Page 37 - Tropic Magazine Issue 15

TROPIC • COVER STORY

Mayor Bob Manning

“These wonderful new facilities form
the centrepiece of our vision to position
Cairns as the Arts and Culture Capital
of the North. Combined with the
proposed new Gallery Precinct, and the
recently developed Cairns Museum, the with Phantom of the Opera and since
city is well on the way to achieving that then we’ve been performing at our
goal. We should be very proud of what own theatre whilst CPAC was being
we all have achieved. completed. We have staged The
“Cairns is rapidly maturing as a city, Fantasticks, Avenue Q and Grease, as
with a new character and soul, offering well as our annual theatre restaurant
enormous opportunities to our talented shows in our theatre.
young people, and at the same time
presenting itself as an ideal place to live. Q&A What will the opening of CPAC mean
This will put our kids on an equal footing Louise Ottewell for the Cairns Choral Society?
to their peers in metropolitan Australia. Producer, Wicked For us, the backstage facilities will
When Cairns kids get to perform in make all the difference. Having a
a world-class space, it builds their bigger stage, better orchestra pit,
confidence and it allows them a sense of Tell us about the development and more space in the dressing rooms,
the opportunity that awaits them.” production of Wicked. brand new state of the art sound
The first production to be staged at There are 34 people in the cast but and lighting and other upgrades will
CPAC will be Wicked, fittingly produced over 200 involved in bringing the create a better audience experience
by the Cairns Choral Society, the local show to life. These include creative and allow more flexibility with the
community group who staged Mikado team, costume makers, set builders, types of shows we can put on in the
back in 1974. prop makers, technical crew, future.
Producer Louise Ottewell told Tropic orchestra and more. The show is
the not-for-profit group was thrilled to costing over $500,000 to produce so Why should people come and see
be staging the first major performance we rely a whole lot on the support Wicked at CPAC?
at CPAC. of local businesses who have been Wicked is currently the second
“The Cairns Choral Society is part generous not only with programme highest grossing Broadway musical
of the fabric of the performing arts advertising and sponsorship, but in history, surpassed only by the
community and we feel honoured to with in-kind assistance. We’re a Lion King and our production of this
be part of history, just like we were for not-for-profit community group so much-loved modern-day classic
the opening of the Civic Theatre,” Ms any money we do make from our sees the return to the Choral Society
Ottewell said. shows all goes towards the next of Michael Lee Porter as director. Our
“A theatre of this calibre will elevate show and the general upkeep of our production of Wicked is going to be
Cairns in the eyes of touring own theatre and rehearsal space on the most spectacular show we have
performers and arts organisations Greenslopes St. ever brought to life.
across the country and the world,
bringing the types of shows we’ve never What has the Cairns Choral Society
been able to attract here to our city.” been up to during the construction of A total of 16 performances will run
CPAC? from January 18th to February 2nd.
The Cairns Choral Society performed Get your tickets now via Ticketlink or
MORE: the last show at the Civic Theatre cairnsperformingartscentre.com.au
cairnsperformingartscentre.com.au

37 • tropicnow.com.au