SEVEN years of dance training at Roar Talent Dance School in Richmond has paid-off for 14-year-old Meg Dalrymple, who is currently touring Sydney with Loud Theatre Company in their production of Seussical the Musical.
Seussical is a musical based on some of Dr Seuss’s most popular children’s books, including The Cat in the Hat and Horton Hears a Who!, and Meg joins a cast of 35 - all school students from Western Sydney - in the zany production, which features singing, dancing and acting.
“I’m a dancer, and a featured dancer in the show, and I have my own solo where I’m the ‘shadow’ of the Cat in the Hat. I’m also a leopard in one part, and a fish in another part, and a ‘hunch’,” Meg told the Gazette.
Meg is in Year 9 at Arndell Anglican College, and has been taking dance classes since she was seven years old. After cutting her teeth in two musicals at school, this is her first out-of-school musical, and she’s thoroughly enjoying it.
“I get to dance, sing and act as well. Sometimes we’re dancing and singing at the same time, and there are some acting bits, but I’m mostly dancing throughout the whole thing. There are lots of fast costume changes as well,” Meg said.
“It’s been so much fun. Very busy, but heaps of fun. I’ve met lots of new people and made new friends. It’s been really good.”
Meg auditioned for Seussical in February - auditions were held at Nepean Creative and Performing Arts High School - and since then, the troupe has been rehearsing for six-to-eight hours nearly every Sunday.
Outside of Seussical, Meg spends 16 to 18 hours per week at Roar Talent on Bowman Street, taking classes in “everything” - including ballet, hip hop, tap, contemporary, lyrical, jazz, musical theatre, and stretching and technique.
“Sunday was my only day off, so now I don’t have a day off, but it’s worth it!” she said.
“I love to perform. And after Seussical finishes, I really want to audition for more musicals and dancing things. It’s a great experience.”
Loud is a new theatre group and Seussical is its debut production. The cast members are all performing arts students, ranging in age from nine years old to 17, and the production includes a full orchestra.
Loud principal and show director, Sophia Holland, said the group provided an opportunity for school-aged performers to get a taste of real, live musical theatre on the big stage.
“Our touring group bridges the gap between school performance and professional musical theatre,” she said.
“There are lots of touring vocal ensembles and dance troupes out there, but this is the first touring combined schools musical theatre company in Sydney.”
The troupe has already performed shows at The Concourse in Chatswood and Glen Street Theatre in Belrose. Next stop will be Roslyn Packer Theatre in Walsh Bay.
- Roslyn Packer Theatre - Friday, September 1 at 7pm; Saturday, September 2 at 2pm and 7pm. Book at roslynpackertheatre.com.au.
For more information about Loud Theatre Company, visit facebook.com/loudtheatrews.
