NAPA News - Week 3, Term 3, 2021
Dear NAPA Families,
We hope the COVID restrictions have not been too challenging for you all, especially those of you who live over the border, our thoughts are with you as you battle hold-ups at the border. We appreciate the effort you are making to get your children to their classes as we don’t want them missing their preparation for productions and shows. This week features the opening of Abigail’s Coven and final polishing of eisteddfod numbers in readiness for the Gold Coast Eisteddfods next week.
Abigail’s Coven
This play is performed by our Senior Tread the Boards and directed by Scott Johnson. It is a great opportunity to see our senior thespians exhibit the acting techniques taught at this level, so grab your tickets through our online booking system. For those of you attending, please note there won’t be an interval so make sure you top up with drinks and snacks prior to the performance. The production is just over an hour in length. Chookas to the cast and crew.
Performance Teams
Next up for you all is Gold Coast Eisteddfod! This is one of our biggest competitions of the year and the kids always love dancing on the "big stage" at HOTA. Make sure you keep an eye out for any updates coming through from Miss Kim and stay on top of all notes and emails sent out.
Attendance is as important as ever, so please ensure your child is in all of their classes and also working hard at home to perfect their routines.
Good luck cherubs!
Change of Award Ceremonies Dates
After much discussion we have decided to extend Term 4 to accommodate new dates for our Award Ceremonies. Having the awards straight after the Dance concert is really pushing everyone too hard. So, to give the Awards the time and respect they need, we are going to change the dates to the following week. Classes will now finish on 3 December, however, we will have all students attend an awards rehearsal on the dates provided below as well as treat them to an end of the year barbecue. We hope this doesn’t adversely affect anyone’s end of year plans, but we think it will help most of our families and teachers to have seem breathing space between events. Please mark the dates below in your calendar.
SENIOR AWARDS
(All Broadway Bound, Pre-Senior + Senior Tread the Boards and Pre-Senior + Senior Acting for Camera Students)
JUNIOR AWARDS
(All Broadway Kids + Tweens, Junior + Intermediate Tread the Boards and Junior + Intermediate Acting for Camera/FTV Students)
DANCE AWARDS
(ALL Dance Technique Classes and Performance Teams)
5-7pm, Tuesday, 7 December – Senior Awards rehearsal and end of year BBQ
5-7pm, Wednesday, 8 December – Junior Awards rehearsal and end of year BBQ
5-7pm, Thursday, 9 December – Dance Awards rehearsal and end of year BBQ
6.30-8pm, Friday, 10 December – Senior Awards Ceremony
2.00-3.30pm, Saturday, 11 December – Junior Awards Ceremony
6.30-7.30pm, Saturday, 11 December – Dance Awards Ceremony
Movie Night
Another date to add to your calendar. We are planning a movie night for all of our students on the last evening of Term 3, Saturday, 18 September at 6pm. The movie will be announced at a later date. Students of all ages are invited to come in their favourite PJs and bring pillows, sleeping bags or blankets to snuggle up while watching the movie or bring low set picnic chairs. We will be serving hot dogs and fruit juice. We have held these nights in previous years, and they are always so much fun.
Welcome Michael & Tracey Gaylard
During Scott’s absence for the rest of term 3 we have been fortunate to have Michael & Tracey to join our teaching team. Michael will be teaching the College students and Tracey the Senior Tread the Boards class. They both are NIDA trained and come with a wealth of experience. Enjoy getting to know them from the following information.
MICHAEL GAYLARD BDA (NIDA), BEd (CSU)
Michael completed the Acting course at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and commenced his career as an actor with the Sydney Theatre Company (STC). Going by the stage name of Michael O’Neill, he has worked extensively under some of Australia’s best directors. Michael worked for the State Theatre Company of South Australia (SATC) and for the Melbourne Theatre Company. He has appeared for Playbox/Malthouse in Michael Gow’s THE INCORRUPTIBLE with John Howard. TV credits include the mini-series PALACE OF DREAMS (Lead), BODYLINE (Supporting), LAW OF THE LAND (Guest lead) and NEIGHBOURS. Michael played the role of Dr Steve Harrison for 5 years on ABC TV’s award-winning medical drama GP. In 1999 he moved to Warragul in West Gippsland and into teaching Drama, Media and English at Chairo Christian School whilst producing/directing many school musical productions with wife, Tracey. Michael also returned to the stage in 2011 to play the part of Alan in GOD OF CARNAGE. Between 2012-15 he and Tracey created White Oak Theatre Company where they produced many productions. Michael is excited to be teaching at NAPA having moved from dreary Melbourne to sunny Southeast Queensland!
TRACEY GAYLARD BDA (NIDA)
Tracey grew up on the Gold Coast where she was extremely active in drama and ballet. She left to study acting at NIDA. She was a professional actress for several years, working in TV – POLICE RESCUE, THE LANCASTER MILLER AFFAIR, Commercials, Film – THE CELLIST, EMOH RUO, FOR LOVE ALONE, BURKE & WILLS. Her many theatre credits include A DOLL’S HOUSE (NIDA), ROMEO and JULIET (NIDA), LOVES LABOURS LOST (NIDA), SUMMER RAIN (World Premiere NIDA), ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT (Q THEATRE), KING LEAR (NIMROD), NICHOLAS NICKLEBY (STC), MORNING SACRIFICE (GRIFFIN), THE REAL THING (STC), and TWO WEEKS WITH THE QUEEN (World Premiere STC). Tracey was extremely fortunate to work with each of the forefathers of Australian theatre – John Bell, Aubrey Mellor and Richard Wherrett. Tracey married and moved to regional Victoria where she raised a family. During that time, she was a Speech & Drama teacher (Trinity, AMEB), an adjudicator and director involved in many productions for schools and the community. She and her husband Michael were also Artistic Directors of their own theatre company, White Oak Theatre. Tracey and Michael have moved back to Queensland and are very excited to share their rich legacy and love of drama with students at NAPA.
Have a great week NAPA Families
Lynn
COLLEGE APPLICATIONS FOR 2022
We have had lots of interest in students joining NAPA College next year. Please note we can only take students who are either going into Year 10 or Year 11 in 2022. This is a 2 or 3 year course. Applications close on 31 August. Once applications have been submitted you will be contacted with audition dates.
For those who are not sure what the College is about, it is a full-time course where students gain a CUA40520 Certificate IV in Musical Theatre conducted under our partnership with Australian Teachers of Dancing (RTO31624). Students will complete their senior schooling to gain their QCE through distance education. Their academic studies are supervised at NAPA as an extra service to free parents from home schooling commitments. When students begin this Nationally Accredited Training, the delivery and assessment will be conducted by NAPA. We ensure that highly respected industry professionals concentrate on developing the required skills and provide opportunities toward students achieving their goals. If you need to discuss this further, don’t hesitate to contact me to set up a meeting. ([email protected])
