YOU won't see them on the night, but members of the Newstead College band are in intensive rehearsals for the school's upcoming production of the 1970s' smash musical Godspell.
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Six weeks out from opening night on August 21 - when they will be hiding in the orchestra pit in front of the stage - the band is spending five hours a week rehearsing, under the guidance of musical director Roger Francis.
"We got the score in March, and got the band together ... luckily for them, it's on a subject line, so they can take production band and get TCE points for it," he said.
"It's a very challenging score, which was rewritten in 2012, with the same songs but all rearranged.
"Vocally, it's the most challenging production we've taken on." The band and backing singers include students from high schools, as well as current and former Newstead College students.
Bass guitarist and Year 12 student Chris Ennis, 17, said he had already learned a lot while rehearsing, including how to read sheet music. "It's fun music, and it's upbeat," he said. The show is based upon the gospel according to St Matthew and covers the last days of Jesus.
It features the hit song Day By Day, made famous by former pop queen Colleen Hewett, who has volunteered to sing it on the opening night, as well as Prepare Ye the Way.
Tickets to Godspell are $29.95 for adults, $19.95 for children, and will be available from the Princess Theatre box office, or by calling 6323 3666.