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Letter to the Editor published in the Southern Highlands News 5th August 2009



Dear Editor,


On behalf of all members of the Southern Highlands Youth Arts Council, we wish to express our sincere thanks to the local community for their support of our recent production of the The Wizard of Oz at Clubbe Hall.

SHYAC had well over 3000 audience members to its eight shows, which is almost 10% of the region’s population. That fantastic level of support has placed SHYAC in a solid financial position to continue its work, especially coming on top of the $25,000 grant awarded by the IMB Community Foundation announced on opening night. As a result SHYAC will also be able to make a substantial donation to our chosen charity for this show, The Rainbow Foundation.

In particular, we wish to thank the show’s major sponsor Mittagong RSL for their early and ongoing support of SHYAC together with Winifred West Ltd (Frensham) for the use of Clubbe Hall. We received significant support from a whole range of sponsors, schools, service clubs and the business sector especially the Mittagong and Bowral chambers of commerce.

Our marvellous media partners included 2ST Radio and of course the Highlands Post and Southern Highlands News. In particular, we would like to acknowledge Natalie McPherson and her Rural Press sales team for the energetic work on the Crazy Day promotion and Claire Mitchell and Roy Truscott for their excellent editorial coverage throughout.

If you would like to get involved in SHYAC and support its youth arts programs either as a participant or volunteer then please visit www.shyac.org.au where you will also find the Wizard show program with all our sponsors and supporters listed. We have exciting plans for the coming year so do sign up.

Thank you again Southern Highlands for proving Dorothy right again – “There’s no place like home!”


Paul McShane
Secretary
on behalf of the The SHYAC Management Committee & the Directors,
Cast & Crew of The Wizard of Oz

Congratulations & Thanks from Paul McShane, SHYAC Secretary

Coty's eloquent expressions of appreciation are really touching and quite overwhelming. But they are, of course, so characteristic of the thought, time and energy she has put in to this wonderful show. You are one extraordinary lady!

On behalf of SHYAC to the Farquhars - Coty, Andrew, Tom and Becky - thank you for making this show something very special for all of us and for all these young people who have participated. I'm sure they will all remember it as one of the highlights of their youth.

I can recall when you first sat down at our place with your sketch pad to watch the movie with director Alan Dunk and begin the process of translating his vision into reality on stage. Seems a lifetime ago but it was only a few months. You gave up a bigger chunk of your life than most of us to make sure this happened. But it was all worth it, the cast and audience agree on that and hopefully the CAT judges will too.

The work done by Coty and Andrew for Wizard completed the creative partnership with director Alan Dunk and musical director, John Woodhouse. The result was superb musical theatre and a huge credit to you all. Hundreds of hours of your collective time went into this show. SHYAC congratulates and thanks this splendid creative partnership on the wonderful outcome. We do, in fact, "love your work".

On a personal note, as well as thanking the Farquhar family, who did respond to our call for help like the cavalry reinforcements coming over the hill in a nick of time, I would also wish to acknowledge the contribution of some others:

Allen Cupitt: who could have so easily said no to taking on this role as SHYAC President, but put the interests of the SHYAC youth and the community first and said YES. His quiet but firm, principled leadership has been crucial in SHYAC's recent consolidation and growth. And his good humour and commonsense have rescued the situation more than once, when tensions might otherwise have boiled over.

Mandy Bransgrove: who has taken many of the brave steps with myself and others on the Committee to bring SHYAC out of some dark shadows into a very bright future. The difficult role of production liaison was essential to Wizard's success. Thanks Mandy.

Vicki Schaefer: who conveyed her constant enthusiasm and support to all around her. Thanks for the fundraising, always the hardest of jobs. Vicki and her family supported SHYAC's every initiative and was always willing to put up her hand for more work. The legendary support she gave to Coty and the costume team was essential to the success of the show.

Deidre Knowlson: as Membership Secretary is someone who really does live and breathe SHYAC, such is her commitment to the association. Thank you Deidre for always caring as much as you do. Sally Carmichael has also been part of our Secretariat team in her role of Minutes Secretary and has contributed in many other ways, not least agreeing to be the Child Protection Officer - thanks Sally.

Special thanks to all who played their part in electing and supporting the new SHYAC Committee, to Roger Hind/Ruth Lowry of Theatricks lighting and the AES audio crew; to David McFarlane of Hyercet Printing in Mittagong who not only helped produce that excellent show programme but agreed at the last moment to be our stage manager.

So many other people - both within SHYAC and beyond - have made important contributions to the show and its preparation, I would have to simply start listing the credits, hence I will stop there for the moment but for one more:

Sue and Melissa McShane: my wife and daughter made all this effort possible and plausible for me. Coty has already referred to Sue's time and dedication helping her. Yes, I was very proud to see my beautiful daughter, Melissa, on stage as Dorothy. But earlier in the year she was confronted with the choice of possibly having to give up that role she so badly wanted in order to do something she felt to be right and that would help SHYAC. She chose to risk the role and do what was right. I couldn't have been more proud of my child at that moment, whether she got on stage or not, and it was further proof of how precious SHYAC is to these young people and why us "adults" need to bring our best standards and efforts to making it all happen.

Paul

Thank you from Coty Farquhar - Creative Director of the Wizard of Oz

Only yesterday did we finish the final pack up of the Wizard of Oz creative side. With still so many things to do, reports to write, paperwork to do and many items to return, it's nearly over. We have sorted then repacked all the costumes and moved them to Southern Removals at Moss Vale, who have very kindly given SHYAC a storage container - and I say Thank You.

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All the backdrops and sets have been moved to another container at Chevalier College, who are very kindly letting us store it on their property - and I say Thank you.

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I would like to say a huge thank you to Mrs King and her family for generously giving Andrew and I and SHYAC the use of her three factory units to create all the costumes and sets in for eight weeks. Without their kindness and support and knowing what the last months have been like I can't imagine how we would have done it.. We all say thank you....

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Where do I begin to say thank you to all the wonderful people who helped me to create the visual and creative side of the show.

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To Paul and Sue McShane - Who twisted my arm soooooo hard to come on board as Creative Director three months ago when all the changes were made with the new committee. Over the last months I have had the most amazing support from both Sue with absolutely everything (even cooking my dinners) and being with me nearly every single day from day one. Paul with his enthusiasm for all of Andrew's and my work and offering help with anything that I needed and Paul's Mother Marcia McShane - who came to the Highlands to sew not only the Two Dorothy Dresses, but many other wonderful costumes pieces. And to Dorothy No.1 Melissa McShane who arrived after many long rehearsals and always offered her help.

Paul McShane - Secretary of the SHYAC really was the wizard behind the show. The marketing and promotion, wonderful and unique ideas that flowed daily, to all the new changes to the committee, the professional experience that he gave to SHYAC and for the wonderful work that he did with the I.M.B. Bank for the amazing grant of $25,000.00 for the future of SHYAC and the Pod Project. When hope was lost, he stepped in and took SHYAC to a place that I imagine no one had ever dreamed of. For introducing our new SHYAC president, Allen Cupitt and for supporting Andrew and me throughout the whole show.

Andrew and I say Thank you........

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To Allen Cupitt and his family for incredible support, keeping us all warm in the large factory with a gas heater (which looked and sounded like a rocket). For all his clever welding on bases of the sets and for all his gorgeous modeling (our own live mannequin) of the many costumes. Andrew and I say thank you.

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To all the wonderful sewers:

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Deidre Knowlson, who from day one arrived with sewing machines, fridge, microwave and many other things to keep everyone nourished. Deidre's sewing experience and years running a fabric show was incredible. She gave so much of her time and was always willing to tackle any job that came her way. She was always organising delicious meals for everyone to share and as Grandmother's do, she was always offering her help when someone needed it. The two tin men were amazing, she worked for hours creating them. I especially loved the silver shorts, we laughed and laughed so much over the months and it was wonderful to have her and her family with us. and I say thank you.

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To Jane Swaverly, (another amazing Grandmother) who arrived one day to help make a skirt for the Emerald City and then stayed right to the end. She was incredible, a very talented sewer and could turn her hand to anything. She was the first to arrive and the last to leave. She was even there yesterday helping with final cleanup of the workshop. She was there with her sewing kit on hand at all the performances, with the vacuum on her back and the broom in the other. Jane also picked up my own washing some days through those wet winter days, as she overhead me saying that my towels were still on the line after five days and she helped me keep my life together as a mother. I take my hat off to Jane, without her support and kindness many of the jobs would not have been done. .............I say thank you.

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To Vicki, Tony and Casey Schaefer, where do I begin..... Without them I don't think the visual side of the show would have been anything like is was. Months ago I started collecting all the props and gear needed and Vicki and The Resource Centre at Moss Vale supported SHYAC 100%. I would run through her shop and leave with car and truck loads of gear which were all pulled apart, adapted and changed. All donated to us for the show.... I would call Vicki often looking for something and she would call at the end of the day and say, I found it...... Vicki and Casey helped me sort over 350 children costumes into books with photographs and labels for over 700 items. (She supplied all the labels as well). What a mammoth job it was and I don't think it had ever been done before by SHYAC and they did it so well, it took two whole days for Vicki to do, then my job was easy from there as everything had a label. Vicki gave so much of her time every weekend and we all loved having her there with us, she is so loving and giving. Vicki and Tony also both worked backstage throughout all the shows and looked fabulous in their black roadie gear. Andrew and I say thank you..

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To Gail, Michael and Sarah Garner. Gail volunteered to help with sewing and to my wonderful surprise it turned out that Gail is a professional Pattern Sewer. I would do my drawings of the costumes, a scribble here and show her the fabric............two minutes later she had cut a perfect template and she made the amazing Monkey's pants, Guards tops and The Good Witch, Glinda's ruffled collar from a brides veil and more. She is such a kind and special lady and she worked away for many hours in the workshop and her home. Gail's advice was invaluable and the most wonderful and strange thing was that she was able to create exactly what I was imagining in my mind. Michael was also used as a model and Sarah was always helping everyone. I say thank you

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To Ron Russell and Mrs Suzanne Jahnsen, Thank you Ron and Suzanne for your wonderful help with the costumes, Ron's drawings and illustrations are amazing and his detail on the costumes exquisite. Thank you Ron for sourcing many wonderful fabrics and gear from your own collections and from the Salvation Army store for Emerald City. It was wonderful to have your experience and help at the last minute. I just want to say how kind you were Ron to be helping SHYAC. I say thank you. We all hope you will support SHYAC again in the future and I can't wait to see your costumes in your next production.

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To all the following who gave me am hour here and there to others who gave a day of their time helping with sewing, painting, blinging and cutting, I say thank you. With so much to do in such little time every little bit of help was welcomed. I say thank you..

Carol Bailey, Jan Howe, Andrea Napier, Samantha Bransgrove, Megan Rich, Sandra Glover, Melanie Thuma, Bronwynne Maher, Madeleine Fitzgerald, Alice Carmichael, Mo Obrien, Vicky Lockett, Marda Skepper, Mandy Bransgrove, Mandy's Mother in Law, Morgan Rook, Trisha Glover, Lynne Lindsay, Edna Maher, Duncan Carmichael.

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To all the wonderful helpers with the painting of the sets, boxes, walls around the band, the construction and building Andrew and I say thank you.

Olivia Fitzgerald, Neil Howe, Andy McMillan,and my Thomas and Bec.

and to Lyndall Heally-Green, where were you in the beginning? Wow, What an amazing Lady, Lyndall arrived in the last weeks of the production and with a paint brush in one hand and scissors in the other she helped with everything from sets to costume repairs at Clubbe Hall. I say thank you.

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Almost there. To everyone that came and helped with bump out and clean up of Clubbe Hall, it was extraordinary. All the children returned the costumes, helped pack and label the boxes. To the mothers who cleaned and mopped the change rooms and toilets. To everyone that loaded the trucks and moved heavy gear. To everyone that cleaned the hall and vacuumed. It was a special place to be and to have so much support and help from everyone. I say thank you.

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To Roger Hind and Ruth Lowry from Theatricks Production for the loan of their truck while they took their lighting down, soooooo incredibly kind. Even when they were ready to go and get back to Sydney they let us do one more load to the workshop. Thank you for everything you did for the show. The lighting was amazing, hopefully next time we will have much more time to see what else you have in your magic lighting boxes. Andrew and I say thank you.

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To all the children in the show - I loved working with you so much, your beautiful smiling faces were a joy to see each and every day. I was overwhelmed with all the help you all offered me each day and your kind comments. Thank you for the beautiful card, I will treasure it forever. I was so impressed with each and everyone of you, your acting, dancing and performing throughout the couple of weeks at Clubbe Hall was excellent. I have nothing but praise for all of you and you made all the months and months of hard work worthwhile. I know for me and for everyone involved in the costume making it was a very special thing to see you all bring our costumes to life. I will treasure these memories for ever.

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I know there were many, many other people that worked on the show and thank you, this is just a special thank you to all who were directly linked to me and the creative side of the show.

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Last but not least, I want to thank my amazing husband, and partner in all the creative side of the show, Andrew and my two children Thomas (Tom) and Rebecca who helped and supported me throughout the entire time. Without them with me each day, with their many fabulous ideas I would not have been able to do it. Thank you.

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I am now off to start something very special, I am the creative director once again for the 2009 Debutante Ball at Chevalier College which I designed at the beginning of the year. I have been working on this job as well as my online magazine throughout the Wizard of Oz production. I have seven weeks left to create all the beautiful decorations and style the enormous gymnasium at Chevalier for 140 debutants and over 650 guests. Sue McShane has volunteered to be with me on this huge event as well and with a new eager committee awaiting for me to arrive and start, I say farewell to The Wizard of Oz cast, crew and committee and I look forward to seeing you all around the Southern Highlands.

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It was a wonderful show

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Coty Farquhar

Creative Director of the Wizard of Oz, SHYAC

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Southern Highland News - WOW, We are on the front Cover again this week

NEWS............ NEWS................ NEWS........................

The Wizard of Oz opening
16/06/2009 10:19:00 AM
The Southern Highlands Youth Arts Council’s production of The Wizard of Oz opened with spectacular fanfare at Clubbe Hall on Friday night. A packed show were treated to an amazing show, which continues this weekend. Phone Tourism Southern Highlands on 1300 657 559 for bookings.

We have been totally overwhelmed with the response from everyone calling the 2ST radio and spreading the word about The Wizard of Oz show. Thank you so very much, we never expected such a wonderful response from the Southern Highlands.

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and............ a wonderful piece written by a truly special person that came to our show on the weekend

We’re off to see the Wizard…
Well, I was last night. Braving the cool temperatures of the Highlands [Moss Vale is near enough to give some idea: my car had a temperature of one degree higher], I headed down last night to see The Wizard of Oz put on by the Southern Highlands Youth Art Council. An operator in the Call Centre for the company I work for is the director and choreographer, so a few of us are heading down at different times. I was planning to go with my fellow IT colleague, but he was rather unwell this week so he could not make it. So I headed down myself.
What a performance! What a marvellous performance! Words cannot express how it surpassed, by miles, my expectations. I do not know why: everytime I go to an ‘amateur’ production I am blown away; the heart and soul put into the performances, and the often more relaxed atmosphere, allows for a rollicking good time. All of the cast were superb, and I would hate to highlight any as unless I could list them all someone would miss out. They each had their own take: a wonderfully wicked Witch of the West relishing her role and laugh; Dorothy with a superb voice and such animated expressions; a rather camp Tin Man; and on they went — each stamping their style on their character. And then you had the wide ages of the cast, ranging from 8 to 25: the little-ones in particular as munchkins or residents of Oz were just too cute. The choreography of the dancing, and even the movement of the cast, was simply fantastic — all praise to the choreograher and director: I’ll be sure to tell him when he returns to work [he has holidays while this is on, and some well-deserved rest time afterwards]. In addition, the deleted ‘Jitterbug’ scene was also included, which was simply wonderful to see and hear. The orchestra [conducted by someone I have met before through work training days: and, no, not musically related training! :)] not only played the music wonderfully and with gusto, but stamped their own creative style on the songs — making it a unique and special performance.
As well as to the director and choreographer, music director, dance coaches, sound and audio operators, caterers, and backstage and front of house helpers, praise must go to Coty & Andrew Farquhar who designed the superb sets and even more superb costumes — take a look at Coty’s blog entries on “The Wizard of Oz” to see the wonderful work done. Truly amazing and simply wondrous.
Well done to all involved: words and descriptions could not adequately describe the wonder and joy of this performance. If you are free next weekend and can make it to Mittagong, go — you will not be disappointed.

Southern Highland News - SHYAC in a Hot Air Balloon on the front page

Up, up and away to Oz......

Did you see today's issue of Southern Highland's Newspaper, (photographs by Roy Truscott)

we were featured on the front cover.

Tom Farquhar is going up in the balloon at the Mittagong RSL Club.

This beautiful hot air balloon belongs to Suzy Butz - thanks Suzy for all your support for the Wizard of Oz and we all had so much fun going up, up and away in your balloon.

Hello!!!

Well guys, I must say, I can't believe how quickly time has passed over the last few months...but even more unbelievable is how soon we're going to be performing! I don't know about the rest of you lovely Shyaccers, but I think it's really exciting. Everyone is working so hard, on stage and off - this is going to be an AMAZING production. I'll be sad when it's over...I think it goes without saying how much of an incredibly and fun experience this has been so far! And I'm loving how friendly, supportive and, well, tight, the cast is. It's so good working with you guys. I've made so many more good friends through this show. Shyac is my favourite.

I went to have a look at the SHYAC Headquarters today, and for those who haven't seen, you really should. Everything is looking so fantastic! The vibe over there is so exciting and enthusiastic, it's just buzzing with people down there, and they're all putting an incredible amount of time and effort into the work that they're doing there, and for the show. The costumes are AWESOME. I particularly like the poppies, and Glinda's dress is so beautiful! Go have a look. It's pretty great.

Well anyway. This has turned out to be alot longer than I first intended so I'll leave it here. See you all at rehearsals!
Loren

Wow....The Southern Highland's community are well and truly supporting our show....

A HUGE THANK YOU

from the SHYAC Production Crew

Over the holidays we have been busy collecting wonderful props, fabrics and amazing bling for both the costumes and sets for the Wizard of Oz. Production is well and truly underway and over a hundred costumes have already been made, (well nearly..). We have been very generously given a huge premises in Loftus Street, Bowral for the next eight weeks to construct all the sets, make all the props and costumes. We are soooooo very grateful for the kindness and support that we are have been receiving from our local community.

We do live in a special part of Australia....

Over the weekend we had many SHYAC parents, grandparents, family and children helping with sewing, cutting patterns, delivering gear, setting up and making costumes.

It was fabulous fun at our new SHYAC factory and definitely the place to be.......

Thank you, thank you, thank you to........

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Clubbe Hall - Frensham, Mittagong

Where nothing is a problem

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Gift Wrapt - Mittagong - Katriona Sinclair has given SHYAC hundreds of dollars worth of fantastic ribbons, amazing bling, glitter paints, fabrics, lighting and much much more. All to be used this year and over the many years to come.

Katriona is closing her shop in one week and she has everything on sale.... be quick to get a bargain ......Opposite McDonald's at Mittagong, don't forget to say thankyou while your there.

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To our local treasures - they know who they are

Very kindly supporting SHYAC and the children of the Southern Highlands

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Resource Recovery Centre & Reviva Centre - Moss Vale - Donations of so many goodies for the sets & costumes

The wonderful side of recycling.....

Making sets and costumes from recycled materials -

Anything is possible with a little imagination

Thank you Vicky and all your staff for all your never ending support.

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Interiors for You - Fabrics, sample books etc

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Handley's Upholstery - Fabrics

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Bunnings, Mittagong - for more paint - (we love paint)

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Rivers Bowral - Hundreds and hundreds of coat hangers

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Sew & Create - Moss Vale -- lots of coloured elastic

St Vincent de Paul, Salvation Army, The Smith Family and Lifeline - Discounted Costumes

(some wonderful vintage dresses were sourced this week)

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Samantha Bransgrove's Grandmother, Mrs Bransgove all the way from Queensland for her fine sewing on Glinda's dress on Sunday.....

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and last but not least Ron Russell, our amazing costume maker who has been busy creating the costumes for Emerald City and more..........

We will be posting more on Ron's work each week, wait till you see his drawings and illustrations, they are truly gorgeous and need to be framed after the show. How lucky are we that he is with us on this production. Ron is so clever and he has made many costumes for plays over many years.

Posted by Coty Farquhar - Tom's Mum

... Hello There.

"SHYAC: Creeping people out since 1998"

Okay, well, I'll just get straight to the point; photos.

If you want a copy of any of these in a larger size (thus better quality), just let me know via email or in person... Or anyway you can really, it doesn't bother me.

I know there aren't a lot here, but I'll try uploading more whenever I get the chance. However, my computer can be notoriously slow, and during the school term, I don't have a lot of time, so there might end up being a lot of posts from me just containing one or two photo's...

There's not really much else for me to say...

So, enjoy?

"Jesse"

"Oz: The Movie"

Hello to all SHYACers.

I must say that I am missing rehearsals quite a lot. How about everyone else? I hope you all have a good break and are busily practicing and ready to get back into it extremely soon. I can't wait to see all of the amazing photos by Kirsten on here; some are really cool, others funny and all of them showing the happy, fun-loving spirit of SHYAC.

Happy Holidays!
Melissa.

Invitation to SHYAC Bloggers

OK SHYACers - who would like to blog about the upcoming Wizard of Oz production? Contact us at info@shyac.org.au to be invited to join our blogging team.

Monsters Vs Aliens - SHYAC's Film Fundraiser

FILM FUNDRAISER: MonstersVsAliens Sun 5 April 3pm New Empire Cinema BowralSpread the word! Invite your family and friends to support SHYAC and be among the first to see the latest animated feature from Dreamworks: MonstersVsAliensThe Empire Cinema is helping SHYAC by hosting this film as a fundraiser so we need to fill the big cinema. Tickets are a flat $10 all ages and this includes a free drink.Tickets will be on sale at THSPA on Sunday 29 April – please bring your money! Alternatively tickets can be purchased from Empire Box Office at any time and on the day but to avoid disappointment, buy early!NB. Rehearsals for Wizard will be from 10am-2pm on 5 April

Our Next Production - The Wizard of Oz

Venue: Clubbe Hall, Frensham at Mittagong

SHOW DATES

School performances WED 10th June@ 10.30am and TUE. 16th June @10.30am

Opening night on FRI. 12th June @ 7.30pm SAT. 13th June@ 2.30pm and night @ 7.30pm FRI. 19th JUNE 7.30pm SAT 20th June @ 2.30pm and 7.30pm.

SHYAC - Art by Youth for Youth.

For more details about SHYAC phone the Secretary on 0427 445099

Email: info@shyac.org.au

Footloose - Shyac

Disco Inferno - Shyac

The Rocky Monster Show

If you have any photographs from the show please let us know - we would love to add them to our blog.

Bugsy Malone - SHYAC