Choreographers Meeting

Yesterday was a busy time with choreographers coming and going throughout the day and our gathering that night. We now have a full show...subject to copyright and final round singer/musician rehearsals. Exciting what....you bet.
From year to year the situation changes on the team...we have to prune the budget, at times change direction, account for births and baby duties even overseas travel but we keep on keeping on....many faces have been there since the start or nearly and just as inspired as ever. New faces are also brilliant 'cause it means we continue to build a future. There is also the wealth of student choreos waiting their call...I have the Maitland HS team on board.
Our own Dan Wilson has also begun a Star struck facebook....clever move Dan ...lots of friends so far and growing...something to access and play with at home.
Finally I will mention that next week we begin to face lift the website for this year. Keep posted.

Week 4

Can't believe that we're here at week 4. Holidays were a dream I had ages ago. As said we are catching up pace with Star Struck post move and later lead in time (August show last year). It will happen and like all glitches backstage everyone will assume that we are still totally in control. In fact Mad is (as always) but I'm just paddling like crazy under the surface to realise the fantastic ideas in the budget. We're all used to deadlines so that'll happen.
This week we meet with choreographers. That's the next part of the plan. Have to have the rough of the show in a bit better shape by Wednesday. Too many ideas and too little time to play with. Our limit is under 50 songs. Less than 3 hours total performance including comperes, interval and setting. We are also attempting as always tyto include 3000+ students on the floor twice. A small number to us is anything less than 100 on the floor and that will not happen often.
The student production team are focused on Changes in a day and sounding brilliant.
The signing choir are involved with Wind of Change and the Berlin wall and I speak to Melissa Wright opn Wednesday re the Aboriginal dance vision.
In the words of Yoda " Excited i am".

Reworking the show

After the excitement of Round 2 auditions on the weekend today was the reality check. With more variety of voice styles and fewer songs in the shorter show format really special will miss out. Then we looked at the dance nominations again. We have 4 more HS groups and 9 more primary groups than in 2007. We keep aiming towards the shorter show so we will have to be even cleverer than ever before with the vision on the floor.....more numbers mean more spectacle.
We are still searching for more Primary fun so if you think you have something that woulsd be fun and up let's know.
Lastly just spoken to James from Wingham....brilliant original song that he auditioned with ...so good we have included it in the show. Great locked in. Done and dusted. One song finalised. Then over the phone he plays me the new one he has just finished. All about change. It's brilliant too. Now what do I do? I think I'll encourage him back to covers. He makes it too hard otherwise. Or maybe I'll give up the show and become a manager or better still a recording producer and open Star Struck Records. But then what about all these fantastic dancers. And the actors.....I'll have to stay where I am and do both. What a brilliant dream. Love your work all.
Oh and go for it JJ...I'll just keep changing subjects until I get enough for the album.

Managing the production

Today we met with Dale Scotting our production manager. He drove up from Sydney to update on the latest from the world of staging, lights, sound, venues, scaff, marquees and well evrything that is happening behind the scenes. Really we just needed to start confirming dates and times so that we could begin to realise all the changes. He's also great value because he has such a vast knowledge of music and bands and artists and stuff. I noted heaps of suggestions for the show throughout the conversation.
We're also thinking of new ideas for backstage accommodation and security. Will keep you informed as we know more.

Round 2 Auditions

What an awesome experience to see such amazing and extraordinary singers. Day one started with primary and then onto junior High school. By 11 am I knew we were in for a very very tough time. We wanted to accept all. The standard was brilliant.
By 6pm Sunday we had seen over 120 auditions finishing with Year 12. The show would indeed be 9 hours long if I could take all the great singers we heard. There was pop and classical and punk and swing and jazz and pop and rock and fantastic original compositions and brilliant covers. Sorry if I'm raving but it was all that good.
We could do an original concert. A country special. A swing show.and so much more.
The confidence and natural ability that shone through in the presentation were to be the defining factors.....then the show could be somewhere between 5 and 6 hours long. Truly it has that much potential.
One particular audition (the best I have seen in 16 years) left me with the feeling I had sneaked into the audience of a top line professional act without paying. Yes it was that good. What an amazing show it will be with all this talent ....and that's just the singers

Newcastle Show time

Star Struck will run its own pavilion at the new Newcastle Regional Show. This will be held April 10 through 14 at the Newcastle Showground. We will be building our display and performance opportunities throughout the coming months. If you are interested in helping out please contact us now. We are looking for lots and lots of support. Don't wait for an invite ...jump in now.

Primary Dance Audition

The primary audition DVD will be posted on Monday February 11. You will need to learn quickly ( as you need to with most Satr Struck items) and return to SS Office on the date shown. If you do read this you might like to drop on over on monday and pick it up before school so you get that little extra time.

Welcome to Star Struck 08

We have now moved to our new home at Islington Public School. Thanks heaps for hosting us Islington team and a big thanks to Merewether Heights Public School and the old CEIT centre that was home for over 10years. Everything changes. Good theme that! In line with change we are now opening our own blog to keep you informed and updated on a more constant basis.
Coming up this weekend is the solo auditions for singers. Let you know more later.