Rehearsals for the hit musical featuring the music of Queen, We Will Rock You, are in full swing for the Blue Mountains Musical Society (BMMS).
This latest offering brings together a cast of different backgrounds and ages, including many young people who are honing their performance ability onstage whilst studying at high school.
Winmalee High School year 11 students, Marlena Thomson and Erin O’Reilly, are no strangers to the BMMS stage. Thomson, who starred as Little Sally in Urinetown earlier this year, loves the interesting characters and great dance numbers in the show.
“It’s great to be able to work with people from all ages and experiences,” she said. “I love Queen’s music and how it’s used in the show.”
O’Reilly, who has been doing shows with the society since 2010, finds the community environment of BMMS to be supportive and enriching.
“At school, working with other teens your age can be quite competitive, but at BMMS we learn that everyone is of the same importance. Everyone is so supportive of each other, no matter what.”
Featured dancers Bella Blackwell and Lily Munro are welcoming the challenge of incorporating their dance skills into the wider world of musical theatre.
“My interest in the performing arts began when I was just two years old and my mum enrolled me into a fairy dance ballet class at LKM dance studios,” said Blackwell. “Considering I’ve only been a dancer my whole life, it’s quite exciting and thrilling to be able to change my skills a little and try something different like acting and singing,”
“I enjoy the challenge of singing, acting and dancing all at once,” said Munro, who has been dancing since she was three-years-old. She was inspired to get involved in musical theatre after watching her cousins perform on the stage.
Family has also been a great influence for one of the youngest cast members, Tia Cross.
“My brother got me into musicals when I was quite young, and I did my first show at the age of nine and have not stopped since,” said Cross. “I was ecstatic when I heard I was able to audition for We Will Rock You,” she added, being familiar with Queen’s classic music from her dad’s love of the band.
Accomplished ice skater and performer Simone Aubrecht has also been performing with the society for many years, with We Will Rock You marking her fourth show with the society despite her young age.
“I loved being in Cats and Joseph, but I really became interested in musical theatre after doing Jesus Christ Superstar with BMMS,” said Aubrecht. “With BMMS, it feels more professional than school, you are surrounded by like-minded people and I feel very inspired at rehearsals.”
Blue Mountains Grammar School year 11 student Annika Bertinat likewise finds her love of Queen’s music expanded through performing their songs in the show.
“Queen is actually one of the only bands everyone in my family collectively likes,” she said. “I was at first sceptical about this show when it first came out, but once I heard the soundtrack and saw the storyline, they actually did it justice. I think it’s so cleverly done.”
Blue Mountains Musical Society performs We Will Rock You from October 20-November 4 at the Blue Mountains Theatre. Tickets available www.bmms.org.au or by calling 4723 5050.
