Graduate 2015 Premiere Production of DRACULA … Application/PDF/faqs...Graduate 2015 Premiere...

RevisedEdition:31stAugust,2016

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Graduate2015PremiereProductionofDRACULA…themusical

FrequentlyAskedQuestions BA(Hons)MusicalTheatre WW45BA(Hons)MusicalTheatrewithFoundation 312W


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AUDITION REQUIREMENTS BA(Hons)MusicalTheatre(UCASCourseCode:WW45)BA(Hons)MusicalTheatrewithFoundation(UCASCourse312W)Auditionfee:Thereisa£40auditionfeefortheabovecourses.YourauditionwillbeinTWOsections.Youwillberequiredtoattendforthewholedayfrom10am.Itisimportantforthosetravellingalongdistancethatyoumakesuitabletravelarrangementstoenableyoutostayuntil3.30pmatthelatest,duetothenatureoftheselectionprocess.Pleasenotethenumberofdatesonthewebsiteandthatyouhavetoconfirmattendancebypaymentoftheauditionfee.N.B.Itisimportanttonotethatnoauditiondatewillbeconfirmedwithoutanauditionfee.MusicalTheatreAuditionFirstsection–youwillberequiredtoparticipatein:

• Ashortdance/movementsession• Ageneralmusicianshipworkshop• Ashortvocalworkshop

Secondsection-youwillberequiredtoprepareandperforma:

• Monologue*fromacontemporaryplay(post1980)–20lines(maximum)• MusicalTheatre*songofyourchoicefromoneofthefollowingcomposers:IrvingBerlin,

GeorgeGershwin,ColePorter,RodgersandHammersteinandJeromeKern(approximately32–64bars)

• MusicalTheatre*lyricasadramaticmonologueN.B.Foralldegreecoursesyouwillalsoberequiredtobringtotheauditionashortpieceofwritingdiscussingthepreparation/rehearsalprocessofthemonologuetobeperformedatthisaudition(1,000words.)DoNOTsendthiswrittenworkinadvanceoftheaudition.*Donotconsiderpresentinganymaterial,sungorspoken,fromaplayormusicalcurrentlyrunningintheWestEnd.Pleasebringwithyou:

• Arecentpassportphotograph• loosecomfortableclothingsuitableforanaudition• appropriatefootwear• copiesof:

1. monologueandsonglyric.2. annotatedvocal/pianoscore(sheetmusic)forthechosensong.3. 1,000wordessayoutliningtheprocess,preparationandperformanceof

monologue.NBNowrittenfeedbackwillbegiventocandidatesfollowingtheaudition.Clearverbalresponsesregardingworkobservedwithintheauditionwillbeprovided,whereappropriate,bythepanelthroughouttheauditionprocess.


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IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT Musical Theatre http://www.uwl.ac.uk/academic-schools/music/courses-subject-areas/musical-theatre http://www.uwl.ac.uk/course/musical-theatre/31757 Musical Theatre with Foundation http://www.uwl.ac.uk/course/musical-theatre-foundation-year/34731 Undergraduate Application Guide http://www.uwl.ac.uk/sites/default/files/My%20Application/LCM%20Portfolio%20Guide%20WEB.pdf

PLEASE BE AWARE

Duetothehighdemandforplacesonthiscourse,itishighlyunlikelythatwewouldbeabletore-scheduleyourauditiondate. Pleaseseeourwebsiteathttp://www.uwl.ac.uk/interviewsforfulldetailsonwhattobringwithyouandwhatwillhappenontheday.Clickheretofindouthowtogettotheuniversity. Youwillneedtopayanauditionfeeof£40(non-refundable)atleast5daysbeforeattendingtheaudition.Pleasetelephoneourautomatedpaymentlineon02089363205.YouwillneedtoquoteyourStudentIDnumber. Welookforwardtomeetingyou,butinthemeantime,youmayliketotakealookatthisYouTubevideotofindoutmoreaboutLCM.


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ClarificationofAUDITIONREQUIREMENTSWhatdoyourequirefromtheessay?Thepurposeofthistaskistoassessyourrehearsalapproachtothechosenmonologuepreparedforthisaudition.Thewritingisencouragedtobefromapersonalpointofviewidentifyingyourinterestinactingandtoprovideclarificationastowhyyouareappropriateforanundergraduatehonoursdegree.Yourwritingmightwellbethebasisofsomediscussionwiththepanelabouttheideaspresentedwithintheperformanceofthemonologue.Pleasedonotsubmitcourseworkeditedandmarkedbyyourtutors.Shouldwesendthewrittenworkinadvanceoftheaudition?NO.Pleasebringwrittenworkexplainingyourpreparationworkrelatingtotheperformanceofthemonologuewithyouondayoftheaudition.Whatdoesitmeanto‘...prepare and perform a musical theatre* lyric as a dramatic monologue?’Youareexpectedtoworkonthetextofasonglyricandthenusethistextasaspokenmonologueinordertocreateacharacterandsituationthatisappropriatetothewordsspoken.Whyonly32-64barsofasong?Thepurposeoftheauditionistosellyourselfinthemostpositivewayyoucan.Whenyouprepareyourauditionsongaimtosingforoneminuteandbeabletodisplayasmanyfacetsofyourvocalskillaspossible.Ifwewanttohearmorethepanelwillrequestthis!Dowehavetobringcopiesofauditionmaterial?YES.Pleaserememberthatthisisnotbecausethepanelisuncertainoftherepertoireyouhavechosen.Itisadvisedforyourownwelfareandwell-beingwithintheauditionprocess.Tensionisoftenhighandthereisatendencyformemorytoletyoudown.Withthepossibilityofapromptthesituationisrelieved.Whatisinvolvedinthegeneralmusicianshipworkshop?Inordertobesuccessfulinthefieldofmusicaltheatreitisessentialthatyouhaveagoodearforthemusicandcanbereliablewhenworkinginachorusorsmallensemble.Youdonotneedperfectpitchbutastimeisalwayspreciouswithintherehearsalroomtherepetitionofinstructionseithermusicalortextualarenotcommon.Therefore,werequireyoutohaveaquickmindandtobeabletoanswersimplequestionsrelatingtopitchandintonation.Werequestyoutosingsimplemelodicandrhythmicphrases,recognisemajorandminorchords,numbersofnoteswithinachordplayedtwiceonthepianoandothersimpleauralexercisesthatwouldbeappropriatetothejourneyofanactor-singer.Ifindoubtseekguidancefromyourpresenttutororteacherastohowtoprepareforthisaspectoftheaudition.


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Ismake-upallowed?NO.DefinitelynotrequiredornecessaryDowehavetowearblack?NO.However,itisnecessarytowearappropriateclothingandshoesforashortvocalworkshop.Avoidsparklytopsandhotpants.Aimforasenseofneutralitytobeobservedinorderforthedifferentcharactersyouperformandtheirphysicalitytobecommunicatedinanobjectivemanner.Werequestthatnojewellerybewornfortheaudition.WherecanIfindacopyofShakespeare’ssonnetseasily?Theteamsuggestthatforaquicksolutionyouconsideravisittoawebsitesuchashttp://www.shakespeares-sonnets.com/sonnet. Canweuse‘backingtracks’?

NO.Youmustbringcorrectlypreparedsheetmusic.Aimtophotocopythesongtobeperformedandmakecertainthatitissuitablypreparedfortheaccompanist.Singlesheetswillinevitablyfalloffthepianoandtheaccompanistwillbespendingmoretimepickingupyourmusicthanaccompanyingyou.Sellotapethesheetstogether.Donotstaplethemusic.

DoIneedtobringthepianoscoreformysong?

YES.Youmustbringcorrectlypreparedsheetmusicinthecorrectkey.Canweusetransposedsongs? YES.Buttheremustbeasignificanttechnicalorartisticreasonastowhythisisnecessary.Whyareyoutheonlyuniversitythatappearstorequestapplicantsforthemusicaltheatrecoursetoprepareasonglyricasadramaticmonologue?

Perhapsyoushouldaskalltheotherinstitutionstowhichyouareapplyingastowhytheydonotthinkthispreparatoryworkisimportant.Webelievethatbeforeyoucansingasongyoumustunderstandthelyric.Bybeingawareofthestructureofthewritingandcommunicatingthespecificvocalpatternsandthoughtsofthecharacterwebelievethatthisprocessenablesboththetexttobespokeninameaningfulmannerandthelyrictobecommunicatedeffectively.


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Howwilltheauditiondaybestructured?

Theauditionwillbequiteintensiveandwillrequireyoutobeavailablefrom10:00amuntil3:00pm(approx.).Pleasemakesuitabletravelandpersonalarrangementstoallowthefullprocessoftheauditiontobeconsidered.Intheopeningsessionyouwillberequiredtotakepartinashortmovementsessionwhereyouwilllearnashortsequencetotestmovementmemory.Therewillbeashortgeneralknowledgequizforactorsandmusicaltheatreperformers.Youwillthenberequestedtotakepartinashortvocalwarmup.Applicantsapplyingforthemusicaltheatrecoursewillbetestedontheirgeneralmusicianship.Followingthisyouwillbeaskedtosingyourpreparedsongandperformthesonglyricasadramaticmonologue.Atthispointinthedaytheresultsfromthemorningauditionwillbeconsideredandthosewhohavepassedtheauditionsofarwillbeaskedtostay.Thefinalstageoftheauditionwillconsistofpresentingyourpreparedmonologueandbeingre-directedonanyaspectofyourpresentedworkasobservedbythepanelthroughouttheentireauditionday.Therewillbeanaturalbreakinthemiddleofthedayandtherewillbeanopportunitytotakerefreshment.Thereareseveraladditionalcafeswithintheareainadditiontothoseontheuniversitycampusitself.Youareadvisedtobringwaterwithyouforthedurationoftheaudition.


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Afewextrathoughts:Bringcleanunmarkedtextstotheaudition–thisisforyourbenefitjustincaseyouforgetwordsetc.Wearealsomoreinterestedinwhatyoudoatthemomentofperformingratherthantryingtoworkoutwhatyouintendedtodoinyourperformanceencouragedbythecommentswrittenonthepage.Neversetyourselfa‘challenge’intheaudition.Thisisyourmomentto‘shine’andshowthepanelwhatyoucando.Alwaysperformmaterialwithwhichyouarefamiliar.Ensurethesongisinthecorrectkeyforyourvoiceandthatyouareawareofthepianoaccompaniment.Aimtocutpianointroductionsandinterludesofmorethan2bars.Thepanelwanttohearyousing,nottheaccompanistplay.Donotchoosesongswithdifficultaccompaniments.Youhavebeenworkingonthissongforseveralmonths,butthepianistissightreading.N.B. Avoiddownloadingmusicfromweb-siteswhereyoucannotguaranteetheaccuracyor

editingofthepianoscore.Ifyoudodownloadthemusic,pleasemakesureyouhavecheckedthescorewithatutorforaccuracyofkeyandvocalrangebeforebringingittoanaudition.

Useappropriateauditionmaterialsuitablefordemonstratingyourstrengthsinthefieldofmusicaltheatre.Avoidusingmonologuesandsongsfromshowsthatyouhaverecentlyperformed.Whenre-directedthesecandidatesoftenresisttheinstructionorguidancetheyaregivenandsoshowareluctancetoacceptdirection.Alwayskeepyourmindopenduringtheauditionandacceptdirectionasapositiveaspectoftheday.Donotsittopresentyourpieces.Ifyoufindapiecethatcannotbeperformedunlessthecharacterisdiscoveredsittingdown–CHANGEIT!Thisisanauditionandweneedtobeawareofyourentirephysicalityandskillstocreateandembodycharacter.Pleasehavedetailedknowledgeoftherepertoirechosenforyourauditionplusgeneralknowledgeofmusicaltheatretoidentifyyourstrengthswithinthisfield.Makeboldactingchoiceswithinallaspectsofyouraudition.Beawareofcharacter,relevantbackgroundandhowtocommunicatethisinformationwiththepanel.Ifyouinventinformationtosupportyou’retheunderstandingofthecharacter,ensurethattheinformationisrelevanttothetextandsituationyouarein.Toomanysongsappeartobesungbycharacterswhoareindulgingindrugsandarelonelyinaprisoncell.Aimtousebackgroundinformationthathasrelevancetoyourowncircumstances.Alltoooftenthebackstoryishardtocorrelatewiththeactualtextofthesong.Ideasarenotenoughtheyneedtohaveaconnectionwiththelyricsungordialoguespoken.Wordsarespokenandsungwithsomeinterestbutitisthemeaningofthetextthatneedstofullyrealisedwithinthedeliveryandactionsofthecharacter.Referencesmustbeunderstoodandfullyresearched.Besecureinyouruseofmaterialandifyouusetextthatdrawsattentiontothesexualnatureofacharacterensurethatyoufullyunderstandtheimplicationsofthiswork.Bebraveanddon’t


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apologisepriororduringtheauditionprocess.Thereneedstobeagreaterunderstandingofwhatyouareachievingwithintheworkandthedemandsbeingmadeuponinrelationtothedeliveryofthecharacter.Oftenthreechancestodisplayaworldofcontrastsandtheperformancesremainrigidandfullofpersonalhabitsandgesturebelongingtotheactorratherthanthecharacter.Choicesareimportantsopleasemakesurethatyoudisplayasmanyvocalqualitiesandstylesaspossiblewithintheshorttimeavailabletoyouwithintheaudition.Ensurethatyourbasiccommunicationskillsaresecurebeforeembarkinguponsomeoftheorecomplexrepertoirewithinthefield.Sometimestheabilitytosingasimplesongeffectivelyandwithasenseoftruthisworthmorethanbarsandbarsofamorecomplicatedandtestingsong.Trytoavoidsongsthattesttheaccompanistmorethanthevocalistataudition.Performwhatyouhaverehearsed.Donotsitinjudgementandcommentonthecharacterbeingplayedasifyoudidn’tlikethem.


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SomebasicrulesYOUMIGHTLIKETOCONSIDERwhenauditioning:

• selectsongsthatsuityourvoice• theverseisneverbetterthantherefrain• pickthesectionofthesongthatshowsyouatyourbest• showyourbestqualityinthesong• donotcarryanyextramusicwithyouthatyoudonotwishtosing• makesurethatyoursongisinthecorrectkey• befamiliarwiththepianoaccompaniment• bringthecorrectversionofthesongwithyou• knowthecorrecttemposothatyoucancommunicatethistotheaccompanist• getenoughrestatleasttwodaysbeforetheaudition• trytoavoidmilkordairyproductstheeveningbeforetheaudition• stayfocussedonwhatyouhavetodo• warmupsilentlybeforegoingintotheauditionroom

AtyourauditionyouwouldbeadvisedtoconsiderNOTTOsinganything:

• thatisoutofyourrange• thatyouhavejustlearnt• thatismusicallytoodifficultforyou• whereyouareconstantlyawareofthetechnicalrequirements• thatgoesonfortoolong• thatistooself-indulgentortoonegative• thatisoverdone• thatisemotionallytoodifficultforyoutohandleor• toodifficultforanaverageaccompanisttosight-read–thisisyouraudition!


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GENERALQUESTIONSWhyisthiscourse‘unique’?

Mostmusicaltheatrecoursesaretraditionallybasedwithinanactingconservatoireoruniversitydramadepartment.Thismusicaltheatrecourseissituatedwithinamusicconservatoire-LondonCollegeofMusic.Thishastheadditionaladvantagesofourundergraduatestudiesbeingenrichedbytheconstantpresenceofcomposers,performers,instrumentalistsandaflourishingmusictechnologydepartment.Thisnotonlyenrichestheday-to-dayworkwithintheconservatoirebutencouragesalivelydebatebetweenthearts.Perhaps,moreimportantlythis‘mix’ofskillsallowstudentstoappreciateeachother’sgiftsandsodevelopaworkingrelationshipthatcaneasilybedevelopedbeyondtheboundsofuniversitylife.Pleasevisitthefollowingsiteforfurtherdetailsofthislivelyandexcitingworkingenvironment:http://music.uwl.ac.uk

Doyougetpersonalsingingtuition?

Yes.Youwillreceive1-2-1singingtuition-45minutesweeklyduringbothsemestersinyearone.Inthesecondyearactingstudentsgetatwo-and-a-half-hourgroupvoicesessioneachweektodevelopandmaintainthevocalwork.

Isthereanopportunityonthemusicaltheatrecoursetoconsidertheactormusicianinthefinalyearofproductions?

Theremaybeopportunitiestouseinstrumentalskillswithinthefinalyearofproductionsandwhereverappropriatewithinthefirsttwoyearsofstudy.However,thiscourseisnotdesignedforthetrainingoftheactormusicianbutbeingapartofLCMtherearemanyopportunitiestoplayandbeinvolvedwiththemusicallifeofthecollege.

Doyouencourageperformancesinthefirsttwoyearsofstudy?

Thefirsttwoyearsofstudyareoccupiedwiththetrainingoftheactor-singerbutwedoencouragemomentswithinthecoursewherestudentsareinvolvedwithself-directprojects.ThisisthendevelopedintoabodyofworkatLevel6withinthemoduleDevisedTheatreproject.

WhatistheroleofLondonCollegeofMusiconthecourse?Willtherebeopportunitiestodovetailactingandmusicalinstruments?

ThecoursesitswithinLondonCollegeofMusicandthereforeallofthecoursesunderthebannerhaveopportunitiestomeetandworktogether.Themusicaltheatrecourseisaimedattheactorsinger.Therefore,ourfocusisonthevoicebeingtheprincipalinstrument.Wedonotofferinstrumentalclasses.However,therearenumerousbandsandchorusesonofferwhichareopentoallstudentsatLCM.


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DoyouhavetoattendanauditionfortheBAMusicalTheatreorBAActingcourseifyouhaveGrade8oradiplomafromanyappropriateexaminationboard?

YES,youdohavetoauditionbecausetheentryrequirementsforthedegreerequiremoreskillsthanthoseassessedineithertheGrade8ordiplomaexamination.However,possessingeitherofthesequalificationsisanassetandcanbecountedinapositivewaytowardstheindividualUCASpointscoreoftheapplicant.

Isthereachanceforallstudentstobecomeprotagonistsonthecourse,orisitjustachosenfew?

Weneverhaveasenseofthe'chosenfew'.Wetrainfortwoyearsandauditionsareheldforeachfinalyearproduction.

Intermsofcareerprospects,isonelimitedtomusicaltheatrerolesordoyourstudentsalsogointoawiderangeofperformanceopportunities?

Duetothenatureofthecoursethereispotentialforourgraduatestoworkacrossallareasofperformance.

Doagenciesreadilytakeonyourgraduatesordotheypreferdramaschoolgraduates?

Weactuallyhaveanumberofagencieswhoareinterestedinourworkandtendtotakeonstudentseachyear.Manyofourgraduateshavebeensuccessfulinacquiringagentsandenteringtheprofessionandthereisasmuchopportunitytodosohereaselsewhere.Withreferenceto‘...doagencieslikegraduates...’theansweristhattheylikeanyonewhoisgoingtoworkintheindustryandearntheagencymoney.AgentsdonotreallyworrywhereyouhavestudiedIfear!Someconservatoiresdohaveafiercereputationandyoucanalwaysrelyontheirdisciplineandworkethictobeexcellentintherehearsalroomduetotheirstyleoftraining.Intheendyoujusthavetobegoodatwhatyoudo!

Whatismeantbyactormovement?Whyisthereanemphasisonthisasacoresubjectfortheperformer?

Actor’slimberistaughttoinformtheactor-singerofproblemsassociatedwithtension,musclestrainandillnessinordertoobtainanoptimalphysical/vocalperformance.ThissetofexercisesdefinedatthestartofthefirstyearofstudyinMovementStudiesenablestheusertoemploythesevariousaspectstoexploretheindividualbodyandpersonalareasoftension.Notwoperformersarealikeandsoitisessentialthatthetrainingrespondstotheneedsofthebodythroughthedevelopmentandawarenessofthisspecificmethodofworking.www.feldenkrais.co.uk


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Whatistherelationshipbetweenpracticeandtheory?

Practicalcomponentforeachmoduleisworth80%.Writtencomponentforeachmoduleisintheformof(i)writtenassignment,(ii)workingjournal,or(iii)examinationandisworth20%.Onemoduleinthethirdyearofstudyisaresearchprojectbasedonanyaspectofyourstudywhichcanbeentirelywrittenorincorporateelementsofpracticeasresearch.

Whoaretheteachingstaff?

Youmightliketoclickontolinkbelowandfindoutalittlemoreaboutyourfuturetutorsandtheirresearchinterests.Clickonbelow:http://www.uwl.ac.uk/academic-schools/music/our-staff/meet-our-staff

WhatmightatypicalteachingweeklooklikeinYearOne(Level4)forBAActingandBAMusicalTheatre. 9:00–11:00 11:30–1:30 2:00–4:00 4:00–6:00Monday TextualStudies TextualStudies TextualStudies LCMChorusTuesday MusicalTheatre Voice Combat GeneralMusicianshipWednesday Acting1and2[9:00–1:00] GleeGroup* VoxesThursday Dance Movement Self-Direct 121VocalSessionsFriday ActorMovement Self-Direct Self-Direct AverageweeklyhourscontacttimewithtutoratLevel4=28hrs

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday4hrs 8hrs 7hrs 5hrs 4hrs

WeblinkforDramaUKpartofCDDT


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WhatotherusefulpagescouldIlookatontheUWLsitetohelpmecomparethisuniversitywithothersimilarinstitutions?LCMoverview:http://www.uwl.ac.uk/academic-schools/musicLCMnews:http://www.uwl.ac.uk/academic-schools/music/lcm-newsCourseinformationandstudentcomments:http://www.uwl.ac.uk/academic-schools/music/courses-subject-areasAlumnipages:Seeourrecentgraduatesandtheirprofileshttp://www.uwl.ac.uk/academic-schools/music/lcm-alumni.Facilities:http://www.uwl.ac.uk/academic-schools/music/facilities/music-performance-composition-and-musical-theatre-facilitiesLCMBAMusicalTheatreintheWestEnd:http://www.uwl.ac.uk/academic-schools/music/london-college-music-live/bel-amiLCMLivepage(allLCMevents):http://www.uwl.ac.uk/academic-schools/music/london-college-music-live@LCMLiveW5in-houseproductioncompany:http://www.uwl.ac.uk/w5-productions/about-usFacebookLCMphotogallery:http://www.facebook.com/LondonCollegeofMusic?sk=photosSohoTheatre,21DeanStreet,LondonW1D3NETel:02074780100www.sohotheatre.com WatermansTheatre,40HighStreet,Brentford,MiddlesexTW80DSTel:02082321010http://www.watermans.org.uk/CharingCrossTheatre,TheArches,VilliersStreet,LondonWC2N6NLTel:08444930650http://www.charingcrosstheatre.co.uk/CompetitionsandbursariestosupportyouwhilstatLondonCollegeofMusicareasfollows:http://www.uwl.ac.uk/students/undergraduate/scholarships-and-bursaries


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FurtherInformation

FormoreinformationonauditionstryMargotAnnett's'AnActor'sGuidetoAuditionsandInterviews',

SimonDunmore's'AnActor'sGuidetoGettingWork',bothpublishedbyA&CBlack.

UKPerformingArtsalsohaveanumberofarticlesandadviceonauditions.http://www.ukperformingarts.co.uk/

ForinformationaboutcoursesinandaroundLondonvisittheFloodlightsite:http://www.floodlight.co.uk/

Foramorenation-widesitetryHotcourses:http://www.hotcourses.com

CityLitalsoholdanumberofcourseswhichmayhelpyoupassauditions.Contactthemformoreinformation:02078317831http://www.citylit.ac.uk/Equity:http://www.equity.org.uk/TheMusiciansUnion:http://www.musiciansunion.org.uk/

WeblinksforDramaUKpartofCDDT

GuardianLeagueTables-24thoutof90HEIsfordramaanddance2013-2014www.guardian.co.uk/education/table/2013/jun/04/university-guide-drama-dance

98%overallstudentsatisfactioninNationalStudentSurvey2014(BAMusicalTheatre)


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HOWCANYOUBESTPREPAREYOURSELFFORAUDITION/INTERVIEWS?

Ifyouare15minutesearly,thenyouareontimeIfyouarriveontime,thenyouarelate!

THINGSTOCONSIDERBEFOREAPPLYINGTOAPLACEOFSTUDYQUESTIONSTOASKBEFOREYOUAPPLY?

• Whatspecialgiftsdoyouthinkyoupossess?• Howawareareyouofthecompetitivefield?• Areyoupreparedtoworkharderthanyoueverhaveinyourlifetobesuccessfulinyour

studies?• Areyounervous,scared?• Doyoualwayswanttohearpraise?• Whatplansdoyouhaveifyoudon’tgetinthisyear?

WHATAREYOURPOSSIBLEOPTIONS?AMIMAKINGTHECORRECTCHOICE?

• Acting• Theatre• Dance• Drama• MusicalTheatre• Directing• StageManagement• VocalPerformance(sung/spoken)• Music/DramaEducation• Music/DramaTherapy• TechnicalTheatre• MusicIndustry/MusicBusiness/MusicAdministration/EventsManagement• Audio/RecordingTechnology

RESEARCHTHEDIFFERENCESBETWEEN

• conservatoireanduniversityeducation• thevariousconservatoireswithintheNCDT• eachconservatoireanduniversitywithregardtoauditionguidelinesandrequirements• curriculumcontentanddelivery

KNOWYOURSELFANDBEABLETORECOGNISE

• yourstrengths• yourweaknesses• thequalitiesyourequiretosellyourself


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THINGSTOTHINKABOUT• GototheUniversityorthewebsite• Talk: tostudentsorgetintouchwiththemviaAdmissionsOfficeandStudent

Ambassadors(atUWL)• Read: prospectusonline;On-lineforums;www.prospects.ac.uk• NeverseeREJECTIONasapointofnegativity.Bebraveandstrongandrealisethatthistime

itisnottobe!Askquestionsandreconsideraplanofaction.• Donotgoforsecondbestandjustapplyforanythinginclearing.Weareallgrownupand

wearealllookingforsuccessfulconclusions.Youwantaplace.Wewantstudents.• Youshouldwantusforlifeandweshouldwanttoteachyouandbewithyouforthenext

threeyearsofyourlife.• Weshouldbeencouragedtowanttonurtureyouthroughyourstrugglesandhighs.Thisisa

two-wayjourneyandbothyouandtheUniversitymustbepreparedtonegotiatealongtheway.Thisisalwaysseensomuchmoreinperformancesubjectswheretheconnectionsanddreamshavetoberecognisedinaverypositiveandyetlearningenvironment.

• Itisunderstoodthatwearehinderedbyarecentdevelopmentwithineducationwhereeveryoneseekspraiseforthenorm.Ifyouwereanathletethefactthatyouwereintrainingmeansthatyouaregood.Whydoyouwanttohear‘welldone!’whenyouneedtotakehalfasecondoffyourrunningtimeoraddanextrainchtoyourjump.Whyisitnotthesameintermsofperformanceandtechnicalandcreativeability?

• Howtogetthereisimportantandthatjourneyneedsstrengthanddetermination.Toconstantlyseekpraiseisanegativeandinhibitingfactortopersonaldevelopment.

• Youshouldalwaysaskwhytheuniversitywantsyouasmuchasyouwanttostudywiththem.Theauditionpaneloftenaskwhatisitabouttheauditioneethatwelike,wanttoworkwith,educateandencouragetowardstheirlifecareer.

• Fromeveryadversitycomesanopportunitytorefocusandre-engagewiththefuture.• Realiseyourpotentialandadmireyourselfforwhatyouhaveachievedratherthanregret

whathashappened.• Rememberno-onefailedyou–youweretotallyincontrolofthesituation

(audition/interview)andsoyouhavetoremainincontrolofthesituation.• Haveaplanforwhatevereventualityinlife.Neverbetakenbysurprise.• Thedevisingofaplanofactiontoachieveagoalisanexcitingprojectandyoushouldrelish

itwithenthusiasmandjoynotsadnessandregret!• Basicallytosucceedinaninterviewyouneedtogivethepanelwhattheywant!Doyou

understandwhatthatis?• Donotbesurprisedtorealisethatauniversity/collegemightwantyou.Youstartwithfull

marksfromthestartoftheaudition/interview.• Atallpointsoftheadmissionprocessyouneedtohaveattractivequalities,charmand

charisma.• Behonestandrealiseyourweaknessesandstrengthsandbeabletoanalysewhathappened

toresultinthisspecificaudition/interview.• Whyareyouthere?Theywanttohelpyou–letthemdotheirjob.Bepositive!• Youneedtocommunicateasoulandpersonalitytoyouraudience.Beaperformeratthis

pointandenjoytheplatform.Wanttobethereandnotashamed.• Nobodyisscoringpoints.• Avoid‘Xfactor’language,‘Ithasalwaysbeenmydream/passiontobestudyingthissubject’,

beabletotalkaboutthejourneyandhowyougottothatpoint.Avoidsuchwordsas‘like’,‘passion’and‘love’.Findalternatives.Bedirectinyourlanguage.


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POINTSTOTHINKABOUTWHENPREPARINGFORANAUDITION• Knowyoursubjectandreasonsforchoosingthecourse.• Haveatleasttwoorthree16barsongs(musicaltheatre),halfup-tempo/halfballad• Knowtheentiresong• Knowtheshow,thecharacter,thesituation,andtrytowatchorreadtheshow• Knowtheplayyourmonologueisfrom• Knowwhoyouaretalkingto,whatyouwant,whatisinyourway,andwhatyouaredoingto

getwhatyouwant• Ifyoutakethemonologueorsongoutofcontext,beabletoalsodoitincontext• Workwithanaccompanistwhoisn’tyourregularaccompanist• Doyourmonologueandsongsinasmanydifferentrooms/situationsaspossible• Haveatapeofyourauditionpiecesincaseyougetsick• Practicedoingitdifferentways• Bepreparedtotakedirection• Whatisyourtype?• Dressyourtypeandpicksongsandmonologuesthatfityourtype• Wearsomethingyouarecomfortablein,thatfitsyourrepertoireandauditionmaterial,and

isrepresentativeoftheREALyou• Avoidlogosonallclothing• Whatthepanelwanttoknowiswhatyouwouldwanttoknowifyouwereinterviewing

them.THEAUDITIONITSELF

• Alwaysbeoriginalandunique• Whatmakesyoudifferenttoeveryoneelse?Findoutbeforeyougointothe

audition/interview.Thinkaboutthiscarefully.Askotherpeoplewhattheyseeinyou.Fivepeoplefriends,familyetc.

• Postureisimportant–bealertandalivewhenseated.Beopen–don’tcloseoffwithbodylanguage.Communicatewithyoureyesandbeattractiveandcharming.

• Senseofindividuality.Whatmakesyouthispersonandwhy?Backgroundfamilyfriends-expressyourexperienceandskill.

• Reliabilityandprecision.Attentiveness,prepared,knowledgeofthesubjectbeingauditioned/interviewedfor.

• Geteverythingfromtheseexperiencestoincreaseyourawarenessoftheindustryyouareenteringandyourownplacewithinthatareaofstudy.

• Don’ttrytoimpressandbesmart• Bearealpersonwithgenuineemotionsandreactions• Lookthepanelintheeyeswhenyoutalktothemandbehappy• Iftheydon’tlikeyou,youhaveclearlycommunicatedtothepanelthatyoudon’twanttobe

there• Beamazingandcharming• Youarenervousaboutgettingin,we’renervousaboutgettingouridealclass• Wewanttohavefunworkingwithyousowearelookingforinteresting,intelligentpeople• Whenyouwalkin,wehopeyouareIT!• Itstartsfromtheminuteyouleavehometogototheaudition• Thisisyourtimetoshine• Smile• Havefun


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ALWAYSHAVEAQUESTIONTOASK• Whatdoyoudotohelpyourstudentsfindwork?• Howmanyofyourrecentalumniareinamajorcitystillpursuingprofessionaltheatre?• Whatisthealumninetworklike?• Whatisthestrongestelementofthecourse?• Whatperformingopportunitiesarethereinadditiontothemainstageshows?• Aretherestudentprojects?

AFTERTHEAUDITION

• Donotwriteendlessquestiontotheadmissionsteamaboutfactsthatyoushouldhavesortedoutwhenintheaudition–admissions,workshops,staffing,faculty,departmenthead,etc.

• Makesureyougatherallpre-courseinformationbeforeleavingtheaudition• Inpreparationforotherauditionsworkoutwhyyouwere,orwerenotsuccessful:

♦ Whatdidyouwear?♦ Whatdidyoustartwith?♦ Didtheyaskforanythingdifferent?♦ Whatwereyourfirst/finalimpressions?♦ Whatdidyoulove/hate?♦ Whatistheoverallvibeoftheinstitution?

• If yougetotheroffers, followupwith the conservatoires anduniversities youare stillwaitingtohearfrom.

FinalProductionofWORKING,2011-ourfirstgraduatingyear.


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Whatstudentssayaboutourcourse…

Followtheserecentgraduatesandtheirprofilesbyctrl+clickonthesetwositeshttp://www.uwl.ac.uk/academic-schools/music/lcm-alumni

http://www.uwl.ac.uk/academic-schools/music/lcm-alumni/musical-theatre-jobs-and-placements

Classof2011FormethiscareerpathwouldnothavebeenpossiblewithoutthetrainingIreceivedatTheLondonCollegeofMusic.Ilearntagreatdealaboutpractitionersandvariousgenresoftheatrewhichhavehelpedmetocreateanddeliverlessonswithagreatdealofknowledgeandunderstanding.

StephanieNowellThiscoursereallypreparedmefortherealworldinallaspects....auditioning,rehearsing,performingandgeneraletiquetteintherehearsalroom.Thestandardofteachingisfantasticandyouareverymuchencouragedtoshineinyourownway.Youaretaughtuniqueskillswhichgainsuccessfulresults,andtheseskillswillstaywithyouforever.IlovedmytimeatLCMandwillalwaysbethankfulforthesupportandtrainingreceived,withoutthatIprobablywouldn'tbeasequippedasIamorevenwhereIam.

ZoeMurphyClassof2012Thedegreecoursedefinedformethefundamentaldisciplinesofactingwithinthefieldofmusicaltheatre.Amostexcitingandinnovativethreeyearsofstudy

Marcel.J.WhyteThehonestandtruthfulnatureoftheMusicalTheatrecourseatLondonCollegeofMusicisgoingtotakestudentsfar.YoucanalwaysspotLondonCollegeofMusicperformerfromthecrowdfortheirgenuinenatureandtruthfulandfearlessperformance.

MariaPalmuMythreeyearsatLCMwherethebestthreeyearsofmylifeandIamtrulygratefulforallIlearntandtheperformanceopportunitiesgained.

DanielleSpencerHaveagreattimestudyingyourartatLCM.MyfirstjobasthetitleroleinanewmusicalHATCH!Requiredmanyoftheskillstaughtonthecourseespeciallythephysicaltheatretechniquesessentialformyrole.Rejoiceandbatheinthegloryofothers..........Itwillbeyourturnsoon!

ReaCampbell


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Classof2013Iamthoroughlyimpressedbyhowmuchthecoursehasprogressedoverthepast3years.Thequalityofteachingisoutstandingandthelecturersareenthusiasticandencouraging…

ThomasYoungI'msogladthatIchoseLondonCollegeofMusicasthetrainingisofahighstandardwithallstaffworkingprofessionallyintheindustry.Ihavecomeonamassivejourneyandstillamlearningevery-day.Iwoulddefinitelyrecommendthiscourse'

AndrewDonnellStudyingMusicalTheatreatLCMhasbeenagreatadventuresofar.Myfirsttwoyearsoftrainingwerefullofnewexperiencesandskilldevelopment,throughwhichIhaveachievedagreatersenseofself-awarenessandhavegrownasaperformer.

MaireenHayesIhavealwaysfeltasthoughIhaveconstantlybeengiventhesupportandguidanceneededtofullypreparemyselfforenteringtheindustryasaprofessionalinMusicalTheatreperformance.Everystaffmemberallowstheirstudentstograsptheirownindividualtakeontheirlearning,anddevelopatthepacetheyneedto,toreachtheirfullpotential.Ifeelasthoughmytutorshavealmostworkedasateamwithme,toallowtheweakerareasofmytechniquetodevelopastheyneedtoo,withoutpressure.Onecangetoutasmuchastheyputinandmore;iftheeffortisgiven,theproductwillbepositiveandbeneficial.

DanielBoydenClassof2014Threewordstodescribemyuniversityexperience:Anincrediblejourney.IfeelIhavegainedskillsfortheindustryandabundleoffriendsatthesametime.

AbigailPoultonLCMhelpedmetodevelop,notonlyasaperformerbutasapersonandhelpedmediscovernewskillsthatIwillcherishandusefortherestofmylife.

JoshuaYeardleyBeingapartofLCMhelpedmetopushmyselfinordertobecomeabetterperformer,strengtheningmyweakersidesofperformanceandimprovingonmybestbits!

RebeccaMackettDuringmytimeatLCM,Igottheopportunitytolearnnewskillsandputthemintopractise.Havinggraduatedayearago,Istillfeellikemytraininghasstoodmeingoodstead-notonlyintheindustrybutalsoindaytodaylife.LCMgavememanylifeskillsandtheopportunitytoconnectwithpeoplewhoIknowwillbeinmylifeformanyyearstocome.

JennyMaycroftStudyingatLCMgavemealltherelevanttoolsnecessaryforworkingintheindustry.Italsoenabledmetomeetsomegreatworkingprofessionals,inspiringtutorsandabrilliantbunchofactorsIwasabletoworkwithforthreeyears.

LauraFrancesWilliams Igainedtheintelligencetobepro-activeandworkindependentlytonevermissanopportunityand


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gettothenextstep!AnthonyTerenceHughes

IhavefoundtheMusicalTheatrecoursetobeveryexciting!I'vereallydevelopedasanactorandsinger…andI'malwaysencouragedtoreachmyfullpotential.IfeelthatstudentsandteacherswithintheLondonCollegeofMusicworktogethertoachieveexcellentstandardsofwork.'

JasmineMackmanThestaffatLondonCollegeofMusicareallhighachieversintheirfields,whichmakesmefeelreallyconfidentthatI'mbeingtaught‘stuff’thatworks."Thosewhocan'tdoteach"hasnoplaceatLCM.

JackCassidy

TheMusicalTheatrecourseatLCMhasgreatlyimprovedmyconfidenceasapersonandIcannowdothingsIneverthoughtIwouldbeabletodowhenstartingthecourse.Thetutorsarefriendlyandprofessionalwhilststillcaringabouteachindividualstudent,strivingtohelpthemimproveineverywaypossible.

KathrynKitchener

Studentsalsosay…NotonlyistheMusicalTheatrecoursefurtherenhancingmytechnique,butitisprovingtomeeverydaythatIamevolvingpersonallyintermsofperformanceandmaturity.Thecoursestoodoutformebecause of the vocational, hands-on training that it offers and the dynamic mix of theory andpractice; the theory is challenging, and it is evident how it informs you for the practice youundertake.Thehugeamountofteachingtalentisawe-inspiringandthetutor-studentrelationshipissuperb;Ihaven’toncehesitatedtoseekadviceorguidance.IamonlyamonthintomytrainingandalreadyIcanseethatthesenextthreeyearsaregoingtheextramileinhelpingmetoachievethedemandsofthisindustry.

JeffParlettStudying at London College of Music has already had a considerable impact on my approach tolearning,particularlyonhowtopreparesongmaterial.Sofar,Ihavehadalotoffunonthecourseandhavehad thepleasureofworkingwithfantasticpeopleaswell ashighlyexperiencedteachingstaff.IamlookingforwardtothenextthreeyearsofmystudyhereatLCM.

HollyDickson

TheMusicalTheatrecourseoffersarealinsighttotheworldofperformanceandjusthowstrongaperformer you need to be to succeed. The focus that London College of Music places ondevelopment,improvementandself-discoveryissecondtononeandevenafterbeingonthecoursefor a short period of time, the benefits are indescribable!................The course is informative,inspiringandmostofallridiculouslyentertainingandrewarding…….

LukeBennettIfyouapplyfortheBAHonsMusicalTheatredegreeatLCM,youareguaranteedtohavemadetherightchoice.IknowthatIbelongonthiscourseandeventhoughI'veonlybeenstudyingitforafewweeks I already feel like I'mon theway toa successful future……….The staff look forperformerswhotheyfeeltheycanhelpandworkwithtoenablethemtobecomeanIndividualwithsomethingtooffertheindustry……….


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RecentGraduatessay…IaminmyfinalyearatLCMandIhavelearntagreatdealfromthehighlyexperiencedstaffwehavebeen fortunate to work and study with. The environment is friendly, positive with students whowant to do well and tutors who are there to support your every need. With the wide range ofcourses includingmusical theatre, acting,music tech, theatreproductionandmusicmanagement,this gives an opportunity to network, learn from one another and collaborate in any way couldimagine!Itreallyiswhatyoumakeofyourtimeherewithsomanyopportunitiesatyourfingertips.Loadsofstudentsocieties,extra-curricularopportunitiesandawiderangeofextraclassestaughtbyhighlyskilledstaffallmakeLCMawonderfulplacetostudy.

OliviaRoebuckI'vefoundthatstudyingatLondonCollegeofMusicislikebeingapartofaverysupportivenetwork.Alltutorsareonhandtohelp,assistandinspireyoutobeyourbestonadailybasis.Studentsinallyearsaregiventheopportunitytoworktogetherandshareknowledge.It'sverydifficultto"sufferinsilence"herepurelybecauseofthecaringnaturefromeveryoneatLCM."

JessicaPeagram

LondonCollegeofMusichasbeenanessentialplatformformetocreateasuccessfulpathintotheindustry.The intensepassion and drive that the Musical Theatre and Actingstaffhave at LCM isnothingbutinfectiousinspiringustofindourownpathtobewellrounded,disciplinedanduniqueperformers. The many opportunities of working with industry professionals within the field ofmusicaltheatre,hasbeenoneofthemanyrewardingexperiencesduringmytrainingandeducationatLCM.

KianJozeZomorodianI'vehadawonderfultimeatLondonCollegeofMusicduringmythreeyearsofstudy.Acoursethatofferstrainingfortheactor-singerandyetIfeelIamgraduatingwithawealthofknowledgeoverallthreedisciplines.IamequippedwithtoolsthatIneedtoenjoyaprosperousandlengthycareerinmusicaltheatre.Thetraininghasgivenmetheopportunitytoworkwithinspiringtutorswhohaveor are currently working in the business plus enabling me to understand the importance ofprofessionalbehaviourandexpectationsofthebusiness.

AmyEdwards


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StudentSuccesses-casestudies,events,awards,achievements,notableAlumni

It is important tonote thatwearestillaveryyoungcoursewithour firstgraduates finishingtheirstudiesin2010.Intheshorttimethatwehavehadtoestablishthecoursewearecertainlyproudofourstudentachievementsandartisticendeavourswithintheprofessionandartseducation.2010-2011

• Several graduates gained places in professional UK musical theatre companies, contractswithCruiselinersandonegraduateiscurrentlyworkinginUSAasaleadingcabaretsinger.

• HannahWickens–EuropeanTourofGuysandDolls• Other graduates gained places in schools and are either teaching or currently following a

PGCEinEducation• Two students are currently studying at Masters Level in aspects of Music Industry –

UniversityofBuckingham• Graduates have been involved in professional productions in prestigious off West End

theatre venues e.g. Landor, Cockpit, The Union Theatre, Ealing Arts Centre, etc., sinceleavinginJuly.

• OnestudenthasalreadymadetwofilmsoneonlocationinEuropeandiscurrentlyinvolvedinamusicaltobeperformedattheCockpitTheatre,London.

• Other students have gained entry to teaching institutions and are following a PGCEqualification.

• Additional students are involved with teaching several strands of the musical theatredisciplinesuchasvoice,danceandchoreography,singingetc.,inavarietyofinstitutions.

2011-12ThisacademicyearsawthedevelopmentofnewwritingandresultedinapublicperformancegivenbytherecentgraduatesatLevel6aspartoftheirprofessionalproductionwork.Thishasnowbeenrevisedandrewrittenandiscurrentlyinrehearsal(September2012)foraperformanceataFestivalinItaly.ThisproductionissoontobepublishedasShakeitDownunderthecareofthepublishinghouseNickHernBooks.SincegraduatinginJune2012twostudentshavegainedfilmcontractsandarecurrentlyworkinginoffWestEndtheatreproductions.Graduateshavealsobeencastinvariousmusicalsatavarietyoftheatricalvenues.

• OthergraduateshavebeeninvolvedinprofessionalproductionsinprestigiousoffWestEndtheatrevenuessinceleavinginJuly.

• ReaCampbellwentstraightintoplayingthetitleroleinanewmusicalentitledHATCH!AdventuresoftheUglyDuckatBelfast'snewestartsvenuetheMAC.

• TwograduatesThomasRedgraveandKatiePerrinarecurrentlyperforming inaEuropeantouringcompanyfor6monthsinanewmusicalbaseduponHamlet.

• Severalofourgraduatescelebrated their finalmonthsof trainingbygoingon tour in ItalywithamusicalentitledShakeitDownproducedandfinancedbyLondonCollegeofMusic.

• Other students have gained entry to teaching institutions and are following a PGCEqualification.


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• Students have gone, or are going to take up postgraduate studies at prestigiousperformanceconservatoiresRADA,LondonCollegeofMusic,DramaCentreandMountview.

• Additional students are involved with teaching several strands of the musical theatredisciplinesuchasvoice,danceandchoreography,singingetc.,inavarietyofinstitutions.

• Maria Palmu recently appeared in the production House of Atreus performed by thecompanyTheatreLibreatWaterlooEastTheatre.

• http://www.waterlooeast.co.uk/house%20of%20atreus.html• SamanthaUrryisdevelopingacabaretcompanySUPERCALIFRAGILISTIC• CharlieCourtisworkinginItalyforSmileTheatreCompany• Jennifer o' Keeffe is performing in a new musical The Perfect City based on the life of

WilliamPenn the founderofPhiladelphia in the17thcentury. Etcetera Theatre,Camden.OpensMarch17th2013.http://www.theperfectcity.co.uk/

• JoeWhyte,followingtwosuccessfulshortfilmsandsomeactingworkhasjustlandedtheroleofSimbaintheWestEndmusical'TheLionKing'within8monthsofgraduatinginMusicalTheatre.MarcelJ.WhytehasappearedinHairspray,RegentTheatre,StokeonTrent,andhascurrentlylandedtheleadroleinthemusicalMotown,WestEnd

• Marta Line since returning to Riga has performed in twomusicals and a children’s showwhilstalsoworkingon local radio. Shehasdevelopedhercareerand is currentlyworkingwithatheatrecompanyinaproductiontobepresentedinOctober2013.FollowingthisshewillbeworkingwithanationalmusicaldirectoropeninginaproductioninDecember2103inRiga. Shehasalsobeencast inRemarque'sArch of Triumph. It ishoped that in2014Marta will be cast in a role leading to performances with the national Theatre of Latvia.Whilst completing all this fantastic work she is engaged in study for aMA at the LatvianAcademyofCreativeStudies

• Rachel Lochheadhas securedher firstpaidcontractand is currently touring for6monthstheUKandIrelandplayingWendyinPeterPan.

• Thomas Redgrave wins Britain’s Got Talent 2014 as part of musical theatre boybandCollabro

Since 2011 our Level 4 students have been involved in two collaborative projects withintergenerational dance/theatre company SpiralArts. The first project The Lake based on theArthurian legend 'TheLadyof theLake'wasperformedat theCockpitTheatre in LondonandTheStudioTheatreatReadingCollege.


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2012-2013Continued a tradition of new writing with a world premiere of a musical based upon the life ofShakespeareentitledQuill. LondonCollegeofMusic is intendingto (i)provide fundstocover theproduction costs and music arrangements, and (ii) to workshop the musicalQuill [Book by DenStevenson;MusicandLyricsbyFergusO’Reilly].LondonCollegeofMusicpresentedthisworkasaPremiereperformanceattheWatermansTheatre,Brentford,LondonintheearlypartofJanuary2013.Previewstookplaceon10th–12thJanuary2013and further performances continued with the premiere performance on the 23rd January andfinishedonthe26thJanuary2013.

• Six recent graduates of BA (Hons) Musical Theatre have been invited to work on a newmusicaladaptationofTessofthed'UrbervillesatLondon'snewesttheatre[ParkTheatre]aspartofitsinauguralScriptAcceleratorprogramme:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-22336867http://parktheatre.co.uk/whats-on/script-accelerator

“Ithoughttheperformersweregreat-theyworkedwellonthePark200space-hadagoodunderstandingofwhatthespaceneedsperformanceandprojectionwise-astoooftenanunder-accomplishedperformerhasthetendencytooverselltheirperformanceinasmallspace-thinkingtheyneedtopushittoomuch.Ifelttheyhadgoodstagecraftandstagepresenceandenjoyedtheirwork.” MelliBond,CreativeDirector,ParkTheatreThiswillbethefirstpieceofmusicaltheatretobestagedatthisvenuewithLCMgraduatesplayingacentralroleinshapingthepieceforfullproduction.

• AndrewDonnellongraduationgainedafulltimecontractasEntertainmentHostonwiththeRoyalCaribbeanline.HeiscurrentlyworkingatDisneyland,Paris

• KristalWatkinsiscurrentlytouringinaone-womanshowforSGProductions• MaxPanksongraduationplayedCharingCrossTheatrewithnewmusicalLostBoy.Other

rolesfollowedandiscurrentlyperforminginthemusicalLoservilleattheUnionTheatre• Daniel Boyden toured Italy with Grease and is currently lead vocalist (cruise) with Live

Business&WorldCruisewithRoyalCaribbean• SamanthaUrryisdevelopingbuttercupsandtheyhavejustdoneaneventinParis.• AbiPoulton,AbbieButcherandTanyaLewisaredoingaChristmasshowatKewGardens.• SeveralgraduatesontourwithvariousshowsandTIEprojectsandappearatoffWestEnd

venuessuchasWhiteBearTheatreandFinboroughTheatre.• AnnieHarrisproducesshowsacrossLondonandatEdinburghfestival• AnyaHamiltonplayedCatherineMorelandinregional tourofNorthangerAbbeywithDOT

ProductionsandhasrecentlyappearedinthemusicalJonandJenatEtceteraTheatrewithherbrotherZackHamiltonwhoalsodirectedtheshow.


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At Levels 4 and 5 we continue to support students’ involvement with external bodies and mostrecentlyhavehadartisticsuccessintheshowcaseofamusicalentitledTessofthed’UrbervillesforMercuryMusicalsattheUnionTheatre,London.SpiralArtsandEalingArtsCentreandmanyotheractivitiesincludingtheOlympicGamesopeningandclosingfestivities.FollowingthesuccessofSpiralArtsandtheirpreviouscollaborativeworkwithstudentsandstaffatUWLandGuildhall SchoolofMusic andDrama thenext collaborationentitledTheMountainwasperformedatOpenEalingArtsCentreaspartoftheLondon2012BigDanceProject.Inbothprojectsthe students took an active role by exploring, researching and creating original music andchoreography,which enabled them todevelop andperform their ownworkwithin a professionalenvironment.SpiralArtshaverecentlycompletedanothersuccessfulperformanceencouragingstaffandstudentstobeinvolved.Pleaseseelinkbelow:http://www.zen25626.zen.co.uk/spiralarts-desert/We have started plans to establish an acting agency and a web-site for graduates in order thataccess into the fieldofperformance isencouragedandsupported.This isan innovativemoveandmakes our course distinctive in the fact that it firstly trains the actor-singer and then provides avehicleforworkfollowinggraduation.This year four of themusical theatre students gained specialmention in the LCMAndrew LloydWebberMusical Theatre Prize plus the additional honour ofwinning the competition. They alsogavetheinauguralconcertinthefirstweekoftermtothenewstudents.2013-2014

• SeveralgraduatesplayinnewmusicalGrimatRoseTheatreKingston.• AndrewBinnstransferswiththesametoCharingCrossTheatre• JackBishopappearsinBouncersatLeicesterSquareTheatre• AndrewBowermanongraduationperformedinThePiedPiperatTheYardTheatre• ElsieFallonisanassistantagentwithMacfarlaneChard• Graduates accepted for postgraduate study at Royal Academy of Music, Mountview and

LeedsCollegeofMusicamongstothers• DavidBulleylauncheshisalbumandreaches17intheiTunescharts.Currentlyontourwith

JackCassidyandRobertOliver.SingersongwriterwithonlinereleasesasReverbnation• KathrynKitchenerwinsAndrewLloydWebbermusicaltheatreprize• BrettDavisreceivesinauguralBillKenwrightaward.Currentlyhopingtoentertheteaching

profession• AnthonyHughesandClaireHutchinsonperformWestEndnewwritingcabaretwithSimon

Grieff• JackCassidyhiredasmusician/entertaineraboardCaribbeancruiseline.• RebeccaMackett andDavid Rhymer devise and perform their own show for the London

TheatreWorkshop• AndreasAngelisappearsinanupdatedversionofAnimalFarm:****(fourstars)

‘AndreasAngelisishorriblyfunnyasSmoothy,DaddyLove'srepresentativeonearth.“HeroesoftheRevolution,Isaluteyou!”hedeclaresraisinghishipflaskandpromptlykeelingoverdrunkonofficiallyunrevolutionarybooze.Highlyrecommended.’PaulTaylor,TheIndependent


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2013-2014Continued

• AnthonyHughes tours ItalyasNickPiazza inFame andsecuresdance role inaBollywoodfilm

• Charlie Jade Jones tours her one-woman show. Has now graduated from the RoyalAcademyofMusicandisappearinginThursfordChristmasSpectacular

• LiamLawlerholdapostwithproducersCameronMackintoshLtd• JamieLeakeofferedleadmalevocaliston6-monthcruise• DavidMurray&CarolineMawgantouringLondontheatresandschoolswithamusical

versionofTheSnowQueen.Currentlyperformedinthemusical‘Risen’andnowtouringinAladdin(pantomime)

• HannahSelbyHughesofferedteachingpostheadinganewmusicaltheatreBTECcourseinStockport

• JoshYeardleysecuresworkasasinger/dancerwithThompsonMajestycruiselinetouringtheCanaryIslands

• Jennifero'KeeffehasperformedinanewmusicalThePerfectCitybasedonthelifeofWilliamPennthefounderofPhiladelphiainthe17thcentury.EtceteraTheatre,Camden.

• RachelLochheadhasbeentouringfor6monthstheUKandIrelandplayingWendyinPeterPan.

• RobertWest,amongstotherroleshasappearedinIntotheWoodsattheOldeRoseandCrownTheatrePub.HanselinHanselandGretelandPhantasmagoriaattheNationalRailwayMuseum

• Various graduates engaged in modelling jobs, dance teaching, choreographing, teachertraining,eventswork

• InhouseeventsagencyW5ProductionsestablishedandhasalreadyledtothesuccessfulemploymentofmanyLCMstudentsandgraduatesinperformancework.

• Overhalfofthecohortleaveuniversitywithagencyrepresentation• AmyFleurvocalistatHongKongDisneyland• GeorgieJacksonreachedsemi-finalsofBritain’sGotTalentwithgirlgroupMisstasia

CurrentlyplayingPrincessJasmineinAladdininHounslow• AdamJacquesworkingwithatouringcompanyinSpain• BriannaOgunbaworecentlyplayedDaimlerinCrushthemusical(BelgradeTheatre,

Coventryandnationaltour)alongsideRosemaryAsheandcurrentlyplayingBookofMormon(WestEnd).

• AbigailPoultoniscurrentlyplayingWendyinPeterPanatStAlbansArenawithEvolutionPantos-starringalongsideJakeWood(Eastenders,StrictlyComeDancing).AppearedintheFonomusicvideo'RealJoy'&'Asda'sEasterCampaign'(advert).

• GeorginaRobertsiscurrentlyplayingCinderellapantomime(PyramidProductions)Londontour

• ShannonRobsonisleadvocalistandproductionperformeratParkResorts,CamarthenBay


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2014-2015

• LeahGolboldplayedtheroleofElfSugarPluminChristmasatKew2015• KieferBrysonplayedDavidinLastOrdersatTheBlueElephant,London• LorenzoinTwelfthNightatTheSpacetheatre• ZacHamiltonplayedPrinceHilarioninPrincessIdaattheFinboroughTheatredirectedby

PhilWilmottandappearedinnewmusicalTheWhiteFeatherattheUnionTheatre.CurrentlyappearinginPiafattheCharingCrossTheatre.RecentlydirectedandappearedinthemusicalJonandJenatEtceteraTheatrewithhissisterAnyaHamilton.

• CallumRhysGriffithsappearinginthePantoCompany'stouringproductionofSleepingBeauty,playingtheroleofGigglestheJester

• KieranHillperformerandvocalistwithP&OCruises• CaseyLloydplayingButtonsinCinderellaforThePantoBusCompany(UKTour)• JessicaAmyMullockperformerwithP&OCruises• JeffersonParlettplayingMerlininTheSwordandTheStonemusical–nationalTIEtourwith

ImageMusicalTheatre• ArianneSallisMerida(Vocalist)inTheStorybookTheatreatDisneylandHongKong.Dorothy

inLookingforOzwithTAGinassociationwithHavenHolidays(tour)• LukeShenton-SharpcurrentlytouringwithTheWaletones–mainstageatManchesterPride• SophieTownsappearinginSnowWhite(pantomime)atLincolnDrillHall• JeneferTrappinEuropeanTourofFlashdance• LorenWinwoodLucyinBullied(TIENationalTourwithTheActors’Company),JillinJackand

theBeanstalkatRopetackleArtsCentre,Shoreham-by-the-Sea.• MikeWoosterplayedBalthazarinTwelfthNightatTheSpacetheatreongraduation• MeganYatessingerwithCostaCruises• JoshWylieinTheatreandEducationTourofSouthAmerica

2015–2016ContinuingthesuccessoflastyeartwoofourfinalyearstudentsappearedinanoffWestEndproductionofStephenSondheim’sRoadShowplustwootherfinalgraduatesLeahHobartandEllieMcGrathappearedinChristmasatKew2015astheirfirstprofessionalengagement.Otherperformanceopportunitieshaveincluded:

• ComicRelief;• BBCident;• ‘X’Factoropeningcredits;plus• Britain’sGotTalent2016

• JessicaPegramWorkingforNCSandsignedwithYOUManagement.• AlexLongMcAteerWorkingforNCS,nowinrehearsalsforGodspellandtheCamdenFringe.• AmyEdwardsWorkingforNCSandsignedwithDWManagement.• MillieHobdayWorkingforPerformUK,joinedtheLondonCompanyofTheWalkingTheatre

Company,acostumedesignerfor'ThroughTheMill'attheSouthwarkPlayhouseandsignedwithYOUManagement.

• LeahHobartTeachingDrama• LauraJakeClarkPlayingBelleinBeautyandtheBestfromOctoberandsignedwithYOU

Management.• EricSmithSignedtoOxfordAdamsAssociates.


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• EllieMcGrathActorpromenadetheatreMadameTussaud'sLondon.• MattTraherSignedwithYOUManagement.• KianZomorodianSingerwithHeadlinersTheatreCompany/POCruisersandsignedwith

OxfordAdamsAssociates.• LydiaOrmeWorkingatPerformUKandsignedwithArtlenHouseAssociates.• LukeWardSignedwithYOUManagement.• KatieHardy-LaneWorkingforPerformUK.• MatthewSzaduraSignedwithCreativeBlastAgency.• OliviaRoebuckWorkingforPerformUKandsignedwithYOUManagement.• JessicaCrawleyWorkingforNCS.• CharlotteThompsonCompletedtrainingandwillbeworkingasaPrimarySchoolTeacherin

September.


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GraduateProduction2012COMPANY*byStephenSondheim

TheactorplayingRobert(JosephMarcelWhyte)intheaboveproductionofCompanyisnowappearingintheWestEndMusicalMotownwhichopensonFebruary16th,2016.

CompanyLondonCollegeofMusic,WatermansCentre,Brentford16-19May2012Whatyouexpectandwhatyougetwhenyougotothetheatreveryrarelymatches.Andmanyofthesurprises are not the sort of surprises you were necessarily looking for. I had to walk out of aRichmondTheatreproductionofaveryminorCoward,StarQuality,athalf-timerecentlyandaRoseTheatreproductionofMichaelFrayn’s.Herewasirritatingbeyondbelief.Whyreviveeitherofthem-they’rejustnotverygood.IexpectedCompanydirectedbyDavidHensonandperformedbyLondonCollegeofMusicgraduatestobewellsung-well,youwould,wouldn’tyou?-butyoudon’texpecttoseeaproductionofWestEnd quality in Brentford, an unlovely London suburb mostly famous for a very ordinary footballteam,andthatisexactlywhatwegot.BrilliantisnotawordIoveruse,infactIamusuallyahardmantoplease,buttheSondheimshowattheWatermansCentrewasclosetothatanditwouldnotover-eggingthepraisebysuggestingthatthreeorfourofthesetalentedandspiritedperformerswouldwalkintoaWestEndshowandnotletanybodydown.


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Ofcourse,theycouldallsingwhich isalwaysahelpbutCompanycanstillbeenjoyedevenwithacast thatactswellandsingsmoderately.Butmost lookedrightandactedrightaswell -wehadablackBobbyintheshapeofAdrianLesterlookalikeMarcelJWhyteandalthoughhemissedoneortwonotes,hewassolikeableweforgavehim.AndinQueenieJames,themostvacantairheadApriltherehaseverbeen,hehadsupportofthehighestorder.Their“Barcelona”wasahighspot inaneveningfullofhighspots.Not far behind the sexy Queenie came the ebullient pocket dynamo Jerica Nelson as “AnotherHundredPeople”MartaandRachelLochheadasahilarious“GettingMarriedToday”Amy.Iflifewasfair,thistriowillmakeittotheverytop.Butitisn’tveryoften,isit?Therewasmuchelsetoadmire.HayleyMarfleethastheabilitytodobiggerpartsthanSarahwhileBethanFoster’sJennyandViquiColmer’sKathymadebigimpressions.And if the fellerswereovershadowed itwasnotbymuch.ThereweresomegoodvoicesalthoughMaximillianTroyTyler lookedtooyoungandinsignificantfortheworld-weary“LadiesWhoLunch”Emma J Bateman. Some ageing make-up would have been appropriate in one or two cases andalthoughtheNewYorkaccentsweretop-class, therecouldhavesomethingabitmoreManhattanaboutthewaysomeofthemendressed.Otherwise,itwasclosetoperfectandcongratulationstomusicaldirectorGeorgeCarterandhisversatileorchestrawhonevermissedabeat.They called it an amateur production but there’s amateur and amateur, isn't there? Would-beprofessionalswithatalenttosellarenotthesameashousewivesandestateagentsjoiningthelocalamateurdramatic/operaticsocietyandputtingonafunshowchieflyfortheirownenjoyment,anditwouldnotbefairtocomparethem.WhatwecancomparetheUniversityofWestLondon’smusicarmwithislastautumn'sverylikeableproductionofFolliesbyRAMandgoodthoughthatwas;Ididnotseeanybodytherewithquitethesamestarpotential.Ajoyous,thrillingevening.Wouldthatmorecouldhaveseenit.

Sondheim–TheMagazine-June2012Number65page24JeremyChapman


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Productions2012-2013Quill[WorldPremiere]DirectorMarcUrquhart,MusicalDirectorGeorgeCarterWatermansTheatre,BrentfordPreviews10–12January,OpeningNight23rd,24–26January2013TheBeggar’sOperaDirectorMhairiGrealis,MusicalDirectorIanMacmillanWatermansTheatre,Brentford16–19January2013CloserThanEverDirectorDarylBranch,MusicalDirectorGeorgeCarterQuestorsStudioTheatre,Ealing20–23&27February–2March2013CabaretEvening-SondheimDirectorDavidHenson,MusicalDirectorGeorgeCarterUniversityofWestLondon3April2013TheWorldGoes‘Round-Directed/StagedbyAdrianGoodfellow,MusicalDirectorIanMacmillanWatermansTheatre,Brentford8-11May2013IntoTheWoods*DirectorDavidHenson,MusicalDirectorGeorgeCarterWatermansTheatre,Brentford15–18May2013*PleasereadreviewonoppositepageShowcase2013DirectorDavidHenson,MusicalDirectorGeorgeCarterCharingCrossTheatre,London12-13June2013


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IntoTheWoodsLondonCollegeofMusicatWatermansTheatre,BrentfordMay15-18FORthoseofusinorapproachingtheautumnofourlives,oneofthegreatjoysisrelishingandencouragingyoungtalent.Ifthereisapurposetolifeandreasonforit,itsurelyhastobetomaketheworldabetterplaceforthosewhocomeafterusandinourlittleworldofmusicaltheatrethereiseveryindicationthatstandardsofacting,singingandwritinggroweverstronger.Weold'unsalwaysfantasiseaboutthepastandlovetothinkthat"thingswerebetterinourday"butwehavetotaketheblinkersoff.AngelaLansburywassmashingasMrsLovettbutwassheasgoodastheCarolineO'ConnorwesawattheChateletortheImeldaStauntonwhobewitchedusatChichesterandtheAdelphi?Idoubtit.The12finalistswesawattheSondheimSocietyStudentPerformeroftheYearcompetitionattheGarrickpromptedMerrilyWeRollAlongstarJennaRussell,whocomperedtheshow,toenthusethatthefutureofmusicaltheatreandsong-writingwasin"verygoodhands".Andoncewehavealllearnedtospellandpronouncethenameofourexcitingwinner,TurloughConvery,itwon'tsurpriseanyonepresentifthatgiftedIrishmaneventuallybecomesaWestEndstar.Withhisbigstagepresenceandrareability,likepreviouswinnersKrisOlsenandAlexYoung,todredgeeverylastdropofhumourfromasong,hegoesintotheboxmarked'Special'.ButSSSSPOTY,forallitsgrowingreputationasoneofTHEspecialmusical-theatreoccasionsoftheyear,hasnoexclusivityontalentandonthesameeveningnotfarawayattheWatermanstheatreinBrentford,theenthusiasticandwonderfullywell-tutoredLondonCollegeofMusic,theartyarmoftheUniversityofWestLondon,weregettingtheirfinalcurtaincallafterasuccessfulfour-dayrunofSondheimandLapine'smesmericIntoTheWoods.HavingravedoverCompany,LCM'spreviousattemptatSondheimayearorsoearlier,Iwasexpectingplentyfromtheeveningandgotitinspades.Beingmoreateameffortthanavehicleforoutstandingindividualperformance,itwasdifficulttosaythatanyoneinthecastof17wasdefinitelydestinedforthetopbut,givenafairrollofthedice,MaxPanks,whoplayedthedualroleofCinderella'sPrinceandtheWolf,andtheoutrageouslyOTTMattCoppinsastheStewardandCinderella'sFather,willsurelycreatequiteastirwhentheygooutintothegreatwideworldandtrytomakealivingatthisgame.Panksandhisfellowprince,JonathanSpencer,hadtheladiesintheaudienceswooningandareready-madejuvenileleadsalthoughtheycouldmaybehavegotafewmorelaughsoutofthatrollickingmaleanthem'Agony',suchacleversongthatSondheimdecidedtoputitintwice.Alsocreatinggoodimpressionswerepretty-as-a-pictureHannahMassettasCindersandthesinewy,scaryAnyaHamiltonastheWitch.Anyahasavoice,knowshowtomakeuseofarmsandhands,andmadethemostofherbigsecond-actnumbers,'LastMidnight'and'Witch'sLament'.OtherswhocaughttheeyewereDanielBoydenasJackwhogaveusafine'GiantsinTheSky'andtheUglySisters,EmmaReeveandDanielleLincoln,whomilkedeverylaughoutofJamesLapine'sscriptandSondheim'swittylyrics.Itwasgoodtohearthe'OurLittleWorld'duetbetweentheWitchandRapunzelgivenanairingasthiswasomittedfromtheoriginalBroadwayproductionin1987andaddedatthePhoenixTheatreinLondonfouryearslater.Itdoesnotappearineveryversionthesedayswhichisapityasitisaterrificsong.MusicaldirectorGeorgeCarterlookedafterkeyboardshimselfwhileconductingasix-strongteamwithhisusualflairandDavidHenson,thedirector,hadclearlymadehiscastawareofeverydarknuanceinthiscomplexworkinwhich"becarefulwhatyouwishfor"turnsalivelyfairytaleintoacruellessonaboutcommunityresponsibilityandthestoriesour'ChildrenWillListen'toanddigestforlife.Alongeveningatthreehoursandafirstactthatoccasionallyflagged,butthisIntotheWoodsgotoutofthemlongbeforetheendforanotherresoundingLCMtriumph.

Sondheim–TheMagazine–May2013


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Productions2013-2014

TheBiographGirlDirectorStewartNicholls,MusicalDirectorRichardHealeyWatermansTheatre,Brentford,OpeningNightWednesday6thNovember2013SaladDaysDirectorStewartNicholls,MusicalDirectorGeorgeCarterWatermansTheatre,Brentford,OpeningNightThursday7thNovember2013BelAmi[worldpremiere]DirectedbyChrisLoveless,OrchestrationsAndrewSmith,MusicalDirectorGeorgeCarterWatermansTheatre,BrentfordPreviews5th-8thFebruary2014,CharingCrossTheatre,OpeningNightWednesday19thFebruary2014,CharingCrossTheatre,WorldPremiereThursday20thFebruary2014OhWhataLovelyWarDirectedbyMarcUrquhart,MusicalDirectorRichardLinkWatermansTheatre,Brentford,OpeningNightWednesday23rdApril2014MerrilyWeRollAlongDirectorSimonGrieff,MusicalDirectorGeorgeCarterWatermansTheatre,Brentford,OpeningNightWednesday30thApril2014OrdinaryDaysDirectorDavidHenson,MusicalDirectorEmanueleMollicaLawrenceHallTheatre,LondonCollegeofMusic/UniversityofWestLondon,Ealing,OpeningNightWednesday21stMay2014 Showcase2014DirectorDarylBranch,MusicalDirectorGeorgeCarterCharingCrossTheatre,London21-22ndMay2014


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Reviewsforproductions2014MerrilyWeRollAlonghasemergedoverthepasttwoyearsasalate-bloomingmasterpiecewithascorethatstandscomparisonwithany.MerrilyWeRollAlonganditsnew-foundfameencouragedthemusical-theatrewingoftheUniversityofWestLondontoaddittotheirgrowinglistofSondheimproductionswhichhasseenCompanyandIntotheWoodstackledwithgustoattheWatermansinrecentyears.

Withacastof20andaprofessionalbandof12,itdoesneedfirmhandsonthetillerandindirectorSimonGreiffandmusicaldirectorGeorgeCarteritcertainlygetsthem.Greiff,whoisverymuchinvolvedwithemergingtalentthroughhisworkwithMercuryMusicalDevelopmentsandhiscompanySimGProductions,stagestheshowbeautifullyanddrewsometerrificperformancesfromthestudents,whileCarter,aLondonCollegeofMusicregular,putstogetherawonderfullydisciplinedteam…Thetwohoursand40minutessimplyracedby...

Jeremy Chapman

CreatinganewmusicalsuchasBel-Amiisalwaysanambitiousprojectandthisworldpremiere,basedonthe1885novelbyFrenchauthorGuydeMaupassant,isazeitgeistytakeonthemediaestablishmentevenastoday'stabloidjournalistsareliningupinthedockfortheirpartinthephonehackingscandal.PerformedbystudentsatLondonCollegeofMusic,UniversityofWestLondon,theproductiondisplaysawealthofyoungtalentwhosingthehousedownthankstosuperbmusicandlyricsbyAlexLoveless,whoseemstouseanunusualmishmashof80ssynthandmodernpopashisreferencepoints.…catchymusic…thefabulouscastfinishinstyle.Thefinalverdict:thosewholovetheirmusicalswilldelightinsuchaninventiveadaptation…

Will Stone

Graduate2014ProductionofMerrilyWeRollAlong


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Productions2014-2015AlfieDirectorDavidHenson,MusicalDirectorMattRamplinLawrenceHallTheatre,LondonCollegeofMusic/UniversityofWestLondon,EalingOpeningNightWednesday19thNovember2014JustSoDirectorJudithParis,MusicalDirectorRichardLinkWatermansTheatre,Brentford,OpeningNightWednesday26thNovember2014ScratchFestival-DevisedProductionsandNewWritingShowcaseLawrenceHallTheatre,LondonCollegeofMusic/UniversityofWestLondon,EalingOpeningNightWednesday18thFebruary2015SpellingBeeDirectorAndrewMiller,MusicalTheatreEmanueleMollicaWatermansTheatre,Brentford,OpeningNightWednesday22ndApril2015SaturdayNightDirectorGrahamHubbard,MusicalDirectorDanSmithWatermansTheatre,Brentford,OpeningNightWednesday29thApril2015SpringAwakeningDirectorDarylBranch,MusicalDirectorMattRamplinLawrencehallTheatre,LondonCollegeofMusic/UniversityofWestLondon,EalingOpeningNightWednesday6thMay2015Showcase2015DirectorDarylBranch,MusicalDirectorRichardLinkLeicesterSquareTheatre,London,26–27thMay2015


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ReviewsforproductionsNovember2014

ALFIEbyEdenPhillipsandJohnCameron

AlfietheMusicalisperformedbyLondonCollegeofMusicBAMusicalTheatrethird-yearstudentsattheUniversityofWestLondon,Ealinguntil22November.ThemusicalversionofoneofthelandmarkfilmsoftheswingingsixtieshasbeengivenafairfewtweakssincelastseenatWatford’sPalaceTheatrenineyearsagowhenDarrenDayplayedtherolethatmadeMichaelCaineastar.Thatproductionmetwithamixedreceptionbutit’shardtothinkwhybecauseEdenPhillips’bookandwittylyrics(fromBillNaughton’sracy-for-its-timenovel)andJohnCameron’scatchymusicprovide,inthisreincarnation,acrackingeveningfulloftunefulballadsandlivelyensemblenumbersthatwouldnotlookoutofplaceintheWestEnd(andbeadistinctimprovementonDance’TilDawn).DirectorDavidHensonsetstheperiodimmediatelywithkeyvoicesfromthetimeandaback-screenmontage–theBeatlesandStones,KennethWolstenholme’sunforgettablewordswhenEnglandwontheWorldCup(“theythinkit’sallover…itisnow”),HenryCooper’sbigmomentagainstCassiusClay,theProfumoscandal,Twiggy,RaviShankar,HaroldWilson’sdevaluationspeech,theassassinationofPresidentKennedy.MakinghaythroughallofthisisAlfieElkins(playedbyKieferBryson),aJack-the-ladchauffeurwithayouthfulbravadoanduncheckedsexualswaggerwhobedsasmanywomenashecanlayhishandsonwithnofeelingforthem,anddamntheconsequences.Butwhatstartsasacomedyturnsintoadarktaleofabortions,shatteredlivesandarichlydeservedcome-uppanceasthemistreatedwomenbiteback,spittingoutthenow-slightly-paunchyLotharioasyesterday’sman.There’sahugeamountoftalentinthisLondonCollegeofMusiccompanywiththeterrificvoiceandactingskillsofArianeSallis,asGilda,thesweet-natured,put-upongirlfriendwithwhomAlfiehasachildbutcan’thandletheresponsibility,standingout.Itwouldbeapleasuretoseeandhearheragain.LeahGodbold,asAnniethegirlfromBarnsleyhestealsfromhisbestmatewhofattenshimupwithtoomuchpieandTLC,isalsoimpressive,JessicaAmyMullockhasastrong,likeablevoiceasSiddie,LaraTipperplayedRubywithauthorityasthemorematuremarriedwomanwhoeventuallytossesAlfieasideforafitter,youngermodel(CraigKennethSmithwithanenviablesix-pack),andSophieTownstearstheheartstringswithhersolo‘Easy’.AsLily,thewheelchair-boundHarry’swifewhofallspreytoAlfie’sdubiouscharms,Townssuperblyinvokesthathauntingscenefromthe1966filmwhenthestruck-offbackstreetdoctor,memorablyplayedbyDenholmElliott,abortsVivienMerchant’sunwantedbabyandAlfie,seeingthebloodyfoetus,cracks,finallyrealisingit’stimetogrowupandthatlifeisreal,lifeisearnest.Butexcellentasthisquartetofgirlsare,andmostofthesupportingcast–theChelseaGirlsincowgirloutfitsasightforsoreeyes(greatchoreographybyEmmaEvansandcostumesbyMikeLeopold)–thestorytrulyworkswithAlfie[…]anirresistible,love-’em-and-leave’-em,never-look-backcheekychappiewhocancharmallmannerofbirdsoffthetreesandintohisbed…Still,thisisamostappealingshow,welluptothestandardofMerrilyWeRollAlong(performedinMaybylastyear’sthird-yearstudents),withsomesmashingsongslike‘YourTurnNow’,‘ICallItLove’,‘IntheDrivingSeat’and‘LookatYou’thatdeservetobebetterknown.Infact,thereisn’tadudamongthe28wellplayedbyabandoffiveundermusicaldirectorMattRamplinandIwouldcheerfullygoagaintomorrow.

MusicalTheatreReview


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JustSobyStilesandDreweThisearlyStilesandDrewemusical,acontemporarytakeonRudyardKipling’smuch-lovedJustSostories,broughtthebestoutofaparticularlylikeablebunchofstudentsfromthemusicaltheatrearmoftheUniversityofWestLondon,justasthesameyear’sAlfietheMusical,withanentirelydifferentcast,didthepreviousweekinEaling.Firstwrittenin1984andmuchrevisedsince,JustSohasbeenalong-standingsuccessonbothsidesofthepondfortheteamthathasgoneontogiveusBettyBlueEyesandSohoCinders.ItfollowsthejourneyoftheElephant’sChild(KevinFagan,makingthemostofhisbestActIIsolo(DoestheMomentEverCome?’)andhisfear-of-flyingcompanion,theKolokoloBird(thedaintyGeorginaLouiseJackson,withadeep,clearvoiceandterrificpoise).TheyareguidedandwatchedoverbytheEldestMagician(MikeyWooster,confidentfromtheoutset),whoactsasnarrator.Hetakesthemthroughmanyadventureswithsomeweirdandwonderfulcreatures,aquestthattakesthemtothebanksofthegreat,grey-greenLimpopoRiverandadangerousencounterwithJackFurssedonn-CoatesasagreedyCrocodile.Althoughintendedforchildren,thehumanismandmoralreasoningoftheyarnsgivethemuniversalappealinthischarming,gentlyhumorouspiecedirectedwithpaceandstylebyJudithParis.Shecertainlygoteverythingoutofhercastinwhich,apartfromthosealreadymentioned,JustynHuntley,asanextravagantlyeffeminateLeopard,andNaomiEllen,bangonwiththeaccentastheParseeCook,particularlyimpressed.Nobodywaslessthangoodandsomewereverygoodindeed,asweretheAlfiecast.Thereseemstobegreaterstrength-in-depthamongthisyear’scropofstudents.BennyBrightmadeafair-dinkumKangaroo,CallumRhysGriffithsaveryWelshmalfunctioningCookingStove,asortofAgaKhan’t(sorryaboutthatone),ZakHamdiaaforcefulEastEndRhinoandbouncyCeiriosAnnDavies’ZebramadeadelightfuldoubleactwiththetallerMeganYates’Giraffe.Costumes(MikeLeopold)andchoreography(MarciaCarr)weretop-notchandthebandofthreeunderthemusicaldirectorRichardLinkgavestrongback-upinashowthathadthreeorfoursplendidsongs.‘DoestheMomentEverCome?’hasalreadybeenpraised;‘TheParseeCakeCake-Walk’wasahootandextremelywellperformedbythecompany;thewittyandinnuendo-laden‘WeWanttoTaketheLadiesOut’,fromJaguarandtheLeopard,madestylishuseofthestage;whiletheKolokoloBird’s‘WaitaBit’gotthefullworksfromthedeliciousMissJackson.Inacastof22singing,dancingandactingtheirheartsout,it’simpossibletomentioneveryone,butifthereisoneparticularlytowatchoutfor,shewouldbemybesttipforthetop.

MusicalTheatreReview


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ThreeBAMusicalTheatrestudentsappearinTheMikadoatCharingCrossTheatreaspartoftheirfinalyearofstudiesatLondonCollegeofMusic

JoshWylie(2ndfromleft,AndrewDovaston(3rdfromleft)&ZacWancke[Hamilton](1stfromright–standing)inTheMikadoatCharingCrossTheatre

ThreeLCMfinalyearstudentshavebeencastinTheMikado,directedbytheaward-winningThomSoutherland.TheGilbertandSullivanfavouriteplayedattheCharingCrossTheatrefromDecember2014–January2015.

Director Thom Southerland, who wowed critics and public alike with award-winning, sold outproductionsofTitanic,ParadeandMack&MabelatSouthwarkPlayhouse,directedaradicallyre-conceivedversionofGilbert&Sullivan’sbest-lovedoperetta.ThisHobson’sChoice-inspired takeonTheMikadowasset in theTitipuUmbrellaandFanFactory(owned by TheMikado) and ran for a 6-week season garnering excellent reviews, including four-stars from the Daily Express. The cast was led by Rebecca Caine (as Katisha) who has sunginternationallyandisrenownedforherWestEndrolesasChristineinThePhantomoftheOperaandtheoriginalCosetteinLesMiserables.JoshWylie,AndrewDovastonandZacWancke[Hamilton] facedacompetitive industryaudition inordertosecuretheirroles,andtheirachievementwasallthemoreremarkablegiventheywerestillstudying in their finalyearofa three-yearBA(Hons)MusicalTheatredegreeatLondonCollegeofMusic.


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GraduatingBAMusical Theatre student ZacWancke [Hamilton] singledoutforpraisebytheDailyExpressDirected by PhilWillmott, it is the first time the Gilbert & Sullivan work has been professionallyperformedinLondoninover20yearsandZacwentthroughahighlycompetitiveindustryauditioninordertosecureoneoftheleadroles.Zac isnostranger toGilbert&Sullivanand isbuildingan impressiveCV,havingrecentlyappearedalongside two other final year London College ofMusic students in TheMikado at Charing CrossTheatre,directedbytheaward-winningThomSoutherland.Containing someof Sullivan's catchiestmelodies andGilbert'swittiest salvoes in thebattle of thesexes,PrincessIdaisamusicalcomedyconcerningthemarriageoftworoyalbabies.Twenty years later, Prince Hilarion is keen to be reunited with his now adult wife, Princess Ida.Unfortunately, her quarrelsome father has hidden her away in a women's only university whereeventhemorningcockcrowismanagedbyatalentedhen.SoHilarionisforcedtodonadressandevenwieldaswordtowinhiswife.PrincessIdarunsatTheFinboroughTheatreuntilSaturday18thApril.“PhilWillmott’ssmall-scaleproduction is inventiveandsubtle. It is sungandactedsplendidlybyayoungcastledbyBridgetCostelloandZacWancke[Hamilton],withveteranSimonButterissaddingexpertiseasIda’slubriciousguardian.”

DailyExpress


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Productions2015-2016CanterburyTalesDirectorThomasHescott,MusicalDirectorPaulThameLawrenceHallTheatre,LondonCollegeofMusic/UniversityofWestLondon,EalingOpeningNightWednesday11thNovember2015SixNightsinNaplesDirectorMarcUrquhart,MusicalDirectorRichardLinkLawrenceHallTheatre,LondonCollegeofMusic/UniversityofWestLondon,EalingOpeningNightWednesday25thNovember2015DraculaDirectorDavidHenson,OrchestrationsAndySmith,MusicalDirectorNoamGalperinLawrenceHallTheatre,LondonCollegeofMusic/UniversityofWestLondon,EalingOpeningNightWednesday2ndDecember2015Copy&PasteMusicals–Re-workingMasterpiecesLawrenceHallTheatre,LondonCollegeofMusic/UniversityofWestLondon,EalingOpeningNightWednesday10thFebruary2016PunkRockDirectorMichaelHowcroftLawrenceHallTheatre,LondonCollegeofMusic/UniversityofWestLondon,EalingOpeningNightWednesday13thApril2016BadGirlsDirectorDavidAshley,MusicalDirectorMattRamplinLawrenceHallTheatre,LondonCollegeofMusic/UniversityofWestLondon,EalingOpeningNightWednesday20thApril2016AssassinsDirectorRobertShawCameron,MusicalDirectorDanSmithLawrenceHallTheatre,LondonCollegeofMusic/UniversityofWestLondon,EalingOpeningNightWednesday27thApril2016Showcase2016DirectorPaulHarvard,MusicalTheatreMattRamplinCharingCrossTheatre,London,19th–20thMay2016


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GraduatingactingandmusicaltheatrestudentsfromLondonCollegeofMusiccontinuetopushtheboundariesintheirworkassociatedwithnewwritingforthetheatre.As part of the graduating season of productions 2015-2016 at London College of Music youngperformersacceptavarietyofexcitingchallengestodeveloptheirunderstandingofnewwritingandthe performance industry. All productionswere performed in the recently refurbished universitytheatre venue. The season openedwith actors presenting a re-working of Chaucer’sCanterburyTalesandtoconcludethemusical theatredepartmentperformedtwonewmusicals,SixNights inNaples and Dracula making their continued contribution to the world of new musical theatrewriting.

CanterburyTales TextrevisedbyPhil Woods, Michael Bogdanov and Music by Chris Barne


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Reviewsforproductions2015

SixNightinNaples MusicbyRichardLinkandLyricsandBookbyEdenPhillips

http://musicaltheatrereview.com/london-college-of-music-six-nights-in-naples/

SixNightsinNapleswasperformedbyfinalyearBAMusicalTheatrestudentfromtheLondonCollegeofMusicatLawrenceHall,UniversityofWestLondon.

Starrating:fourstars��

TheLawrenceHallonthecampusoftheUniversityofWestLondoniscurrentlyhostingtheworldpremiereofabrandnewmusicalstagedbystudentsattheLondonCollegeofMusic,nowpartofthisfacultysinceitmovedfromGreatMarlboroughStreetinthe1990s.

ThebookandlyricsforSixDaysinNaplesarebyEdenPhillipsandthemusicisbyRichardLink,theshow’smusicaldirector.ThestoryissetinNaplesinthecity’sfamousSanCarloOperaHousein1943whereBritishsoldiershavetakenshelterastheywaitforreinforcementsbeforeadvancingupmainlandItaly.Whiletheretheyreceiveadirectivetoputonashowinsixdaystogreetthearrivaloftheircomradesinarms.

Theauthorcallsita‘fantasticaltale’that,withoutgivingtoomuchoftheplotaway,hasasupernaturaldimensionaswellathemebelovedofcountlessfilmsandshowsofyesteryear:highartversuspopularcult


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ure,operaorBroadwayshow.

ItsaysalotabouttheexpertiseofPhillips’bookthatthisoldclichédoesn’tpallbutratherenhances


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thejuxtapositionbetweenthedramaandthelightheartedscenes.Phillips,whocountsmusicalversionsofAlfieandLoveinaColdClimateamongsthiscredits,knowsjusttherightmomenttosurpriseuswithaplotdevelopmenttosustainhisyarnspinningalonginhighgear.

Thebalancebetweenmusicanddialogue,whereonetakesoverfromtheother,isjudgedtoatee.HisbookthrowsupanumberofdeftexchangessuchastheItalianDivaenquiringofthestiffupperlipArmyCaptain:“Ididn’tknowyouwerethatromantic?”/“I’mnot,I’mEnglish.”

ThefluencyofhiswritingisbuoyedupbytheeffervescentandtunefulscorebyRichardLink.Onthisevidence,Linkisamajorplayerasamusictheatrecomposer,andatalenttowatch.Hisscorebubblesmerrilyalonglevitatingthisshowintothebetaplusclass.Itrangesfromthegentlynostalgic‘ICouldBeatHome’totheLatin-flavoured‘Seraphina’,anensembleexpertlychoreographedbydirectorMarcUrquhartwithAlexandraBrailsfordandEmmaEvans.

SignificantlyLinkhasthatrareabilitytofashionapiecethatweavessolos,duetsandgroupnumberswithalighthand,movingfromonetotheotherseamlessly.Hisbandtooistop-notch.

Fromanarrayofacting-singingtalentseveralindividualperformancesstandout.JessicaPegramcutsabeguilingfigureasMariangela,transformedfromamutemaleintoalivelybeauty.IntheposseofBritishsoldiers,allindividualcharactersandgoodsingerstoo,theengagingperformanceofMatthewTraherasLieutenantBrownisonetonote.

KianZomorodianastheCaptain,atrickyparttoplay,bringsthehousedownwithhistransitionfromwimptomilitaryman,andmakinghisentranceplayingbagpipesisDannyMerrillastheflamboyantMajorCarlO’Leary,orishe?

WarlikenoisesoffstagesettheopeningsceneinthedesertedtheatrewithspectralfiguresinwhitemovingtoaNeapolitantunefromthefiddleplayerSalvatore,theballeticfigureofAndrewSowrey.

ThecreativeteammaintainsthespellcastbythisopeningsceneandSixNightsinNaplesisgivenagenerouswelcomethatisfullydeserved.

AdrianEdwards


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Dracula,TheMusicalbyAlexLovelessatLondonCollegeofMusic

https://www.londontheatre1.com/news/122352/dracula-the-musical-london-college-of-music/

IamashamedtosaythatBramStoker’siconicDraculaisstillaclassiconmy‘toberead’list.HavingwatchedDraculaanewmusicalbyAlexLovelessattheUniversityofWestLondonIamnoweagertorectifythis.

ThemusicalbasedonthenovelbyBramStokeristoldindiaryform.DirectedbyDavidHensonwewitnessedasimpleyetextremelyeffectivesettingofcoffinsandextraordinaryactingbytheLondonCollegeofMusic’sthirdyearstudents.Thepropsandcostumeswerewellthoughtofandfittheeraperfectly.

JarvisLinertisacompellingDraculahisstagepresenceisbothcaptivatingandterrifying.Hemanagestoportraysensualityaswellastoappearatadcreepy,whichisexactlywhatvampireswerelikebeforethelikesofTwilight.IwouldlovetoseehiminacompletelydifferentroleafterhisperformanceinDracula.

MattSzadurawasenchantingasJonathanHarker–thechangeintheconfidentmanatthebeginningtothemanhauntedbynightmareswasextremelyimpressive,acharacterIwasrootingforthroughout.SuchastrongcastofactorsandactressesIwashangingonthereeveryword.

Draculawasalluring,seductiveandcompelling.Themusicwaspitchperfectandthesongswereaddictive.AfewofthesongsremindedmeofLesMiserablesandThePhantomoftheOpera.Atrulyimpressiveselectionofnewmusicthatyouwillrememberlongafterleavingtheshow.

AuniversityproductionworthyofaWestEndstage.Iwouldlovetoseethisshowagain,itwoulddefinitelybecomeoneofmyfavourites.


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Graduate 2015 Premiere Production of DRACULA … Application/PDF/faqs...Graduate 2015 Premiere...

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