School musicals costing a bomb

By AINSLEY THOMSON

High schools are spending tens of thousands of dollars - some up to $60,000 - and hiring theatre experts to stage their musical productions.

Disappearing are the days of productions taking place in the school hall with dedicated staff and parents providing their time for free.

Now, professional directors and choreographers are being employed by schools along with sound and lighting experts.

Commercial theatres are hired if the school has no auditorium and tickets are sold through agencies such as Ticketek.

Schools are spending up to make sure their production is better or as good as other schools in an increasingly competitive market.

Auckland's Sacred Heart College's budget for last year's musical production was $60,000. Rangitoto College on Auckland's North Shore spent $30,000.

Other schools are believed to spend thousands more.

Fraser High School in Hamilton put on a "cheap" production, hiring only sound and lighting equipment. It cost $8000.

Other schools the Herald contacted said they put on "big productions" but would not say how much they cost.

Principal of Hamilton's Hillcrest High School, Kelvin Whiting, said its production, which is held at a commercial theatre and used theatre professionals, was a fantastic investment and gave the school a profile. He would not say how much the production cost.

Rangitoto College principal Allan Peachey said school productions were now not just about fun, but were an opportunity for students to learn how professional shows worked.

Most schools said they aim to break even through ticket sales and sponsorship.

But chairman of the Hamilton Operatic Society Paul Mitchell said stage productions were fickle and it was hard to pick which would do well - often they did not break even, instead incurring large costs.

Senior College of New Zealand principal Kathy Parker said the private school puts a lot of money into its productions, but does not expect to make any money back from them.

"We do it because we see it as a wonderful way for our students to learn. And also as a way of linking to our parents and our future parents."

The school hires the Maidment Theatre and a professional director.

However, some schools are continuing with the more traditional approach to musicals.

Auckland Grammar principal John Morris said the school had always put emphasis on productions, which it does each year in conjunction with Epsom Girls Grammar, but did not hire professionals or spend large sums of money on them.

"The idea is it's supposed to involve the kids. The backstage people are all kids and the lighting and sound is done by kids. It's all part of the learning experience."

WHAT IT COSTS

* Rights to a musical: usually 16 per cent of gross takings, but sometimes a flat fee, for example 'Grease' (popular with schools) has a flat fee of A$20,000 ($23,000).

* Hiring a theatre for three or four days: about $6000-$7000.

* Professional director: $6000.

* Professional choreographer: $5000.

* Lighting equipment and expert: $2000- $3000.

* Sound: between $2000 and $15,000, with an average of $7000.

* Costumes: $600.

* Additional costs: sets, make-up, extra professionals.