2009 Activities
The year’s calendar of activities saw us supporting the following productions:
Semester 1
• The Insect Play – combined Ruyton/Scotch play
• Return to the Forbidden Planet – combined Ruyton/Trinity musical
• Alice in the Land of Wonder – Year 3/4 production
Semester 2
• Cinderella – Year 6 production
• Our Cake-Eating Hippo – Prep, Year 1 & Year 2 production
• Before-show catering for the production nights of the Year 5, Year 7 & Year 8 individual drama presentations.
2009 in Summary
These productions could not happen without the support of the FORDA team and the band of parents from each year level who offer their time and skills to help bring to life these productions, as created by the Drama and Music Teachers. I especially thank the FORDA team:
• Rhonda Keane – the immediate Past-President of FORDA, who has given many years of her creative direction and tireless support to live productions at Ruyton. She will be leaving the school this year, and her vision, energy and leadership will be sorely missed;
• Mandy Farrell – who is also very involved in other parent support groups. I thank Mandy for her proactive support in so many areas, and for her creative talents in the design and making of some costuming and some amazing props;
• Rosemary Willis – who has brought to Ruyton’s productions a vast array of costumes and costume pieces from The Gang Show wardrobes, which has helped raise the standard of the finished productions at Ruyton this year;
• Jane Wing – whose passion and experience in professional theatre production has brought a new level of back-of-house scheduling and coordination to our productions; and
• Lee-Ann Walsh - who undertook the enormous job of (and led the working bees for) sorting, labelling and cataloguing all of the existing costumes and props at Ruyton for both the Junior and Senior Schools.
I also especially thank the Year Level Co-ordinators and the band of 78 parent helpers from specific year levels to bring together the productions for their daughters, in short time-frames and around their own very busy lives. Without this help at each year level, these productions would not be of the standard that they have been this year.
Lastly, but importantly, I thank the Drama and Music Teachers for their creative vision, direction, leadership and dedication to bringing to life these very different productions at Ruyton and giving our girls – performers, band, and support crew - and the audiences – such wonderful experiences and entertainment.
Focus for 2010
In 2010, Ruyton will be taking the lead in producing the Ruyton/Trinity Musical of “Thoroughly Modern Millie”. We are always seeking new ideas to further enhance our live productions and welcome new members who have some experience in these areas, or from those whose daughters are passionate about drama and theatre.
Mrs Sherry Harvey
President