RIVERMOUNT ROCKS THIS TOWN

Logan Entertainment Centre has hosted the premiere of a new musical, Rock This Town, performed by a large cast of students from Rivermount College at Yatala.

Rock This Town is an original musical conceived by Rivermount College’s Music Coordinator, Adam O’Connor.

The show features lyrics and music made famous by the rockabilly group, the Stray Cats, and the swing revival group, the Brian Setzer Orchestra (formed by the lead singer of the Stray Cats, Brian Setzer). Mr O’Connor said it was a delight to introduce his cast of 76 teenage students to the rockabilly style which was popular when he was growing up. “Songs like Rock This Town and She’s Sexy and 17 were part of the soundtrack to my teenage years, but aren’t so well known to young people today,” he said. “It was great to see the way the teens of the new millennium embraced the music and had so much fun with it.”

The lead roles, played by Rivermount Senior students Taylor Pearce and Tanai Rogers, were supported by an enthusiastic cast which really rocked, with choreography designed by Year 11 student, Daisy Watson.

Principal Dr Nancy Hillier said Rock This Town was the most sophisticated musical project yet undertaken by Rivermount College.

“For a musical to be devised and produced by one of our staff members, with the assistance of so many staff and students, says much about the strength of Rivermount’s performing arts program,” Dr Hillier said.
The audiences loved the show, with its great music and infectious sense of fun. It was the culmination of many months of hard work, and I congratulate the students and staff who contributed their time and talent to making it such a success – especially to Adam O’Connor for creating the show and to Darryn Swaby for directing it with such style,” Dr Hillier said.