The Transition Year Musical has been a highlight of the academic year since our first production of Aladdin way back in 2022.
Back then, we were still in our temporary home of the prefabs in Mill Road and used the Annex of St Brigid’s Church in Blanchardstown Village to stage the show. As we were still a very new school, it was a year full challenges and lessons. Between Ms Byrne’s Art class, Ms Keenan’s Music class, and Mr Kavanagh’s English class, the students managed to band together to put on our first ever musical, which is still spoken about today as a highlight of the history of the school.
Since then, we have moved into our permanent home in the Phoenix Park Racecourse, we have got our own stage, and acquired many links in the local community which have helped us to stage our musicals for the last number of years.
The TY musical module have developed and evolved over the years, and following the success of Beauty and the Beast, Shrek, and Sister Act, we know split into our TY students into six groups; music, art, drama, PR, woodwork, and home ec. This way each student is involved in the production: Drama and music students make up the cast of the show, art students work on hair, make-up, props, and scenery design, PR students focus on ticket sales, fundraising, and promotion, home ec students will work on some costumes and baking for fundraisers like tuck shops, and woodwork students focus on making sets, and crafts for the Christmas fair and musical mementos.
The TY musical is a brilliant opportunity for students to work together and step out of their comfort zones. It is a long and challenging, but hugely rewarding process, and at the end of it all, we take a trip to Odeon Blanchardstown to view the show on the big screen, allowing all of the TYs to see all of their hard work come to life.
And if it needed any more selling, have a look at what some of our past TYs have said about their own experiences:
- My favourite memory was the Musical. The backstage laugher and craic we had when people were singing their songs was hilarious.
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My favourite memory of TY is our musical. I loved being a part of the cast, learning the dances and the songs, and all the time and preparation we put into it and watching it all come together was absolutely worth it - it turned out amazing. I'll always remember the final show, the crowd's energy made that last night unforgettable.
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TY was a mix of unexpected challenges and fun experiences, but organising the musical was definitely a highlight, it was chaotic but rewarding.
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My favourite memory from TY was definitely the three nights performing the musical. The build up to it all year made it so enjoyable and we all made so many memories together, both on and backstage.
- The musical is one of the highlights of the year, so try get as involved in it as you can.
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My best memory was definitely the musical. I loved rehearsing with everyone and watching it all come together. I also had lots of fun performing the three nights and for the primary schools. It was definitely a very different experience, but would totally do it again.
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You might not want to do the musical but on the nights of doing it you're going to have so much fun it's one of the best things about TY.
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I would say one of the best memories of this year for me would be the musical. Not only did we work hard for it, we also enjoyed it. The advice I would give to the upcoming TYs is to take the year chill and do any part you can in the musical.
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If I could give any piece of advice for the incoming TY's it would be to try everything. Even if it's not something you would usually do, give it a try. Go to the tryouts or audition for the biggest role in the musical. You might surprise yourself!
Aladdin 2022
Beauty and the Beast 2023
Shrek 2024
Sister Act 2025