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BSPA Senior Summer Youth Project 2022 – The Producers

A Truly Classic Mel Brooks Musical…


Belfast School of Performing Arts is delighted to announce their first Senior Summer Youth Project since the spectacular production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” in 2019 with the comedy Mel Brooks “The Producers”

Based on the classic cult comedy film this Broadway musical set the standard for modern, outrageous, in-your-face humour. It is a truly “boffo” hit, winning a record twelve Tony Awards and wowing capacity crowds night after night.

The plot is simple: “a down-on-his-luck Broadway producer and his mild-mannered accountant come up with a scheme to produce the most notorious flop in history thereby bilking their backers (all “little old ladies”) out of millions of dollars. Only one thing goes awry: the show is a smash hit! The antics of Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom as they manoeuvre their way fecklessly through finding a show (the gloriously offensive “Springtime For Hitler”), hiring a director, raising the money and finally going to prison for their misdeeds is a lesson in broad comic construction. At the core of the insanely funny adventure is a poignant emotional journey of two very different men who become friends.”

This summer project will be Directed by Peter Corry who is thrilled to be reviving this hilarious show, one of his favourites. Peter first directed “The Producers” as the Northern Ireland premiere , in Theatre at the Mill in 2012, also as a Summer Youth Production to much acclaim.





The rehearsals will be held at Breda Academy and will then move to The MAC where we will be performing at least 4 shows.

Show Info

Age : 15-24 years old

Rehearsal Dates & Venue : Breda Academy
Wednesday 3rd – 5th August
Monday 8th – 12th August
Monday 15th – 19th August
Times: 10am – 6pm
**Please note that times for licensed age students ie 16 years and under will be 10am – 4.30pm tbc **
Principals may be required in evenings and on Saturday by arrangement with the production team


Theatre week – Mac Theatre

Monday 22nd August ( Tech rehearsal in evening)
Tuesday 23rd August ( dress rehearsal mid afternoon and Evening
Wednesday 24th August ( dress rehearsal or Performance tbc)
Thursday 25 & Friday 26th August Performance 7.30pm
Saturday 27th Matinee 2.30pm and evening 7.30pm
*Please keep Sunday 28th free as we may opt for a performance on that day if ticket sales dictate


The Producers Production Team

Peter Corry

Director

With over 20yrs experience in musical theatre both on stage and behind the scenes, he is the perfect person to bring our show to life.

As a performer, he has appeared throughout the world and as a director, he has staged shows which have toured the UK, USA and Europe.

Peter also runs his own company, Peter Corry Productions which is one of the leading theatre producers in NI.

Peter and his team can’t wait to get started on The Producers.

Ashley Fulton

Musical Director

Ashley has worked in Musical Theatre and singing for over 20 years as an award-winning vocal coach, musical director, performer and producer. 

He is the most successful vocal coach in Northern Ireland. To date, he has had 80 students go onto study at Drama School. This record is unprecedented and the highest number of students to go onto professional training by any individual teacher in the UK. 

Ashley is the director of BSPA Voices and was musical director for 3 of BSPAs former summer productions

Adam Ashford

Choreographer

Since training at the acclaimed Urdang Academy in London and graduating in 2016 with BA Hons degree in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre, Adam has worked as a professional dancer and singer in the UK and USA. 

Now he’s been introduced to teaching young dancers of all skill sets, from beginners to advanced, he’s able to communicate with them and explain the techniques from today’s dancing generation. 

Please note that as usual our BSPA Senior Summer Youth Project is open to everyone
(not just BSPA)



Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Jr Junior Summer Youth Project 2022

Following the success of our 2021 summer youth production ‘Matilda Jr’ BSPA are delighted to announce our 2022 Summer Youth Production ” Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Jr” which will be directed by Peter Corry

Take a fantastic musical adventure with an out-of-this-world car that flies through the air and sails the seas. Based on the record-breaking West End production and the beloved film, and featuring an unforgettable score by the Sherman Brothers (Mary Poppins), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang JR. is one blockbuster that audiences will find “Truly Scrumptious.”

Dates: 13th -30th July 2022 Age: 8-18 years

Eccentric inventor, Caractacus Potts, sets about restoring an old race car with the help of his children Jeremy and Jemima. They soon discover the car is magic, and has the ability to float and take flight. When the evil Baron Bomburst desires the magic car for himself, the family joins forces with Truly Scrumptious and Grandpa Potts to outwit the dastardly Baron and Baroness and their villainous henchman, the Child Catcher.

Filled with amazing stage spectacle and unforgettable songs, including the Academy Award nominated title song, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang JR. is a high-flying fun-filled adventure that will dazzle audiences and Broadway Junior Stars alike.

For more information and to register

https://forms.gle/iUuUdbjW395oZrA56

https://forms.gle/iUuUdbjW395oZrA56

BSPA pupils stars in N Ireland’s latest BBC Drama.

BSPA Pupil Eliana Lamberton with her new best Friend Rambo

BSPA Casting is thrilled that 9 year old Eliana Lamberton will be starring in BBC N Irelands latest local Drama ” Hope Street”. This show was filmed in Donaghadee which became the fictional town of Port Devine. Each episode focuses on a different character and we are excited to watch Eliana stars in Episode 5 to be shown on Wednesday 22nd December.

Eliana seen at the welcome poster of the fictional town Port Devine

BSPA was also delighted that Alumni pupil Louis McCartney also starred in this series at the young Shay O’Hare. Two young stars of the future.

Louis McCartney ( Shay O’Hare )seen here with fellow stars Leila Hussain (Amara Karan) and Ciarán McMenamin ( Finn O’hare)

BSPA Pupil reaches final of BBC Chorister of the year.

BSPA Belfast AM pupil Rebekah Devlin at the semi finals of BBC Chorister of the year

BSPA were so proud to hear that BSPA Belfast AM Pupil Rebekah was representing N Ireland in the Semi Final of BBC Chorister of the year in the stunning Salisbury Cathedral.

Rebecca secured her place to represent Northern Ireland in the girls’ semi-final of the 2021 competition after competing against hundreds of other entrants from schools right across the UK. The 16-year-old, a student at Strathearn School, is also a member of the Belfast Philharmonic Youth Chamber Choir and the National Youth Choir of Northern Ireland.

The semi-final was recorded in Salisbury Cathedral, and the adjudicators were Aled Jones, who presents the programme; composer Howard Goodall; vocal coach and presenter David Grant; and renowned soprano Lesley Garrett.

Rebekah with presenter Aled Jones in Salisbury Cathedral

All of them had really positive comments on Rebekah’s semi-final performance, broadcast on BBC One television, and on Radio 2, on Sunday 21st November. The talented competed against four other girls seeking to secure a place in the grand final.

Rebekah’s stunning semi-final rendition of ‘He will hold me fast’, by Matt Merker and arranged for her by Jonathan Rea from New Irish Arts, was one of two video recordings Rebekah submitted as her entry to the competition last May.

Rebekah with Judge the renowned singer Lesley Garrett in Salisbury Cathedral

We were thrilled when we Rebekah was one of three girls to reach the competition final on December 5 where she will perform her second song, ‘Midwinter’ (Bob Chilcott) as she takes on boy and girl finalists from across the UK in her bid for the prestigious title.

In addition to the title of BBC Young Chorister Of The Year 2021 and a trophy, the winner will appear on Songs of Praise and take part in BBC Radio recordings.

Her performance can be watched on BBC iplayer

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0011vnf/songs-of-praise-young-chorister-of-the-year-girls-semifinal

We wish Rebekah well for the final on Sunday 5th December

BSPA Pupils tread the boards at Grand Opera House, Belfast

Pupils backstage at Grand Opera House in Christmas Carol

BSPA Pupils were thrilled to get the chance to appear on the Stage of the newly refurbished Grand Opera House in Belfast Operatic Company’s production of “A Christmas Carol”

Pupil Duarte Silva Moriera who played the part of Tiny Tim was joined by fellow pupils Olivia Pyper, Cora Magee, Leo McDermot, Isla Torney and Amelie Thorpe.

Duarte as Tiny Tim on the shoulders of Scrooge ( Colin Boyd)

What a wonderful experience for our children to take part in this fantastic show playing to full houses all week. It was especially exciting as they were performing with many of our BSPA teachers who played many of the principal roles including Matthew Campbell (Jacob Marley) Simon Pyper ( Ghost of Christmas Present) , Kirsten Magee ( Granny Chuzzlewit), Wendy Pyper ( Mrs Mop) Taylor Wills (dancer) and Adam Darcy ( Musical Director)

Cora ( Martha Cratchit) and Duarte ( Tiny Tim) with their stage parents Bob Cratchit ( Ciaran Conlon) and
Mrs Cratchit ( Jane McKibbin)

Stage Photos courtesy of Melissa Gordon

BSPA Excel at MTI Europe Junior Theatre Festival

BSPA Team who won ” Outstanding Production” at the MTI Europe Junior Theatre Festival at ICC Birmingham

BSPA were delighted to represent N Ireland at the MTI Europe Junior Theatre Festival in the ICC Birmingham on Sunday 24th October. This was the first time since Lockdown that the Festival had been able to take place and excited performers from all over the UK.

The team had to perform a ten Minute segment from any Broadway jr production using no props or costume and the Creative team of Director Peter Corry, Musical Director Adam Darcy and Choreographer Oprah Devit choose the Dr Seuss inspired ‘Seussical Jr”

The judges Alex Parker ( Westend Musical Director), Lotte Wakeham( Westend Associated Director) and John Prignano( COO and Education and Development MTI)

The performance was judged by Alex Parker ( Westend Musical Director), Lotte Wakeham( Westend Associated Director) and John Prignano( COO and Education and Development MTI) and we were delighted with the feedback given focusing on how well our pupils interpreted and told the story of the musical and worked together as a team. Competition was tough but we were thrilled when the word came through that we had been awarded ‘Outstanding Production” which gave us the opportunity to perform a clip on the main stage in front of all the other schools. What a thrill and privilege for our pupils many of whom had not performed on a stage for around two years.

BSPA Team perform a clip from ” Seussical Jr” on the main stage of the ICC Birmingham

Our pupils had an incredible day and also participated in workshops by West End performers, and watched a concert by West end stars Emma Williams and Matthew Croke and above all met with other like minded pupils.

BSPA team taking part in workshop at the MTI Europe Junior Theatre Festival

BSPA are thrilled to announce they will be attending the 2022 Festival in Birmingham on Saturday 20th May 2022. Auditions will be held in the New year

BSPA Performance of ” Seussical Jr” which won ” Best Production” at the MTI Europe Junior Theatre Festival 2021