Newsletter Autumn 2011-2012

Hello again. Hope you are enjoying the unseasonably warm weather and like me hoping the forecasts for another harsh winter are totally wrong! We will be staging The Wizard of Oz on 21st January 2012, at the Queen’s Hall Hexham; hope our audience doesn’t have to ski in to see the show.

Yes Tynedale Academy of Performing Arts invites you to take a trip down the yellow brick road for an exciting journey to meet the wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Dorothy travels to the magical land of Munchkinville with the help of a ‘twister’. The storm is so strong that it up roots her house from it’s foundations in Kansas and carries it all the way to fantasy land where it drops right on top of the Wicked Witch. The Munchkins are delighted and help Dorothy and her 3 new friends, Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion, find their way to the Emerald City to meet the Wizard of Oz.

And why is it so important for Dorothy to meet the Wizard? Because she realises that it may be great to have an adventure but,’ there is no place like home.’

Packed full of classic songs including We’re Off to See the Wizard, Follow the Yellow Brick Road and Somewhere Over the Rainbow this is a seasonal treat to chase away the winter blues. Please come and join us on January 21st at 2pm and 6pm. Tickets are £9 and £8 for concessions.

Rehearsals are going well. The young cast is finding its feet, the leads are working hard and all of the production team are now involved. Karen Barnes is our wardrobe mistress again. She has found delightful, comic outfits for the Munchkins. The Ozians in act two will resemble Cossacks, albeit a little less disciplined!

The afternoon group have also started work on their next show, We Will Rock You. This is a jukebox musical, based on the songs of Queen and named after their hit single of the same name. The musical was written by British comedian and author Ben Elton in collaboration with Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor. The music is incredible and the cast are having a great time at rehearsals.

For the second time we are holding a show at our rehearsal venue, Hexham Middle School. As usual we will totally transform the stage into a theatre with an interactive set, projected images and, hired lighting and costumes. No detail is being overlooked. We are even going to run our own bar again, yes the ticket price includes a complimentary drink! The show date is 17th March 2012 at 2pm and 6pm. Tickets are £6 or £5 for concessions. Everyone is welcome not just families associated with HMS or TAPA.

It is never too late to join the cast, if you are really keen to be in a show then contact me and we can get you involved.

So what else has been happening at TAPA? The teacher training programme continues, Ellen, Hannah and Jordan will be taking a written exam as part of their training very soon, November the 5th to be exact! They are collecting together lesson plans and my assessments so that the case study element of the course can be completed. In the summer term they will be assessed while teaching by a senior Trinity Guildhall examiner and that will be them finished.

Chloe Brass, who passed her grade 8 Musical Theatre exam with a very well deserved distinction, has become the latest ATCL trainee teacher recruit. She is busy studying how folk learn and how to aid this process by writing first class lesson plans. She will help to mentor the morning group students who will be taking their Musical Theatre and Performing Arts exams in the New Year. Good luck to her.

So it only remains for me to cordially invite you to both of our shows. If you wish to become a member of TAPA just get in touch and I can let you know how easy that will be. Before you know it you’ll also be on stage, performing what? Oliver! The Musical will be TAPA’s project for 2013. Come and join us.