Wakatipu performers audition for next year's winter show,
Chicago. Photo by Olivia Caldwell.
Wakatipu performers showed up in numbers on Saturday to
the pre-auditions to next year's winter production, Chicago.
Director Bryan Aitken said he was impressed by the numbers
and abilities of those in the ladies section he saw hit the
floor dancing with heels.
"I can see a lot have been working hard since back in May
when I first saw them.
"People have started working hard in the gym and hard at
their dancing."
Mr Aitken said he was looking for the "triple threat" of
voice, acting and dance in those who would make the show.
"I want to see different people in the community as well.
"In the next 10 weeks these people can go away and work on
what they have learned today, which will give them a greater
audition."
Auditions will be held in March. A maximum of 20 women would
be cast and fewer men. Mr Aitken said it would be hard to
narrow down as more than 50 women had turned up for the
pre-audition on Saturday.
Chicago will be the 38th production by Showbiz Queenstown. Mr
Aitken as director will be carrying on from his success with
the Sound of Music this year.
He will be joined by music director Emma Wilson and
choreographer Anna Stuart, both of Queenstown.
Mr Aitken said the choreography for Chicago would be based on
the work by the show's co-creator and original choreographer,
Bob Fosse, and the rights for the original 1975 version had
been purchased.
"They'll have feathered head gear, feathered bottoms; they'll
have it all."
Songs will include All That Jazz, Cell Block Tango, Mr
Cellophane and Razzle Dazzle.
The Academy Award-winning film version in 2002 starred Renee
Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, John C. Reilly
and Queen Latifah.
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