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2 - 'WHITCHURCH-STOUFFVILLEI-THIS MONTH' â€" See us on ‘ x As iring thespians from York-Durham Academy of the Performing Arts presented their rst public performance, 'A Cratchit Christmas', at Christ Church Anglican Dec 9 and H. Academy students are currently'rehearsing for spring productions of Oliver! and The Wrzard of Oz. www.5touflvflleonh}e.wm' Performing arts academy considers itself at home After distributing flyers at every house and school ini town, outlining his plans to create a local version of When Wayne Hill came up with the idea of starting a performing arts academy for young people in the com- munity. he thought he would be lucky to attmct 40 potential students. By Kate Gilderdale Stouflville 1115: Month After producing MSSls annual Christmas in Song ;_concert for many years, he was determined to give his own children and other young people in the com- munity the opportunity to discover the magic of the performing arts. He was blessed, he said, to have a talented and highly quali- fied staff to help him put it all together. "I have some really wonderful people working with me and I am a great believer in the KISS them? (keep it simple. 'stu- pid). The more complicated you make something the cast, whose professionalism was most impressive, par- ticularly given the short time in which they have been rehearsing together. For executive director Wayne Hill. who retired recently from Markville Secondary School, it was the culmination of a dream inspired by a 34-year career in music education in the Toronto area. lust three months later. students from the newly- minted Yorkâ€"Durham Academy of the Performing Arts participated in a mem- orable presentation of Christmas music. along with excerpts from Oliver! and The Wizard of 02. Tickets for the first performance. which took place at Christ Church Anglican on Dec. 9, sold out almost at once. and a sec- ond performance was hasti- ly arranged which also played to a capacity audi- ence. The twg performances served as a showCase for the company's talented young Lionel Bart‘s Oliver! he was astonished at the response. “We had lOngamilies come out to our first meeting at Orchard Park School on Sept. 9oand we had to put out extra chairs to accom- modate them all.” New and returning thespians. dancers. singers and comedians are warmly invited to come :to the general signâ€" up meeting at 7:30 pm. Wednesday, Jan. 8 at Stouflville United Church on Church St. North. All are welcome; talent is optional, only enthusi- ~asmisrequlred. If it's lanuaryn it must be sign-up time t Music Mania. New male chorus members ate especially welcome The artistic team at YDAPA includes musical director Lyle Corrigan, choreographer Rachel Lepera and vocal coach Christie O‘Reilly, all of whom have strong-back- grounds in the performing and musical arts. In addition to Oliver! which will by preâ€" sented April 3 to 6 at Vaughan City Playhouse and The Wizard of 02, which runs May 8-! l at Uxbn'dge Music Hall, YDAPA is planning to offer two summer camp pro- grams for students in luly. For more information on YDAPA, ' - visit www.ydapa.com and check future is‘sues ofSloufiville This Month for updates. - Mr. Hill holds music degrees from York University and Niagara University and has taught music at all levels from kindergarten to OAC. He has also directed countless muslcal performances and trained many accomplished young musicians throughout his long career. more chance for mistakes." mone JANUARY 2003