Welcome to the Society news pages
The Society hope to bring you the latest news and important announcements on these pages, so please check back regularly for updates.
SHOWSTOPPERS!
In October 2007, thirty members of the Society performed A Night Of The Musicals, to a sell–out crowd in Newark’s twin town of Emmendingen in Germany. Family and friends of the company asked if the performance could be repeated here at the Palace for them to see the show. It didn’t happen then, but it triggered thoughts with the Committee of maybe it happening....and it did, in the form of ShowStoppers! on October 25th 2008.
For one night only, many of those who made the trip to Germany were joined by other Society members in a re–worked version of the Germany show. It gave members, young and old(er), the opportunity to re–visit and reprise numbers from previous Society productions across Act One. Many more were reprised by the original cast members including Oklahoma!, the comedy routine for “Gee, Officer Krupke” from West Side Story, and also numbers from Crazy For You, Oliver!, Guys & Dolls and a preview of tonight’s show, 42nd Street.
Act Two explored musicals never before performed by the Society, and gave our newer and younger members the chance to display their talents with memorable performances from Rent, Blood Brothers, Chicago, Little Shop Of Horrors and a medley finale from Mamma Mia! (some of you may have heard of that one?!).
It was a highly successful evening with rave reviews and a hugely memorable experience for all those involved.
NODA Long Service Awards
The Society congratulates Robert and Rita Crowe who will both be presented with NODA silver bars recognising 45 years of service to the amateur stage.
We can only include a very brief resume of their ‘90’ years, so here are the key points: they met during the NAOS production of Bless The Bride (1964).
Robert started with the Society as an electrician. He went on to be Production Manager for many years and was made a Vice–President in 1992. Rita was on stage for many productions and then became Patrons’ Secretary.
Please welcome our new President
Mavis Ackroyd became our President in May 2005 following the retirement after 13 years of the extremely supportive Joan Thomas. We wish her well.
Mavis joined the Society in 1957 and appeared in the chorus of ‘White Horse Inn’ the following year. She was elected Assistant Secretary in 1959, and for several years also worked back-stage as (the often unrecognised job of) Prompt.
In 1967 she became Secretary and worked hard when the Society had theatre accommodation problems. Other ventures which were in her capable hands included the outdoor productions of Gilbert and Sullivan in the grounds of Newark Castle, as well as Old Time Music Halls in the Town Hall, and at the Little Theatre, Sheringham for five years in the 1970s. Mavis retired as Secretary in 1981 and was elected a Vice–President in recognition of her service to the Society. She was Patrons’ Secretary from 1988 to 1994.
Having experienced so many aspects of an amateur society she is ideally suited to the role of President and will undoubtedly be capable of looking after our interests.
Wunderbar, Wundervoll, Wunderschön!
These were just some of the superlatives which were used to describe our visit to Emmendingen during October 2007.
Thirty-five Society and family members made a 4-day trip to Newark’s twin town of Emmendingen in the Black Forest region of Germany. The two towns have been twinned since 1983 when Roland Cope, as Town Mayor, initiated the setting up of a Twinning Association.
The main reason for making the visit was to perform a varied concert, ‘Night of the Musicals’ in the impressive Steinhalle in the town. The concert was a sell-out, playing to an audience of 350. It received a standing ovation for our final ABBA numbers from Mamma Mia! The friendly, enthusiastic atmosphere is something that the group will certainly remember.
We also have happy memories of the fantastic hospitality and entertainment we received. Some members already had host families as friends, and now many more friendships have been forged. As well as rehearsing and performing the concert, we had time for guided tours, coach trips, an alfresco picnic lunch, and a superb dinner for the whole group plus hosts. We are indebted to the Oberbürgermeister of Emmendingen and the Emmendingen Twinning Association for their generosity. We have produced a DVD which records many memorable moments of our visit.
Fifty Years on Stage with the NAOS!
Jean Robinson has certainly earned her NODA Fifty Years Gold Award. As you will have seen from the cast credits, Jean has not missed a single annual production since ‘The Country Girl’ in 1957. This is an achievement worthy of the Guinness Book of Records! During this time she has played over forty principal parts, and enjoyed being a member of the chorus in the remaining shows.
On many an evening, particularly in the depth of winter, for over twenty-five years, Jean would have audiences in the villages, and in church halls enthralled with her rendering of the great contralto songs of Rodgers and Hammerstein, and the next moment have them convulsed with laughter in sketches (particularly as Hilda Baker with “Cynthia”) and Old Time Music Hall favourites.
To add to the annual productions and the Society concert party, Jean appeared in every Society music hall performed in Sheringham’s Little Theatre, in every music hall in Newark’s Town Hall during Newark Tradesmen’s Week, in both pantomimes ‘Mother Goose’ and ‘Cinderella’ at the Palace Theatre, in both concerts in Newark’s twin town, Emmendingen, and was a chorus member in all the Gilbert and Sullivan For All concerts.
She also took part in the four spectacular productions in the Castle grounds between 1969 and 1991 and played leading roles in the Society’s Gilbert and Sullivan productions at the Palace between 1980 and 1983.During this long period of active involvement Jean also found time to serve on the Society’s executive committee.
Everyone associated with the Newark Amateur Operatic Society congratulates Jean on such a superb and distinguished record.
Jean was presented with her Long Service Medal by Eric Smart the President of NODA at the opening night of Crazy For You in 2006.
