playbill vip

When Mx. Belle reached out to me in June last year and asked if I would be willing to come to Belmont and build a solid Musical Theatre/Drama program, I was intrigued.  If you know me well, you know one of my core beliefs is that every high school deserves and should have a healthy and thriving Musical Theatre program.  After a visit to Belmont, I knew I had to come, as tough as saying goodbye to the Lambrick Park students and program was.  I was ready for a new challenge, and it was clear this school was ready for a “Show”!

The next hurdle was picking a show, having not met any of the students.  I chose “Newsies” for several reasons.  It is based on a true story about teens having a voice and standing up for what is right.  It is about “Seizing the Day” and coming together despite differences.  All messages our teens need.  I had done “Newies” once before, except it was COVID, and the actors had to perform in masks, so much of what I wanted to do had to be changed to accommodate restrictions.  I always felt I wanted a redo.  Finally, when I asked my Lambrick students which show I should do and/or what show they would want to do again if they could, they all answered with a resounding – “Newsies”.

This year has been a sprint: building all new set pieces, figuring out and building up a new to me space, teaching students all new skills for crew and cast, starting Belmont’s first Pit Band (mainly Izzy Spencer did that), navigating fundraising so we can bring our vision to life, and much more.  But we did it, and we are here.  I am extremely proud of these students for rising to the challenge and letting me push them.  Belmont Musical Theatre has an extremely bright future. 

As always, I cannot do this alone and cannot thank everyone who helped enough.   Thank you to all volunteers mentioned already and donors.  Thank you to the Belmont Admin Team who have been unbelievably supportive in making this happen, to Glynis Dawson for fielding my constant questions being in a new school and district, Izzy Spencer for believing in the dream of a live Pit Band and putting in the countless hours to get it going along with all our adult musicians who have joined to help it get off the ground, Krista Reda our choreographer who took a risk with me to work on her first high school production, Times Colonist for collecting and donating 700 newspapers for the show, Lambrick Park, Reynolds, and VicHigh Musical theatre programs for lending props, costumes, set pieces, tech to help save us money this year, my family for letting me be away and do what I do, especially my husband Mike who spent every spare weekend moment the last two months with me building sets and helping me problem solve, while he had a show to do too. 

Year one is always the hardest and we did it!  Enjoy the show and spread the word that Belmont Musical Theatre is here to stay. - Nette