About Newtown Musical Theatre Company
HISTORY
Newtown Musical Theatre Company, or 'Newtown & District Churches Operatic Society', as it was known then, was formed in 1983. The original aim was to raise money for some essential improvements to St David's Church in Newtown. Since then, the Company has gone from strength to strength, and has staged more than 35 shows.
To read more about the Company's history, click here to read an article by John Harbron, one of the Company's founder members.
Click here to read about our past productions.
WHAT DOES THE COMPANY DO?
Newtown Musical Theatre Company stages two musical shows each year in Newtown - one show is presented for four nights in March or April and one show is presented for two nights in the autumn, both at Theatr Hafren. In the past, these shows have included popular musicals such as Oliver! and My Fair Lady, Gilbert and Sullivan operettas and compilation shows.
As well as our two main shows, we often sing at other events during the year. Recently, these have included performing at a concert for guests from Newtown's twin town, performing in a community Christmas concert in Theatr Hafren to raise money for charity, carol singing at Bear Lanes, singing at Plas Cae Crwn and singing for the Thursday Club at the Methodist Church.
We also hold a number of social events during the year. These include a party after the last performance of each show. All performers and back stage crew are welcome to attend these parties. We also arrange trips to see other shows, a Christmas or New Year dinner, a summer barbeque, photo shoots for the shows and 'come and sing' concerts known as 'Party Pieces'. Details of any events are given throughout the year in rehearsals and in the company newsletter, which is produced several times each year.
WHO ORGANISES THE SHOWS?
Each show has a:
|
Director
|
who is in charge of the acting and overall direction of the show and rehearses the actors.
|
|
Assistant Director
|
who helps the Director.
|
|
Musical Director ('M.D.')
|
who is in charge of the music in the show, rehearses singers and orchestra/band members and conducts the music during the performances.
|
|
Production manager
|
who is in charge of the practical arrangements for the show, including set, lighting, sound, effects, props, costumes, make-up, publicity, stage crew etc. The Production Manager chairs Production Meetings.
|
|
Choreographer
|
who is in charge of the dance in the show where required.
|
|
Rehearsal Pianist
|
who accompanies music rehearsals, and often plays piano or keyboards in the show.
|
|
Stage Manager
|
who is in charge of directing the stage and technical crew and gives all the cues for actors, lighting, sound and effects.
|
Other members of the production team are recruited by the Production Manager as required.
Technical roles such as lighting and sound are usually filled by staff from Theatr Hafren, although a considerable team from the Company has been used more recently.
HOW DO WE DECIDE WHO GETS WHICH PARTS?
Although you do not need to audition to join the chorus, principal roles are cast through auditions, which are held several months before each show. Auditions are open to any paid up member to attend. The audition panel consists of the Director, Musical Director and a 'Company Representative' nominated by the General Management Committee.
The Director will decide the format of the auditions. It is usual for singing parts to require one or two songs from the show and a short section of dialogue. Before the auditions, there is normally a designated rehearsal to learn the songs required for the auditions.
Some minor parts may be allocated by the Director after the auditions. The audition panel has total discretion over the casting and may leave a part uncast if no suitable candidate attends the auditions. They may alternatively offer a part to another member of the Company or to someone outside the Company if no-one suitable is found inside the Company.
WHERE AND WHEN DO WE REHEARSE?
Chorus rehearsals are held on Wednesday evenings at 7.30pm, normally in the Methodist Church Hall, Back Lane, Newtown.
Principals rehearse on Friday evenings at 7.30pm, normally in the Methodist Church Hall, Back Lane, Newtown.
In the weeks leading up to a show, chorus and principals are often needed on both Wednesday and Friday evenings. Everyone will receive a rehearsal schedule so that you will know which days you are needed.
Rehearsals are sometimes held in Treowen Primary School, and there is usually at least one rehearsal in Theatr Hafren before to show week, so make sure that you check your rehearsal schedule for the location of each rehearsal!
The first few rehearsals for a new show are usually music rehearsals, which consist of the Musical Director teaching us the music for the show. Acting rehearsals begin when appropriate.
Performers are asked to attend as many rehearsals as possible - this is particularly important just before a show. Please let the Director know as soon as possible if you are unable to attend a rehearsal. There are no rules on how many rehearsals you have to attend but the Director has the right to exclude from a show any cast member who is not, in their opinion, sufficiently well rehearsed.
A month or so before each show, there is also usually an all-weekend rehearsal (typically 10am to 4pm with a lunch break on a Saturday and 2pm to 5pm on a Sunday).
At the beginning of Show Week, there is usually a 'band call' on Sunday afternoon for the orchestra/band and singers to practise together. During show week, the technical and dress rehearsals tend to go on very late! To help with this, the production team appreciate assistance particularly on the Saturday/Sunday before and the Sunday after the show.
| 
