What do actors Joel Edgerton, Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson and Tina Fey have in common?
They all started out treading the boards in school plays and musical productions.
In the next few weeks, students at Newington College will have the opportunity to follow in these famous footsteps as auditions get underway for the 2025 Newington Musical Catch Me If You Can.
The Head of Newington Drama, Mr Paul Eastway, says while few school students go on to conquer Hollywood, the life benefits of acting in a school production are universal.
‘Being part of a production is a peak event in the life of a student and one that I encourage every Newington student to experience, at least once during their school life,’ says Mr Eastway.
‘Ask anyone who has performed in a play or musical at school and they will tell you it was a highlight of their school life.’
‘Auditioning for a musical and performing in a cast in front of an audience, is one of the most thrilling experiences you can have. The camaraderie that develops over the course of a run is also incredibly special.’
Mr Eastway would therefore encourage everyone to audition for Catch Me If You Can next week.
Made famous by the movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks, the cast and chorus roles for the Newington production will be drawn from students in Years 9-12 in 2025, and will also include girls from nearby schools MLC, SCEGGS Darlinghurst, Burwood Girls High and PLC.
Auditions for current Year 8, 9 and 10 students are on Tuesday 10 September and Thursday 12 September at 3.30pm in the Drama Theatre.
Year 11 auditions will take place on Monday 16 September at 3.30pm in the Music Practice Hall.
Auditions for participating girls’ schools take place on Saturday 14 September in Music Practice Hall and Monday 16 September from 5.00pm in the Music Practice Hall.
Mr Eastway says students auditioning will be required to sing a few lines of a song of their choice as well as learning some simple choreographed steps to perform. All students, both seasoned and newcomers, are encouraged to come along and try out.
‘The best piece of advice I ever received about auditioning was to remember that every person in that room wants you to succeed. So be brave and bold.’
‘The audition room is a very welcoming and supportive space because we realise that getting up on stage is an act of courage, especially if it is your first time. However, conquering that fear, whether you are successful or not in being offered a role, builds resilience and self-pride and proves to yourself you can do something you never thought you would.’
Newington College has a strong and dynamic drama program with a state-of-the-art Drama Theatre with audience seating for 180.
Each year the Department produces four plays: a Year 8 Play, a Year 9/10 Play, a Senior Play and a Year 11 Student-Directed Play. Productions this year have included Lord of the Flies (with its incredible crashed aeroplane set), the musical School of Rock with students drawn from every year, and the Year 11 Student-Directed Play, The Bald Prima Donna, an absurdist play by Eugène Ionesco.
The Department also runs a weekly Drama Club for Year 7, Impro for Years 8-12, and a Theatre Club for senior students that frequents Sydney theatre performances by Bell Shakespeare and The Sydney Theatre Company. The College has excelled for many years in the national TheatreSports School Challenge, winning the Interschool Challenge at the Enmore Theatre in June. Also, this year, under the Drama Department’s leadership, the ONU Theatre Company was founded and performed its inaugural production.
When it comes to next week’s Catch Me If You Can auditions, Mr Eastway has one piece of advice: ‘Take a deep breath and go for it.’
