Transition Year students in Coláiste Mhuire Askeaton Co. Limerick are staging a musical, ‘Grease The Experience’ in Askeaton community hall on Thursday 24th and Friday 25th of May. The idea of staging a musical came about after discussions with Fr. Chris O’Donnell and Aoife Walsh at the Anois Leadership Programme in Thurles Co. Tipperary. The nine students who went to Anois Rachel Mulcahy, Maria Prendeville, Rachel Foley, Roseanna Shanahan, Leona Hernon, Emma Stack, Tommy O’Connor, Michael O’Meara and Michael O’Brien thought that putting on a musical would be a great learning experience for students and create a sense of achievement, as it has never been done in the school before. It will be a great finale to what has been an extremely busy and very enjoyable Transition Year. They hope it will benefit the community as a whole and bring people closer together.
When the students came home from Anois, they made a presentation to the Principal Ms. O’Brien. She thought it was a great idea and loved the way it was initiated by the students. Once she saw how enthusiastic and committed the students were about the musical, she gave her full support, while also giving them the opportunity to fulfil their creative talents. As the rehearsals were being held in the school building she requested the students to seek a member of staff to produce the show and guide them in the right direction. Two Students, Michael O’Brien and Tommy O’Connor approached Ann Grealish, one of the school secretaries, who gener-ously offered to undertake this responsibility, and has been giving up her time to help them. She has been of invaluable help and without her the students would have found the staging of the musical almost impossible.
At first they thought they could stage the musical by their own efforts, but after trying to do this and seeing how much work was entailed, they decided it would be best to enlist the help of Director Tony Cusack and his team of experts, who have previously staged a number of other musicals. Even though they started late in the year Tony Cusack was good enough to take on the project and help them put on what promises to be a first class show, which they are looking forward to staging at the end of the month.
They have been practising for the past few months and are just putting the finishing touches to the show. They are currently selling tickets within the school, and a limited number of tickets will be available on the door both nights. Tickets for children/students/OAP cost €8, and tickets for adults cost €12. Under 12s must be accompanied by an adult. Doors open at 7.30pm and the show begins at 8pm.
It promises to be a great night of entertainment, fun and excitement and they hope to see you all there!