The curtain will rise next week for our 2019 Dominican College school show, Calamity Jane.
With a talented cast and crew of more than 100 students currently working hard in rehearsals Dominican is proud to present its latest school musical. Staff and students have been rehearsing busily since early September under the experienced skills of Mrs Kathy Walsh the school’s Head of Drama and Mr Terry Cloughley, Head of Music. The challenge of choreographing the dance sequences for Calamity Jane has been undertaken by Ms Rosemary O’Connor and Miss Sarah Minihan has taken the role of musical assistant.
As with all previous Dominican shows, this truly is a whole school enterprise which harnesses the skills of staff not only in directing and choreographing but also working in set design, set construction costume and make up. Taking part in a school show of this magnitude develops confidence in our pupils, builds problem solving skills and collaborative skills as everyone works towards a goal. Pupils and staff are working together to develop a sense of achievement as a school.
Synopsis
Martha Jane Canary, better known as Calamity Jane, was an American frontierswoman and professional scout and acquaintance of Wild Bill Hickock.
Calam’ dresses like a man, totes a gun and drives the Deadwood City stagecoach. Well-meaning, but prone to disasters, she tries to help Henry Miller, the local saloon proprietor out of a jam by promising to fetch a music-hall star from Chicago. Calamity sets out for Chicago to bring back the miner’s real heart-throb, Adelaide Adams. In Chicago Calamity mistakes Adelaide’s maid, Katie Brown, for the actress and hauls her back to Deadwood.
Calamity once more has to restore order and persuades the audience to give Katie a chance. They do, and she wins the heart of every male in town including Calamity’s dashing love hope, Lt. Danny Gilmartin. Calamity reluctantly overcomes her jealousy over losing Danny and discovers her true love for Wild Bill.
Whilst Calamity Jane is a hilarious comedy, it nevertheless has many tender moments and some very famous numbers, including “Secret Love”, “Black Hills of Dakota”, “Deadwood Stage” and “Windy City”.
The show’s director, Ms Kathy Anderson explained,
“The vision for our production of Calamity Jane was to present this very old-fashioned story in the form of a cartoon. We wanted the characters to be larger than life with the production elements reflecting this theme. Our cast worked hard on this and one of the highlights of the rehearsal will have to be when we played drama games to develop characterisation.
We began rehearsing Calamity Jane in September with a cast of 42 and a crew of over 60 students from Years 11 to 14. Right from the auditions we could all see that this was going to be a show “not to be missed.”
The enthusiasm, passion and commitment from the cast was infectious and after just six weeks of intense rehearsal and feel we are presenting you with an entertaining show that will have you smiling, laughing out loud, singing along and maybe even a little toe-tapping!
We at Dominican College have always been immensely proud of the fabulous production team that support the cast of the shows and this year was no different. The whole team as ever go above and beyond what is expected to ensure that the show is the best it can be.
From constructing wood burning stoves to stitching wagon hoods, making dancing dresses, designing programmes, tickets, posters etc, the team spirit and friendship that we share as a staff enable us to get through the peaks and troughs of rehearsing and preparing a school show!
It has been great fun and a real pleasure to work with this cast and crew. We all hope that you are entertained and thoroughly enjoy this lively, energetic and thoroughly traditional show.”
Meet the cast of Dominican College’s Calamity Jane:
Aoife Loughrey – Calamity Jane
GCSE Drama student Aoife has previously starred in Annie and Beauty & the Beast as well as completed her musical grades.
Aoife has fond memories of watching past DCP productions and is determined to live up to these shows and the role of Calamity Jane.
Danny Liken – Wild Bill Hickock
Danny is playing Wild Bill Hickock, a professional gambler and ex-peace officer.
He is one of Calamity’s oldest friends but also sees right through her tall tales. Danny is an A Level Performing Arts, English and Media Studies student.
Abigail McGarvey – Katie Brown
Abigail stars as Katie, a star struck city girl posing as an actress.
However, she has a good heart and despite her differences with Calamity, the two become tight friends. Abigail has dedicated a lot of time to perfecting this character and in the role showcases her fantastic musical and acting talents.
Dylan Sheppard – LT. Danny Gilmartin
Dylan is studying both A-Level Performing Arts and Music and his acting and singing talents are evident in his performance as the lieutenant.
Although it’s his first role in a musical, Dylan has been performing in bands for years and has a wealth of experience behind him.
Milo Bradley – Henry Miller
Despite this being his first time in a leading role, Milo has risen to the challenge and exceeded even his own expectations in a very short time.
He has the role of Henry Miller, proprietor of the local saloon-hotel-theatre, “The Golden Garter”.
Jake Speers – Francis Fryer
One of the most challenging roles of the play, Francis Fryer is a song-and-dance man from New York. At times, life can be a bit of a drag for him…
Jake is a GCSE Drama student who is also one of the school’s leading musical stars. Despite his young age he has already a wealth of experience singing and performing both with bands and solo.
Olivia Dunbar – Adelaide Adams
Olivia plays Adelaide, a highly paid diva and celebrated beauty of the era, while also a selfish and conceited character. Olivia is a highly accomplished Year 12 Drama student.
Claudia Daly – Susan Miller
Both a singer and actress, Claudia has previously starred in Grease and Legally Blonde. An A-Level pupil with a keen interest in performing as well as Hair and Make-up, she feels right at home in the cast. She plays Susan, Henry Miller’s young, friendly and pretty niece who falls in love with Francis Fryer.
Logan Johnson – Rattlesnake
Another accomplished arts student, Logan is currently studying A-Level Performing Arts, Media Studies and English. He first auditioned for ‘a bit of craic, a bit of grub and some great company’ but he has since shown off just why he was cast; he is a talented singer and performer, already having performed on national stages with his band.
Patrick Foxwell – Doc Pierce
Patrick has a keen musical interest in hip-hop and guitar and has started auditioning for TV and film roles. He has enjoyed working with other young people who share his interests and energy when it comes to performing and is looking forward to getting on stage and showing an audience what he can do.
Ethan Beggs – Joe
GCSE Performing Arts student Ethan is playing the role of Joe, the bartender at the Golden Garter. A highlight for Ethan was the first table read where he was surprised to find he had won the role of Joe without even auditioning!
Mia Ramage – Sarah Miller
Year 12 Drama student Mia has had a part specially created for her. Mia plays Sarah Miller, sister of Susan and niece of Henry Miller.
In our 2019 adaptation Sarah fights for the affections of Mr Francis Fryer.
The main cast will be supported by a strong chorus of more than 30 pupils and a wider crew of more than 60 pupils.
Songs from Calamity Jane include:
Deadwood Stage
Adelaide
Everyone Complains
Careless with the Truth
A Hive Full of Honey
Adelaide’s Ballet
I Can Do Without You
‘Tis Harry I’m Planning to Marry
Windy City
Keep It Under Your Hat
Exaggeration Ballet
Higher Than a Hawk
A Woman’s Touch
Love You Dearly
The Black Hills of Dakota
Secret Love
The Dominican production of Calamity Jane runs from Wednesday November 20th to Friday November 22nd at 7.30 pm in the school assembly hall with doors opening at 7.00 pm each night.
Tickets are selling fast and we strongly advise early booking. Tickets are available from the school office and are priced at £10.00 adults and £8.00 concession.
Dominican College would like to acknowledge the help and support for all our sponsors and for the local businesses who have donated so generously to our raffle.
We look forward to inviting you to the school for what promises to be a memorable evening!
