Month: June 2017

The 2017 Crookwell Amateur Dramatic Society (CADS) executive committee consists of President Robert Bill; Vice President Robert Huskinson; Secretary Anne Cleary; Treasurer Wal Smart; and publicity officer Colleen O’ Rielly. New members are always welcome.

Record of shows:

1987- Love Rides the Rails directed by Maureen Keough
1988- The Disappearance of Katie directed by David Gleeson
1988- A Dirty Weekend directed by Des Storrier
1989- The Drunkard directed by Sandra Bill
1989- Murder in Company directed by Bob Ross
1990- Panic Stations directed by Christine Bentley
1990- Old Time Music Hall directed by Anne Cleary & Maureen Keough
1991- The Farndale Murder Mystery directed by Phil Meckiff
1991- Old Time Music Hall directed by Anne Cleary & Christine Bentley
1992- Beyond a Joke directed by Anne Cleary
1992- Old Time Music Hall directed by Anne Cleary
1993- The Fourth Old Time Music Hall directed by Helen Campbell & Sandra Bill
1994- The Fifth Old Time Music Hall directed by Helen Campbell
1995- Dinkum Assorted directed by Des Storrier
1995- Music Hall ’95 directed by Anne Cleary
1996- The Seventh Music Hall directed by Anne Cleary
1997- Robin Hood Theatre Restaurant directed by Christine Bentley
1998- Ma Baker’s Tonic directed by Sandra Bill & Beth Pidoux
1999- Bail ‘Em Up Cobbers Theatre Restaurant directed by Rhonda Cummins & Debb O’Brien
2000- Music Hall 2000 directed by Anne Cleary
2001- Min Min Theatre Restaurant directed by Sandra Bill & Rhonda Cummins
2002- Murder at the Music Hall Theatre Restaurant directed by Beth Pidoux
2003- Steel Magnolias directed by Sandra Bill
2003- Mystery on the Orient Express directed by Rhonda Cummins & Debb O’Brien
2004- Are You Being Served? directed by Beth Pidoux & Sandra Bill
2004- CADS Rewound directed by Sandra Bill & Beth Pidoux
2005- ‘Allo ‘Allo directed by Glenn Bonomini & Phil Barr
2005- Back to the 80’s directed by Richard Ferris
2006- The Potion directed by Glenn Bonomini & Megan Cleland
2006- Sailing South directed by Peter Stephens
2007- CADS on the Double directed by Phil Barr & Colleen O’Reilly
2007- Jungle Juice directed by Kerry Barr
2008- Jest at the West directed by Phil Barr
2009- Music Hall is Here Again! directed by Rhonda Cummins & Anne Cleary
2010- Music Hall Mayhem directed by Rhonda Cummins & Anne Cleary
2011- Legs 11 ‘Off the Wall’- A Music Hall Revue directed by Rhonda Cummins & Anne Cleary
2012- Footrot Flats directed by Sandra Bill
2013- Act Your Age directed by Rhonda Cummins & Sandra Bill
2014- Legs Again Music Hall Revue directed by Anne Cleary & Rhonda Cummins
2016- Cinderella- A Pantomine directed by Chris Hinton & Rhonda Cummins
2016- A Razzle Dazzle Music Hall Revue directed by Anne Cleary & Rhonda Cummins
2017- Outback Debutante Ball to be directed by Peter Stephens

Originally published by the Crookwell Gazette as Crookwell Amateur Dramatic Society: Making us smile for years.

The Crookwell Amateur Dramatic Society (CADS) reformed in 1987 when a group of enthusiastic high school teachers moved for its revival. It has been producing continuous local theatre in Crookwell ever since.

From Love Rides the Rails – a humble melodrama directed by the late Maureen Keough, to last year’s offering of Razzle Dazzle – a Music Hall Revue, co-directed by Anne Cleary and Rhonda Cummins, with musical direction by Helen Campbell and Helen Lowe, CADS has grown exponentially in both professionalism and facilities.

Countless hours of voluntary labour, often by a small band of committed members, has seen much improvement to the Crookwell Memorial Hall staging and lighting.

Over the 30 years, CADS has produced 40 productions including comedy, drama, music halls and theatre restaurant shows.

With a cast and crew averaging around 40 people each production, a lot of voluntary time and commitment goes into ensuring the survival of the community venture.

President Robert Bill is one of the driving forces behind CADS and has been involved in every single production since 1987.

“I love the people and the challenge of doing a show, from the inception of the idea to the final production,” Robert said.

Rhonda Cummins has been involved in more than 80 per cent of performances: “Help me Rhonda! Help, help me Rhonda! No wonder they made a song out of this famous call,” she joked.

For Helen Campbell, CADS keeps her young while Ken Wheelwright and Heather Davies both joined to meet people. Simon Emery is still not sure how he ended up there.

“”I have no idea what I’m doing here. I came down to get a book from the library and I walked in the wrong door,” he laughed.

CADS also supports and mentors young actors through its administration of KAOS (Kids Acting On Stage). Each year, an energetic pool of children take part in a musical style play usually staged mid-year and coordinated and stage-managed by CADS.

As a community organisation, CADS gives generously. Since 1987, the amateur theatre group has made numerous contributions to the local community through charity nights and monetary donations, made each year to the schools in the Upper Lachlan Shire Council area for awards in the performing arts.

Some of the contributions CADS has made to the community over recent times include an electric piano to Viewhaven; $4000 to Crookwell High School Music Department and $1700 to the Crookwell Community Trust.

In addition, an average of 80 per cent of the costs of putting on a production is spent locally, supporting our Crookwell businesses.

These are just some of the ways that CADS has played an important role in the community over the past 30 years, not only as a forum for providing quality entertainment but also as an effective voluntary organisation.

“As long as the local community continues to support CADS through patronage of its productions, CADS can continue to give back to the community,” Robert said.

Originally published in the Crookwell Gazette as Crookwell Amateur Dramatic Society: Playing an important part.