Lights, camera, action!
Last week, Dulwich College Beijing presented their long-awaited run of the show Dear Edwina Jr. This heartfelt musical is a show within a show where the main character Edwina Spoonapple gets the neighbourhood kids together to put on a weekly advice-giving musical to help children from all over with their problems. From struggles with siblings to moving to a new place, Edwina always has the answer!
The Dear Edwina cast of 40 students began preparing for their performances all the way back in October and have been working tirelessly ever since. The audition process, as always, was challenging for students and teachers alike, presenting a difficult decision-making process that resulted in the wonderful cast that took to the stage last week.
The preparation process for the musical received support from the Junior and Senior School departments. Ms Shauna McFaul served as the Musical Director while Mr Alexander Tew and Ms Elnè Ackermann served as co-Directors and Ms Chloe Whitehouse delivered excellent results as the choreographer. Ms Jenny Westaway kept the cast moving in the right direction as the Assistant Director and the stage was graced with the hair, makeup and costume designing talents of Mrs Sally Corben. Backstage was kept running smoothly with the hard work of Mrs Gill Elrick and the student Props ManagerStu C. The students danced and sang to music performed by Mrs Shudan Carey, MrsLi Nolan, Mrs Paola Conte and student performers Endora Y and Ethan Z with arrangements created by Mr Mark Elshout.
Dear Edwina Jr’s run at DCB was a true show of collaboration both on the part of the students and staff members involved and it would not have been such a success without such great talent and dedication. As Edwina says, “Don’t let them take away the music that you’re made of”!