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Bethany Performing Arts proudly performed its biggest show yet with “Hairspray – The Highlights”.
Over sixty pupils took part in the show with such energy and enthusiasm – this was without doubt Bethany’s School most successful show to date.
Drama Scholar Holly Adamson took to the stage as Tracey Turnblad supported by Drama Scholar Sophie Hamill as her ever-loving friend Penny Pingleton.
The show takes place in 1962 Baltimore. Tracy Turnblad, a teenager with all the right moves, is obsessed with the Corny Collins Show. Every day after school, she and her best friend Penny run home to watch the show and drool over Link Larkin, much to Tracy’s mother Edna’s dismay.
After one of the stars of the show leaves, Corny Collins holds auditions to see who will be the next teen regular. With the help of her friend Seaweed, Tracy is chosen, angering evil dance queen Amber Von Tussle and her mother Velma. Tracy then decides that it’s not fair that black kids can only dance on the show once a month, and with the help of Seaweed, Link, Penny, Motormouth Maybelle, her father, and Edna, she’s going to integrate the show…..without denting her ‘do.
The show was a fantastic opportunity for Scholars within all three Performing Arts strands to come together and work on a live stage performance. Mrs Payne worked with Dance Scholars who were provided with more intricate routines, focusing on pace and a range of dance that challenged those involved. This gave big dance numbers depth and also enabled dance scholars to take centre stage at certain times of the play.
The show was a fantastic opportunity for Scholars within all three Performing Arts strands to come together and work on a live stage performance. Mrs Payne worked with Dance Scholars who were provided with more intricate routines, focusing on pace and a range of dance that challenged those involved. This gave big dance numbers depth and also enabled dance scholars to take centre stage at certain times of the play.
Drama Scholars were provided principal roles and at times this resulted in them having to work alongside their dance peers with additional training being set up.
A show of this size has to be planned to take into consideration the performance ability of all involved ad it was vital that those with more acting experience were placed in challenging rehearsal environments. Music Scholars were given prominent singing roles with Ellie Russell taking centre stage with “I Know Where I’ve Been” and “You Can’t Stop The Beat”. The challenge for Ellie was continuing to develop her microphone technique, communicate a message to an audience and provide pitch and volume that suited singing with an entire cast.
High flyers within performing arts were also placed in challenging roles with Ben Caney as love interest Link Larkin and James Caney as Edna, Tracy’s suffering mother. Both roles required development in Dance, Music and Drama with Edna leading certain dances during the finale.
High flyers within performing arts were also placed in challenging roles with Ben Caney as love interest Link Larkin and James Caney as Edna, Tracy’s suffering mother. Both roles required development in Dance, Music and Drama with Edna leading certain dances during the finale.
Younger Scholars in Year 7 were placed in scenes where their reaction to the story was imperative to further communicate a message to an audience. These Scholars were building on their ability to work as an ensemble and develop their projection on stage.
The results of the show were simply stunning and left audiences breathless. The cast, night after night delivered high energy performances that pushed them to their performance limits. Mr Brinson, Mrs Payne and Mr Bolton were so deeply impressed with their delivery, it is clear that Bethany Performing Arts is truly a high quality provision that develops the talent of the future.