Students of the school Choir and GCSE and A Level Drama students, set off for New York City over half term for five days of concerts, theatre workshops, performances and sightseeing.
The Choir sang at a Sunday mass at the Basilica of St Patrick and gave a concert in the glamorous entrance hall of the Empire State Building where tourists stopped to enjoy their rich repertoire of songs, conducted by Mrs Dance, and accompanied beautifully by Mrs Liepa.
On the first full day in Manhattan, students saw Sweeney Todd starring Josh Groban on Broadway. The following day Drama students attended a talk and Q&A session with Jill Rafson, Producing Director of Classic Stage Theatre Company, prior to a matinee preview performance of I Can Get It For You Wholesale. Later in the week, there was a performance workshop in a Broadway rehearsal room with a current Musical Director and cast member from Wicked in which the students learnt a song and original choreography from the show itself. In addition to this exciting event, A Level Drama students also took part in a late-night cast talkback with members of the cast of Sleep No More, immediately following the performance.
Despite two extremely busy schedules, both groups enjoyed a Harbour Lights cruise around Manhattan on the Circle Line, a reflective visit to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum and seeing the magnificent view from the top of the Empire State Building, with the trip culminating in a fascinating insight into Musical Theatre at the Museum of Broadway.
