student handbook 2022

1 Showfit has fast become one of Australia’s most vital courses for young performers — Music Showfit is a 1 year full- time Musical Theatre course with the optional 2nd year for students who wish to further develop their training. Students will work alongside Australia's elite musical theatre teachers as well as industry professionals from around the world. Dance We provide our graduates with a strong skill base across all disciplines of musical theatre. We strongly believe that the best training for our industry should be practical, flexible, personalized and of the highest standard and relevance. In order to serve this best, Showfit Drama remains a non-accredited course, meaning that students are ineligible for government supports such as Centrelink or HECS-HELP, however this allows us to remain as relevant and flexible as possible with our syllabus.

Showfit provides a strong grounding in acting technique including Stanislavsky fundamentals, voice, movement, scene work and improvisation. Students are also trained in audition technique and study the history of musical theatre. Many students have found Showfit to be the perfect bridging course to go on and further their studies at WAAPA, VCA and NIDA. Other Showfit students have started working within the profession straight away. 2 3 Katherine Tonkin Head of Acting Mathew Frank Head of Music Leanne White Head of Dance Freya List Dance Co-ordinator

Katherine has worked with a number Mathew Frank has worked throughout Leanne danced professionally for over 23 years Freya List is an innovative Australian of Australia’s leading mainstage and Australia and internationally as a Musical in shows such as Evita, Oklahoma, Song and choreographer with a unique approach to independent theatre companies, as Director, Conductor, Composer, Performer Dance (where she was nominated for an “Adam story telling. Having trained and created works well as playing to festivals both and Vocal Coach. Mathew was most Award”), Cats (as the original Dance Captain), in Melbourne, New York and Europe, Freya’s nationally and overseas. Her theatre recently composer/sound designer for Possum Magic and Joseph and the Amazing choreography can most recently be seen in credits include: Cosi (Melbourne MTC's An Ideal Husband, Lady in the Van, Technicolor Dreamcoat (Dance Captain and Bright Star (Pursued By Bear), The Children (Dir. Theatre Company/Sydney Theatre Born Yesterday and Skylight. Previously lead dancer). Her extensive TV work includes; Sarah Goodes, Melbourne Theatre Company Company); Abigail’s Party, Three Little he was the Musical Director of Jerry’s The AFI Awards, The Don Lane Show, The & Sydney Theatre Company), RENT (Dir. Words, The Cherry Orchard, Girls, La Cage Aux Folles and The Pirates Mike Walsh Show and several variety specials. Mark Taylor, James Terry Collective), A View Apocalypse Bear Trilogy, Cloud Nine, of Penzance for The Production Company. From The Bridge (Dir. Iain Sinclair, Melbourne and Explorations: A Streetcar Named From 1993 to 1995 Leanne was Resident Director Theatre Company), Kabaret Dietrich (Fringe Desire (Melbourne Theatre Company); Other shows include; A Funny Thing of Cats throughout Asia and Australia and Festival), Woodes Tour, Melbourne Spring You and Me and the Space Between Happened on the Way to the Forum with Resident Choreographer on Sunset Boulevard Fashion Week & Chelsea Wilson Album Launch. (Malthouse Theatre/MIAF/Terrapin Geoffrey Rush at Her Majesty’s Theatre, at the Regent Theatre. In 1998 she was Associate Puppet Theatre); The Histrionic and Private Lives (composer/musical director), Choreographer with Anthony Van Laast for Freya’s screen choreography and credits Baal (Sydney Theatre Company/ Next to Normal and The Drowsy Chaperone The Boy From Oz and continued to maintain involve: Utopia (Dir. Rob Sitch, ABC), The Doctor Malthouse Theatre); The Wild Duck, for the Melbourne Theatre Company. Mathew the choreography throughout its Australian Blake Mysteries (ABC/ Seven Network), Good and Elektra Orestes (Belvoir); was also the Associate Musical Director on the run. In 1999 she was flown to London by Paul Morning America, The Pacific Conversation Piece (Lucy Guerin Inc/ Company’s productions of Poor Boy, The 25th Dainty to meet with Arlene Phillips, the director (Dreamworks) , the Australian Dance feature Belvoir); Tame, OT: Chronicles of the Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (and STC of Saturday Night Fever, to consult on casting film UP HERE (Project Y), Neighbours Old Testament (Malthouse Theatre); season), Urinetown (and STC season), and the the show in Australia. She was also Associate (Network Ten), and has been involved in The Eisteddfod (Stuck Pigs Assistant Musical Director on The Sapphires. Choreographer on Happy Days the Arena music videos for Hopium, Sex on Toast, Squealing/Malthouse Theatre/Brisbane Mega Musical, original casting consultant on Thelma Plum, Dustin Tebbutt and Braille Powerhouse/Downstairs Belvoir); He was Musical Director/Arranger of the Mamma Mia, Choreographer for the Production Face. Freya loves the relationship between Gilgamesh (Uncle Semolina & smash hit Britney Spears: The Cabaret, Company’s, Mack and Mabel and choreographed music and dance, resulting in the event series Friends/MIAF/Sydney Opera House/ which has played London & Adelaide, Sydney, Putting It Together at Chapel Off Chapel. Playing Field. Freya has creatively been Barbican UK/Festival of Australian Brisbane and Melbourne over the last 5 years involved with many festivals, music launches, Theatre in China); Smashed (Griffin and recently did the same jobs on Rhonda Leanne has dedicated her professional charity events, corporate performances & Independent); I Heart John McEnroe Burchmore’s Vinyl Viagra and Christie Whelan- life to resident directing, choreographing, creative projects, including the premier of own (Uninvited Guests/Theatreworks); Browne’s Show People for the Adelaide performing and teaching. With more than show Half Full (Collaboration The Project). Dybbuks (Chamber Made Opera/ Cabaret Festival. With writing partner Dean 40 years experience in the performing arts Theatreworks): Duets for Lovers and Bryant, he composed the musical Prodigal, industry, she brings a broad repertoire of Freya has performed, taught & choreographed Dreamers (Insite Arts/45downstairs) first produced at Chapel Off Chapel in 2000 experience. At Showfit, Leanne has drawn on throughout Australia, Europe, America, and 3XSisters (Hayloft Project). As a (Green Room Award for Best Original Score) her extensive knowledge to assemble some Singapore, Cambodia and India, where Freya writer she co-devised and performed and revived at fortyfivedownstairs. Prodigal of Australia's finest Musical Theatre teachers. works with CERES Global to create trips and in Xenides - The Musical, and co- became the first Australian musical produced opportunities to teach dance for relationship adapted for the stage Anton in New York City, with its Off-Broadway development in different communities. Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, both debut at the York Theatre Company in 2002. for Black Swan State Theatre Company of WA. Other shows with Bryant include Once Screen credits include Preacher We Lived Here (Green Room Award for (Series 4), My First Summer, Best New Musical) fortyfivesdownstairs, Wentworth (Series 7), The BBQ, My Brilliant Career, Virgins: A Musical Macbeth, Nowhere Boys (Series 4), Threesome (six Green Room nominations) The Future is Expensive, Winners and Malthouse and presented at the New York Losers (Series 3 and 4), City Musical Theatre Festival, and an adaptation Homicide (Series 3 and 4), of Sonya Hartnett’s The Silver Donkey. With Neighbours, Blue Heelers, Snake 20 years experience in the musical theatre Tales and Kick. Katherine is a profession, Mathew has combined his skills graduate of the Western Australian to direct and develop one of the most elite Academy of Performing Arts and musical theatre courses in the country. proud member of Actors’ Equity.

4 5 Alinta Extended Faculty: Chidzey, Christie Whelan-Browne, Christina Bianco, Dean Bryant, Eddie Perfect, Esther Hanniford, Dana Jolly, Grant Dale, Justine Puy, Lisa-Marie Parker, Luke Alleva, Mark Constable, Lucas White, Wei Wei Zhang, Michael Lavine, Michael Ralph, Natalie Gamsu, Robert Sturrock, Remy Noonan,Rohan Browne, Sally-Anne Upton, Sarah Landy, Simon Gleeson, Sue E l l e n S h o o k , S u z a n n e H e y w o o d , V e r i t y H u n t -

Ballard,6 Zachary Ruano7 Course fees & payment

1.1 FEE PAYMENT OPTION 1.3 LATE FEES All fees are expected to be paid by the due date Option 1 - Upfront: on the issued invoice or at the latest by the sec- $1,500 for the deposit of due Wednesday ond week of each term. 17th December. If term fees still remain outstanding one month after the due date, a 10% late fee will be added Discounted fee is $12,500 must be paid in to your invoice. full by Monday 24th Jan 2022 If you require a payment plan, an email request Payment Schedule 2 – Term by Term: must be sent to the accounts department only at ($13,000) Total paid in four installments of [email protected] request- $2, 875, *as per payment due dates ing a payment plan be set up with suggested frequency of payments and amounts to be paid. [listed below] An administration fee of $10.00 will be payable and added to each term invoice for which the 1.2 PAYMENT OPTIONS payment plan applies. Payment can be made by Cheque, Cash, All payment plan payments must be finalized EFTPOS or Direct Credit* into our account. by the last week of the appropriate term and cannot be carried over into the following term Please note when paying by EFTPOS credit card unless discussed personally with Ian or Leanne there is a 1.5% surcharge. White and then an email forwarded to accounts confirming the same. Direct Deposit – Centrestage Group P/L 1.4 STUDENT DISMISSAL & REFUND POLICY ANZ BSB: 013 236 We pride ourselves on providing the highest level of Musical Theatre tuition possible for Account: 489 734 439 young adults. We are a privately run business *(Please ensure you include your surname along that operates on a very specific budget, we offer a certain number of places in our course with ‘SHOWFIT’ in the transfer details) each year and our ability to maintain the standard of education we pride ourselves on is contingent on students being held liable to Deposit: $1,500.00 due Dec 17 2021 their commitment to the course for the entire year. Therefore our Dismissal & Refund Policy is Term 1: $2,875.00 due Jan 24 2022 structured in the following way: Term 2: $2,875.00 due Apr 19 2022 • If for any reason whereby this contract has Term 3: $2,875.00 due Jul 4 2022 been breached and has resulted in the termi- nation of study or a self-imposed withdrawal, Term 4: $2,875.00 due Sep 26 2022 students and or legal guardians will still be held liable for the remainder of yearly fees owed to Showfit (Centrestage Group Pty. Ltd.) ______• If for any reason, pertaining to dismissal or self-imposed withdrawal from the course, Total Cost: Showfit (Centrestage Group Pty Ltd.) will not be $13,000 held liable for the refund of all fees paid by the student.

•Consideration will be given in exceptional Term dates circumstances for termination & withdrawals up to two-weeks prior to the commencement of the course, but not once the course has Term 1 31st January – 8th April 2022 commenced. Term 2 26th April – 24th June 2022 Term 3 11th July – 16th September 2022 Term 4 3rd October – TBA (December) 2022 8 9 2.1 STUDENT • Students are to embrace 2.3 STUDENT DISMISSAL OBLIGATIONS the spirit of co-operation and & REFUND POLICY Respect the dignity, rights collaboration and opinions of others We pride ourselves on Showfit prides itself 2.2 LATENESS providing the highest • Students are to • Students are expected to level of Musical Theatre demonstrate and maintain be on premises, signed in tuition possible for young the highest ethical standards and warmed up for class to adults. We are a privately on creating a space for in all studies begin promptly at 9:00am run business that operates each morning. Studio doors on a very specific budget, • Students are to remain will be open from 8:00am we offer a certain number students akin to that of respectful of cultural, ethnic each morning for student of places in our course and religious differences access. each year and our ability

to maintain the standard Ethics of Code Student: • Students are to • Ongoing absence or of education we pride a professional theatre acknowledge the tardiness will not be ourselves on is contingent contributions made by tolerated, a doctors on students being held liable others and promote positive certificate must be provided to their commitment to the company. engagement with all to the Student co-ordinator course for the entire year. activities in any cases a class is Therefore our Dismissal & missed. Refund Policy is structured • Students must promote in the following way: equity and diversity in the • Any more than three place of study offences of lateness will be • If for any reason, a student addressed by the course is subject to dismissal from • Students must act against co-ordinators, continued the course, Showfit and or In order to best any form of harassment or lateness may lead to Centrestage Group pty. ltd. unlawful discrimination potential dismissal from the is not held liable for refunds course prior to or extending past the prepare for the working • Bullying and harassment period in which the dismissal of any kind, will not be • Mobile phones are not to has occurred. tolerated in or outside the be taken into class, unless standards of the arts studio walls and will lead advised by a teacher to do • If for any reason, a student to immediate dismissal of so has chosen to withdraw students involved if any from the course, Showfit breach of this commitment • Bare feet and footwear and or Centrestage Group industry, the following is acted upon such as thongs will not be pty. ltd. is not held liable for accepted in class unless refunds prior to or extending • Students must maintain it has been previously past the period in which the habits and behaviours an environment that is instructed by a member of withdrawal has occurred. accepting of and tolerant staff of diversity, and is free • Consideration will be from intimidation, threat, • Any appointments must given in exceptional must be formed and humiliation and harassment be attempted to be made circumstances for outside the hours of Showfit termination & withdrawals • Students are to classes (8.30am-3.30pm - up to two-weeks prior to maintained throughout demonstrate the highest Monday to Friday) the commencement of the respect and value to the course, but not once the relationships with all •Failure to provide Medical course has commenced. teaching staff, peers and certificates for missed all studies. other faculty members at all attendance may lead to your times dismissal within the course by the co-ordinators 10 11 Teachers are 3.1 3.3 expected to abide Teachers and staff are to Teachers demonstrate the adhere to the following: highest standard in teaching by the ACT Public and learning by: Service Code • acting in a manner which promotes confidence in the • engaging students in their of Conduct and integrity of the public service learning Staff: CodeStaff: of Ethics Code of Ethics and the profession • working to achieve high level • exercising reasonable care outcomes for all students which provides and skill • providing constructive both a core set • treating students, parents feedback to colleagues that is and colleagues with courtesy considered and helpful of standards and sensitivity to their rights, • informing people of their covering the duties and aspirations rights and entitlements where •protecting students from harm appropriate behaviour of staff •being committed to students in dealing with and their learning 3.4 • organising learning to take Teachers protect students from the public and account of the diverse social, harm by: a minimum set cultural and special learning needs of their students • recognizing that students of behaviours • working in partnership with have a right to a safe and expected of the parents and carers secure teaching and learning • acting against any form environment ACTPS and its of harassment or unlawful • reporting any reasonable employees. discrimination suspicion of harm caused to students 3.2 • supporting students who Respect the dignity, rights and have been harmed opinions of others by: • refraining from conduct • respecting cultural, ethnic that could assault or harm a and religious differences student • valuing and acknowledging • refraining from conduct that the contributions made by could cause psychological others damage to a student • promoting an environment • refraining from sexual that is accepting of and conduct with a student tolerant of diversity, and is • refraining from harassing free from intimidation, threat, behavior including sexual humiliation and harassment harassment • promoting equity and • refraining from unlawfully diversity in the workplace discriminating against any person

12 13 www.showfit.com.au 15 Albert St. tel (03) 9380 8480 (ext: 1) Brunswick East, Melbourne. VIC 3057 [email protected]

We wish to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we learn, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. 14We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.