My Fair Lady - A Triumphant Easy Stages 2010
In August students from Stagecoach schools throughout the UK, the USA, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Malta and Spain came together to stage a lavish production of the musical 'My Fair Lady' at the Leatherhead Theatre, Surrey.
Under the skilful team of director Veronica Bennetts, musical director Paul Leddington Wright, Francesca Haslam (music and vocals) and Tony Aiken and Daniel Todd (choreography) a talented cast of 78 Stagecoach students triumphantly brought this classic show to life, with strong singing, spectacular dance routines and polished performances.
Described as 'the perfect musical' 'My Fair Lady' tells the story of Eliza Doolittle, a cockney flower seller, who is given elocution lessons by Professor Henry Higgins in the hope that he can pass her off as a lady. Based on George Bernard Shaw's play 'Pygmalion,' with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and a score by Frederick Loewe, the show features some of musical theatre's best loved songs, including: 'Wouldn't It Be Loverly,' 'The Rain in Spain,' 'I Could Have Danced All Night,' 'On the Street Where You Live' and 'Get Me To The Church On Time.' A smash hit when it was originally produced 'My Fair Lady' helped to launch the career of Julie Andrews, who played Eliza alongside Rex Harrison as Higgins. The 1964 film version starring Audrey Hepburn went on to win eight Oscars, and the show has remained one of the world's favourite musicals ever since.
Staging such a large scale show is always going to be a challenge for any company, but with just two and a half weeks to cast and rehearse the production before opening night, the Stagecoach students and production team really had their work cut out, as Stephanie Manuel, Executive Producer and Dialogue Director, explains: "Long before starting rehearsals we realised that the parts of Eliza and Higgins demanded far too much learning for a single performer in just two weeks rehearsal, so we took the decision to 'double cast' the two leading characters. Taking into consideration our tradition of playing different 'principals' at the Matinee, this has given four girls and four boys the wonderful opportunity of playing, respectively, Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins."
An opportunity the performers rose to admirably; in fact a large part of the production's success lay in the ability of the entire cast to rise to the show's challenges with great energy and enthusiasm. Director Veronica Bennetts adds: "The cast of this year's 'Easy Stages' presentation were made up of individuals with an abundance of talent. Amongst the cast there were outstanding singers, dancers and actors who will clearly go far in their performing arts careers. However, what was even more impressive is the way that all of them embraced the spirit of the whole production, which is that of working happily and energetically as a team. The students this year were immensely co-operative, very patient, imaginative, full of fun and extremely supportive of each other."
An attitude that certainly paid off in performance. Tremendous congratulations to all those involved for another wonderful Easy Stages show!
Under the skilful team of director Veronica Bennetts, musical director Paul Leddington Wright, Francesca Haslam (music and vocals) and Tony Aiken and Daniel Todd (choreography) a talented cast of 78 Stagecoach students triumphantly brought this classic show to life, with strong singing, spectacular dance routines and polished performances.
Described as 'the perfect musical' 'My Fair Lady' tells the story of Eliza Doolittle, a cockney flower seller, who is given elocution lessons by Professor Henry Higgins in the hope that he can pass her off as a lady. Based on George Bernard Shaw's play 'Pygmalion,' with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and a score by Frederick Loewe, the show features some of musical theatre's best loved songs, including: 'Wouldn't It Be Loverly,' 'The Rain in Spain,' 'I Could Have Danced All Night,' 'On the Street Where You Live' and 'Get Me To The Church On Time.' A smash hit when it was originally produced 'My Fair Lady' helped to launch the career of Julie Andrews, who played Eliza alongside Rex Harrison as Higgins. The 1964 film version starring Audrey Hepburn went on to win eight Oscars, and the show has remained one of the world's favourite musicals ever since.
Staging such a large scale show is always going to be a challenge for any company, but with just two and a half weeks to cast and rehearse the production before opening night, the Stagecoach students and production team really had their work cut out, as Stephanie Manuel, Executive Producer and Dialogue Director, explains: "Long before starting rehearsals we realised that the parts of Eliza and Higgins demanded far too much learning for a single performer in just two weeks rehearsal, so we took the decision to 'double cast' the two leading characters. Taking into consideration our tradition of playing different 'principals' at the Matinee, this has given four girls and four boys the wonderful opportunity of playing, respectively, Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins."
An opportunity the performers rose to admirably; in fact a large part of the production's success lay in the ability of the entire cast to rise to the show's challenges with great energy and enthusiasm. Director Veronica Bennetts adds: "The cast of this year's 'Easy Stages' presentation were made up of individuals with an abundance of talent. Amongst the cast there were outstanding singers, dancers and actors who will clearly go far in their performing arts careers. However, what was even more impressive is the way that all of them embraced the spirit of the whole production, which is that of working happily and energetically as a team. The students this year were immensely co-operative, very patient, imaginative, full of fun and extremely supportive of each other."
An attitude that certainly paid off in performance. Tremendous congratulations to all those involved for another wonderful Easy Stages show!
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