Oklahoma! End of Season Wrap Up

On Saturday March 25, our Company completed a highly successful 9 performance season of Oklahoma! In reaching an extremely high level of performance, our young Cast and Crew demonstrated outstanding skills of self-organisation, leadership, commitment and co-operation – key life skills. As well, they developed considerably their skills in acting, singing, dancing and Tech operation. The outcome delighted audiences who gave us some very heady accolades with a standing ovation on Final night.

Thanks are due to the team of adults who brought their skills and support to our Company and made this amazing opportunity possible. Particularly worthy of mention are the superbly authentic costumes largely created by Sally Darby, Carol Kellett and their team which gave a great look onstage. After many years’ service, Carol and Sally are leaving the Company. We thank them and wish them the very best.

In 2024, HOD Drama, Mrs Sophie Coetzee and Mr Nik Kearns, will take over the roles of Director and Production Manager respectively.

Final Night Awards:

Liz O’Connor Award for outstanding musical potential: Axis Simon, Ella Udy

High Five Award for the most promising understudy: Scott Sun, Maia Niwa

Sandra Wheeler Musicians’ Award (Vocal): Saem Millward

Monaghan Award for excellence in theatre technology: Jonathan Hillas, Tristan Little, Riley Best, Ishmam Biswas, EJ Buckingham, Atta Rahim, Kaia Fouhy, Sakthi Prabhu

Alex Hughes Award for most promising chorus dancer: Lenny Hansen-Wall

Cara O’Neill Award for excellence in choreographed movement: Kaitlin Murphy and Ivy Ho

Barbara Shorter Award for outstanding contribution to the senior production: Abbie Taylor, Gabriel Beneteau

Chris Burton Award for excellence in performance drama (male): Josh Webster, Saem Millward (Gold), Jake Maskill (Gold)

Chris Burton Award for excellence in performance drama (female): Phoebe Driscole, Maddi West (Gold), Madeleine James (Gold)

Thanks to outstanding work by our Marketing Manager, Rachel Wenham, and the considerable generosity of our sponsors, in recent years we have awarded several scholarships to alumni who have successfully completed at least one year of a tertiary qualification specialising in the Performing Arts. It was a great pleasure to Award another this year to Aylin Atalay. Aylin was a member of the ensemble and an outstanding principal Dancer and Company member in The Addams Family 2019, Me and My Girl 2020 and Streakin’ Thru the 70’s 2021. In 2022, with outstanding results, she completed her first year of the NZ Diploma in Dance (Level 6) with her Subject major, Contemporary Dance.

Photos below courtesy of Sally Wenham and Melissa Renner.

Many thanks to our 2023 sponsors (pictured below) whose generosity has helped ensure the continuation of this Performing Arts opportunity in our two schools.

Click here to view photographs from the cast and crew awards presentations.