Back To Broadway – That’s a Wrap!

On Friday last, the magical Athboy Community School musical ‘Back To Broadway’ ended its hugely successful run and brought the curtain down on months of hard work, set design and construction and dedicated rehearsals. 

The show, produced by Ms. McGowan, Mr. Mills, Ms. Couglan, Ms. O’Rourke and Mr. O’Dowd and choregraphed by Laura Douglas, featured a cast of over 130 and a whole host of supporting teachers and students who helped out across the three nights of the show and the months and months of preparation. 

‘Back To Broadway’ featured numbers from lots of musicals like ‘Wicked’, ‘The Wizard of Oz’, ‘The Little Mermaid’, ‘Six’, ‘Les Miserables’, ‘Mamma Mia’, ‘Matila’, ‘Hamilton’, ‘The Greatest Showman’ and ‘Grease’. There were rousing performances across the board and the school’s GPA and stage rocked to the sound of so many much–loved songs and dances. 

The show opened with the second year ensemble performing ‘One Short Day’ from ‘Wicked’, followed on stage by sixth years Rachel Long and Maya Okello to perform ‘For Good’ and ‘What is this Feeling?’ 

Sophie Ryan in second year was next on stage to perform ‘Over the Rainbow’ from ‘The Wizard of Oz’ with third year Chloe Doherty following on singing ‘Part of this World’ from ‘The Little Mermaid’. Fifth year student Ada Ogarek then performed ‘Poor Unfortunate Souls’. 

Next on stage were the six wives of Henry 8th to perform the ’Ex-Wives Song’ from the musical ‘Six’. They were Jessica McKenna, Taylor Hering, Rachel Long, Aimee Jones, Maya Okello and Lucy Heaney. 

For Jessica and Rachel it was far from their first time on stage in A.C.S. musicals over the years. Both had big parts in ‘The Addams Family’ and ‘Back to the 80’s’ in previous years, but as Leaving Cert students this was their last show. It was important to both to go out with a bang!  

“It was amazing to be part of,” smiles Jessica, who played Catherine of Aragon in ‘Six’ as well as supporting roles in other segments.  “I am very happy with how it went. We all just put everything into it and it was so much fun. It was a very special as I got to perform one last time with my friends before we all head off to college next year.” 

Rachel who played Galinda in ‘Wicked’ and Jane Seymour in ‘Six’ agreed, “My favorite one to perform was ‘Six’, as Jessica says because I got to perform one last time with my friends. It was electrifying, very powerful being up there with people who mean so much to me. It was great to have a variety show where we all got to do so many of the shows that we liked. It has given me so much confidence as well as memories that I’ll treasure forever.” 

Les Miserables was next to the get the A.C.S. treatment with first year Emily Doherty leading the way performing ‘Castle On A Cloud’. The TY students followed with a rousing ensemble performance of ‘Do You Hear the People Sing’. Leaving cert student Zofia Michalik was next on stage to perform ‘On My Own’ before another outing from the TYs together with Ada Ogarek and sixth year Liam Fenton as ‘Master of the House’ nearly brought the Athboy house down! 

I really enjoyed the whole experience,” says Ada, “particularly getting to know so many of the cast, especially the TY’s! My favourite part was playing the Sassy wife in Les Mis! ‘Master of the House’ was my favourite song to be a part of. Having done this, my first show, I’d love to do it all again whether it’s here in school or with local drama groups.” 

“I really enjoyed it,” agrees Liam. “I was really worried I’d mix up the words! I was nervous but I felt the whole show went well. I was so glad I got involved, I’d really have regretted it if I’d not taken the chance! I’ve done shows before and this musical just reminded me of how much I enjoy them and how special an experience it is. Rehearsals were tough and it’s not easy to get up on stage, but it was worth it in the end!” 

Act 1 was closed out by a cast of staff and students performing numbers from ‘Mamma Mia’ like ‘Dancing Queen,’ ‘Mamma Mia’ and ‘Waterloo’ which really got the crowd going! 

There was no let up after the interval with a simply superb performance by the first year students doing ‘Matilda’. Mason Brennan and an ensemble cast opened Act 2 with a brilliant rendition of ‘Revolting Children’ before Neeah Mulvey, Jenny Bradley and Millie Robinson performed ‘Naughty’ to rapturous applause.  

“I really enjoyed the show,” says Neeah. “I loved getting to play Matilda and getting to do it with all my friends. My favourite song to be involved in would be ‘Naughty’ or ‘Bruce’, it’s hard to pick one! I have been on stage before, I’d do a couple of shows a year, but I’ve been wanting to do ‘Matilda’ for so long, it’s my favourite musical. I’m so glad I got the chance to do it here in school! I was a little bit nervous but Jenny Bradley and I had this little trick that we used to do on the way up the steps backstage where we’d count up to eight and then down to one to get rid of the nerves together! I thought the whole show was class, I thought the TY’s were so good!” 

The final number from ‘Matilda’ was ‘Bruce’ performed by the ensemble, again led by Mason Brennan.  

“I thought it was a great show,” said Mason. “I really enjoyed it and learned so much about myself. It was so much fun. My favourite song to perform was ‘Revolting Children’. I loved being centre stage! I always wanted to be on stage, but I had nowhere to do it before this, that’s why this experience was so brilliant. I loved being back–stage too, getting ready, talking to my friends in the show, the parents watching you! I was a small bit nervous beforehand but once I got on, I just went for it! I’d love to do it all again!” 

Aaron Flanagan was next to tread the boards as King Geoge in Hamilton. He sang ‘You’ll be back’ and after a performance like that, Aaron certainly will! 

Lucy Heaney followed on to perform ‘Tightrope’ from ‘The Greatest Showman’ accompanied by a beautiful dance routine from third year student Sonia Olszar. 

The final act was reserved for the wonderful TY ensemble. They closed out the show performing the ‘Grease’ segment with lots of well-known numbers like ‘Summer Loving’, Hopelessly Devoted’ performed by Emeline Hood, ‘Grease Lightning’ led by Jamie Brogan, ‘There Are Worse Things I could Do’ sung by Rhian Bartley and ‘We Go Together’. 

“I played Danny in Grease,” says Jamie, “and it was the most fun I’ve had so far this year in TY, and the most fun I will have this whole year surely! My favourite part was ‘Greased Lighting’, my main solo part. The T-Birds and The Pink Ladies are all close friends outside of school too, which I think really helped our performances. I think this musical has led to a really close bond between us all. We had such fun both on stage and backstage. We were all mouthing the words to the songs that were being performed when we were waiting to go on!” 

“I sang ‘Hopelessly Devoted’ “added Emeline. “I really liked being on stage. I have been in shows before but not in a main role, so I was a bit nervous the week leading up to it! But once we did the dress rehearsal, that set things in stone for me a bit, and I wasn’t too nervous after that. I think it was a great show, it all came together at the end! We are so happy with how it went, but sad that it’s over!” 

Grease was a rousing, fitting end to a wonderful show. Congratulations to all who took part both backstage and in treading the boards, to the staff and students who built sets, looked after sound and costumes, props and stage directions, front of house and helped in so many ways too numerous to mention.