Dromana College is putting on the Greatest Show on Earth – quite literally! The hit musical ‘Barnum’, which tells the story of infamous circus and museum owner PT Barnum, will be coming to the Frankston Arts Centre in May with iconic tunes such as ‘Come Follow the Band’ and ‘Join the Circus’.
Following the success of the college’s production of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ in 2017, the Dromana College production team and Performing Arts teachers (Michelle Day, Jacqui Rodden and Sarah Cossey) have come together yet again to provide the students at Dromana College with an exciting opportunity to be involved in another spectacular theatrical experience.
Throughout 2018, the College began its first Music Theatre Enhancement Program which provided students with the opportunity to refine their stagecraft and performance skills. The focus of the program was to develop students’ vocal, dance and acting abilities as they learnt a variety of musical numbers as an ensemble. Students worked with industry professionals to develop their own performance abilities, and performed in a variety of settings.
Due to the success of the Music Theatre Enhancement Program, the production team saw a professional level audition season. There were over 100 applicants from all year levels and in all styles including singing, dancing, acting and circus.
They also saw an influx of students wanting to be involved in other capacities including students playing in the orchestra, design, media and backstage. These students have been working hard since then making props and set pieces for the show, designing artwork and recording the rehearsal process.
Rehearsals for ‘Barnum’ began at the end of 2018 with the cast and crew attending a 3-day intensive camp on Phillip Island where they began staging one of the shows biggest numbers and started learning some basic circus skills. Since the return of the school year, rehearsals have increased, seeing the inclusion of some of the new Year 7 students.
Most recently, the production has welcomed the assistance of Bronwyn Falagan from Soul Circus to choreograph and stage the circus
‘Barnum: The Greatest Show on Earth’ will be performed at the Frankston Arts Centre, May 10th at 7pm and May 11th at 1pm and 7pm. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased from the Frankston Arts Centre website.
