A Brief history of the Queenscliffe

Lighthouse Theatre Group Inc.

 

In February 2001, a group of seven ladies who perceived a need for a live theatre on the eastern end of the Bellarine Peninsula in the state of Victoria, Australia,  formed a committee, each put up $50 and raised the Lighthouse Theatre. The committee sought donations from the local community, received an initial grant from the Borough of Queenscliff, acquired some costumes and rehearsal space from the Queenscliffe Senior Citizens Club and set to work to establish the now very successful theatre company.

 

After detailed administrative work in association with the Victorian Department of Justice, the company was incorporated on 24 July 2002 and became the Queenscliffe Lighthouse Theatre Group Inc.

 

Since its inception, the musical experiences of the company have been wide. In October 2001, Time and Tide, a musical about the seaside and Queenscliff was performed to packed houses in the Senior Citizens Hall. This production was directed by local residents Ruth Richter with musical director David Rackham. In October 2002, local Geelong musical identity and company member Debbie Fraser directed Opening On Broadway, with company member Veronica Thornthwaite as musical director, again, playing to packed houses in the Senior Citizens' Hall. This musical, written by Debbie, featured excerpts from popular Broadway hits.

 

In June 2003, Ron Sudden also a company member, directed and musically directed Hollywood Musicals Revue. This was another very successful production written by Ron around excerpts from popular Hollywood musicals. In November 2003, company member Alan Wilson directed Almost Anything Goes. assisted by company member Elizabeth Coyne as musical director. This was an economical, but very successful, production. It featured music from stage and screen, again to packed houses in the Senior Citizens' Hall.

 

The company's biggest production till then was performed in October 2004, in the Queenscliff Town Hall. This was A Rendezvous with Richard Rodgers, directed by Debbie Fraser with Veronica Maree (Thornthwaite) musical director. With an eight piece orchestra and a much larger venue, the company excelled itself, featuring music from the five most popular Broadway and Hollywood musicals by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, this production tested the company's talents both musically and administratively with great success.

 

2005 saw the company perform two smaller productions, both under the direction of Alan Wilson and the musical direction of Elizabeth Coyne: Just Call Me AI with songs made famous by AI Jolson, performed in April and Nostalgia: Songs That Never Leave Us,  evergreens from the 50’s and 60’s in October of that year.

 

A huge year was planned for 2006, with a most successful production directed by Ron Sudden – Music Hall Memories in June and the QLTG’s first full Broadway production of the huge hit, Annie The Broadway Musical directed by company president Jon Mamonski, with musical director Gayle Ritchie, in September.

Annie was a triumph with sellout houses and very rewarding for all concerned.

 

2007 through 2008 saw the launching of the Casting Capers Theatre Restaurant seasons with overwhelming success and created/directed by the very talented Marion Melrose.

 

In 2009 with the refurbishment of the Queenscliffe Town Hall, QLTG’s Broadway show seasons will continue with THE SOUND OF MUSIC directed by Debbie Fraser.

 

In April 2011 the QLTG staged the highly anticipated THE KING AND I, directed by Jon Mamonski (ANNIE THE BROADWAY MUSICAL 2006).

 

To celebrate 10 years of outstanding performances, the Lighthouse Theatre Group, under the direction of Marion Melrose, presents DECADENCE, Fabulous Pearls of Our First 10 Years at Point Lonsdale School Hall, Nov 3-5, 2011.

 

The talents of the company have been recognised by the community, with the awarding of the Queenscliffe Borough 'Community Service of the Year Award' on Australia Day 2004.

 

In addition to contributing sizeable donations to local charities - Red Cross and Cottage by the Sea, the company continues to support the Bellarine Secondary College with an annual grant over the past two years, the purpose of which is to encourage local school productions.  ________________________________________________ ______

 

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