Arts and entertainment
Musical and Dramatic society receive $70k

Parkes Musical and Dramatic Society has had a successful twelve months of grants and productions.

The most recent and exciting grant for the Society was received from the NSW Government of a value of $70,000.

Parkes M and D president, Lyn Townsend expressed how excited the Society was to be successful in the grant as last year they applied for the same grant but just missed out.

"We were pretty stocked to get it and very happy to get it the second time around," Ms Townsend said.

The society will use the money to upgrade their microphone system.

"We need to upgrade our microphone system, at the moment we are on analog microphones which restricts us as to how many we can use whereas digital we can fit more on the frequency plus they are much better quality.

"Obviously it's time for an upgrade so it's a lot of money for us to try and find so for us to get a grant with that amount of money, it means that we can replace them all pretty much at once rather then trying to do it over a period of so many years."

The upgrade of the microphone system will improve the sound of future productions for the society and will allow the society to use their money to improve other areas of production.

This State Government grant is the third successful grant for the society in the last 12 months.

"We are on a bit of a run with grants, we've been very lucky and successful in the applications and it has allowed us to invest a lot of money into improvements in the theater and for our shows."

The society received $14,000 from the Community Builders grant and a $5,000 volunteers grant from the local member.

The society has recently been producing sell-out productions with their recent production being their first pantomime in the last 20 years.

"Cinderella and the Crystal Slipper had audience involvement and particularly appealed to the children so it made it a popular family show.

"It was Ruth Barnes' first time directing and she did a fantastic job, she will certainly be a director of the future, it was a very successful production," Ms Townsend said.

If you missed out on being a part of the fabulous Cinderella production, don't worry as there is less than two weeks until auditions for Mamma Mia.

Now is your time to register for auditions especially for mature and young men ranging in age from 18 to 30.

"Mamma Mia is a big show, it's fun, it's a well known production and we've got big plans for Mamma Mia once we cast. It will be a great start to next year."

Check out the Parkes M and D facebook page for the audition pack and how to reregister.

The society is also planning a junior production for the middle of next year and the production of Little Shop of Horrors in October.

"After Annie we've got some fantastic junior talent that we need to foster and keep involved so we're trying to commit to do something for the juniors each year."

Parkes Musical and Dramatic Society are taking the theatre stage by storm and are looking forward to a very exciting 2025.