Macbeth Performance

On Tuesday 6th August 2013, Year 11 English students experienced a lively presentation of Macbeth by the Flying Bookworm Theatre Company.


A number of students (mainly the guys) volunteered to take roles in the play.


One group loved learning how to curtsy.

 
Superb, colourful acting and fine scene explanations kept the students fascinated.

MUNA

MODEL UNITED NATIONS ASSEMBLY (MUNA) On 15 June I arrived at Forest Edge camp to begin a two day debating contest, representing the nation of Peru with Kaitlyn from Toorak College as my partner. We had never met before so had researched Peru individually. Two person teams from over ten different schools were competing. We all dressed in traditional clothing. We debated many issues from around the world including the threat of nuclear weapons, climate change and even asylum seekers. The weekend was good fun with many great speeches being made and many great questions being asked by all nations. At the end of the weekend, Brazil took home the overall winner trophy while my partner and I won the Peace trophy. We were commended on the fact that we were the only team from two different schools. I am thrilled to win this trophy for Casey Grammar School.

Congratulations Taylor A (Year 11) on your wonderful success!

"One" for the Drama Tour Ensemble

One is the show for the Drama Tour to the Gold Coast, Queensland this year.
Students involved range from Years 9 to 12.
Natalie Burns is the magical, never tiring main director.

Hannah Mueller, the Drama Captain for 2012, explained in the school assembly:
The Gold Coast Drama Tour Ensemble have been rehearsing their original production ‘One’ since October last year. The ensemble has been working hard learning lines, devising choreography, writing and composing songs, learning cover songs. The performance is a musical and involves 31 students from Years 9-12. It is a touring production and in the July school holidays we will be taking the show up to Queensland to perform at six different high schools. We couldn’t be more excited, but before we set off we will be performing the premiere show in Melbourne. What would you do if you knew that every decision you made would shape the rest of your life? Rachel is a quiet, academic girl, sick of being told to relax. Torn between liking two boys, wanting people to like her and wanting to do well in school, the decisions she makes in one day change everything. With best friends, boys, ex-friends and an upcoming party to deal with, Rachel and her peers learn that no matter who we are, the choices we make now define who we will become in the future. One moment, one decision, one mistake, one life changed...forever.
About 400 people viewed the premiere in the Casey Grammar Performaing Arts Centre.


Wishing this great band of students a successful and fun drama tour over the July holidays!
And take care of Ms Burns!

 

When in Rome

On the evening of 7th June, Year 10 students of Casey Grammar presented the fun, entertaining When in Rome.
Earlier in the week, to advertise the show, the cast dressed up and danced round the school handing out leaflets advertising the show.
Such a colourful sight seeing the Roman world come to life.
And under the creative, skilled guidance of Ms Natalie Burns, the show rolled out to the delight of about 200 people in the audience!

 
Congratulations to you all!
You are wonderful!

First Steps in Nat Sy's New Journey

Nat Sy and Australian comedian Frank Woodley

(NOTE: Nat has just completed a very successful drama season in his first year post school.
I asked him to pen a few thoughts...1200 words later...)“The riddle gets solved, and you push me up to this state of emergency. How beautiful to be?”

The last few months have been the most difficult times I’ve ever faced; so many transitions, so many changes, so many new challenges. Through these challenges however, I’ve been given opportunity, and within those opportunities, I’ve met some really great and genuine people.

My name is Nathaniel Sy, a Casey Grammar Graduate 2010. I’m currently studying Live Production, Theatre and Events at Swinburne University of Technology. Throughout the past few months, I’ve achieved so much more than I would have expected of myself; in the first 6 months, I set up and operated for 2 seasons of low budget student shows. During the mid year break; I was hired out by Mr. Frank Minniti, owner and founder of “After Dark Theatre Company” to operate sound for the entire season of “Limbo, a Circus Journey.”To be able to achieve this, and a few little things on the side, in my first half year of study left me astonished, and surprised at how far I have come, and how far I wish to go within the entertainment industry.

This last week however, I’ve exceeded my limits by pushing myself to the absolute edge mentally and physically. I volunteered to work for the National Institute of Circus Arts Australia in celebrating their 10th Birthday. To highlight this special occasion, NICAA honoured the Circus Arts by organising the first Melbourne Circus festival, which I was very privileged to be a part of.
Working with such people as:
The cast of: Circus Trick Tease

Picture from: http://www.circustricktease.com/images/ui/history-hero.jpg
Shannon McGurgan, Farhad Ahadi, and Malia Walsh were amazing people to work with, and just good people to have an all round good time. It was a great season lighting the trio, and drinks to the hilarious conversations on headsets with the brilliant Stage Manager - Bek Moore. Me Gusta!

Marko Respondeck in putting on NICA’s: Circus Cabaret:
Every day for the week, we would have an extremely quick tech rehearsal at 2pm and end at 4:30pm, as the show started every night at 7:30pm (and usually with a Circus Trick Tease show running at 5:30pm). The most challenging part of this was being able to plot different acts for every night, in such a short space of time. Marko Respondeck, being a world class Lighting Designer, was able to quickly liaise with performers and the Director, and plot lighting states in 15 minutes per performer, ready for the performance at night. To be able to witness this, and work alongside him was a huge privilege just to see what kind of level the professionals at. Marko really inspired me.
“...to be able to do this job, you first need a system your lights obey by; when you have the complicated maths out of the way, you can focus on vision. Not just the Artistic Vision, but using your mind to see what the lights must do to compliment the sound and music.” - Words of wisdom from the trusted Lighting Designer for Circus Oz.

The Circus Cabaret was mainly a display of Circus acts over candle lit tables, showing what NICA has produced of 10 years of Circus Art. The show was hosted by a different Ring Master every night from the best NICA entertainers, to Cath Jamison (Melbourne’s best Female Magician), to Australia’s very own Frank Woodley. It was a huge honour to be able to illuminate Mr. Woodley, and a defining moment when he thanked me onstage.

Meeting people from all years at NICA, and the crew behind the Circus Festival has inspired me to step up my game, and work harder towards what I dream to be. Even though throughout the festival, my schedule was working from Monday 26th of September, to Friday 30th of September – from 8:30am to 10:30pm every night, I did not complain. This was only a small taste of what the industry will be like, and I have realized there is soo much more to learn.

If this is what I have done in just my first year of study, who knows what opportunities lie out there in a full career? Just in one week, I’ve made a huge network of important people, but better yet, making friends and having a good time working with all of them. They have all inspired me and taught me what it is like to live a life making the stage work – to make the stage go from vision, to reality. I don’t think this is a dream anymore. By working hard, to the best of my ability, and using EVERYTHING I have learnt, and putting it into action, I have made this dream I have so whimsically dreamt, into the reality I want it to be.

To the kids at Casey Grammar reading this, I tell you now to not doubt the education the teachers there have to teach you. Their wisdom and guidance will shape you to the person you want to be. Even if you think they are wrong, it’s only a part of the learning process – to accept. The knowledge they pass onto you will never be left useless. When you leave school, you will meet people with a wide range of likes and interests – and everything the school has left with you comes into action.

Whatever field you wish to get into, be dedicated, passionate, and strengthen your resolve; do the research, put in the hours to learn – do this, and the dream melds with reality, because reality is whatever you want it to be.

The quote above is from a song I have been listening to on repeat since I got home from my last night of work. It’s a song that has prompted me to reflect on everything that has passed, and the people who have defined my character.

Charlotte sometimes would tell me “Things happen for a reason,” and being cynical, would brush these words aside. But as History develops, and as the story progresses, I realise that if it were not for the things that happened, and if it wasn’t for the people I loved and hated, I wouldn’t be writing this very piece about the things I have achieved in my first year out of school. She will always be my greatest inspiration.

What you wish to be is never out of reach, all your dreams and aspirations – keep them close with you. There will be times when you will tell yourself you can’t do – and if you leave it be, those words will haunt you. But when you hold your aspirations close to your heart, the plans in your head and the will to just do it – then you’re unstoppable.

News Alert! Check Out Schools on Stage! UPDATE!

The vibrant city of Casey hosted this musical challenge for schools in the region!

Our judges certainly had a difficult task deciding on a winner, but
the performance of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” and “Jitterbug” were hard to beat and Casey Grammar School was announced as the ultimate winner of Schools on Stage!
‘St John’s Regional College were the runners-up performing from The Wiz, The Best Song Award went to Cranbourne Secondary College for “Adelaide’s Lament” from Guys and Dolls Junior and Endeavour Hills Secondary College won the Teamwork Award’.
- Excerpt from Media Release
A fantastic effort Casey Grammar!
CONGRATULATIONS!

News Alert! Check Out Schools on Stage!

The vibrant city of Casey is hosting this musical challenge for schools in the region!

Each school has selected two songs from their 2011 school musical to perform for Schools on Stage. The song choice is up to each school – the only rule is that at least one song is a chorus number.

After each school has performed their songs it will be up to the judges to make the tough decision: who will be announced the winner of Schools on Stage?

Hosted by Tim Campbell

Best known for his role as Dan Baker on Home & Away, Tim Campbell will be the host for this special event. An all-round entertainer, Tim has performed at Carols In The Domain, The Good Friday Appeal and Carols By Candlelight.

His experience in the world of musical theatre includes performing in Rent, Shout! The Legend of the Wild One and Wicked. Tim also took part in Dancing with the Stars in 2007 and has hosted The Million Dollar Wheel of Fortune and The Celebrity Singing Bee.

Four awards will be presented on the night:

• First place ($2000 cash prize)
• Runner Up ($500 cash prize, sponsored by Hal Leonard Australia)
• Best Song
• Best Teamwork

In addition, all participating schools will receive a discount voucher from Hal Leonard Australia, which entitles them to either 20% off a Broadway Junior ShowKit or 20% off their material hire bill for any Hal Leonard show performance in 2012.


ALL THE VERY BEST OF LUCK CASEY GRAMMAR!

News Alert! Check out The Archies!

“The Archies” is a drawing competition that The Art/Design Department at Casey Grammar will be running this year.
It is based on the existing Archibald Prize which runs annually.
This competition is aimed at encouraging the artistic talents of Casey Grammar and to provide an opportunity for students to show their skills to the community and their peers. Not only students can enter, but teachers and parents too!
For this to happen we need you to support this competition and submit photos of yourselves for the students to draw. The portrait must be drawn and must not be computer aided. In order to participate students will need to sign a form which gives acknowledgement to the rules and conditions of the competition which has been attached to this email. The Art Department will shortlist the entries and will screen all entries.
On the night of the Art Show the public will vote on their favourite portrait. The Art Department will also choose nominate the most successful entry. Prizes will be received by both successful entrants.

The competition begins on the 12/09/2011 - Monday next week.

The Art Show is on Friday 14th October