Ready, Set, PLAY! Workshops

Transform your Theatre Skills from a Hobby to a Habit 

Musical Theatre Workshop for all ages to learn Norton Micromusical “Animal Farm”

Learn and perform one of the exciting and accessible musicals for schools based on popular classroom teaching topics from the creator of the internationally-acclaimed Microjazz series. Suitable for singers of all ages, Chris Norton and his co-writer Wendy Edwards Beardall-Norton, will teach you the scenes and songs they’ve written to tell George Orwell’s classic tale about a group of farm animals who rebel against their human farmer, hoping to create a society where animals can be equal, free, happy and away from human interventions. Tuesday and Wednesday are dedicated to learning the show. Participants will perform the production on Thursday as the highlight of a public Open House event that will invite the public to try out all their favourite kinds of art forms at various ‘play stations.’ Workshop includes free admission to the Museum.

No auditions required, singers of all ages welcome!

Great for families, especially beginners. Accessible venue; please let us know if any accommodations are needed

Children aged 7-12 can attend solo provided that parents sign necessary registration/health forms upon arrival.

Date and Time:

Learning Sessions –  Tuesday, Aug12, 10 am – 4 pm & Wednesday, Aug13, 10am – 4pm

Performance – Thursday, Aug 14, 5 pm

Location: Stratford Perth Museum

Ticket Price: $45.00 per person/plus tax

What to Bring: Comfortable clothes, a refillable water bottle, lunch, enthusiasm and a good sense of humour!

Daily Breakdown

Tuesday & Wednesday 

10am – 12:30pm Warmup, music and scene rehearsal (short break midway)

12:30 – 1pm Lunch

1pm – 3:30pm Warmup, music and scene rehearsal (short break midway)

Thursday

4pm – 5pm Warmup, touch-up rehearsal

5pm – 5:30pm PERFORMANCE!

About the Project

“Ready, Set, PLAY!” is a new initiative to encourage everyone to find an art form they enjoy and make practising it a regular habit! Medical research strongly supports the idea that engaging with the arts can be a healthy habit, contributing to both physical and mental well-being. Studies show that participation in artistic activities can reduce stress and anxiety, improve mood, and even help manage chronic conditions. Furthermore, the arts can foster social connection, enhance cognitive function, and promote resilience. This initiative intends to showcase all the ways available in Stratford for people to enjoy participating in the arts as part of a healthy lifestyle. Try some and see what you like!

Workshop Leaders

Christopher Norton

Composer, arranger, educationalist and producer, Christopher Norton is universally regarded as the leader in his field. Born in 1953 in New Zealand, he is now based in Stratford, Ontario (Canada). His long and fruitful association with Boosey & Hawkes has resulted in his world famous Microjazz series, ranked as one of the biggest-selling music series world-wide. Norton’s other publications include the Essential Guides to Pop, Latin and Jazz Styles, the Preludes series, and the Christopher Norton Concert Collections for both piano and instruments with piano accompaniment. Christopher is in high demand for his unique and creative presentations. He offers sessions ranging from improvisation coaching for grade-school band teachers to adjudicating, from offering personal, intensive master class sessions at all levels to lectures in advanced composition. Everywhere he goes, his fresh and uplifting approach to music never fails to inspire and enlighten all who attend. Christopher’s Connections for Piano was originally published for the North American market by Frederick Harris Music, The series has now been republished worldwide by Norton’s own in-house publishing company, 80 Days Publishing (www.80dayspublishing.com) Connections for Piano is a series of eight books which between them offer a staggering 185 original compositions. Most recently, Norton has produced a series of stunning Micro Musicals for junior school. These include Shakespeare musicals, musicals on mythological themes, Dickens and both World War 1 and World War 2 musicals. He is currently Composer in Residence in 3 London (UK) schools.

Wendy Edwards Beardall-Norton

Wendy Edwards Beardall-Norton was born in Toronto, Ontario, and raised in Hamilton. She had her first piano lessons at the age of 5 in Orillia, where she spent every summer during her childhood. Her teacher was Percival Horn. Wendy again studied piano at Loretto Academy in Hamilton, and later attended Westdale Collegiate, where she was fortunate to have an in-depth education in music theory and clarinet performance, along with her academic studies, over a period of five years. Dance and vocal study were also a major part of her musical development. Following her marriage, and the birth of her three sons, Gregory, Cameron and Jeffrey, in Weston, Ontario, music study was put on hold, aside from the purchase of a ‘Stella’ acoustic guitar, which eventually led to all three sons becoming excellent, performing guitarists! On the family’s relocation to Fredericton, New Brunswick, Wendy resumed both piano and theory teaching and study, mainly with the late Mary MacLean, from whom she learned a great deal about teaching, and from the late Janis Kalnins, former conductor of the Riga Opera Orchestra in Latvia. While living in Fredericton, Wendy was twice President of the Fredericton Music Teachers’ Association, and a Founding Member and President of the Fredericton Music Society. After her first husband, Alan’s, death in 1999, she continued her successful and fulfilling piano and theory teaching and was proud to see her students achieve both academic excellence at the highest levels and also to attain a lasting love and appreciation of music of all genres. In 2014, Wendy married Christopher Norton, and, with him has created, developed and taught his Micromusical program throughout many parts of the world. They are contracted by several schools in London, UK, to teach the Micromusicals on a three time a year basis, which takes them back to the UK regularly. Though Wendy has been composing sporadically over the years, it is with Christopher Norton’s encouragement that she has returned to this endeavour.

For More Information

Visit www.mckinnamanagement.com and go to Projects to learn more about Ready, Set, PLAY!

For information about Workshop Leader Christopher Norton visit www.christophernorton.com

For information about Micromusicals visit www.nortonmicromusicals.com