School students celebrate 90 Years of Broadway

News Release: Wednesday 22 June, 2011

Mamma Mia, Life is a Cabaret and All That Jazz!
School students celebrate 90 Years of Broadway

The last few weeks have been all about toe-tapping, jazz hands and belting out show tunes for forty-five Scots College and Queen Margaret College students, as they hit the boards, rehearsing for this year’s joint school production, 90 Years of Broadway.

”We’re showcasing ninety years of Broadway musicals, as that’s roughly the age of the two schools – that, and musicals are just fun to perform. In the current climate, I think everyone needs a little light relief,” reflected Andrew Stopps, Director of Music at
Scots College.

”It’s amazing how many songs you recognise when you look back over decades of well-known and much-loved musicals. However, not surprisingly, most of these songs were completely new to our students!” laughed Stopps.

Tim Jenkin, Head of Performing Arts at Queen Margaret College said of the programme: ”It’s a fantastic line-up, featuring tunes from some of the very early Broadway musicals in the 1920’s, such as Showboat and Anything Goes, through to South Pacific, Westside Story and Fiddler on the Roof in the 40’s-50’s, Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, Chess, Cats in the 60’s-80’s and the more recent sensation, High School Musical.”

“The show is open to the public and I encourage anyone who loves a good musical to come along – it’s guaranteed to be a great sing-a-long” said Jenkin. “There are four performances from 4-7 July, 7.30pm at the Queen Margaret College Hall in Thorndon, and tickets can be booked in advance by calling either the Scots or Queen Margaret school office.”

The TV program Glee has also contributed to the recent upsurge in interest in musicals by school students. “It’s been a huge influence, and has made musical theatre cool again. Musicals are meant to be entertaining, but they’re also a commentary on life, and the world around us. In a lot of ways this production is a history lesson as much as it is a music or drama class. I think the students have learnt a lot along the way,” reflected Stopps.

”Scots College and Queen Margaret College are brother and sister schools, and it’s great to be able to collaborate on this production,” commented Producer Mary Wood from Queen Margaret College. “Needless to say the girls and boys are having a great time.”

90 Years of Broadway will run from 4-7 July, at the Queen Margaret College Hall,
53 Hobson Street, Thorndon. Tickets can be purchased by calling Scots College on
04 388 0850, or Queen Margaret College on 04 473 7160.

ENDS

Background Information:
Scots College is an Independent Presbyterian Day and Boarding Boys’ School; Years 1-13. It is an IB (International Baccalaureate) World School, offering both the NCEA and the IB qualifications. Scots offers a vibrant learning environment for boys, encouraging excellence in every facet of their education, creating global citizens - boys who are equipped for life as balanced, compassionate, motivated and socially aware young men.
www.scotscollege.school.nz

Queen Margaret College is a Leading Independent Presbyterian Girls College. It offers holistic education from Pre-School through to Year 13 and the choice of the qualification pathways of IB (International Baccalaureate) Diploma and NCEA. QMC is a College with an international perspective that delivers a high-quality, globally-relevant curriculum within a family atmosphere.
www.qmc.school.nz

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