When the curtain came down after the final performance of ANNIE Jr in the gymnasium at St Mary MacKillop College on Saturday night, it became clear to many of us that we had just witnessed something amazing.
It wasn’t just the performance itself, which was so professionally executed you would swear these kids were seasoned professionals, instead of students having a go in their first theatre production – which was also a first for the College and for the venue itself.
As we observed the students and staff working together to make this production happen over the last four months, solving problems and finding their way around issues, there was a real sense of the values of the College being ‘lived out’.
Cast members got up there on stage because they had developed faith in their own abilities, in each other’s contribution on stage and in the sound, lighting and set arrangements. But when things didn’t go to plan, they also had faith in their ability to keep going, to pick it up again, and to support each other through those tough moments and then move on.
There was a broad range of ages, talents and characters included in the cast and crew: from the Year 7s and 8s to the senior student cast members, technicians, backstage crew and coaching staff. Drama students had their first crack at singing, while vocal and dance students stretched their stage confidence to include acting. Each person came away with a new respect for the talents of others, new skills and new friendships that will surely make the secondary campus seem just a little smaller from now on.
The willingness of both students and staff, as well as other volunteers, to commit their time and efforts in service of the production – to give everything they could towards ensuring its success – cannot be underestimated. There was a massive injection of time from across the staff and student body, which only increased as opening night approached, as people saw a need and promptly did something about it.
And the truth of it all. Firstly, that these kids have remarkable talents and abilities that are only just now coming to light, as well as a store of courage they might not have thought was there before. Secondly, that we have an incredibly vibrant and caring College community that is truly committed to the example of Mary MacKillop and to helping each individual to discover their unique potential. And lastly, that together we can put on a superb, high quality musical theatre production that sells out and becomes the talk of the town…
Congratulations to everyone involved in the absolute, resounding success of ANNIE Jr.
Carmel Pavlinovich
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