True Blue Queensland Canecutters come to Ballina

Legendary ‘larger-than-life’ 1950’s Queensland canecutters Roo Webber and Barney Ibbot will descend on Ballina in March as part of the Ballina Players production of the renowned Australian classic play, Summer of the Seventeenth Doll.

For sixteen summers they have spent their long layoff between seasons in Melbourne with barmaids Olive and Nancy. One of their many traditions is that each year Roo brings Olive a kewpie doll on a stick.  In the summer of the seventeenth doll things have changed and all must face up to some truths.

The two Aussie canecutters Roo and Barney will be played by well known local theatre identities Carl Moore and Graeme Speed.

Ballina audiences will remember Carl as the lawyer Henry Drummond in Inheri

t the Wind and, more recently, his award nominated performance as Hipockets Duncan in The Buddy Holly Story. Carl has an extensive theatre background.

Graeme’s stage career began in Perth during the 70’s  and he has appeared in numerous stage musicals including Chicago, Guys and Dolls and Shout.  Although musicals are his declared passion, he is excited to be playing the role of Barney in The Summer of the Seventeenth Doll.

The play has a special relevance for Ballina audiences as the sugar industry and especially canecutting are an important part of the colourful history of the Richmond valley.

The Doll will be directed by David Addenbrooke  (Inherit the Wind, 2009 and The Importance of Being Earnest, 2011)  with set design by Eddie Richards.  The season opens with a gala premiere on Friday March 8^th and continues until March 22 at the Ballina Players Theatre in Swift Street. Book at Just Funkin Music, telephone 66 862440.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC – AUDITION INFORMATION

(Show Dates are below) 

PLEASE PHONE LYNN GOUGH TO BOOK AN AUDITION TIME

0409 031 641

PLEASE NOTE THERE WILL BE 2 SEPARATE SESSIONS FOR AUDITIONS 

AUDITIONS FOR:

PRINCIPALS – FRIDAY 5 APRIL 7PM-10PM  & SATURDAY 6 APRIL 10AM-3PM

Maria, Mother Abbess, Sister Berthe, Sister Margaretta, Sister Sophia, Captain Von Trapp, Franz the Butler, Frau Schmidt, Liesl (aged 16), Rolf, (aged 17), Elsa Schraeder, Max Detweiler plus neighbours of the Von Trapps and nuns

PRINCIPALS PLEASE NOTE YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO SING THE SONG AS INDICATED:

MARIA – THE SOUND OF MUSIC

MOTHER ABBESS – CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAIN

SISTERS BERTHE, MARGARETTA, SOPHIA – HOW DO YOU SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE MARIA

CAPTAIN VON TRAPP – EDELWEISS

LIESL AND ROLF – SIXTEEN GOING ON SEVENTEEN

ELSA AND MAX – HOW CAN LOVE SURVIVE.

AUDITION PACKS CONTAINING SONGS AND DIALOGUE FOR AUDITION WILL BE AVAILABLE AT JUST FUNKIN’ MUSIC, RIVER STREET BALLINA FROM 4 MARCH.

TO BE COLLECTED IN PERSON, PLEASE

AUDITIONS FOR:

CHILDREN – SATURDAY 20 APRIL 10AM-3PM

PLEASE NOTE YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO SING: – MY FAVOURITE THINGS

VON TRAPP CHILDREN :

FRIEDRICH – AGED 14, LOUISA – AGED 13, KURT – AGED 10, BRIGITTA – AGED 9, MARTA – AGED 7, GRETL, THE YOUNGEST – AGED 5-6

PARENTS PLEASE NOTE: THERE WILL BE 2 FAMILY GROUPS OF CHILDREN WHO WILL REMAIN IN THAT GROUP TO DEVELOP A STRONG BOND . EACH GROUP WILL BE PERFORMING ON ALTERNATIVE NIGHTS.  TO MAINTAIN THIS BOND, CHILDREN WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SWAP BETWEEN FAMILY GROUPS ACCORDING TO OUTSIDE COMMITMENTS.  ON AUDITION DAY, PLEASE INDICATE WHICH GROUP YOUR CHILD WILL BE AUDITIONING FOR ACCORDING TO YOUR PERSONAL COMMITMENTS.

PERFORMANCE DATES FOR EACH CHILDREN’S GROUP:

GROUP A –  JUNE FRI 14 – OPENING NIGHT,  SUN 16(MATINEE), THURS 20, SAT 22, WED 26, FRI 28, SUN 30 (MATINEE),  JULY THURS 4, SAT 6 (MATINEE)   (AS WELL, BE AVAILABLE TO TAKE PART IN BOWS ON SATURDAY 6 NIGHT PERFORMANCE IF POSSIBLE)

GROUP B – JUNE  SAT 15, WED 19, FRI 21, SUN (MATINEE) 23, THURS 27, SAT 29, JULY WED 3, FRI 5, SAT 6 EVENING PERFORMANCE  – CLOSING NIGHT

On Tuesday night, 4th December, Ballina Players received the PLATINUM PALM AWARD at the Gold Coast Theatre Awards at the Gold Coast Arts Centre. This award was for the best Theatrical company in the Gold Coast Theatre Alliance, in terms of all facets of Community Theatre…ie Front Of House, meet-and-greet (well done Malcolm and team), ambience, comfort, and consistent quality performances over the entire year 2012

This was the last award of the night and is left to that time because of its prestige.

Our President, Warwick, accepted the award on behalf of Ballina Players and made an excellent spur-of-the-moment speech, which echoed the feelings of the members who were there on the night…there were tears, hugs and lots of emotion. Congratulations to us!!

Also winning an award was Joy Miller for her role in The Mousetrap, in the category of Best Supporting Actress in a play…this was accepted by the directors Allen & Di Ennew.

While many missed out on winning, we were comforted by the fact that many people repeated the mantra “it’s an honour to be nominated”. A great time was had by the 20 members present. The entertainment, provided by samples from other companies’ performances, was eye-opening, and we are amongst quality amateur theatre…but we hold our own.

Well done Ballina Players!

OLIVE – Natasha Kilby

PEARL – Christianne Hopley

Ballina Players has been nominated for 2 shows in the 2012 season: Mousetrap & Buddy

MOUSETRAP
ALLAN ENNEW- Best Director of a play
JOY MILLER- Best female supporting actor in a play

PAUL BELSHAM- Best Technical Achievement (Non-lighting or sound) in a play
MIKE SHEEHAN- Best male supporting actor in a play
PETE HARDING- Best male leading actor in a play

BUDDY
CARL MOORE- Best male supporting actor in a musical
GEOFF MARSH- Best technical achievement in a musical, Lights
BRITTANY PHOLI – The Jock and Beverly McIlwain Special Encouragement Award

The next monthly meeting of Ballina Players Inc. will be held at the Players Theatre, 24 Swift St Ballina, at 7PM on 18th June 2013.

Monthly meetings from then are:

16th July

20th August

17th September

15th October

19th November

17th December