Schools Spectacular
The Schools Spectacular is an Australian variety show featuring more than 3000 talented young students and is performed annually at the Sydney Entertainment Centre. Highlights of the Schools Spectacular are broadcast each year by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
The actual performance is made up of many different pieces. A typical piece would have a spotlighted soloist singing on an elevated platform in the arena, surrounded by many dancers and actors. On the stage, the orchestra would be playing the instrumental part of the song while the choirs behind and next to the orchestra would be singing the chorus of the song.
The first Schools Spectacular was Schools Spectacular 1983 and was intended to be a sound test for the Sydney Entertainment Centre. Since then, the Schools Spectacular has evolved in ways no one could have imagined back then.
Schools Spectacular 2005 was dubbed "The Face of Australia" and celebrated the Australian history, landscape, goal and lifestyle. A tribute to Alec Campbell, the last surviving ANZAC, who had died in 2002, was in the production. Previous Schools Spectacular successes like John Foreman (Who hosted Schools Spectacular 2005) and Human Nature made appearances during the show.
Schools Spectacular was broadcasted as a telecast with the highlights by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), and as a first, webcasted through the Internet onto their website, with the help and sponsorhip by Cisco Systems. See the News Bulletin on this event.
The Schools Spectacular is funded by the NSW Department of Education and Training.
Past Themes
Each year the School Spectacular follows a theme, usually reflective of something Australian:
1993 - One Spirit
1994 - International
1995 - Hats Off To Australia
1996 - Get Set 2000
1997 - The Edge
1998 - Reaching the World
1999 - To Be Australian
2000 - The Entertainers
2001 - Celebrate!
2002 - By Invitation
2003 - 20 Years on
2004 - 21st Birthday
2005 - The Face of Australia
2006 - Shine
Schools Spectacular 2005 pieces
This is an attempt to list all the pieces in the order in which they were performed at the live performance, not as they were broadcast on television.
Act I
Opening
- A poem, "My Country", by Dorothea Mackeller
- Past Life Melodies - Combined Schools Choir
- Great Southern Land- Solo, accompanied by orchestra and CSC
- New World Symphony - Soprano Duo, accompanied by orchestra and CSC
- Advance Australia Fair - Mixed artists, accompanied by orchestra and CSC
- Introduction of John Foreman, Allan Jones of 2GB Radio
Feature Presentation
- This Is The World We Live In - Mixed artists, accompanied by orchestra and CSC
- I Believe - Solo, accompanied by orchestra and CSC
- Truly, Madly, Deeply - Duo, accompanied by band
- Hey Good Looking - accompanied by band
- The Swimming Song ("Great Outdoors") - accompanied by orchestra and CSC
- Kate Kelly - solo, accompanied by band, - Newtown High School of the Performing Arts and the NSW Public Schools State Senior Dance Company choreographed by Dr. John Mullins
- Long Way To The Top - solo, accompanied by band and CSC
- Locomotion - solo, accompanied by band and CSC
- Computer Games- solo, accompanied by orchestra and CSC
- Eagle Rock - solo, accompanied by orchestra and CSC
- Gonna Have A Good Time Tonight - solo, accompanied by orchestra and CSC
- Redback On The Toilet Seat - group, accompanied by band
- Court of King Caractacus - group, accompanied by band
Guest Performance
- Reach Out I'll Be There - Human Nature
- What If I Break Her Heart - Pas de Deux choreographed by Judi Joy, solo, accompanied by orchestra
- Explosive - Schools Spectacular Ballet Ensemble 2005 - Choreographed by Peter Cook and Lisa Munns
- Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again - solo, accompanied by orchestra and Senior Choir
- Stella - solo, accompanied by orchestra and Senior Choir
- Aida - solo, accompanied by orchestra and Senior Choir
Act II
The Anzacs
Scout Band/Choir
- It's a Long Way to Tipperary - Marching Band
- Pack Up Your Troubles - Marching Band
- Hang Out the Washing On the Siegfried Line - Marching Band
- Kiss Me Goodnight, Sergeant-Major - Marching Band
- Keep the Home Fires Burning - Marching Band
- Wish Me Luck As You Wave Me Goodbye - Marching Band
- Mad World - solo, choreographed by dance group
- Guide Me Home - duo, choreographed by Peter Cook (featuting Tyler Hawkins and Liesle Zink)
- Hallelujah - solo, choreographed by dance group, accompanied by orchestra and Senior Choir
The Rainforest
- The Animal Song - solo, choreographed by dance group, accompanied by orchestra and CSC
- Nature - solo, choreographed by dance group, accompanied by orchestra and CSC
- We Will Rock You- solo, choreographed by dance group, accompanied by band and CSC
- Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow- solo, choreographed by dance group and CSC, accompanied by band and CSC
- Plain Tree Street- solo, choreographed by dance group, accompanied by orchestra
- Rock Band Group performance
Cultural songs and dances
- Australian Aboriginal
- New Zealand Maori
- China
- India
- Ballroom - "Sway" - NSW Public Schools State Senior Dance Company
- "If I Were A Rich Girl" (based on "If I Were A Rich Man")
- Latin America - Whenever, Wherever
Closing
- I've Had The Time Of My Life - solo, choreographed by Peter Cook - NSW Public Schools State Dance Companys and Ensembles, accompanied by band
- Proud (Teacher Thankyou) - solo, choreographed by Peter Cook, accompanied by orchestra and CSC
- Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow - "everyone"
Notable Alumni
- Human Nature
- Paulini Curuanvuli (she used to be Pauline Curuanvuli while she was performing in the Schools Spectacular)
- Yumi Jayne Sheehan (Architect)
- Brooke and Samantha Mclymont
- Leah Crosby (Musician/Chef)
- Nathan Foley of the Childrens' TV group Hi5
- John Foreman (Musician/Host)
- Brendan Champion (Musician)
- Charlie Ellison (Lion Tamer)
- Shannon Brown (The Ten Tenors)
Schools Spectacular 2006
The Schools Spectacular 2006 will be held on the 24th and 25th of November, 2006, once again at the Sydney Entertainment Centre. This year's theme is SHINE. boo