the movie as
a kid and wishing I was her. It’s pretty awesome to say
that for half a year, I was this shy, brainy, Disney character with a heartthrob boyfriend. I’m really thankful that
I got the opportunity to live my Disney dream but even
so, there is something way better that came from being
involved in the musical. It’s a realisation. After the very
last show, after the final curtain comes down, everything freezes for just a second. In that second, a million
thoughts and emotions rush through your head while
you’re madly hugging and screaming and crying. In this
exact moment, you realise that every single person has
come together and created one massive musical family.
And that’s the sensation. That’s what brings you back
year after year to do it all over again.
Chris Villarossa
‘Alan’
My experience in the production of HSM was simply amazing - the best 5 months of
my life so far. There were ups
and downs but I would never
change them because they all
made for an amazing cast,
company and four great
performances. I learned so
much about different things how to be a better actor, what a “house rag” is and
what “heads!” means in theatre. In theatre, we say
‘Chookas’ which means “Good luck” in theatre language. I played the character Alan, one of the drama
club kids and a jock. Alan is shy but becomes
a vibrant, colourful, and a passionate actor after
breaking out of his shell. I loved playing Alan because
he reminds me of myself in a way - stepping out of
my comfort zone and becoming an actor!
SM
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CASTCOMMENTS
Josh Calwell
‘Ryan Evans’
High School Musical
was my first whole
school production.
As a kid, I loved
High School Musical (the movie) so
I was stoked to be
involved in putting
it on the stage. I was
lucky enough to be
given the principal role of Ryan.
Ryan is a very theatrical student who is
Vice President of the school’s Drama Club.
Ryan has a sister, Sharpay; they are both
talented but Sharpay tries to make her
spotlight shine the brightest. Ryan is consistently in his sister’s shadow up until the
end of the show. Through High School
Musical I have gained confidence and coordination in my dancing. I would encourage as many people as possible to join next
year. You gain new skills, meet so many
new people through interaction with all
year levels and work with a very encouraging and skilled group of teachers.
I have made great friends and enjoyed
an experience I will never forget.
ITRIO
Liam Jenkins
‘Troy Bolton’
It’s easy to look at a musical
and not properly estimate the
amount of time, dedication
and sacrifice that goes into it.
Around six months ago, students of the High School Musical
Company started the long but
exhilarating development of
our second annual musical
production.
The musical meant sacrificing our own free time to
rehearse, and help to progress the show – whether
that be during one (or more) of the several separate
rehearsals held during the school week, or even over
weekends.
If I could say only one thing about my experience in
being a part of the annual BSC musical production,
it would be that it’s a hell of a lot of hard work – but
perhaps the most rewarding aspect is such a friendly,
supportive and lively group of people with whom
you share the journey. Togetherness: that is what
Brunswick is really all about.
Blake Everett
‘Coach Bolton’
The fact that our high school
musical this year was ‘High
School Musical: On Stage’
made it almost too much to
handle. I found it quite difficult
having to deal with the irony
of the whole situation, it really
affected me! Thankfully I was
able to push on through without having a complete mental
breakdown and becoming a lifeless sample of ironic
nibbles which you would find a worker (possibly at
Coles) handing out to unsuspecting customers who
wouldn’t dare say no to free nibbles and therefore
would feel the wrath of a spicy slice of irony which
may or may not be served with their choice of
dipping sauce.
So now I’ve said what I wanted to say I’d like to simply thank everyone who had even the smallest bit of
involvement in High School Musical coming together:
the actors, the musicians, the backstage crew, the
teachers, the audience, the people who thought I
was a teacher or a member of staff at the Clocktower
filling in for a bed ridden student, Ms. Tellefson for
saying: “seeing you play that character on stage
made me believe you were an actual man” (as opposed to a woman?) and of course the people who
laughed when I told them the character I was playing
was “Zac Efron’s dad”, because it was easier than
saying Coach Bolton and having to explain who that
was. I would like to not thank the one person who
didn’t laugh when I said “Zac Efron’s dad” and went
on to ask if High School Musical was part biographical.
On second thoughts, thank you; that was
pretty funny.
Kyle Tran
‘James’
Throughout the whole production
of High School Musical, I was lucky
enough to play the role of James.
He is an “earthworm expressionist”
and also a thespian. For me, doing
HSM has opened many doors and
has boosted my confidence.
It made me realise there is more to
me. Besides that, I have made new
friends with people I would never
have met without doing HSM. The school production is a
great way to find new talents within yourself, to see what
you are capable of and is a great way to meet people too.
That is the reason I will keep on doing it!!
Indu Mulligan
‘Cyndra’
My experience of putting on the
production of High School Musical
has been amazing. During these last
five months I have made friends with
students from Year 7 all the way up to
Year 12, which is such as privilege.
In the production I was lucky enough
to get the role of ‘Cyndra’ - a thespian
student who sings unusually high
notes and who has dreams of
becoming an opera singer.
I loved playing this role and had so much fun getting into
the zone of the character at rehearsals and in the theatre.
I have learned and developed so many new skills that I am
going to take with me for the rest of my life. Since doing
‘Fame’ last year, I have also been able to see so many new
students take part in High School Musical as more students
are participating in performing arts than ever before. I will
take away and cherish the unforgettable memories of
High School Musical forever.
James Heywood
‘Jason’
This was my first whole school production so I was a bit nervous but at the same time
extremely excited! I participated in the junior production last year called “Ratbags” and
really enjoyed it, mixing with people from other year levels I wouldn’t normally get the
chance to meet. I also really enjoyed watching “Fame” last year and after “Ratbags”
I thought I’d step it up a notch and join the whole school production. It was a decision
I will never regret! I came to the first meeting and realised a lot of friends I had made from
“Ratbags” had come along, as well as friends from my year level, so I felt very comfortable.
I auditioned for a principal role and I was cast as Jason, a jock. I was so thrilled!
As the weeks went by (and they went by fast) I met many wonderful people who shared
my new found love for theatre. Everyone was so warm and friendly. I was quite nervous
as show week came creeping up, going over the dances and songs in my head just to make sure I would do the
best I could do. The set was amazing and I loved the feel of the head mics and costumes as well! As the dress
rehearsals went by, I could feel the company growing closer, even more than before. By the last show, each and
every scene was fabulous and everyone was great – and I am not ashamed to say I felt a bit teary! I still laughed
at every joke (off stage of course) and became a semi pro at putting on makeup (except for eyeliner - eyeliner is
hard!). I didn’t want it to end, but all good things must!
High School Musical was an amazing experience for me, it pushed me out of my comfort zone, allowed me to
meet wonderful people and GOT MY HEAD IN THE GAME! I would like to thank everyone for creating one of the
best memories of my school years. I would also especially like to thank Larissa who helped me find my love for
theatre because of her contribution to “Ratbags”. I can happily say with a big smile on my face that this won’t
be my last musical at Brunswick Secondary College!
Xavier Dupé
‘Jack Scott’
I played Jack Scott, the school
announcer, in the production.
This role was somewhat different from others as I ‘broke
the fourth wall’ (spoke directly
to the audience) and even appeared from the audience at
the start of Act II. One of the
most exciting new developments this year was the use of
students in the bands. This created a great dynamic
whereby the performers, the backstage crew and the
musicians were ‘all in this together’, as we were all
students and really developed as a team in the High
School Musical camp and the many rehearsals during production. As I am in Year 12, this will unfortunately be my last production with Brunswick, but I
am grateful for this experience and look forward to
watching next year’s show. I want to thank Tracie,
Mr Tranter and Kathleen for all their hard work,
and for imparting skills that I will cherish.
Lucy Payne
‘Ms Darbus’
I played Ms. Darbus in ‘High
School Musical - On Stage’
Ms. Darbus is the Drama teacher
at East High and tries, often in
vain, to foster a passion and
commitment to the arts in her
reluctant students. She continually clashes with the school
sports teacher (and Troy’s dad)
Coach Bolton over their conflicting interests and priorities. In the end, however,
the two reconcile over the Troy’s success in both his
singing and sporting pursuits. Darbus is flamboyant
and eccentric and it has been so much fun playing
her - a real treat and a chance for me to extend my
acting experience and skill.
The production is the highlight of my school year
and, as a Year 12 student, I am so happy to have
been able to be involved in two productions before
I leave. The skills and experience I have gained from
working on a full scale production in a professional
theatre are invaluable and I am so excited to take
them with me into my further study. I am so grateful
to have been able to enjoy all the performing arts
opportunities of Brunswick over the years and to be
involved in consistently incredible and professional
productions. Thank you to all the teachers and
students involved - I can’t wait to see what you put
on next year!
Harry Wilkinson 9K
‘P.A student/ Basketball jock’
Hello, my name is Harry and
I had an opportunity this
year to participate in my
third musical production.
In High School Musical
I was given the opportunity
to play two different roles.
The first was a Performing
Arts student in Act 1, then
in Act 2 I was a basketball
jock. These two different roles provided me with
a variety of songs to perform. As a Performing Arts
student, I got to perform, “The Audition Song”
as well as a thespian part in “Stick to the Status
Quo”. As a Jock I performed “Get’cha Head in
the Game” and “Counting on You”. Having been
a part of last year’s musical, “Fame”, I have to say
that this musical was better in so many ways.
We had a larger cast to work with, the core band
was more student focused and our sets were perfect. My experience from this production was a
good one, and I believe that I improved on
everything that I learned from Fame!
Anushka Gaire
‘Kratnoff’
It’s not every day you get to
be a part of a grand project
like the whole school High
School Musical production.
And my, it has been an experience. Every day spent
surrounded by High School
Musical has been an absolute blast - from the first
auditions till the moment
the curtains hit the floor. In the musical I played
the role of a history buff, or brainiac, named
Kratnoff who was constantly telling people to stick
to the status quo and to do the things that they
were expected to do. It was a pretty fun role to
play and it meant that I could tell people off for
not doing what they were meant to do.
In contrast to this serious role, I also had a part as
one of the cheerleading squad at East High. I had
the time of my life being surrounded by our amazing HSM company and doing what I truly love –
performing! And seeing all our hard work pay off
was a beautiful feeling - a feeling that I will
cherish forever.
Gracie Tointin
‘Mongo’
Last year, Brunswick Secondary College
put on a fantastic rendition of “Fame:
The Musical”, in which I was involved.
This year, I was delighted to find out
that we would be putting on a production of Disney’s “High School Musical On Stage!”
From the very first rehearsal, it seemed
as if every member of the company had
already become friends. I think that all
of us would agree that our rehearsals were very tiring and
sometimes quite difficult, but at the same time each and every
one was so much fun and equally rewarding.
Throughout the months leading up to show-week, the entire company gave up so much time practicing and working
together to create something spectacular. When we finally
got into the theatre, we knew immediately that our work
had paid off. I am honestly so thankful that I got the chance
to work with such a talented, kind, funny and hard-working
company, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Massimo Lantieri-Bartley
‘Moderator/MC’
For my first whole school production
ever, I played two minor roles. One of
them was the party announcer for the
New Year’s celebration, and the other
one was a moderator for a science
tournament.
Both of those roles were extremely fun to
act in as I got to showcase my knack for
voice work for the announcer, as well as
the facial expressions and gestures while
performing the moderator part! Never, in my whole life, have
I felt so welcomed by the positive and passionate spirit of the
teachers, the atmosphere, and especially the other members
of the cast. This experience, I am proud to say, has helped me
to improve my confidence and self-esteem when it comes to
knowledge of the performing arts industry and has inspired me
to never lose faith in what goals I want to accomplish!
Also, due to the kindness and dedication of the other members,
I easily feel that I’ve made some pretty close friends who share
the same interests and are just a blast to communicate with!
So, lastly, a huge thank you to the members of the cast, I hope
that everyone who attended the performances enjoyed them,
and a MASSIVE shout-out to the teachers; Nick Tranter,
Tracie Eastwood, and Kathleen McGuire!
WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER!!!
Amelia Newman:
‘Performance Art Kid’
High School Musical was a great experience. I’ve been in some sort of production (Rock Eisteddfod, BSTC) every year
since I started school and High School
Musical really reminded me of the same
kind of comradery that Rocker had.
Being in the production is a wonderful
way to make friends at school.
All that being in a musical requires is
commitment - AND the ability to not
take things to seriously. With the hilarious dialogue in High
School Musical it was easy not to take things to seriously!
Being in the production is an opportunity to grow and learn
no matter what year you’re in. People always say the same
things after each production, but it is true: High School
Musical (or Fame or Rocker) was amazing in every way.
It’s also true that whether it’s Rock Eisteddfod, Fame or High
School Musical, you always get out what you put in - the
commitment really pays off.
My advice to people in the younger years is to start doing
productions as soon as possible because school years go by
quickly, and you need to snatch up these opportunities.
’
Alanna Marshall
‘Ms Tenny’
High School Musical was a great
choice for the production.
It has a lot of fun and energetic
characters that our actors can
really get into and the music was
the soundtrack our lives when
the film came out in 2006! It was
fabulous that this year the school
was able to utilise even more of
the students’ talents.
I met a heap of new faces and got to work with some
fantastic people. Even though I wasn’t as involved in
the rehearsal process as much as I was during Fame,
I felt very connected to the show and its success.
I played Ms Tenny, the serious but passionate chemistry
teacher who sees a bit of herself in Gabriella.
Although she wasn’t on stage a lot, Ms Tenny had the
important role of being the ‘generic’ teacher beside the
two eccentric characters of Coach Bolton and Ms Darbus. She reminded the audience that the musical is set
in a high school and not some weird sport and drama
club. All in all, the experience has been fantastic and I
hope the audience enjoyed it as much as we did!
THE BRUNSWICK
High School Musical was a great experience for me. Being involved in the production really helps you grow stronger and
more confident. Seeing the show from the
sidelines and being able to work on it is
truly a remarkable highlight of my high
school experience. It provided me with an
insight into the different tasks involved
with working in theatres and closely with
peers from different year levels. I was given
the responsibility of microphones during
the show which is a great honour for me
as I was expecting a less interesting role.
The job involved taking microphones off
and putting them on all twenty-four principals and handling them with extra care
as they are very fragile. Overall, it was an
incredible journey seeing all cast and crew
perform on a larger scale in front of an
audience. I would like to say thank-you to
all three teachers/mentors Mr Tranter,
Tracie and Kathleen for bringing out the
best in all of us. You guys were, and are,
wonderful. Thank you once again.
Isbah Najam
Backstage
ITRIO
Backstage is the perfect opportunity for taking
part in a performance without actually having to
be seen. We had a great team of ‘‘backstagers’ that
ranged from Years 7 to 12. I found this an amazing
experience to mix with and form friendships with
the younger students, especially as this is my final
year of schooling. Being a stagehand allowed me
to see the works behind the scenes; from flying the
‘flys’ to moving the props.
Despite the manual labour of moving props, all of
the stagehands enjoyed themselves in the wings especially our attempts to learn the dance routines.
We got better with every show! I regret not having
taken the opportunity to be involved in shows
until my final year as this was the best part of
my year so far.
Iffah Zenaidee
Backstage
SM
NH
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SOU E
NIRED
During HSM I was up in the lighting box
controlling all the fantastic lights that were
happening on stage during the rehearsals and shows. I had to design a ‘Lighting
Plot’ for the show, which means programming the lights for each scene on stage.
There were approximately 80 lighting
cues to program. I had so much fun doing
lighting and helping out with the school
production. I’m glad I was given the
opportunity.
Jordan Fantone
Lighting crew
BACKSTAGE
TEAM
THE BRUNSWICK
Monica Lai
BSC Parent
SOUV
PARENTCOMMENTS
ENIRE
How can I sum up what being involved
in BSC’s High School Musical has done
for my child?
Let’s start with the social. Mixing with
all year levels elevated his social status to
something better and bigger than any social
media scheme can offer. It didn’t seem to
matter if you had a minor role, the down
time you may have had was spent conversing,
laughing, and interacting. When it came to
pick up time you really sensed the community
spirit.
Speaking of community, there are three families
in our street who were involved in the production. The odd car pools have been raucous with
‘Get’cha Head in the Game’ and ‘… always
there beside me’. Oh well, ‘We’re All In This
Together!”
The weekend spent in rehearsal meant, for
some adults, a childfree weekend. After delivering her children to the camp, Libby Heywood
stopped her car and remarked with incredible
enthusiasm, “I love BSC, when are they starting
up the boarding house?!” For my son the weekend
was so much fun that he couldn’t believe when
he turned up at school on Monday other
students questioned if he wanted to be back!
The drama team of Ms Eastwood, Mr Tranter
and Dr Maguire is the Dream Team. They have
worked tirelessly and without complaint, in fact
they were so blooming cheerful you’d think
they love their jobs.
I have to say one of the most important aspects
of the whole experience was watching my son
become focused and determined to do a good
job. He knew he also had to keep up his work
practices as told by the drama team. Ms Eastwood had cautioned students they may feel flat
when the show was all over. I was so grateful
when I heard my son talking to his aunt on the
phone about how he thought he might be sad
- but then why should he be when he’s had the
most wonderful time of his life!
Sheila Calwell
BSC Parent
The High School Musical Company should be
very proud of themselves. They demonstrated
not only their diverse talents, dedication and enthusiasm, but also the unique ‘Brunswick Spirit’.
All students have risen to their individual challenges to achieve their personal best in singing,
dancing, acting and dressing like their characters, playing in the bands or doing all sorts of
things behind the scene in relation to the sets,
lighting or sound. It is obvious that even students who had minor roles or were in the chorus
played their roles seriously at a level comparable
to those with lead roles.
My friends from the United States were very
impressed by the American accent that adopted
by the students and they thought the roles of
Coach Bolton and Miss Darbus were played by
real teachers!
Playing the challenging role of Carmen in last
year’s production of Fame: The Musical was a
steep learning curve for Larissa because she had
no previous training in acting and she had to
stretch her singing and dancing skills.
This year, Larissa had so much fun playing one
of the cheerleaders and Kelsi. Her new challenge
was having costume change in as little as 30 seconds! She was delighted that her father, at the
first sight, failed to recognise his own daughter
from a photo of her dressing as the quirky Kelsi.
I am very grateful that Larissa, as Performing
Arts Captain, has had the chance to work closely
with a team of talented and dedicated teachers
who are true professionals. When the curtain
came down, I felt a bit sad that it was the end
of Larissa’s last school production, but it will not
be her last performance. She wants to continue
her journey of performing at university, singing,
dancing, acting or cheerleading if possible performing on stage can be addictive!
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After 9 years of being a proud BSC parent, I can
honestly say that every year gets better. HSM is one
more example of the ongoing commitment to
excellence championed by a dedicated teaching
team and a very talented student body!
Thank you all for a wonderful evening of
entertainment.
Caroline Farah
BSC Parent
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TEACHERSCOMMENTS
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High School Musical was simply
amazing. To see so many students
from different year levels working
together to produce such a professional show was a real joy.
Congratulations to all involved.
Warren Evert
BSC Teacher
A highly entertaining show with
some stand out performances
by BSC students.
Freddy Stringer
BSC Teacher
The focus and camaraderie shown by
students both backstage and onstage
was at a professional level. It was a
joy to see the pride they felt in their
achievement.
Heather Secomb
Assistant Principal
I took my Year 8 son and his friend,
and my 7 year old daughter along to
the show. They were all thoroughly
entertained. As a teacher, it is a wonderful opportunity to see our students
shine in a different setting!
Rosalie Fourniotis
BSC Teacher
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THEMUSIC
High School Musical was a fantastic experience.
I was part of the Core Band with Rezzzaaa,
Jezza, Xavier (XXX), Tobes and William (shout out
to Keanu Reeves and Jorde too).
I know that I have five friends which will stick
together for life! My musical skills have improved
out of sight (especially with the super duper,
high, high notes). I’m sure I’ll be doing the musical again (especially if the musical is Shane Warne:
the Musical!) Thank you, Kathleen, for teaching
me so much!!!!
Ben Carroll
Band
THE BRUNSWICK
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THE BRUNSWICK
BACKSTAGE
THE BRUNSWICK
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It seems hard to believe that
High School Musical is only our
second whole school production.
With a history of only two musicals,
BSC has quickly developed a reputation for excellence in the performing arts. Both Fame and High
School Musical were such professional and impressive productions.
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•The Teamwork –
As in any great team, each member
contributed to the success of the whole
by confidently performing their part.
It was excellence all around.
Words cannot adequately convey the
students’ shared pride in their
achievement.
VE
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Brunswick Secondary College’s
second whole school production,
High School Musical on Stage, was
truly outstanding.
The end of each performance brought
enthusiastic applause from delighted
audiences. As the finale curtain fell,
the mood back stage was jubiliant.
At the after party a few weeks later,
the shared pride and elation still
‘pumped.’ My whole-hearted
congratulations to each and
every student.
The after party
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• The Musicians –
Last year Bridget Pennington was the
only student who played in the band.
This year we had 6 students in the core
band and 20 students in our shiny,
showy marching band!
Now that‘s progress.
The quality of the teaching and teacher
collaboration that led up to this success
is simply outstanding. Tracie Eastwood,
Nick Tranter and Kathleen Maguire
featured in a Bastow Institute photo
series earlier this year called ‘Teachers as
Heroes’. And they are! Not only because
the performance was so fantastic but
because of their dedication to, and belief
in, bringing out the best in every child.
Actors, singers, dancers, back stage crew
members and set designers each learned
and achieved more than they could have
ever imagined possible. Each member of
the company developed in confidence
I would like to share a few thoughts and skills. Each will take with them
on what made this year extra
memories and a sense of achievement
special for me.
that will endure well beyond the performance and their time in our school.
• The number of students involved I am already looking forward to next
This year the Company doubled
year’s whole school production and
in size to 82 students. I have been
before this, the junior production of
told so many times that it takes a
Seussical the Musical .
number of years to really establish
a production. Not so!
Vivienne Tellefson
Principal
Teamwork