42nd Street

Spotlight Theatre, on the Gold Coast, is celebrating its 65^th birthday this year and its Youth Theatre Classes have been training young people in the many phases of live performance for many of those years.

For the past month, the various classes have had the opportunity to perform their various plays on the main stage at the theatre’s Benowa premises.

The senior Music Theatre class’s final offering (before they graduated) was the All Singing, All Dancing, All Entertaining 42^nd Street, and what a treat it was.

None of the cast were over 18 and yet they gave the performances of seasoned artists.

42^nd Street is a big dance show with lots of fabulous tap numbers and the cast, regardless of their ability, conquered this challenge with plenty of vitality and the audience just loved it.

Leading the cast were Hunter Wall – Julian Marsh, Tymyka Wines – Peggy Sawyer, Olivia Hardcastle – Dorothy Brock and Liam Lockwood as Billy Lawler, ably supported by approximately 20 other students 

Several of the girls took on “trouser” roles to complete the cast and they did a remarkable job.

At the beginning of the year (Pre COVID) many of these students attended a “Summer School” at the theatre and after a short rehearsal period staged a memorable production of 13, the musical.

Some of these students are now headed to various acting colleges around the country and we wish them well in their chosen careers.

With opportunities like these, the future of theatre on the Gold Coast is full of promise!

Roger McKenzie

Photo: Varga Studios