SELL OUT doesn’t mean Sold Out

A message from the director of Alice In Wonderland

“When you go on the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre website to book your tickets there is a sign … AVAILABILITY EXHAUSTED!

So in other words FULL HOUSE!

Very exciting!

However due to government restrictions we have had to move to 50% capacity. We are hoping this will change as we get closer to the show. Meanwhile keep checking back to the SEC as refunds continue to be dealt with and more tickets become available. Definitely put your names on the wait list! So everybody keep those fingers and toes crossed and enjoy the sunshine. Keep the spirit of Alice alive!”

Julia Armstrong

New Alice Dates Announced

New Dates for Alice In Wonderland have been announced, following negotiations between AMTC and The Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre.
 
You can now dive down the rabbit hole on Friday 30 July 7pm, Saturday 31 July, 2pm (NB: new time) and Saturday 31 July, 7pm.
 
Tickets for the previously scheduled dates are now valid for the above rescheduled dates.
 
Those patrons with booked seats should have heard from the SEC re: new ticket arrangements.  Please check your email for further information, including the new dates and times, and your options if you are unable to make it.  Alternatively you can contact the SEC for further information.
 
 

Alice delays her trip to Wonderland

Facing another bump in the road to Wonderland, Albatross Musical Theatre company have sadly had to postpone next weekend’s performances of Alice in Wonderland due to the recent government health advices and seating restrictions.

Not to be deterred, or to disappoint the 70 children who have their songs, lines and cues well memorised and rehearsed, or the 60 or so adults who are involved in the behind-the-scenes side of the production, the show must go on.

Producer Julie Fraser has been in discussions with the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre and is hoping to secure dates for later in July.

“We were pleased with the number of bookings that we had secured for our shows on 2 and 3 July and the Saturday matinee was close to being sold out.  We hope that by rescheduling that people will still be able to support us and come and see this wonderful show.”

“Rescheduling a show isn’t as easy as just changing the dates.  Venue hire contracts, timetables for rehearsals, engaging technical specialists, budgets, advertising and promotions all have to be revised and communicated to those involved.  It’s almost like starting again.”

“All the sets, costumes and props are ready to go and our children are very resilient and are excited still in the hope of bringing the show to the Shoalhaven.  AMTC will continue with a COVID safe rehearsal this week to help keep the momentum alive.”

The Alice in Wonderland production team will advise the public as soon as possible as to the new confirmed dates.  Those who have already bought tickets will be contacted by the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre in due course to either have the money refunded or transferred to the new dates. 

Come down the rabbit hole for school holiday fun

A white rabbit who is always late, a tea party that never ends, a caucus race to nowhere, a cat that grins, a game of flamingo croquet and… who did steal the Queen’s tarts?  Such madness could only mean one thing, Alice is in Wonderland.

The much-loved tale by Lewis Carroll is being retold in an amazing new musical set to thrill school holiday audiences this July at the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre.

Alice in Wonderland is being performed by the cast of Junior Albatross Musicals, the AMTC junior program and features 70 talented children from local schools in the Shoalhaven aged between 10-15 years.

The show, with new music and lyrics by Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Friedman, literally takes you down the rabbit hole (with use of special green screen effects) and you will see Alice and all your favourite Wonderland characters come to life.

Director Julia Armstrong, recent recipient of the Order of Australia Medal for her contribution to Performing Arts in the Shoalhaven, is thrilled with the dedication of the 2021 cast and crew.  “Alice in Wonderland is the first JAM production since Aladdin Jr in October 2019.  Everyone has been working continuously to bring this production together and promises to be a fantastic show.  I am extremely proud of the children for their dedication, talent and hard work.”

At one stage the show almost didn’t go on with the loss of the AMTC workshop earlier in the year.  Julia said “We appealed to the community to help find a new space – the Shoalhaven City Council granted us use of the Youth Hall at the Nowra Showground in April. This allowed us to continue with building the complex sets required and we are thankful for those in the community that assisted including Councillors and Council staff.”

The elaborate sets include an enormous tree hiding the illusive Cheshire cat, and many more beautiful and oversized Wonderland-ish pieces. The sets, costumes and props have been designed and made by our talented Production Team with the assistance of AMTC supporters including parents and kids – all affectionately known as our JAMfam!

Julia went on to say “As well as set construction, the use of the Youth Hall has also allowed the children to rehearse in a larger space which has been marked out to replicate the area of the stage and wings of the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre.  Many of the cast performing have never been on stage before, so the Youth Hall is ideal for giving them an idea of what it will be like before we get to the performance venue.”

For a wonderful school holiday treat, book now as Alice in Wonderland tickets are selling fast.  There are 3 shows only including Friday 2nd July at 7pm, Saturday 3rd July at 1pm and also Saturday 3rd July at 7pm.  (No interval, all fun, and finished by 8:30 pm!)

Tickets are available through the Box Office at the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre or phone 4429 5757 or online at shoalhavenentertainment.com.au.  You can also use your Dine & Discover vouchers when you purchase tickets.

JAM Working Bee

The production team and cast of AMTC’s upcoming junior production of Alice in Wonderland are working very hard as showtime is fast approaching, with 3 shows to be presented at the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre in July.  In preparation, there are a LOT of sets and props that need to be prepared.  A working bee will be held this Saturday 22nd May, at the old gymnastics building in the Nowra Showground.  Anyone and everyone who would like to lend a hand, even for an hour or two, please come along.  The working bee starts at 10am, and will continue throughout the day.  Ask for Julie or Julia when you arrive, and they will find something for you to do! 

Tickets for Alice in Wonderland are on sale at through the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre, with 3 shows in total presented on Friday 2nd July and Saturday 3rd July.

JAM Enrolment Form

To better accommodate all participants in JAM 2021, AMTC Committee and the JAM production team require you to complete the JAM Enrolment Form – click here.

This form will not be active until after both the JAM meetings held on Wednesday 27th January 2021 – around 7:00pm onwards.

Please read the form carefully to ensure you are aware of required commitments.

JAM Information Night

Please book in for one of the two upcoming information sessions

We have created a ticket system so we can keep up to date with numbers to ensure we are Covid safe.

We have two sessions 4pm and 5.15pm on Wednesday 27th January 2021. Please limit attendees to JAM age children only (10 – 15 years) and one parent if possible.

You know how we love having all the JAMFAM all the time, but we need to be sure we can socially distance appropriately. Please consider attending the first session if you do not have work commitments, allowing working parents to attend the second session.

And you can book your ticket RIGHT NOW … Click here!

UPDATE – DUE TO HIGH DEMAND, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RELEASE ADDITIONAL BOOKING SPOTS (as of Monday 25/1/21 @ 5:00pm), SO CLICK ON “here” ABOVE TO BOOK IN AND COME ALONG

JAM News

In 2021 …

We are planning to finally stage Alice in Wonderland with the JAM next July in the school holidays. The timing of the JAM production is one term earlier than in the past, so our program will be a little different. JAM usually runs 3 terms and workshops theatre skills before starting on the show preparation. Next year we will launch straight into rehearsing Alice in Wonderland. Had 2020 been a little different JAM would have started in Term 4 to be ready for July 2021! There will be an information session regarding JAM 2021 early in the year. More details to come.

NOW …

Since it’s nearly Christmas, and pantomimes are traditional Christmas fare, we thought we’d explore this genre and teach the JAMdrama kids about this aspect of theatre. Julia and Paul have been preparing their scripts and casting roles. They are working on 2 short pantomimes (with no singing) and planning to perform the 2 plays live in front of an audience of JAM supporters. We will do this in conjunction with videos of other JAM kids performing songs from Christmas Musicals and then a covid safe kids party!  Details were in a previous posting.

Then…

After the cancellation of Alice in Wonderland …. JAMpactMUSICALS! was our next plan to bring live theatre back to our lives.  It was to be a concert for soloists, duets and ensemble items, all based around musical theatre items and intended to rehearse in Term 3 and 4 with a showcase in November.  JAM had 3 weeks of fabulous auditions from dancers and soloists and duets. The JAM panel were amazed at the talent they saw, so much potential… and ONCE YOU ADDED SOME ENSEMBLE NUMBERS, #JAMpactMUSICALS! would be an amazing show! But then new restrictions came out for schools –  no year groups mixing at school, no singing and no sport between kids from different regions. Unfortunately, after much discussion and proposing all possible scenarios, the production team had to make the call that although we have auditioned fabulous items, we could not feasibly start to rehearse our wonderful JAM Wednesdays and work toward an inclusive concert. SO, #JAMpactMUSICALS! did not happen. The production team made this decision with heavy hearts but we knew it was in the best interests of all to keep our JAM FAM safe.

BUT…

we couldn’t let the auditioned talent go to waste so we are reinstated our JAM online concerts and introducing #JAMZOOMusicals! The auditioned talent prepared videos of their songs and we invited the public to our zoom concerts.

Before that …

We had 5? Zoom concerts… which were AMAZING! …

Before that… we had Alice info night but lockdown stopped us the day before the first rehearsal in term 1.  

Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland is a JAM Production (Junior AMTC)

JAM rehearses Wednesdays 4 – 6.15pm at the SOA

Information Meeting for Alice is on 27th January 2021 at 4pm or 5:15pm in the School of Arts, Berry St Nowra

Shows will be on: July School Holidays, 2021

Please check our Facebook page for the link to book attendance at the information sessions