Major Production

Bi-Annually St Bede’s College produces a musical with Marian College.  Auditions are held at the end of Term One and performance is week 8-9 of Term Two.  Past shows include Back to the 80s, Disco Inferno, Do You Wanna Dance?, Oliver andReturn to the Forbidden Planet.

In July this year (2013) we will be doing Guys and Dolls as our combined musical production with Marion College.

It is a Musical Fable of Broadway, based on a story and characters of Damon Runyon, music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows.

All the hot gamblers are in town, and they’re all depending on Nathan Detroit to set up this week’s incarnation of “The Oldest Established Permanent Floating Crap Game in New York”; the only problem is, he needs $1000 to get the place. Throw in Sarah Brown, who’s short on sinners at the mission she runs; Sky Masterson, who accepts Nathan’s $1000 bet that he can’t get Sarah Brown to go with him to Havana; Miss Adelaide, who wants Nathan to marry her; Police Lieutenant Brannigan, who always seems to appear at the wrong time; and the music/lyrics of Frank Loesser, and you’ve got quite a musical. Includes the songs: Fugue for Tinhorns, “Luck Be a Lady”, “Sit Down, You’re Rocking the Boat”.

June 2010 Production Little Shop of Horrors

A highly successful production of Little Shop of Horrors has brought a very busy cultural term to a fitting conclusion. A classic musical dating from the 80s, Little Shop tells the story of Seymour Krelborn, a nerdy florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood. The plant soon begins to sing for its supper and wreaks havoc in Krelborn’s life.

This production, involving students from Marian College, was produced by the College’s Arts Co-ordinator Lou Days and directed by Ruth Sullivan. The small cast featured Chris Houghton in the lead role of Seymour, Breanna Moller as Audrey, Charlie Bristow as Mushnik and Oli Stone as the dentist Orin. Another student with a leading but unseen role was Matt McMenamin who wowed audiences with his rendition of the plant’s voice. The three Ronettes were Junelle French, Mikyla Challies and Vy Nguyen. Several students are earning valuable NCEA credits in Music at the three levels and many of those with leading roles of some sort are looking at careers in music, drama, theatre or the entertainment industry. Rector Justin Boyle, commented saying “a small but talented cast of Marian’s and our best meant it was professional, slick and entertaining – and yet another example of our boys (and girls in this case) working well with generous and talented staff.” A five-piece live band led by Rachael Hawkey provided the music throughout the show.

Procuring Audrey II, the giant man-eating plant, was one of the biggest challenges of the entire production. After searching throughout the country, a very suitable model was found in the North Island and was purchased by the College. Together with the excellent set built by Kevin Bradshaw (in the form of a pair of moveable staircases), these items will be available for hire to other schools and groups wishing to produce this musical.

A huge vote of thanks must go to all those who assisted in this production, including staff and parent helpers.
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