Show aims to raise funds for musical playground
The musical show, organised by Wānaka Musicians Incorporated, began three decades ago and took inspiration from the British television series, Stars in Their Eyes.
Wānaka's version of the show is not a contest but has consisted of locals dressing up to imitate famous people and later reveal their real identity to the audience.
Audition registrations recently opened in preparation for the musical show to be held towards the end of September.
The show has been a community favourite and has helped fund youth music programmes across the region, such as the Jamie Robertson scholarship at Mount Aspiring College.
This year organisers have decided to aim for something different by planning to create a designated outdoor space into town for people of all ages to enjoy musical instruments.
Chairwoman Janet Dolan said they had always given money to local music education but this year they wanted to do something the whole community could enjoy.
"We're talking about a full musical playground that adults, children, families, anybody can play," she said.
"There'll be percussion instruments, there'll be bells, there'll be keyboard, and it's all outside."
The group already had $30,000 put aside for the playground and was working with the council to get an estimate of costs and find the right location.
Currently the show is gathering interest from the community and will be holding its auditions on the weekend of June 14.
Ms Dolan said as the town's population grew, a more diverse range of people had been auditioning, something she felt gave the show strength.
"We're aware that the audience represents the whole of Wānaka so we don't just want the pop music sort of thing, we want something that appeals to the whole audience," she said.
The show has been open to a range of abilities and welcomed experienced and first-time performers.
The show's team has also experienced a change with local musician and Festival of Colour performer Anna Shaw taking over as the director.
The opening night for the musical show is set to be September 24 and will run until September 27 at the Lake Wānaka Centre.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NZ Herald
3 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Sir Elton John set to perform at Steve Jobs' daughter's lavish wedding
'He will play a selection of his songs, including some of Eve and Harry's favourites. 'A concert from Elton doesn't come cheap. Apparently they've forked out over £1 million to have him perform. 'It's going to be incredibly special.' The couple – who began dating in 2022 and announced their engagement last September – have reportedly got quite the guest list for their 'upper-class English luxury with a cool, modern American vibe' wedding, which Eve and Harry have reportedly co-worked with celebrity events planner Stanlee Gatti, 69, to organise. Eve Jobs announced her engagement to British showjumping gold medallist Harry Charles in September. Photo / Getty Images It is claimed the former Democrat First Lady Kamala Harris, 60 – who is said to be very good friends with Laurence – will be attending, as well as Bruce Springsteen's daughter, American equestrian Jessica Springsteen, 33, and ex-Apple designer Sir Jony Ive, 58. The insider said: 'Kamala Harris, who ran for the [US] presidency last year, is very close friends with Laurene and is on the guest list. Kamala Harris is expected to attend the wedding. Photo / Getty Images 'This is a very quiet place, not far from the Cotswolds. Everyone is used to tourists and famous faces, but this is something else. 'The wedding is being planned like a military operation,' our insider said. 'The itinerary is scheduled so precisely, with guests starting to arrive all this week before the wedding celebrations begin on Thursday. 'Kamala and Bill Gates' daughters, Phoebe and Jennifer, are all on the VIP guest list. Bill Gates' daughter, Jennifer Gates, will also attend Eve Jobs' wedding. Photo / via Instagram 'Matt Helders from the Arctic Monkeys has been invited, too. It's an eclectic mix of stars and will be like a 'who's who' of the rich and famous. 'There are a lot of important American political figures going to be there. No doubt they'll all be Googling each other.' Eve's siblings – her brother Reed Jobs, 33, sister Erin Jobs, 29, and half-sister Lisa Brennan-Jobs, 47, who Steve had with his first wife Chrisann Brennan, 70 – are also expected to attend their wedding, with Harry's dad, London 2012 team jumping gold medallist Peter Charles, 65, and his close and extended family. A nearby village will go on lockdown from Wednesday – the day guests will reportedly fly into Oxford airport on their private jets, with helicopters on the ground ready to whisk them to the secret estate where Eve and Harry will say 'I do'. The source said: 'Eve and Harry's wedding is like a multimillion-pound fairy tale. 'It's a society wedding like no other, and it's turning rural Oxfordshire upside down. 'The sleepy village in which it's taking place feels like it's turning into a no-go zone, with secret service operatives and blokes who look like they work for the FBI.' One of the extravagant wedding venues in the Cotswolds. Photo / Getty Images And the insider claimed Eve, Harry, and Stanlee's organised event will be a wedding like no other. They added: 'Every final detail of the big day has been signed off by Eve and Harry, but this is Stanlee's baby. 'It's the meeting of two soulmates from across the Atlantic, and that will be reflected in the wedding, too. 'The vibe is upper-class English luxury with a cool, modern American vibe. It's going to be like nothing anyone at the wedding has experienced before.'
Scoop
20 hours ago
- Scoop
Significant Art Sale Next Week
Press Release – International Art Centre A highly sought after art work by one of the country's most acclaimed painters of New Zealand bird life, is predicted to bring up to $750,000 when it is offered for sale for the first time in many years in Auckland next week. Don Binney, who died in 2012 aged 72, was an avid bird lover and his oil painting, Fatbird II, will be offered at an auction of Important and Rare Art at the International Art Centre in Parnell, Auckland, next week (subs: Tuesday, July 29). The sale also features numerous other works by renowned artists including New Zealand's Charles Frederick Goldie, Frances Hodgkins, Peter Siddell, and the world-acclaimed British street artist known only as Banksy. The signed and dated oil painting, Fatbird II was painted by Binney in 1964 and features a New Zealand native wood pigeon (kereru) swooping over two New Zealand tom tits, affectionately known at the time as fatbirds. International Art Centre director Richard Thomson, who will conduct the sale, said the Binney work had not been offered for sale for many years. He said Binney was known as a great innovator in the art world and Fatbird II, is considered to be an exemplary work from the greatest period of his art. He said like numerous Binney bird life paintings, in Fatbird II he has brought together stylised birds of two different species. The sale also included three works by Goldie, one of which has been described as an exceptional portrait of a 90-year-old kaumatua (respected Maori elder) and another of a respected 102-year-old Maori woman, said to be an exquisitely rendered image painted with an academic precision and deep reverence. Three works by the British street artist known only as Banksy include a screen print, estimated to bring up to $150,000. Mr Thomson said Banksy has a world-wide reputation for challenging social norms in his art work which often expose uncomfortable truths through his sharp and visually arresting style. City with Towered Houses, a 1974 painting and one of the two works by Peter Siddell, the New Zealand artist who died in 20111 aged 76, was expected to bring up to $200,000. 'Even in tight economic times art works of the style and quality we have listed in this sale, have always attracted a lot interest and we have been fielding calls from throughout New Zealand and other parts of the world, particularly for the Banksy and Goldie works,' Mr Thomson said.
Scoop
21 hours ago
- Scoop
Significant Art Sale Next Week
A highly sought after art work by one of the country's most acclaimed painters of New Zealand bird life, is predicted to bring up to $750,000 when it is offered for sale for the first time in many years in Auckland next week. Don Binney, who died in 2012 aged 72, was an avid bird lover and his oil painting, Fatbird II, will be offered at an auction of Important and Rare Art at the International Art Centre in Parnell, Auckland, next week (subs: Tuesday, July 29). The sale also features numerous other works by renowned artists including New Zealand's Charles Frederick Goldie, Frances Hodgkins, Peter Siddell, and the world-acclaimed British street artist known only as Banksy. The signed and dated oil painting, Fatbird II was painted by Binney in 1964 and features a New Zealand native wood pigeon (kereru) swooping over two New Zealand tom tits, affectionately known at the time as fatbirds. International Art Centre director Richard Thomson, who will conduct the sale, said the Binney work had not been offered for sale for many years. He said Binney was known as a great innovator in the art world and Fatbird II, is considered to be an exemplary work from the greatest period of his art. He said like numerous Binney bird life paintings, in Fatbird II he has brought together stylised birds of two different species. The sale also included three works by Goldie, one of which has been described as an exceptional portrait of a 90-year-old kaumatua (respected Maori elder) and another of a respected 102-year-old Maori woman, said to be an exquisitely rendered image painted with an academic precision and deep reverence. Three works by the British street artist known only as Banksy include a screen print, estimated to bring up to $150,000. Mr Thomson said Banksy has a world-wide reputation for challenging social norms in his art work which often expose uncomfortable truths through his sharp and visually arresting style. City with Towered Houses, a 1974 painting and one of the two works by Peter Siddell, the New Zealand artist who died in 20111 aged 76, was expected to bring up to $200,000. 'Even in tight economic times art works of the style and quality we have listed in this sale, have always attracted a lot interest and we have been fielding calls from throughout New Zealand and other parts of the world, particularly for the Banksy and Goldie works,' Mr Thomson said.
