Week 8 Term 3, 2024 Production Newsletter

THE WIZARD OF OZ

Last week, our school students performed the musical, “The Wizard of Oz.” The quality of the show was truly outstanding. The students were all so confident with their lines, scenes and dance moves, it was really astounding. We hope that you all enjoyed the show and thank you for your attendance.

The success of the production was the result of months of hard work. The biannual production is one of the special parts of our school and sets us apart. Many old scholars’ comment to staff about what the productions meant to them as they grew up, and what joy the shows brought them.

I would like to offer my thanks to everyone who has made these shows possible:

The generous and talented Parents and Friends of St James for the hours and hours of work put into preparing the costumes, makeup and hairstyling. Our musicians who have helped us with our rehearsals and supported us so beautifully during the two shows; Margie Symonds on piano, Tony Leesong on drums and Lesley Kulow on clarinet. We would also like to extend our gratitude to Megan Rowe as she played the piano when we began rehearsing for many weeks each Thursday. Thank you also goes to Richard Boston who worked the lighting for us and Paul Gibson for providing us the sound equipment and with his expert knowledge to operate it.

Thank you to Clive Palmer for filming both the Matinee and the Finale shows. A movie of the show will be for sale at Palmers soon. The school will provide an update when this becomes available for purchase.

Mrs Lewis, Order of Australia – recipient, was our skilled and expert director and choreographer. Her long association with our productions for 45 years is exceptional, we have been fortunate to have her working with our school for so long. She has helped hundreds of students develop their acting, movement, and stage skills and most of all a love of the theatre. Thank you, Mrs Lewis, for guiding our students.

Mrs Shona Simpson worked tirelessly to ensure the production was a success. She worked diligently behind the scenes to make sure that the show came together by coordinating the props, backdrops, costumes, staff and students for the event. Thank you Shona. I would also like to thank Miss Georgia Parisotto, who assisted at nearly every rehearsal and was such a driving force behind the success of the play.

All of the staff of St James have worked like a well-oiled teamwork machine, behind the scenes during the last few months. Thank you to the staff for your commitment, your hard work, and support. Thank you also goes to Tom Broad who created the wonderful stage sets and props.

I would like to thank the school families, members of the parish and the wider community who attended our musical and for the overwhelming positive feedback about the shows. We can’t thank you enough.

Finally, and most importantly, thank you to all of the talented students of St James. For those who were in attendance, I think you will agree that the performance was an excellent showcase of learning and a wonderful achievement that the students should be pleased with. I am immensely proud of what the students have achieved and how the staff have worked together to support the students to put on such an impressive show.