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Welcome to Latrobe Theatre Company's web site. Latrobe Theatre Company is a well recognised institution of great theatre in Gippsland and continues to produce amazing shows year after year.
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LATEST NEWS |
After a long weekend of auditions, the cast has now been finalised. There is a mixture of familiar names, and new ones, among the list. The first billing goes to a life member of the LTC who has probably lost count of how many shows he's been in. He received a GAT award for his performance of Max in The Sound of Music, and it will be no surprise to many that Lawrie Fildes is playing the role of Gepetto in My Son Pinocchio. He will also be joined by a number of other cast members from The Sound of Music. Kara Smith will be playing the Blue Fairy, Anthony Di Donato will bring Stromboli to life, and Jacki Comber will portray Mrs Giovanni. Being a family show, we also have Bernard Detering appearing as Buonregazzo, and Ethan Detering playing Junior. The main cast is rounded out with Craigen Whitehead as Bernardo, Kate Forwood as the Ring Leader, Kylie Fildes as Maria, and Hailee Smogavec as Tahlia.
Although you've probably noticed one character missing from the list, saving the show's namesake until last. A newcomer to the LTC, Jacob Holt will play the pivotal character Pinocchio.
There are many more adults and children involved in the production, with a mixture of regulars and new comers.
The full cast list can be seen here.
In good times and bad
The GAT awards provided a great opportunity for the various participating theatre companies of Gippsland to intermingle, and for both new and old friends to catch up. With the many nominations received, it was great to see both The Sound of Music and Blithe Spirit recognised with awards.
The Sound of Music received three awards: our youngest recipient being Melody Paulet in the Youth Performance category for her role of Gretl. The other two awards came in the Support Actor Male and Female categories. Lawrie Fildes was awarded for his portrayal of Max, and Mary Mirtschin received her award in recognition of performing Mother Abbess. Mary also sang the iconic Climb Every Mountain as part of the evening's entertainment, effortlessly resonating the entire hall, and finishing to a standing ovation.
Blithe Spirit received the 4th award for the LTC. In the category of Lead Actor - Female, Michelle Linahan (the illustrious Chair of GAT) was rewarded for her hilarious and cooky portrayal of Madame Arcarti.
Congratulations to all those who received awards, it recognises all the hard work put in. A big thanks to all the people that made the shows happen, behind the scenes, and the fellow performers who made those special performances possible.
And for those who missed out, remember why we do theatre; to have fun and give the audience a good show.
Unfortunately, however, it was not all good. Last week saw the passing of two of our theatre family. Valerie (Val) Wilson was a former member of the Latrobe Light Opera Society (LTC before the name change). She was an active member and Musical Director throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Her contributions were immeasurable, and will be remembered by many.
It has been a major shock to hear of Roberta (Bobbie) Neil's tragic accident on Wednesday. She had worked with a number of theatre companies in Gippsland, and most recently was performing in Blithe Spirit, which finished only days before. It was an absolute pleasure to work with her, and she will be missed greatly.
Our thoughts go out to both families, and friends. May they be well remembered and their lives bring inspiration to others.
More nominations released |
So after some great news about the Guild nominations and commendations, the judges of GAT (Gippsland Associated Theatre) have had their end of year meeting to review all the shows that were put forward to GAT.
LTC had two shows that were judged, and have received many nominations between them. First off, from earlier in the year, was The Sound of Music. The nominations across the many categories are:
| Brodie Dorling |
Lead Actor Female (Maria) |
| Lawrie Fildes | Support Actor Male (Max) |
| Mary Mirtschin | Support Actor Female (Mother Abbess) |
| Ashley Hansen | Support Actor Female (Liesl) |
| Lauren Burns | Youth Performance (Louisa) |
| Ethan Detering | Youth Performance (Kurt) |
| Thomas Headon | Youth Performance (Kurt) |
| Melody Paulet | Youth Performance (Gretl) |
| The Ensemble |
Ensemble Performance |
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| Jeremy Richards | Musical Director |
| Penny-Lee Tomkins | Choreographer |
| Christine Skicko | Director |
| Judy Degnan | Costume Design |
| Sue Thompson | Makeup and Hair Design |
| Russell Stewart | Lighting Design |
| Wayne Musgrove | Program Design |
The Sound of Music was also nominated for Most Oustanding Production - which just goes to show how much work everyone put into the production; from the cast, crew, and everyone else behind the scenes. The number of nominations is very impressive, and is reflected in how many people thoroughly enjoyed the production.
LTC's second major production, which still has two performances
remaining, is the classic Noel Coward play Blithe
Spirit. It also received a number of nominations:
| Scott Miller |
Lead Actor Male (Charles Condomine) |
| Michelle Linahan |
Lead Actor Female (Madame Arcarti) |
| Christine Skicko |
Lead Actor Female (Ruth Condomine) |
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| Simon Hemming | Set Design |
| Christine Skicko | Costume Design |
Again, these nominations are reflective of the strong performances from cast, and dedication of the production team and crew. Why not show your support for the show, and book tickets for either the matinee or evening performance? This Saturday only (26th November).
Organise your tickets now
The Gippsland Associated Theatre awards night is one weekend before the Guild awards, on Saturday the 3rd of December. This year being held in Trafalgar, at the Trafalgar Public Hall on Contingent St. Start time is 7:30pm, Tickets are $25 per adult and $10 for a child 16 or under.
This year is a festive yuletide theme - semi-formal to formal dress, with a touch of Christmas. BYO drinks and nibbles. Tables of 14 people.
For bookings contact Michelle Linahan:
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"The Sound of Music" recognised by Guild |
Earlier in the year the LTC staged its production of The Sound of Music - at Traralgon, Sale and Warragul. And it turns out it wasn't just a success with the audience, the judges who saw it from the Music Theatre Guild of Victoria also recognised the high caliber of the show and cast performances.
With nomination recently released, we now know that we have 3 contenders from within the cast:
| Mary Mirtschin |
Support Actor Female (Mother Abbess) |
| Callum MacKay |
Youth Performer (Rolf) |
| Saltzburg Children |
Ensemble Performance |
The show also received several commendations - so while these may not be nominations, they are recognition of quality performances, and the show overall.
| Bernard Detering | Lead Male (Captain von Trapp) |
| Brodie Dorling | Lead Female (Maria) |
| Lawrie Fildes | Support Male (Max) |
| Callum MacKay | Support Male (Rolf) |
| Samantha Grumley | Youth Performance & Support Female (Liesl) |
| Christine Skicko | Director |
This is a wonderful result, and highlights all the effort put in by everyone to bring this classic production to life. Up against 72 other shows statewide, it shows that theatre in Gippsland is as good as anywhere. It's important to thank the whole cast, as it's a very ensemble show, and only the combination of the entire cast can bring this show to life.
A big congratulations to Christine and the rest of the production team (including LTC committee) for making the show happen. It took a lot behind the scenes, but rest assured it will be well remembered. A big thankyou to the backstage crew for making those on stage look good. And let's not forget our orchestra, who put the wonderful music in The Sound of Music.
For those interested, the awards night will be on the 10th of December at 8pm, in the Frankston Arts Centre.
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A successful beginning! |
Blithe Spirit opened on Saturday afternoon to a very receptive and intimate audience, with good numbers made up from Yallourn North and around the Latrobe Valley. This early success was followed by a second performance in the evening to another enthralled audience.
The hard work by those who set up has paid off, with our new lighting really helping the set the mood of the play, working in unison with the sound and music. The cast gave great performances, providing some engaging dramatic tension, and frequent laughs. Our audiences were very appreciative of the strong character portrayals, and the feedback has been fantastic.
Now is the time to book tickets for the remaining shows, at either Toongabbie (19th Nov - 2pm & 8pm shows) or Traralgon (26th Nov - 2pm & 8pm shows). This is one of Coward's funniest plays and not to be missed, click this link to find out booking details.
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Get your tickets now! |
Don't "pass over" your opportunity to get tickets for this classic farce. While the cast are making their final character adjustments, sets are being painted and costumes are being made, plus much more in the unseen realms of theatre. It's all coming together, and did I mention that tickets are selling? There are 3 dates, with 6 performances in total - so you can choose either a matinee or evening for each of the venues.
The first two shows will take place at Monash Hall in Yallourn North on Saturday the 12th of November. A week later we have two more shows at Toongabbie, held at the Mechanics Institute on the 19th. Our season will end on Saturday the 26th of November with two performances in Traralgon at the Latrobe Performing Arts Centre.
Join in the community spirit and help show that theatre is still very much alive in Gippsland. Take this opportunity to see a rarely done classic, before the final curtain.
To book tickets for Yallourn North or Toongabbie - call Kara on 0488 582 849
Bookings for Traralgon - please call the Box Office on (03) 5176 3559
Further details click here
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Announcements: |
Disney’s My Son Pinocchio
We are pleased to announce that Evelyn Timmers and Sharon Dorling have been appointed as joint Production Managers for this show. If you would like to help out in any of the production areas, such as sets, costumes, etc. please contact Judy (LTC secretary).
Sweeney Todd
Expressions of Interest are sought for Director, Musical Director, Choreographer, Production Manager and team for Sweeney Todd, which will be staged in July 2012.
Please contact Judy (LTC secretary) by 31st October
LTC half century
Expression of Interest are sought for membership of a Working Party to plan Celebrations and Shows for our 50th Anniversary year in 2013.
Please contact Judy (LTC secretary) by Monday 7th November.
Moe Carols
We have been asked to sing at Moe Carols by Candlelight on Sunday 4th December. If you would like to be a part of this group, please contact Judy by Wednesday 26th October on 5174 9551. |
Are you free? For a close shave |
With a big year ahead in 2012, LTC can announce two very well known names that have been chosen to follow Disney's My Son Pinocchio in the lineup.
Our second musical will see a return to Sondheim after 7 years (since "Into the Woods"), this time visiting 19th century London in a tale about the demon barber of Fleet St - Sweeney Todd.
Our full-length play is also set in London, but this time in the 20th century, and revolving around the employees of the Grace Brothers clothing department store. Are You Being Served? delivers some of the funniest British farce has to offer, and will entertain anyone who can appreciate British comedy.
Additional details about performance dates, audition details, etc... will be released further down the track.
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Foster-ing new talent |
There was a very entertaining weekend of theatre at the South Gippsland One Act Play Festival, which attracted theatre groups from across the state. With a high caliber of performances from local and distant groups, it was difficult to stand out. And being positioned as the last play of the festival can really put the pressure on to perform.
Fortunately the hard work put in by Aron, Katharine, Mary and Matt paid off. It made their premiere performance at The Wings look like a rehearsal. With a sword fight only two plays beforehand, the gloves were thrown down. But the cast of The Singing Princess rose to the challenge with pace and energy, rewarded by some big laughter from the audience. Not to mention dazzling them with some of the best sword fighting you'll see on stage. It certainly impressed, and was a great way to finish the final session on Sunday, prior to the overall adjudication.
After the fun was all over, the adjudicator recognised the quality of the show with nominations for: Mary Walker in the Best Actress category, and Aron Toman for Set Design. However the biggest achievement was for The Singing Princess as a whole. The adjudicator called it a solid production, and a complete package. The cast were delighted to accept the Adjudicator's Choice award.
A big thankyou to all who helped out and supported the show. With two new actors in the company, and Aron taking his second show he has written on the festival circuit, the LTC has certainly been helping to build the theatrical talent of Gippsland. We wish cast and crew luck for the next two festivals. May all the hard work pay off.
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A spirited beginning |
After
a well attended information session, and a lively and entertaining open audition, some tough choices had to be made by the directing team for Blithe Spirit. Apparently being a male in theatre won't always get you a role (at least not where plays are concerned). Matching up the stage couples (one trio - it gets complicated) has been completed and the cast is now official.
Playing the overly eager maid (Edith) is Viki Wright who was previously a nun and maid in LTC's Sound of Music. The central character of Charles Condomine will be played by Scott Miller, though he'll be trading the French accent of Lumiere for an English one. His current wife (Ruth Condomine) will be played by regular LTC director and performer Christine Skicko. His deceased wife (Elvira Condomine), brought back unintentionally with disastrous consequences is Kristina Creighton possibly best remembered as Minnie from Who Goes Bare? Next we have the neighbours; Dr and Mrs Bradman. In the role of the physician is someone new to LTC but not theatre, Anthony Kennedy, having recently finished Break a Leg's run of A Servant of Two Masters. He is partnered with Bobbie Neil, who will be performing with the LTC for the first time. And who better to play the eccentric medium (Madame Arcati) than Michelle Linahan, previously the maid in Hayfever, and head honcho of GAT (Gippsland Associated Theatre)
Further details on the What's On page. |
Original play "The Singing Princess" goes on tour |
Latrobe Theatre Company is proud to present The Singing Princess, an original one act play written and directed by local writer Aron Toman, which will tour to compete in several One Act Play Festivals across Victoria throughout August.
The play will appear at the South Gippsland One Act Play Festival in Foster, Her Majesty’s Theatre Royal South Street Festival in Ballarat and the Anglesea One Act Play Festival. It will compete against other one act plays produced by amateur theatre companies from around the state. This will be the third year in a row LTC have taken one act plays on the road. Last year the company was awarded with Best Supporting Actor and Best Young Performance during their touring season, and they are confident to continue their success in 2011.
The Singing Princess is a comedy that tells the story of a painting of a princess in an art gallery who mysteriously comes to life to seek her One True Love, with hilarious – and very musical – results. It has been written and directed by Latrobe Valley resident Aron Toman. Aron has had previous successes and awards for directing one act plays with LTC and Leongatha Lyric Theatre and is excited to bring further success to Latrobe Theatre Company.
The play sees the debut of a few newcomers to the Gippsland stage. Mary Walker leads the cast as “Madeline” the Singing Princess herself, while Katharine Linde plays the mysterious “Curator” of the gallery. Matt Arthur, who last year appeared in LTC’s Hay Fever, now plays “Vincent”, the hapless student who stumbles across the bizarre painting. Aron Toman completes the cast himself as “Lenny”, Vincent’s nerdy friend who doesn’t take the antics of the Singing Princess very well at all.
The world premiere of The Singing Princess will be on Saturday August 6 at “The Wings” Ronald Reserve Hall in Vary Street, Morwell at a special One Act Play night before the production hits the road. Entry to the event is $10 with tickets available at the door.
Cast from L to R: Matt Arthur, Mary Walker, Aron Toman and Katharine Linde |
General announcements |
Productions in 2012
2012 is set to be a big year. So far we can announce that Christine Skicko will be at the helm of "Disney's My Son Pinocchio". A musical retelling of the classic tale of Pinocchio, from the perspective of his maker and father Geppetto. Complete with timeless songs from the original Walt Disney film, and additional musical numbers from Grammy Award-winner and master song writer Stephen Schwartz.(This is not the Junior version, and will be for all ages)
Further details will soon emerge about auditions, rehearsals and performances.
Our other bold plans for 2012 will be announced shortly.
More to come in 2011
Whilst we had a very successful opening to this theatrical year with The Sound of Music, there is still another major production (also aside from our one-act play The Singing Princess) happening soon. Richard Tyler is directing his 3rd production for the LTC with Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit which will be performed in November.
| Information Night: |
| Thursday 28th July |
| Auditions: |
Monday 1st August |
| Rehearsals: |
Mondays + Thursdays (from Aug 8th) |
Performance dates are being finalised
- November
Major Milestone
The LTC has recently turned 48, and whilst planning for our 49th year, we realise a lot of thought and preparation will be needed to make our 50th year (2013) a big and memorable one. Nothing has been decided yet. We are open to suggestions, big or small. So get your thinking caps on, maybe even ask around to find out what people would like to see us perform on stage.
We want you!!
With all this talk of new shows, some housekeeping is in order to make way for these future productions. There will be 2 separate working bees to help make this happen:
The Hut: Saturday 2nd July - 9am to 1pm
The Wings: Wednesday 29th June - 7:30pm
There are plenty of social activities organised, please see the post below, and the events calendar, then mark your diary so you don't forget! |
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 CORPORATE PATRON |
