Michelle McCormick Inspired by the works of Dale Carnegie By
20 to 22 FEBRUARY DRAMA CENTRE
Meet Dale Carnegie, writer and self help guru who has all the answers, drawing from the lessons he has leant along the way. Born in poverty on a farm in Missouri, USA, to creating one the most significant books in the self-help genre. How to Win Friends and Influence People has been read by millions of people and sits on the top shelf of executives across the world. With strategies that have been tried and tested, Michelle McCormick’s stage adaptation explores themes of human connection, social success and helping those around you live up to their full potential. Commissioned by The Midnite Youth Theatre Company in 2023.
The Midnite Youth Theatre Company (MYTC) at Christ Church Grammar School is Western Australia’s longest running youth theatre company for young people aged 10 to 25 from Perth, Western Australia. Since it’s inception in 1987, the company has been committed to fostering creativity and understanding of others and oneself, through the world of drama. Some of Australia’s finest talents, including Tim Minchin, Emma Pearson, Toby Schmitz, Stuart Halusz and Rebecca Davies, have risen through the ranks of Midnite. With more than 200 productions under its belt, there are sure to be many more stars on the rise. The MYTC tours offer a great opportunity for young performers and creative people to experience taking a show on the road whilst learning from theatre practitioners and experiencing fantastic sights along the way. The Midnite Youth Theatre Company has conducted 14 international tours including Asia, Canada, the UK and US, performing plays and musicals for a variety of audiences.
In 2023, Artistic Director, Gregory Jones approached award-winning WA playwright, Michelle McCormick to write a new work based on the popular self-help book, How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. Over a six month period, the first draft was given a reading by local WA artists, followed by further writing and rewriting. Finally in September 2023 the cast were brought together for the first reading of the play, On the Road to Win Friends and Influence People.
Tim Minchin on Midnite It’s a long way from Perth to London’s West End. Tim Minchin credits formative experiences in youth theatre for creating a path that led him from high school into the performing arts, into a high-flying comedy career and eventually into the creation of Matilda the Musical. His career as a writer composer started at Christ Church Grammar School’s The Midnite Youth Theatre Company.
“I was involved in Midnite Youth Theatre Company when I was at school,” Minchin says. “It was a place where I could just write from instinct, without pressure and in an environment where the work was appreciated. Looking back, what I wrote back then was slightly more simple, but not far off what I write now.”
Cast Jasper Hatton
Dale
Hudson Black
Mr Howard
Indigo Ryan
Operator 2
Tara Hewitt
Operator 1
Asha Scott
Operator 3
Alexander Friars
Al Capone/Kaiser
Ed Rawlins
30 Year Old Dale
Nicholas Hoedemaker Benjamin Hoffman Jack Robertson
Hotel Manager Young Dale Tippy The Dog/Charity Mugger
Callum Chadbund
Police Commissioner
Tom Mairs
Boy 1/Mr Woodcock
Mathew Jarvis Sam Minchin Cooper Wood Matthew Bennett
Crowley/Prince Father/Bill Boy 2/Salesman Policeman
Aidan Greene
Manager/Botanist
Henry McRae
Doctor/Employee/Mr Northcliffe
Cameron Wood
Boy 3/Andrew Carnegie
James Baillie
Frank/Escalator Mechanic
Harry Colvin
Mr Pullman/Journalist
Vicki Halabi
Lady/Mrs Northcliffe
Alisha Boyatzis Olivia Shields
Girl/Sister Farm Woman
Creative Team Playwright Director Set Designer
Michelle McCormick Gregory Jones Sarah Duyvestyn
Costume Designer
Jay Waugh
Lighting Designer
Tess Reuvers
Sound Designer/Composer
Harry Oliff
Operator
Jodie Busby
Poster Artwork
Kat Atkinson
Photography
Stephen Heath
Tour Manager
Ralph Gurr Genevieve Gurr
The Company would like to thank Christ Church Grammar School Friends Of Drama Student Tours Australia
SPOTLIGHT ON
Dale Carnegie Dale Carnegie (1888 – 1955) was an American writer and lecturer, and the developer of courses in self-improvement, salesmanship, corporate training, public speaking and interpersonal skills. Born in poverty on a farm in Missouri, USA, as a youth he enjoyed speaking in public and joined his school’s debating team. During high school he grew interested in the speeches at the various Chautauqua assemblies. His first job was as a salesman, selling correspondence courses to ranches, bacon and soap, and lard for Armour and Company. In 1911, Dale quite sales in order to pursue his lifelong dream in becoming joining the Chautauqua lecture circuit – an ensemble road show of public intellectuals and storytellers who performed in large tents across the US. Instead, he ended up attending the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York but unfortunately, found little success as an actor.
Living at the YMCA on 125th Street NYC, Dale convinced the establishment to allow him to instruct a class in public speaking. The Dale Carnegie Course was born, tapping in to the average American’s desire to have more selfconfidence. By 1916, Dale conducted a sold our lecture at Carnegie Hall, which influence his decision in 1919 to change the spelling of his last name in honour of the steel magnate, Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie’s first collection of his writings was Public Speaking: a Practical Course for Business Men (1926), later entitled Public Speaking and Influencing Men in Business (1932). In 1936, Simon and Schuster published How to Win Friends and Influence People which became a best-seller from its debut. The book had sold over 30 million copies in 31 languages making it one of the most popular books of all time. Today it continues to sell in excess of 250,000 copies annually. Carnegie described his book as an ‘action-book’ but it is today categorized as one of the first in the self-help genre. Almost every self-help book since has borrowed some type or style or form from Carnegie’s ‘path breaking best-seller.’
Principles to win friends and influence people If you want to gather honey, don’t kick over the beehive The big secret of dealing with people He who can do this has the whole world with him Do this and you will be welcome anywhere A simple way to make a good first impression If you don’t do this, you are headed for trouble (What’s in a name?) An easy way to become a good conversationalist You can’t win an argument A sure way of making enemies — and how to avoid it
If you’re wrong, admit it A drop of honey The secret of Socrates What everybody wants An appeal that everybody likes When nothing else works, try this (Throw down a challenge) Talk about your own mistakes first Let the other person save face Spur people on to success
INTERVIEW WITH
Michelle McCormick When did you first know you wanted to be a playwright?
Had you read any Dale Carnegie before working on this play?
I always liked writing when I was young. Stories and even a novel once. Though it wasn’t until I was at uni that I discovered playwriting and that I was actually pretty good at it. I chose playwriting as an elective and the first play I wrote in that course, actually the first one I ever wrote, won a national award.
No. I had definitely heard of it, at least the title. I think most of us have. I don’t think I really knew anything more than that.
Where did you learn to write plays? I did the playwriting course at uni. It was taught by Igor Sass, a fabulous local actor. The course was only one semester long so it was mainly learning all the basics. I think I really learnt to write plays from reading and performing. I have always been involved in theatre since I was a kid, either acting or directing and I would always go and watch every play I could and I loved reading scripts. I think when you are exposed to the theatre for that long you pick up a lot of different skills you don’t even realise you have. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity with Igor’s guidance to put it into practice and fall in love with playwriting.
How did you approach the adaptation? Firstly, I read the book. Which I really enjoyed. I then worked through, chapter by chapter, drawing from the book all the text I felt was important. From there it was a matter of turning, at times the direct text and at others times just the theme, into dialogue, a scene. It was a really rough draft at first. Every few chapters, Greg, Midnite’s artistic director, and I would get together to discuss what was working, what we wanted more of, and what we wanted less of. We were really on the same page when it came to what we wanted as a finished product and had a very similar vision. It’s always helpful in any writing process to have someone else to bounce ideas off and to give you an objective opinion, as your work becomes your baby.
Once I had a rough draft complete, I needed grow the ‘world’ I had created on the page by creating characters that reoccur throughout the show that the audience can grow to love and follow on their journey, like the call centre girls, Mr Howard and the hotel clerk. This is very different to the book where each story introduces a new person before moving onto a completely different story and we don’t hear about them again. Once the first draft was complete, we had a table reading with actors, which enabled us to hear how it sounded aloud and to gather feedback from some people outside of the process. We made some cuts and changes during the rehearsal process and I’m sure there will be more changes and edits throughout the season. That’s the great thing about writing a play, it continues to evolve long after it hits the stage.
How has working on this play differed from writing your other plays? The writing process, well, it was definitely different. I actually stumbled at first. This is my first time writing an adaptation and I think I made the mistake of trying to stick too closely to the language and rhythm of the book without putting my voice, my writing style in there. Once I relaxed and felt comfortable as a writer putting my spin on someone else’s story, the writing began to flow. I literally worked my way through the book writing the play from beginning to end. This is the first time I had actually written a play in chronological order, usually my process jumps all over the place and is quite chaotic.
What is the most satisfying part of the creative process? Falling in love with the characters you have dreamed up. That’s the best part of the creative process, I think. These ‘people’ didn’t exist before you put them on the page and now you feel like you know them
inside and out. They really exist to you. And, getting to see them and hear them when you watch the show for the first time. That’s the best bit.
Were there any particular themes you wanted to focus on? I guess, human connection. Positive human connections. In a world where face-toface interactions and conversations are no longer the norm, I guess I wanted to explore and expose the positive impact having those face-to-face human connections and relationship can have on us as individuals, as families and as a wider community. And how we all have the ability to once again learn how to communicate effectively with one another without relying on devices.
What do you hope audiences will take away from the play? A belief in themselves that they have that ability to learn successful communication skills and have the guts to have real conversations and make a positive impact on those around them. I know that may sound simple, or maybe not, but I think a lot of people don’t realise the power that they have, to let’s say ‘influence’.
How do think this play will connect with a contemporary audience? Yes, the book was written a long time ago and the play is set around 1936, but we are still the same people today. The same people longing for human connections and with the same need to understand human nature, how we relate and communicate. It could be argued that this is even more relevant in contemporary culture. With the constant use of text messages, social media and all the other impersonal ways we communicate we have become accustomed to avoiding having to use our interpersonal skills.
Creative Team Michelle McCormick Playwright Michelle graduated Edith Cowan University with a BA in Creative Arts in Drama and Performance, and a BA in Education. Before transitioning to playwriting, she performed with various theatre companies, including London Imperial College Drama Society, receiving five-star reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Her debut script The Invitation, won Best Play at the 2014 Noosa National One Act Play Competition. Additionally, her plays Trust and The Invitation both made it to the shortlist for Sydney’s Short and Sweet Festival in 2017. One of her works, Mother’s Ruin, was produced by Sky Blue Theatre in London as part of the 2018 British Theatre Challenge and had a successful run in 2019. Over the past seven years, Michelle has been providing relief work at Christ Church Grammar, often collaborating with the Drama department. In 2023, she dedicated her time to crafting her first adaptation, titled On The Road To Win Friends and Influence People, which is scheduled to tour with Midnite in January 2024. Notably, Grimm marks Michelle’s debut as an assistant director with The Midnite Youth Theatre Company.
Gregory Jones Director Gregory is Artistic Director of The Midnite Youth Theatre Company and Director of Drama at Christ Church Grammar School. He has directed and produced over 60 productions in performance and education contexts throughout Australia and the UK over the past 20 years. For Midnite he has directed A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Green Day’s
American Idiot, The Visit, Where in the World is Frank Sparrow? (UK Tour) The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, Silas Marner, Big Fish, The Lab Rat (UK Tour), The 25th Putnam County Spelling Bee, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Viva La Restoration, Cloudstreet, Assassins, Revolting Rhymes, and Holes. From 2007 to 2010, Gregory was the founder and Artistic Director of WhipLash Theatre, an independent theatre company based in Perth. Production highlights include Six Characters in Search of an Author, Oh What a Lovely War!, Lord of the Flies and Side by Side by Sondheim. He was previously Director of Drama at Camberwell Grammar School in Melbourne (2011to 2013) and Guildford Grammar School in Perth (2005 to 2010).
Sarah Duyvestyn Set Designer Sarah graduated from WAAPA in 2014, receiving the David Hough Award for Outstanding Achievement in Design. During her time at WAAPA Sarah worked on numerous productions, notably Realism, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, Reefer Madness! the Musical and The Golden Age. Sarah has previously designed for The Midnite Youth Theatre Company on shows such as Assassins, Roald Dahl’s Dirty Beasts, Viva La Restoration, The Lab Rat, Big Fish, Away, The Three Musketeers, American Idiot, and most recently, Cosí. Other design credits include High School Musical, 42nd Street (WAAPA) and Xenides (Black Swan State Theatre Company). Sarah also has a background in youth theatre having graduated with a Bachelor of Creative Arts with Honours from Murdoch University. During her time at Murdoch she worked on multiple children’s theatre productions, one of which toured Asia in mid-2010.
Jay Waugh Costume Designer Jay has worked in the theatre and film industry for over 25 years. In that time she has worked with Ewan McGregor, Sumi Jo and Hugh Jackman. Jay has worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon, Opera Australia and Sesame Street. For the last 19 years she has been working for The Midnite Youth Theatre Company as Resident Costume Designer. In that time Jay has worked with over 20 directors and on over 60 productions. Some of her favourites include Goodmorning Mr Magpie, Cloudstreet, West Side Story, The Fantasticks, Viva La Restoration and Antigone.
Tess Reuvers Production Manager/ Lighting Designer Tess graduated from WAAPA in 2008 with an Advanced Diploma of Lighting for Live Performance. Her design credits include The Shape of Things (Best Production Perth Equity Guild Awards 2010) and Yellow Moon – The Ballad of Leila and Leigh (Hot Bed Theatre Ensemble) Sweeney Todd, Les Liaisons Dangeruses and East (WAAPA). As production electrician, The Year of Magical Thinking (Black Swan State Theatre Company), AV Technician To The Rescue (Bizircus/Pinstripe Circus) and Stage Manager for The Amber Amulet (Barking Gecko Theatre Company). She has worked with a variety of organisations, including; Deckchair Theatre Company, Mega Vision Sound and Lighting, and PICA. Tess has also held positions as venue technician, tour manager and in-house designer. In 2013 she took up the position as Production Manager and Resident Lighting Designer for The Midnite Youth Theatre Company.
Harry Oliff Sound Designer/ Composer Harry is a music director, pianist and educator. In the theatre scene, his MD repertoire includes recent productions of All Shook Up, Fame and The Wizard of Oz (HAMA Productions, 2022–2023, Crown Theatre), Annie, The Addams Family, The Little Mermaid, Wicked, Grease, Hairspray, Legally Blonde, Bring It On, Little Shop of Horrors, Seussical, Sweet Charity, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Xanadu, High School Musical, and Cry-Baby (WAAPA). With a passion for choral music, Harry has worked with the WACO Choir, WA Young Voices, and is currently the Director of Rossmoyne Community Singers and Strike-A-Chord. He assembled a 250-voice choir for the Perth International Arts Festival “AC/DC Highway to Hell” event. He has toured with the awardwinning Mercedes Select Choir to the 2019 Summa Cum Laude Festival in Vienna, and accompanied for the West Australian Opera, WAYV, and Quire Vocal Addiction. Harry was a member of the orchestra for the Australasian Tour of Wicked (2011, 2015). He currently lectures in music theory, music theatre vocal technique and repertoire at MATRIX Academy. Harry is thrilled to collaborate with the Midnite Youth Theatre Company on this exciting new project.
2024 SEASON CHAIRMAN Alan Jones ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Gregory Jones ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS Jodie Busby Ryan Dawson Kalika Duck PRODUCTION MANAGER/ LIGHTING DESIGNER Tess Reuvers COSTUME DESIGNER
The Midnite Youth Theatre Company is Western Australia’s longest running youth theatre company for young people aged 10 to 25 years from Perth, Western Australia. Established in 1987 at Christ Church Grammar School, Midnite is treasured for its continued commitment for those seeking to explore beyond the limits of school drama; producing work in professional venues and touring productions internationally.
Jay Waugh ARTWORK DESIGNER Kat Atkinson SET DESIGNERS Stephanie Cullingford Sarah Duyvestyn TOUR MANAGER Ralph Gurr Genevieve Gurr
CONTACT The Midnite Youth Theatre Company Christ Church Grammar School Queenslea Drive Claremont WA 6010 (08) 9442 1677 midnite@ccgs.wa.edu.au
midnite.ccgs.wa.edu.au
INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES Kevin Owen (England) Elizabeth Briggs (Scotland) Prof Grant Ferguson-Stewart (Canada) EMERITUS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Anthony Howes
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2024
SEASON