01.07.09

Blogged by Yasemin

So it's over....

And it's extremely sad considering it took two years to write and ALOT of money like we're talking thousands right now...to put on stage it's a very sad time....but......

IT WAS AMAZING! I enjoyed every second and so did the audience and I KNOW this! Every year no one thinks we can do anything to make it better than it was last year but EVERY year we do it...Gill does it and this year so did Rupert and Andy....and to all of them i would 'prostrate my self dear' to! They're all amaznig and without them, man this show would have sucked.....mainly cause there wouldn't have been one :)

So a round of applause everybody:

*claps very loudly*
*cheers*
*does victory dance*
*then rubber chicken by myself*

And so I say good-bye as this is my last blog...read every word or look over every word that you've already read and laugh and let me tell you all that Moon on a Stick will never be forgotten EVER....s'gonna be in my heart forever and for alwayyys.....

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

and for the wonderful cast!

12345678..123456678...1234 5678....12345678...1234... 1234...1234...1234....12.. .12...12...12...1...1...1. ..1... RRRRRRRUUUUUUUUBBBBBBBBBEE EEEEEERRRRRRR CCCCCHHHHHHHIIIIIIICCCCCKK KKKKKKKEEEEEEEENNNNN (Rubber Chicken :P)

(you had to be there)

28.06.09

Blogged by Charlotte

Phew. What a hectic week. After one dress rehearsal and four actual performances, most of the cast and crew (and half of the set) are on their last legs, but don’t fear Moonstaff, it’s nothing a game of Claude’s Rubber Chicken can’t fix. It’s been an amazing week, which seems to have flown by in a whirl of excitement.

We started off with the matinee show for the primary school children, which was an usually quiet performance, but the kids loved the bright colours and energy that the cast brought to the stage (who wouldn’t?). Then came the 4pm show for our own EWS girls, who showed their encouragement to their peers on stage and the cast and crew revved up for the following evening performances, which were HUGE successes with two fabulous audiences who loved every joke and generally made the cast glad to be doing what they were doing. The Thursday evening performance was sold out, with people standing at the back of the hall, because we’d filled it up to the highest capacity. Now, that is something to be proud of; the biggest crowd drawn by an EWS summer production.  Then we all did an encore, (then another encore...) of the Cosmic Boom reprise, where the curly haired man, Rupert and Andy joined us on stage too, and we thanked them for all their hard work, to a rapturous applause.

Some of my favourite moments include Miss Petrie clinging onto a wobbly Transporter as Claude “punched” at it, the laughter from the audience and half the cast hiding in the wings as the Witches sang their song,  the crowd groaning in good spirits as the Long Armed Aliens continued their endless welcome dance, spending Act One watching Anna being painted blue, and sharing jokes with Shanai backstage (she’s a wonderful stage manager). Another great thing is the solidarity the cast and crew have developed with one another, such as people helping each other out of costumes (mostly the Long Armed Aliens and Momma Moon –“Someone please unzip me; I’m BOILING!”) and wishing each other good luck.

I still haven’t managed to get all the green face paint off, but to be honest I’m secretly starting to enjoy it. I can’t wait for our final performance at Waterman’s; it’s surely going to be one to remember. 
Oh, and, don’t tell anyone, but I’m starting to like this singing and dancing business...

27.06.09

Blogged by Yasemin

So the School Shows are over....and normally we would be extremely depressed but NOT THIS YEAR - ON TUESDAY we are doing MOON ON A STICK one last time at the WATERMANS THEATRE! And I am so excited!! I'm gonna stay happy till then and be depressed after that! No one talk to me on thursday :D

Words can't describe how amazing doing a show is. We start so excited because it's new and it's tres excitemondo and then in April and May it gets a little bit tiring and hard work. You get people saying ' I don't think i'm going to do it next year' or 'there are too many rehearsals' but i can guarantee that most people have changed their minds because of the end feeling.....no amount of words can explain how you feel at the end of a show!

I can't be prouder of everyone in the show and I'm also proud of myself because I never thought I could do it at the beginning. I've cried over it and I've been sad but I DID IT! and I'm never gonna forget it!

BRING ON WATERMANS AND BRING ON NEXT YEAR!! forget GCSE'S haha :D
again if you haven't got tickets then wouldya hurry up! It'll be well worth it...no lie. and also there is going to be DVD...so you know you can buy that too :D

24.06.09

Blogged by Sara, Kayla, Shanai and Genevieve

Yesterday was the premiere of ‘Moon on a Stick’ at Ellen Wilkinson School. Our first audience were a group of well behaved (too well behaved for our liking) Year Six students from four local primary schools. First we did a group exercise of ‘Rubber Chicken’ to get us all in the mood and then it was on to the performance. It went well! The children fell in love with the Long Armed Aliens and their lament and closely followed Corona’s character and story throughout.

In the afternoon, we performed again in front of our peers and teachers in the heat of the day. Our make up was dripping, the costumes were sweaty and the whole cast fought over the single fan backstage. However we performed brilliantly and the audience’s response was encouragingly better, as they understood more of the gags. We did lose the cleaver, the set did break apart (thanks Miss Petrie for spending the majority of Act 1 holding up the communication booth), and Melissa was attacked by a bee during ‘Junkfood Express’, but despite all of this the audience loved it and we as a whole team enjoyed ourselves very much indeed.

Looking forward to tonight and the sell-out spectacular tomorrow night!!

Sara’s original response

I liked it.
Lots.
And lots.
Yay

Love from Pagey
Byeeeeeeeeee
See you tomorrow
I Love you All. Some of you anyway. Don’t get excited or anything.

Jim…!    Jim…!   

…

Jim!

…

AHHH HE’S GONE!

19.06.09

Blogged by Yasemin

OK. NO PANIKCING. OK? *PANICCCKKKSSS*

Four days!!!! Four days!!!!Four days!!!! OH MAN!

But ain't no room for worrying.....there is room for being excitteddd cause we are gooonnnna BLOW THE SET APART (literally).

If you haven't got a ticket then you've been lazy and now there is a rule that you have to buy one..approved my Mr Stephens...no i'm joking but if you want to come then Monday is your last chance!

*stops panicking*

11.06.09

Blogged by Gillingham

It has been a big week for MOAS as we hurtle towards the world premiere on Tuesday 23rd of June. Tickets for the show are now on sale and you can buy them here.

Also, the school has been plastered in the rather spankingly wonderful show poster:

We have also made some more "character" posters. Below you can see Mal and Jupiter and The Witches. But this can only be the merest glmipse of the show; for the full intergalactic effect you are just going to have to see it!

03.06.09

Blogged by Yasemin

So friends, today we did a rehearsal and instead of all of us lounging in the hall watching everything we went back to the dramam studio and entered properly like we would do in a REAL SHOW! (which is now less then 3 weeks away!!) and it went pretty well! Everyone's a bit tired now but we pulled it out of the gigabucket! songs still need a bit of work on VOLUME but narry a worry it will be so fantastic on the night you won't know what's hit you!

30.05.09

Blogged by Elstone

This was always going to be a big week: excited moontroops running around looking for intergalactic wallpaper paste in which to sink up to their arms; endless cans of silver spray paint to empty; circuit boards stuck to anything that didn’t move away fast enough; DJ Claude keeping us entertained; and the moonship squadron leaders well... leading mostly. As the stage became filled with odd, electrically enhanced creations, the moonscape of the EWS hall became more of a battleground with hot glue guns, drills whirring for their lives and grey paint making the floor uncomfortably reminiscent of the moon’s surface.

Listen folks, you’re going to be impressed. It is all looking rather damned good. I can’t say there wasn’t a bit of heartache and pain involved - the first abortive attempt to create Momma Moon’s blood supply holder stand roller wheely thing was just what the little elves who live in the skip were looking for and so we had to let them have it, although it cost James a few tears to do so. But the communications booth – oh yes – a feat of futuristic engineering – and the intersolar giga carrot looks mighty fine too. The transporter could take me anywhere it wanted, such is the attractiveness of its silver lines and the sophistication of its navigational controls.

But if I really had to choose a mode of transport, as well as a shining example of the success we’ve achieved this week, it would have to be Rupert’s spaceship. Pretty soon after launching the week, the schedule looked a bit like this:

Day 1: Rupert’s spaceship

Day 2: Rupert’s spaceship

Day 3: Rupert’s spaceship

And so it’s good, very, very good. It has a lobster. But it probably won’t fly.

Everything, from costumes to flats, from tails to sound effects, from flop chert sheets to posters was completed with a lot of moon love and some serious DIY skills – watch out Mr Richardson. By Friday, those of us who had rocketed in every day were pretty much running on empty, our space fuel supplies depleted ... but not our enthusiasm, for it will have been worth it, so worth it. Thank you moontroops, we couldn’t have asked for more.

24.05.09

Blogged by Anna

Ok, so Gill asked me to write this quite a while back when I had my first singing rehearsal, but I found it incredibly hard - not because I am inept at writing a 'blog' but I am experiencing a strange mix of melancholy at this being my final show whilst also positively bursting with excitement at how amazing this show is.  And those pesky A Levels are taking up some of my time... 

My song; wonderful, witty and wickedly fast. One thing's for sure, if when I get it right from start to finish you will all love it. This music is incredible and I don’t think I have had so much fun in a singing rehearsal in a very long time. So, with the help of the trusty chorus (who I fear know the words better than I) we have set about adding the rather scary dance moves...anyone who knows me will recollect that of singing, acting and dancing, it is the dancing that gives me nightmares. But never fear my alien friends, I am practising hard and WILL remember which foot is my right and which is my left.  

As for all the other rehearsals, well we are entering that tense time of year, where really what everyone needs is copious amounts of tea to see them through to the end. We running huge chunks at a time and people are gathering together their costumes (I could tell you about mine but that's for an entirely different blog!). All in all, it's rather exiting at the moment and rather terrifying in equal measure...not long to go now until you strap yourselves in for a star-studded adventure (pun, most definitely, intended).  

And this is the sentimental bit (the bit which will result in my being kicked in the shins by Claude), MOAS is the perfect way to end what has been an incredible adventure with the EWS Performing Arts department. I have done a ridiculous number of shows now and if it weren't for the fact that I am leaving for university, I'd be doing them forever...But alas, that is not an option, I must take my final bow with the EWS Company this June and I can't imagine a better show to end on.  

Right...Keats or MOAS lines...anybody?  

07.05.09

Blogged by Claudia

To go off the topic a little:

Usually around this time of year, the excitement of the show plus the prospect of our summer holidays approaching, is enough to help me ignore the prickling on the back of my neck that says 'you should be worrying about exams!'.

This year however is different.

This year is the ...last year.*

For the five Year 13s in the show, this is it. Our final chance to be part of an EWS production and it is just horrible. It's still very exciting and everything but whilst everyone else is thinking they can't wait till it is over so they can go home and sleeeep, ee are thinking of past shows where the Year 13s came off stage and burst into tears! and that will be us in just a few weeks! It is possibly the saddest thing ever. There are (apparently! I wasn't aware of this until only a few days ago!) only 12 school days left for us!

So that is why I wanted to write this blog (you'll have to excuse me here, I apologise in advance for this outburst). To thank everyone for their efforts in making MOAS as brilliant as we know it is going to be. And to say how proud I am, sincerly and completely, to have been involved in MOAS, it makes my heart beat a little faster when I think about 'The End' but I must get over that and tell you all that this year will be BRILIANT because we want to go out with a bang. So with that selfish thought in mind: LET'S DO IT!

Yeeeeah....

*Anyone caught actually using this word in reference to anything involving me will be punished. Physically.

Blogged by Genevieve

04.04.09

Blogged by Claudia

On the Friday before our glorious Easter break, whilst all the young scallywags were scampering out of the gates to frolic in the fields of fun for 2 weeks, it so happened that I was lucky enough to be sat amongst a variety of the MoaS staff, doing something very exciting indeed. We were being serenaded by the entire song list of the musical! Andy the Composer came into school and played the completed works to an audience of ears, belonging to the staff and 6th form team.

I would like to say there was a lot of hard work going on and we all ‘took one for the team’ but honestly, it is difficult to find something hard when it involves sitting around in good company and listening to wonderful music, except perhaps trying to cast a critical eye over it all. In fact it was rather a jolly old time for us, the sad, sad people we are, hanging around until 5:30 on the last day of term.

But fortunately it was not at all laborious and the music is spectacular, and Andy explained every song and even played some brand new material (that even Gills hadn’t heard yet!) for us. It made the future of MoaS look very bright indeed and hardened everyone's faith, even more so, in the foundations of this show.

It is so inspiring to see such a professional selection of songs and it is so humbling to be able to sing even one! I love them all already and as soon as the cast hear them I am sure they will be enraptured by the magic too!  

03.04.09

Blogged by Waring

As I arrived at Ellen Wilkinson last Tuesday afternoon it was full of anticipation. All my news about how Act 2 was going had so far come from Jim (Or Mr Gillingham as he is often known): I'd listen, tense and excited as he'd describe each rehearsal, answering my many questions (did people like this bit? did that line get a laugh? etc). 

On Tuesday, as with the Act 1 run through, it was hugely exhillirating to see such life, energy, enthusiasm and unexpected extra comedy breathed into the characters and script by the cast. It  was great to  see so many really making the characters their own. From the writer's point  of view, the best part was seeing people enjoying themselves, especially with the comedy. As the performances draw ever nearer there is still lots to be done, but so far so great, keep up the excellent work and there's no doubt you'll all be stars!

30.03.09

Blogged by Yasemin

Tomorrow is a big run through of all of Act Two which is very exciting! I didn't manage to make the last run through because I felt like I was dying :( so I am very excitemondo to see it all the way through!

There was a dance rehearsal today for the opening number "Cosmic Boom" :) which went really well and there is a singing rehearsal on thursday where the boy band G-String Theory will be featuring and stealing the hearts of all those young girls out there. :)

For all those who've heard my voice. It could be intersting tomorrow. No LAUGHING :)

25.03.09

Blogged by Kani

To be quite honest, I thought this rehearsal was one of the funniest and emotional so far! The Chorus had a fair bit to do; which sometimes can’t be the easiest thing to direct, however it turned out amazingly! They added a sense of anxiety and curiosity to the scene which turned out to be absolutely hilarious! (Even if it wasn’t meant to be funny!) Also we finally got to see the return of good old Alan Shepard (Rhiannon Owens) I really mean this when I say; Rhiannon is THE best robot I have ever seen on stage. And the famous “you nuggets” line will also be making a comeback in the finale!

So that leads me onto me and Darya’s role. We have the immense pleasure in ending this amazing production. Now for some this might be a piece of cake; but personally I don’t know if I’m more nervous about beginning the show or ending it! Although it is a sigh of relief knowing I have Darya beside me at all times.

It’s lovely to see such an amazing production build right before your eyes :D

23.03.09

Blogged by Gillingham

All shows go through ups and downs as they wend their way towards performance. MOAS is no exception.

We have had a tricky couple of weeks for various reasons: we've missed several rehearsals (nobody's fault, just "real life" getting in the way) and I feel that the momentum of the project has sagged slighlty.

Now is the time to start getting excited again. We have a cracking set of songs - and thanks to all the cast members who helped Andy the composer and Miss B last Friday ensure that the songs WILL be both singable and inefectiously catchy - we've got a funny script and, most importantly, we have a wonderful cast of talented girls.

We can do anything we want.

And we are going to be great.

08.03.09

Blogged by Amanda

04.03.09

Blogged by Charlotte

After months of anticipation, the first round of auditions, glimpses of the Writers and Musicians at work, watching my fellow actors at work and badgering the curly-haired man for clues about my character (only to be answered with cryptic clues such as, “Ahhh you have a wicked dance” and “You’re so important in Act Two”), my time as Shabba has finally come. Behold the Long Armed Aliens!

Now, I must admit that the concept of such a short person as myself, having an endless arm span worried me a bit. But after reading the script and a hilarious rehearsal with some strangely excited sixth-formers (myself being a forerunner of the bunch), I’ve welcomed the prospect with open arms. Both long and short.  Oh and let’s not forget the surreal  moment where the our Director burst into song. “They call me Mr Bombastic”. I say no more.

However, I was a bit...well...surprised (Surprised being an understatement) to find myself faced with, no other then a song. Hmm. Those who know me well, know that Dix does not sing. In public at least.  But somehow, for this show I am willing to give it a try comforted by the fact that I have an army of professional singing and dancing Aliens joining me. Phew. I’ll let you know how it goes.

02.03.09

Blogged by Yasemin

We are getting through the play so fast at the moment. We're already half way through Act 2 which is more than half way through the whole play and we've only been rehearsing for about 2 months!

It is just quite brilliant.

The singing rehearsals are going to start this week and the songs sound amazing so I think everyone is looking forward to those. I am....:)

We had one very good rehearsal last week which made the Gillingham smile alot,which is a very important part....if he smiles,laughs, jumps up and down...... you know you're doing alright :)

26.02.09

Blogged by Claudia

So this week began the start of Act Two. And isn’t it fabulous…?

Well, yes.

We’ve had new characters introduced, the all important musical numbers are popping up left, right and centre and the prospect of dancing is becoming all the more real. A terrifying prospect for those of us who claim two left feet (predominantly Myself and Anna Senkiw). To an outsider the sound of a show made up of “Cobalty Royalty”, “Research and Development Drones”, “Over-active Personal Assistants” and “Long Armed Aliens” may be a little bizarre but to us it sounds as beautiful as the moon on a stick.

25.02.09

Blogged by Gillingham

After a break for half term we started the rehearsals of Act 2 this week. Everything continues to progress really well. The cast are growing in confidence with every rehearsal and the show is beginning to take shape. There is a huge amount of work still to do, clearly, but when it is this much fun I don't think anybody minds!

12.02.09

Blogged by The Cast

03.02.09

Blogged by Yasemin

SO we have had SNOW for two days now and so we haven't been able to do ANY rehearsals. We were going to do our FIRST FULL run through tomorrow but without having practiced it we'll now do it next week; this is a bit of a shame but it just means it will be better when we do it.

I hope everybody had fun in the snow as well! :)

28.01.09

Blogged by Gillingham

Some new rehearsal photos taken yesterday. Please click on the attractive box below.

27.01.09

Blogged by Yasemin

AHHHHHH the first song was done today everybody. Very exciting!!!

It was a little quiet and off sometimes haha. but it will be amazing!!
it's early days yet. :) We got to see Megans first bit which I will admit RIGHT now was EXtremely funny!

Though quite a few people didn't turn up which was a little annoying actually especially as we're just starting. It is not the way you wanna start out I will tell you that right now....they will soon see.
But anyway the songs and the whole thing is going to be a COSMIC BOOM!!

22.01.09

Blogged by Kani

Today was one of my favourite rehearsals yet, but then again every rehearsal has been amazing, so far. So this has been our 3rd or 4th rehearsal I think and I have loved every moment of it.

I play the part of the Professor in the play (who is one of the few who are humans; therefore I count myself very privileged) and I can honestly say it still hasn’t sunk in that: A) I got such an amazing part and B) That Mr. G cast me as it. I really hope I don’t disappoint him or the rest of the cast, but then again I know we will all make him oh so very proud.

It’s an absolute pleasure to be acting with such amazing talent coming from all over the school, literally ALL OVER! But I must mention the amazing work of Darya my assistant in the play, who plays Ozrik. She is without a doubt one of the funniest actors/people I have ever met, and I’m sure the audience are going to have a hard time trying to keep a straight face while watching her!

This leads me onto the amazing trio: Rhiannon, Sadia, and Cerise. I think they are going to be one of the funniest characters in the whole play, and I think it’s safe to say on behalf of all the cast I am so excited and apprehensive to see “the rap” which will be performed by themselves. History in the making guys!

I am so proud to be involved in such a wonderful performance.

12.01.09

Blogged by Stage Crew and Friends

26.11.08

Blogged by Claudia

So the first rehearsal of ‘Moon on a Stick’ – An intergalactic new musical! may have been more like a drama workshop but it was successful nonetheless.

Our brand new, 60 strong ‘Moon on a Stick’ family, hereafter known as the ‘cast’, were riled up and ready to dramatise anything, before they even knew their parts! The most anticipated of which will of course be Customer no.3 with the exciting ‘Stop’ monologue. We await this decision with baited breath.

The cast were split into groups and each were given different scenes from the play, brand new material with which to wield our powers of performance. We rehearsed, then sat down and got comfortable (but not too comfortable, you never know who’s up next!) and watched the magic happen. Every member of the cast performed and it was incredible to see such an amount of charismatic, budding young actors, and one budding young stunt artist, ranging from 11-18 years old, working together to bring ‘Moon on a Stick’ to life.

After some administrative worries about the comedy factor, that being that if people don’t laugh, it’s not funny, watching the girls really getting into the characters we discovered that in fact, it is funny and the laughter flowed like the wine at a teachers Christmas party.

26.11.08

Blogged by Yasemin

So today was the first rehearsal but it was mostly just to help Mr Gillingham and Miss Mallagan even BEGIN to decide on parts! We had the famous BEGINNING OF SHOW talk, every year it gets better and better:)
and then we got into groups and had to act out a scene from the play and perform it to the whole cast :S

There were two of each scene so for the second group it was a bit unfortunate that the jokes had already been laughed so we felt a bit like lemons but it was all part of it so it's fine.

These rehearsals i guess you could say are the most nerve racking because you don't really know what the characters are completely like and it's scary being infront of some people that you don't know.
but these ones are over and the FUN WILL BEGIN..NOW!