Hello and a Happy Easter to you!

 

It's been a while - too long really - since my last letter to all of you Innovations bods. Apologies.

 

Quick links:

Avoca

Gorey

Summer School

The Teachers

General News

 

AVOCA

 

First and foremost, I'm happy to report that "The Wizard of Oz" was a huge success. Without a doubt, it was one of Innovations' best shows ever and was certainly one of the happiest. The atmosphere during rehearsals and throughout the run was positive, happy and down-right fun. And I'm especially thrilled that we played to full houses! Kudos should be heaped upon every single member of our cast - from our sensational young Dorothy (Emily Davis) to the terrifying witch (Tara Sterling-Byrne) who had every child in the audience trembling with fear...until they learned that yelling BOO!! really helped not to be scared. And I want to say a special "Well Done!" to Niamh McBride who played Toto. Here is the classic example of "no such thing as a small part". Toto didn't have a single line, not a single word, but absolutely stole the hearts of everyone in the audience. Never once did she break character. We all really believed she was a dog.

 

At the moment, the Avoca students are working on their 2nd Annual Showcase which will be taking place in the Conary Community Hall on Wednesday, 27th May. (Please note that we may be adding an additional performance date considering the fact that we had to turn people away at last year's show. That day will either be Tuesday the 26th of Thursday the 28th.)

 

GOREY   

      

Gorey students are presently immersed in rehearsals for "Oliver!", and from what I'm seeing thus far, this is going to be a stunning show. We introduce two new Innovations stars in this production...11-year-old Myles Wafer in the title role and 12-year-old Roy Forrest as the Artful Dodger. Henry Collie plays Fagan, Saoirse Comerford is Nancy and Ben O'Beirne will scare the pants off you as the villain Bill Sykes.

           

Denise Brennan is our very special Musical Director with John Hughes sharing the singing class responsibilities. Laura Kitt is choreographing with her usual individualistic flair, and we have another new star on the horizon...Sarah Morris in her directorial debut. Most of you know Sarah from a multitude of Innovations (and erstwhile PASS) shows, as an award-winning performer who excels in drama, dance and song. Last summer she was the choreographer of "An Croí: Irish Heart", the Avoca show that toured the USA in August. This year, under the onus of my beady eye (God love her!) she is making her debut as a director.

 

"Oliver!" will open Thursday, April 23rd in the Gorey Little Theatre and run for three nights. Tickets are 10 euro for children 11 years of age and under, and 15 euro for adults. BUT! If bought in advance, we are giving a 33 1/3% discount - 8 euro for children and 10 euro for adults. You can get your tickets from me during any class or rehearsal time, or from South East Stationery, Gorey and Arklow.

 

We have a new performance group in Gorey, made up of a handful of senior students who meet voluntarily after class hours. We're not quite sure what to call it, but the favourite suggestion thus far is "The Improvibles". (No, it's not a misspelling. Figure it out yourselves.) Many of you will be familiar with "Imp Ink" and "An Croí", the two Avoca groups that produced such successful and entertaining shows over the past few years. "Imp Ink" was our improvisational experiment and "An Croí" was our international touring show - Alaska in 2006 and South Dakota in 2008. It is now Gorey's turn. They will be entering the Tops of the Town competition in Shíllelagh on Friday night, 8th May. Wish them luck! They will also be meeting during the summer to create an entirely new and improvised show which will take place...???...dates and venue yet to be decided.

           

 

SUMMER SCHOOL

     

Yes, we're back this year. We're holding a 2-week summer school in the newly renovated Badminton Hall, Gorey, 29th June to 3rd July and 6th July - 10th July, 10.00 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. each day. Students may do two weeks or just one - it is totally optional. The fee is 75 euro per week. Please note that places are on a first-come-first-served basis, so if you're interested, BOOK NOW!

 

THE TEACHERS

 

Loads of news about our teaching staff! First and foremost, congratulations to Anne McIntyre who gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Tianne on 23rd February last. All our best wished and congratulations go out to you, Anne.

 

While Anne is on maternity leave, Laura Kitt has taken over her dance class in Avoca, while Sarah Morris and I have taken on her drama classes in Gorey. Dorothy Brennan (Denise's sister) is teaching drama in Avoca, and her expertise in speech and elocution has been a terrific boon to us all. She is amazing.

 

Denise Brennan - well, wow, what can we say. Denise has been in the USA since 2nd January as soloist with the Irish Philharmonic Orchestra in their programme "Women of Ireland" as well as in their classical programme. Needless to say, she received rave reviews from coast to coast.

 

Lonely husband John Hughes has been standing in for her as singing instructor during her absence. And fair dues to him, he's done a mighty job. And...not only has John proved himself a fine musician, he's also discovered a penchant for 3D creativity. When we suddenly discovered (at "The Wizard of Oz" Dress Rehearsal!) that we had no balloon for the Wizard and Dorothy to escape in, John went home and created the best prop you ever saw! (You can see it on the DVD.) And he saved my hide - and about 150 euro! - by mocking up three amazing lollipops. In short, I borrowed from a Dublin source three 10" lollipops on "pain of death" if they weren't returned intact. Unfortunately, on the last night of "The Wizard of Oz" they were eaten by the children. But John's beautiful mock-ups satisfied the lenders and I was forgiven the 150 euro penalty. Thank you, John!!

 

GENERAL NEWS

 

The third and last term of this Innovations School Year is a 9-week term from 1st April to 3rd June in Avoca, and 4th April to 6th June in Gorey. Please note there are no classes during Holy Week (Wednesday, 8th April and Saturday, 11th April).

 

That's all my news of the moment. Till next time...

 

Cheers!

 

Anne

 

 

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