The inaugural Musical Theatre Club in the schools launched last year to produce a fun performance of a junior, shortened version of Into the Woods. The students and the audience loved it, and the final show was sold out. Sara Douglas and Tom Kellough, both music teachers in School District No. 46, want to do it again – this year with a more ambitious, full-length operetta, Pirates of Penzance, by Gilbert and Sullivan.
The previous show included 21 kids from grades 6 to 12 from all over the Coast. Everyone had a chance to perform, or to work backstage if they chose, but the star roles were by audition.
“It was a fantastic show,” said Douglas, adding that they hope to run the musical theatre as a course. “We’re seeing real talent,” she said, “some fabulous voices and really good dancers.”
Douglas teaches at Kinnikinnick and Davis Bay Elementary schools and has led choirs on the Coast, while Kellough leads band programs at Chatelech and Elphinstone Secondary schools. He’s also the former music director at St. Hilda’s Church. Both have tried to get choirs going in their schools, but found that the fun of musical theatre was more attractive to kids.
Douglas is proud of the progress made in this school district regarding music teaching in the schools. “Patrick Bocking [school superintendent] has been amazing,” she said. “He’s been increasing music teaching. It’s alive, thriving and growing here.”
Rehearsals are due to start Friday, Sept. 16 for performances in late February and beginning of March. They are looking for more students to participate this year.
“We need boys,” Doug-las said.
The operetta has a big chorus line of pirates and of policemen – and another big chorus of young women. Overall, it’s a big cast and everyone will learn something practical, whether about acting, score reading or stage management. Students from all schools on the Coast are welcome, although rehearsals will be at Chatelech in Sechelt.
Costume design is being done by a student, Annika Cleland-Hura, 16, and you can see it’s in good hands if you take a look at her fashion blog, Nothing Short of Chic.
To sign up for the Musical Theatre, all ages should contact Douglas at [email protected] and she will confirm that grades 10, 11 and 12 students should also contact the office at Chatelech.
