On Saturday 25th October at 17.20 the Performing Arts team departed Heathrow's Terminal 4 on Delta's Flight 2 to John F. Kennedy Airport with 31 students ranging from Year 10 - 13..
We touched down at 20.20 local time (01.00 am GMT) and began what was to be a memorable, fun, enlightening and thrilling experience for both students and staff!
The trip (a year in the planning) was an opportunity for the students to sample first hand the Broadway experience, working with theatre professionals as well as witnessing the sights and sounds of the city that never sleeps!
A moment to treasure was the reaction of the students at their first sighting of the Manhattan skyline as we approached the midtown tunnel. Once into Manhattan we arrived at our hotel (Park Central) on 57th Street and quickly checked into our rooms for a well deserved sleep!
Sunday was a glorious day and after a walk into Time Square and then onto the Rockefeller Centre we stopped for lunch and watched as many of the students took to the ice!
Sunday was also Joe Killeen's birthday so a meal at the Hard Rock Cafe on Times Square was topped with a surprise cake that would have fed 60 people!
Monday was equally as magical with two workshops (Making a Scene and Acting Audition) as well a moving trip down to Ground Zero. The evening saw some shopping in Times Square after our meal and we could really sample the night life of NYC.
Tuesday was the day that we went to see 'Wicked' at the Gershwin Theatre. However before that we had our last two workshops which were hugely entertaining. 'Theatre Song and Movement' was hosted by two of the cast from Wicked who put us through our paces on one of the shows big numbers.
The afternoon saw our first workshop entitled 'Broadway 101' which was a good ice breaker for the group. Our workshops were based just off broadway in the popular rehearsal rooms of the 'New Dance Group'. we certainly felt like we were in an episode of 'Fame!'.
Afterwards we took the short walk down to 34th Street for a trip up the Empire State Building. What a view - just simply stunning!. And across from the famous building was the equally famous department store 'Macy's'.
We finished our workshops with a session on stage combat being led through a series of techniques with one of broadway's leading fight directors. This was a super way to close our workshop experience and one of my favourites. The students really got involved and were certainly a credit to the school.
In the evening we went to the theatre to see Wicked - what a great show!All the students really enjoyed the musical - it was magical. Broadway really knows how to entertain and that is what they did. Afterwards there was just enough time to talk to some of the cast and pick up a signed poster which is now on display outside the Performance Arts office.
Wednesday was our last day and apart from last minute shopping at Macy's and Bloomingdales and a brief walk through Central Park we took the subway down to Battery park for a cold trip on the ferry over to Liberty Island.
Although the weather on the last couple of days was not as good as the first two it certainly did not dampen our spirits or our enjoyment.
A night flight back to London left JFK at 21.45 and we touched down the following morning at Heathrow.
A superb trip that was brought alive not only by the vibrancy of NYC but by the outstanding students we took. Also my thanks goes to the staff who came with me on the trip, Rachel Martin, Peter Grant and Kathryn Lockett.
Stunning ... just simply stunning.
Blayne Cooper - Curriculum Leader for Performing Arts
