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Scotsman
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
STAGEFEST Thrills One and All at Dalkeith Country Park Edinburgh!
Over 2500 people attended this inclusive and wildly entertaining outdoor performance festival. STAGEFEST was a full day of events, performances, workshops, food and fun for Stagecoach students and their families. 750 local young performers were the VIPs of the day as they took to the stage to perform musical theatre showstoppers in the majestic surroundings of Dalkeith Country Park. A diverse array of numbers were performed across the day and dazzled the delighted audience with medleys from Our House, The Addams Family, Wicked, School of Rock, Hamilton and Jekyll & Hyde plus songs from the movies including The Hunger Games, The Lego Movie, Minions, 101 Dalmatians, The Greatest Showman, The Little Mermaid, Deadpool and Mary Poppins. Stagecoach Edinburgh's Principal Tina Strong was blown away by the success of the whole event: 'Bringing a community together like this to celebrate performance, belonging and creativity is so special. Nothing similar to this happens in Edinburgh and it's such a brilliant experience for the children and their families.' Other highlights of the event included: circus workshops, storytelling, magic, a silent disco, facepainting, traditional game stalls featuring games such as 'Hook a Duck' and 'Guess the Sweets in the Jar!' There was even a bouncy slide, an obstacle course and human table football for all to enjoy! Delicious food from local food trucks helped feed the vast crowds and if people needed a little escape, a quiet area with giant Jenga, giant noughts and crosses and other outdoor games were provided plus relaxing chair massages for adults and kids too! Stagecoach Edinburgh helps build confidence and resilience, offers brilliant opportunities in the community and professionally and helps young people make connections with likeminded classmates who share the similar interests. Stagecoach Performing Arts has a proud history of helping children and young people build confidence and life skills. Over the past 36 years, more than one million students worldwide have benefited from its creative programmes. With a network of 60,000 students and 3,000 schools globally, Stagecoach empowers children with 'Creative Courage for Life,' inspiring countless students to pursue their dreams in the performing arts. For more information about Stagecoach Performing Arts Edinburgh please visit or call Principal Tina Strong on 0131 610 0636 1 . Contributed Stagecoach Edinburgh students performing live to the crowds Photo: Submitted Photo Sales 2 . Contributed A Stagecoach Edinburgh student enjoying the event Photo: Submitted Photo Sales 3 . Contributed A Stagecoach Edinburgh student enjoying the event Photo: Submitted Photo Sales 4 . Contributed A Stagecoach Edinburgh family enjoying the event Photo: Submitted Photo Sales Related topics: EdinburghStagecoachLothians
IOL News
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Demi Lovato's 'Child Star' documentary exposes the harsh realities of fame for young actors
Former Disney child actresses, Alyson Stoner, JoJo Siwa, Demi Lavato and Raven-Symoné open up about their trials and tribulations in "Child Star". Image: Instagram Demi Lovato's documentary, "Child Star" digs deep into the often turbulent lives of former child actors and the challenges they face while growing up in the unforgiving spotlight of fame. This raw and revealing film features candid interviews with a cast of well-known actors from the industry, including Christina Ricci ("Camp Rock"), Kenan Rockmore ("Kenan and Kel"), Raven-Symoné ("That's So Raven"), JoJo Siwa ("School of Rock") and the iconic Drew Barrymore who broke into the industry with movies like "E.T." and "Charlie's Angels". These popular stars examines the psychological complexities and repercussions that accompany early success. The documentary sets the scene with anonymous children candidly answering simple questions about fame, such as "What do you want to do when you grow up?" and "How do you feel about being on camera?" Their answers set an important tone, suggesting that while children may dream of fame, they are also woefully unprepared for it. As one young girl notes: "It's kinda like being popular at school but times a thousand." The documentary quickly shows that a child's understanding is extremely limited in such a high-stakes world. As a former Disney star and a teenage pop sensation, Lovato brings her own experiences to the forefront, drawing parallels between her personal journey and those of her fellow interviewees. The documentary doesn't shy away from addressing the darker implications of fame, including testimonies of eating disorders, addiction and mental health crises that often plague young entertainers. Throughout the film, Lovato and her fellow interviewees reveal the mixed blessings that accompany stardom. Lovato reflects on her well-documented struggles, while Barrymore and Ricci provide insights into their own turbulent histories, raising questions about the ethics and responsibility of an industry fraught with exploitation. Drew Barrymore and Demi Lavato in the documentary "Child Star". Image: Instagram At some point in the documentary, Stoner discusses her personal journey grappling with eating disorders alongside Lovato during the filming of "Camp Rock", while Thompson shares a harrowing story of being defrauded of his childhood earnings. The documentary subsequently champions the need for systemic change, advocating for laws akin to the Coogan Laws, which protect a portion of a child star's earnings. Kenan Thompson and Demi Lavato. Image: Instagram Lovato points out that current measures are not enough, especially for non-traditional content creators flourishing in the digital age. The documentary also places child stardom within a broader historical context, tracing its roots back to iconic figures like Jackie Coogan and Shirley Temple, while detailing how the entertainment industry has flourished over the decades. As the documentary unveils the repercussions of fame on mental health, the subject becomes complex and layered. Stoner notes that the stress associated with child stardom can cut a decade off an individual's life, while Lovato reflects on how constant performance pressure affects personal self-worth, sharing: "I still think about what's 'on-brand'."
Chicago Tribune
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Column: ‘Kids get to be the heroes' in Paramount School of the Arts musical in Aurora
After seven years in the role with the Paramount Theatre as its young performer supervisor, Bailey O'Neil certainly could be described as the 'kid whisperer' of the downtown Aurora venue. She was, after all, in charge of all those youngsters in 'The Sound of Music' and 'School of Rock,' as well as in 'Frozen' and the Bold Series production, 'Fun Home.' In addition to teaching at Paramount School of the Arts, which attracts students from beyond the Fox Valley, O'Neil also directed its previous camp performances 'Matilda Jr.' and 'Mean Girls Jr.' And next week, under her leadership, more than 50 kids will again take to the summer stage in 'The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical,' where they will, as the press release put it, 'play gods, battle monsters and save the world' in this action-packed fantasy based on Greek mythology. Props to this talented young Aurora native, who is working with more than twice as many performers as the typical number in a professional Paramount musical. But O'Neil relishes this role because she gets to see the beginning stages of so many, well, 'stage journeys' – including those who love theater but start off shy and unsure, then gradually 'begin to warm up every day and come out of their shell.' As someone who truly enjoys working with kids, that's got to be a big payoff, as is watching the students in their third year of camp take on leadership roles, she noted. Still, it's a lot of young people who are on a quick turnaround for these shows that are put on by the school. So yes, O'Neil also notices 'jaws drop,' and even witnesses 'a little panic in their eyes' when she tells them they only have a week to memorize the scripts. 'They have so much less time to prepare,' O'Neil pointed out, adding that the 30 hours of rehearsal also include a scavenger hunt at the beginning of the process, which she considers an important way for the young performers to bond. 'But the sooner the script is out of their hands,' O'Neil insisted, 'the better the work becomes.' And the kids, she told me, 'really lock in. … They get so focused' and are 'down for anything' because they 'love theater and are invested in it.' Adding to the excitement: these youngsters are supported by the Paramount's professional design and technical staff, and will perform in full custom on its historic stage. 'The Lightning Thief,' which centers around 12-year-old demigod Percy Jackson and the demigods of Camp Half-Blood, has been especially fun for the young performers – and seven technical theater students – O'Neil told me, because it is full of action and surprises, including fight choreography, puppetry and plenty of sound effects. 'They are so talented … their dancing is off the charts,' O'Neil said. 'When you put them on the stage and in costume and give them a mic, there is always a big shift as they become their character. 'Sometimes it happens overnight when those neurons connect and it all falls into place.' The stars also seem to be aligning for this talented young Aurora native who grew up in theater camps, and when old enough became a camp counselor. So it's what O'Neil described as a 'natural progression' she will be taking on an important new role later this year as an assistant director for Stephen Schellhardt in the Paramount's iconic holiday spectacle 'White Christmas.' No surprise, she's 'thrilled' to be working on this beloved and nostalgic blockbuster musical. But for now, O'Neil just wants to showcase the talents of 50-plus hard-working kids who are on an epic adventure of their own. Performances for 'The Lightning Thief' are at 7:30 p.m. June 27 and at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. June 28. To purchase the $15 tickets for the show go to call 630-896-6666 or stop by the Paramount box office. 'I love shows where kids get to be the heroes,' said O'Neil. 'It's just so fun to see where they are on the first day (of camp) and where they end.'
Hamilton Spectator
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
New Brunswick's Justin Collette is the ghost with the most in ‘Beetlejuice' musical
TORONTO - Even the walls of Justin Collette's dressing room scream, 'Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice.' While most theatre actors would choose a Zen-like atmosphere in their backstage quarters, Collette prefers a little anarchy. Hanging around the room are nearly a dozen fan sketches of the living dead trickster he portrays in 'Beetlejuice: The Musical,' as well as drawings of his goth teen sidekick Lydia and the grotesque sandworm that invades her suburban home. 'This is like a fifth of fan art I've been given — so many cool, cool things,' Collette says with a smile, while the music of Italian rock band Måneskin blares over a speaker. 'I have to ship much of it home because it's hard to travel with anything on the road.' Collette is preparing for opening night at Toronto's CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre, where 'Beetlejuice: The Musical' runs for six weeks, until July 19. It's the longest stop for the travelling show where he plays the character made famous by Michael Keaton in Tim Burton's 1988 dark comedy film. The New Brunswick native says he's excited to plant himself in a city where he once lived. Everything about his life on the road is a routine, including the hours leading up to his nightly performance. He comes into his dressing room, surveys the fan art, and then settles into a chair as makeup artist Andrew Ozbun begins to apply his Beetlejuice face. It's a process that Ozbun says once took an hour, but he now manages to finish in about half that time. Over the past 2 1/2 years, Collette has been criss-crossing North America, playing the wisecracking Beetlejuice practically every night. It's a gruelling role that calls for high energy, spastic movements and improvised witty quips. Before the show, Collette slips in and out of the character with ease, adopting the gravelly voice and wide-eyed mannerisms like he's flipping on a switch. 'One of the things about doing this for like 900 shows is that my facial muscles are atrophying,' he says. 'I don't know how Jim Carrey isn't lopsided because I have to get dry needled all the time to get my eyes and jaw to work.' Despite the physical challenges, Collette is buzzing about this opportunity to entertain Canadian audiences for a good chunk of the summer. He spent his early career in Toronto sharpening his skills as an improv comedian, and the crew has draped a banner of little Canadian flags across his wardrobe as a reminder of his homecoming. 'I feel like here I can relax into my own sensibilities,' he says of performing for locals. 'Because I kind of agree with them on what is good and what isn't, because I'm one of them.' Collette made his name on Broadway in the 2015 adaptation of 'School of Rock,' playing Dewey Finn, the music-obsessed teacher first portrayed by Jack Black in the Hollywood comedy. On stage, Collette took over the role from Alex Brightman, who decided to leave 'School of Rock' to become live theatre's first Beetlejuice. 'He was so excited about how funny it was,' Collette remembers of his friend's leap to the ghostly character. 'When I went to see (it), I agreed. It really was like nothing I'd ever seen on Broadway.' Collette didn't think he'd ever get to play Beetlejuice, until one day the opportunity arose for him to audition for the lead part in a travelling production of the show. 'I knew exactly how I wanted to do it,' he says of the character. 'It's hard to explain. I heard the cadence of how I was going to (speak) ... even when I read the script. I just knew.' After Collette got the part, he began refining his version of Beetlejuice to make it independent of his predecessors. 'I don't think it looks good when somebody does an impression of somebody else's character in one of these things,' he says. 'It's just diminishing returns because you'll inevitably just get compared to them.' Collette did lift a few mannerisms from the cinematic source material, he admits. Most notably, he liked Keaton's 'open-legged goblin run' in one scene of the movie, which he uses several times in throughout the musical. '(It's) little things, because I don't want him to be unrecognizable, right?' Collette says. 'So you've got to borrow some stuff.' Staying in the Beetlejuice role this long hasn't lost its appeal for him either. Collette says he's set personal goals for his portrayal, and then pushed himself to go further by 'sharpening movements and trying to dig into moments to mine them for little comedy bits.' Each night, as he stares out into the crowd of theatregoers and costumed Beetlejuice fans, he rises to another challenge of making Beetlejuice a little more his own. ''Make it your own' sounds so lame to me,' he interjects. 'You have to figure out who you are.' And with that, his makeup is finished, and Collette is buzzing with mischievous energy. Surveying his dressing room one last time, he pauses before whipping out one of Beetlejuice's trademark phrases, punctuated by his hearty growl. 'It's shooowtiiime!' he shouts. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 15, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
New Brunswick's Justin Collette is the ghost with the most in ‘Beetlejuice' musical
TORONTO – Even the walls of Justin Collette's dressing room scream, 'Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice.' While most theatre actors would choose a Zen-like atmosphere in their backstage quarters, Collette prefers a little anarchy. Hanging around the room are nearly a dozen fan sketches of the living dead trickster he portrays in 'Beetlejuice: The Musical,' as well as drawings of his goth teen sidekick Lydia and the grotesque sandworm that invades her suburban home. 'This is like a fifth of fan art I've been given — so many cool, cool things,' Collette says with a smile, while the music of Italian rock band Måneskin blares over a speaker. 'I have to ship much of it home because it's hard to travel with anything on the road.' Collette is preparing for opening night at Toronto's CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre, where 'Beetlejuice: The Musical' runs for six weeks, until July 19. It's the longest stop for the travelling show where he plays the character made famous by Michael Keaton in Tim Burton's 1988 dark comedy film. The New Brunswick native says he's excited to plant himself in a city where he once lived. Everything about his life on the road is a routine, including the hours leading up to his nightly performance. He comes into his dressing room, surveys the fan art, and then settles into a chair as makeup artist Andrew Ozbun begins to apply his Beetlejuice face. It's a process that Ozbun says once took an hour, but he now manages to finish in about half that time. Over the past 2 1/2 years, Collette has been criss-crossing North America, playing the wisecracking Beetlejuice practically every night. It's a gruelling role that calls for high energy, spastic movements and improvised witty quips. Before the show, Collette slips in and out of the character with ease, adopting the gravelly voice and wide-eyed mannerisms like he's flipping on a switch. 'One of the things about doing this for like 900 shows is that my facial muscles are atrophying,' he says. 'I don't know how Jim Carrey isn't lopsided because I have to get dry needled all the time to get my eyes and jaw to work.' Despite the physical challenges, Collette is buzzing about this opportunity to entertain Canadian audiences for a good chunk of the summer. He spent his early career in Toronto sharpening his skills as an improv comedian, and the crew has draped a banner of little Canadian flags across his wardrobe as a reminder of his homecoming. 'I feel like here I can relax into my own sensibilities,' he says of performing for locals. 'Because I kind of agree with them on what is good and what isn't, because I'm one of them.' Collette made his name on Broadway in the 2015 adaptation of 'School of Rock,' playing Dewey Finn, the music-obsessed teacher first portrayed by Jack Black in the Hollywood comedy. On stage, Collette took over the role from Alex Brightman, who decided to leave 'School of Rock' to become live theatre's first Beetlejuice. 'He was so excited about how funny it was,' Collette remembers of his friend's leap to the ghostly character. 'When I went to see (it), I agreed. It really was like nothing I'd ever seen on Broadway.' Collette didn't think he'd ever get to play Beetlejuice, until one day the opportunity arose for him to audition for the lead part in a travelling production of the show. 'I knew exactly how I wanted to do it,' he says of the character. 'It's hard to explain. I heard the cadence of how I was going to (speak) … even when I read the script. I just knew.' After Collette got the part, he began refining his version of Beetlejuice to make it independent of his predecessors. 'I don't think it looks good when somebody does an impression of somebody else's character in one of these things,' he says. 'It's just diminishing returns because you'll inevitably just get compared to them.' Collette did lift a few mannerisms from the cinematic source material, he admits. Most notably, he liked Keaton's 'open-legged goblin run' in one scene of the movie, which he uses several times in throughout the musical. '(It's) little things, because I don't want him to be unrecognizable, right?' Collette says. 'So you've got to borrow some stuff.' Staying in the Beetlejuice role this long hasn't lost its appeal for him either. Collette says he's set personal goals for his portrayal, and then pushed himself to go further by 'sharpening movements and trying to dig into moments to mine them for little comedy bits.' Each night, as he stares out into the crowd of theatregoers and costumed Beetlejuice fans, he rises to another challenge of making Beetlejuice a little more his own. ''Make it your own' sounds so lame to me,' he interjects. Weekly A weekly look at what's happening in Winnipeg's arts and entertainment scene. 'You have to figure out who you are.' And with that, his makeup is finished, and Collette is buzzing with mischievous energy. Surveying his dressing room one last time, he pauses before whipping out one of Beetlejuice's trademark phrases, punctuated by his hearty growl. 'It's shooowtiiime!' he shouts. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 15, 2025.
