The Wait Is On For Final Results
Students from all 4 Phoenix Musical Theatre classes presented performances to an external examiner from LAMDA (The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art) in the hope of gaining high marks for their group examinations. The 4 performances were those that were recently presented at The Phoenix Musical Theatre and Dance showcase at The Playhouse in March. Year 1 to 4 (pictured left) presented excerpts from Annie whilst the year 5 and 6 students performed excerpts from Charlie and The Chocolate Factory. The Intermediate class performed songs from the Madness themed Musical Our House whilst the presentations were rounded off with a cut down version of West Side Story by the Senior Class.
Although we now have to wait for a few weeks for the final results, the examiner from LAMDA said she had witnessed one of the most entertaining mornings for a long while, stating that she would be willing to pay good money to see the Senior class perform the whole of West Side Story! The standard needs to be high if we are to maintain our LAMDA Musial Theatre record as last year every class received a distinction! We’ll let you know the results right here as soon as we get them and in the meantime a great selection of pictures from the day can be found on our Facebook page.
Phoenix Student Connor Fronts Indie Band
Phoenix Theatre School drama and musical theatre students Connor Linden (right in picture) and Calum Landau (left in picture), aka 2 thirds of the indie band Late Night Volleyball, performed a set on stage at Nambucca in London on Saturday 28th April. Nambucca is North London’s premiere live music venue with a growing reputation for showcasing the best new unsigned bands in the UK. Guitarist and vocalist Connor and bass player Calum were joined on stage by drummer Sophie Lynch and, with Arctic Monkeys and Subways influences, their set of mainly original material with a few covers thrown in was well received by the enthusiastic audience.
See Late Night Volleyball’s next gig at The Square, Harlow on 10th May.
Audience Delighted by Students Showcase Effort
Students from Phoenix Musical Theatre and Dance classes delighted a total audience of over 500 people when they performed recently on the main stage at Harlow Playhouse. The 2 hour show featured performances from every Phoenix student and included both group presentations and solo performances. The evening got underway with a performance of songs and scenes from the musical Our House, presented by the Year 7 to 9 Musical Theatre class. Later in the first half the Year 5 & 6 students presented excerpts from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the 3 oompa loompa’s proved to be a big hit. Many people’s favourite Musical Theatre performance was the 24 year 1 to 4 students who presented a fantastic rendition of 2 songs from Annie with linking scenes and held the stage effortlessly despite having an average age of just 7. Special mention must go to Sarinna Proudfoot-Mathurin who took the part of Annie (pictured). The Musical Theatre performances were rounded off with a selection of songs from Westside Story by the year 10+ class, showing the range and versatility of not just the students but also Musical Theatre Tutor Debbie Hannam.
Dance Tutor Katie Barker-Dale showed how far our relatively new dance classes have progressed with 2 medleys that involved all students, the first being a 9 minute tribute to Michael Jackson that left the audience both amazed and delighted. Other additions to the evening included solo performances from year 10+ student Grace Wheeler and recent Jack Petchey Achievement Award winner Alysha Hutchings, who sang a version of Hallelujah. Year 10+ student and Primary Drama assistant tutor Amy Moulder took the role of Nancy to sing ‘I’d Do Anything’ with Will Edden, currently Dodger in the National Tour of Oliver! Jake Poolman, who also appears in the National tour of Oliver sang ‘Where is Love’ from the same show. There were also 4 performances of Music and Dance from our special guests Burnt Mill Academy.
The evening finished with a rendition of the Queen Hit ‘The Shiow Must Go On’ sung by Year 10+ students Grace Wheeler, Amy Moulder and Connor Linden, before Grace went on to lead all 124 performers in a version of ‘Carnival’ from Fame (pictured). A DVD of the show case will be available soon and a full set of pictures can be viewed at our Facebook page.
Principal Phil Dale travels to Manchester to see Will and Jake
Phoenix Musical Theatre Students Will Edden and Jake Poolman are currently appearing in Cameron Mackintosh’s national tour of Oliver!, and Phoenix Principal Phil Dale and his wife Jules recently took a trip to Manchester to see them both perform onstage together. Will, 13, plays the main role of The Artful Dodger on the tour, having initially been cast as Nipper during the shows west end run at The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Following his stint there, he left the show to play Gavroche in Les Miserables at The Palace Theatre before being invited back to the show to take the much more demanding role of Dodger. Will must impress the producers as he is the centrepiece of a giant sized poster outside the Manchester venue. (Pictured below)
In a bizarre twist, yet fantastic coup for Phoenix, 9 year old Jake auditioned for the tour and was offered the very same part that Will had vacated a few months earlier! (Jake is pictured as Nipper below right.) Although the boys are in different groups and rarely perform at the same time, a slight change to the schedule meant that there was a small window of opportunity in Manchester to see them in the same show and Phil jumped at the chance to see them onstage together.
“It was a fantastic evening!” Said Phil. “I saw the show 3 times in the west end and I genuinely think the touring version is even better. Both Jake and Will gave great performances and were a huge credit to the school. They are both shining examples of what can be achieved with hardwork and commitment” Both Jake and Will study Musical Theatre and Drama with Phoenix whilst Jake also attends Phoenix Dance classes on a Monday evening.
The show features TV star Neil Morrissey in the role of Fagin while Samantha Barks, who finished in the top 3 of TV talent contest I’d Do Anything, takes the role of Nancy. The boys are currently contracted until June and will travel with the show while it travels to Birmingham, Southampton and then Edinburgh. The schedule means they appear for 1 week in every 3 but luckily for Phoenix both Jake and Will are available to perform in the forthcoming Phoenix Musical Theatre and Dance Showcase at The Playhouse on the 11th and 12th March and will perform a number from the show. Tickets are available now for just £10.
Dates and Times for all Performances Now Available
The Dates and Times for all the forthcoming Phoenix Showcases at The Playhouse in Harlow have now been confirmed. You can download full information about when each Phoenix student will be performing and what time they will be required to rehearse.
The opening of our 3 new Phoenix drama classes at Rhodes in Bishops Stortford and their subsequent immediete success leading to a sharp increase in the number of Phoenix students has meant we had to rearrange details slightly.
Full information is now available as follows:
Musical Theatre and Dance Showcase, Sunday 11th & Monday 12th March
The Musical Theatre & Dance Showcase takes place on the main stage of the Playhouse in Harlow on the above dates. Full details about show times and rehaersal requirement can be found by clicking the link below. All students are appearing in both shows.
Download Musical Theatre & Dance Showcase 2012 Details
Senior & Intermediate Drama, Friday 16th & Saturday 17th March
The Senior and Intermediate Drama Showcase for both the Harlow and Bishops Stortford classes takes place on the above dates in the Studio Theatre of the Playhouse in Harlow. Full details about show times and rehearsal requirement can be found by clicking the link below. Tickets can be booked online here. Please ensure that you book for the correct show as Year 10+ and Year’s 7 to 9 perform on different nights. Each student will perform just once.
Download Senior & Intermediate Drama Showcase 2012 Details
Primary Drama Showcase, Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th March
The Primary Drama Showcase for both the Harlow and Bishops Stortford classes takes place on the above dates in the Studio Theatre of the Playhouse in Harlow. Full details about show times and rehearsal requirement can be found by clicking the link below. Tickets can be booked online here. Please ensure that you book for the correct show as Different classes perform at different times. We have added a fourth show and now each student will perform twice.
Download Primary Drama Showcase 2012 Details
Tickets for all performances can be booked online here