The following performers have been selected from over 50 audition videos via YouTube, and will perform before an enthusiastic crowd and sponsors at 7pm on Saturday 21 September 2019 at the live final – Papa Hou, 12 Hereford Street.
Make sure you come along and support your favourite act!
Meet our judging panel
Toby Behan
Upon graduating from the NZ School of Dance in 1992, Toby was awarded the Shell Scholarship for entry into the Royal New Zealand Ballet, where he remained as a dancer for ten years. Toby has choreographed works for the Royal New Zealand Ballet and several full-length works for the Southern Ballet Theatre in Christchurch, where he spent two years as resident choreographer. In recognition of his achievements in the field, Toby was named on the distinguished Honours Board at the New Zealand School of Dance in 2002. Toby was Assistant Choreographer for the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s 2009 production of Peter Pan and was commissioned to choreograph the full-length Pinocchio for the 2011 Tutus On Tour season.
Catherine Hay
Catherine has trained in the Christchurch International Musical Theatre Summer School Emerging Professionals programme. She has been working professionally as a musical theatre performer, and is also a classically trained violinist and accredited singing teacher.
Some of her theatre credits include Showbiz’s We Will Rock You, Les Misérables, Broadway Hitmen and Evita. Catherine has also performed in Jesus Christ Superstar (The Court Theatre); Lucy in Jekyll and Hyde, Amneris in Aida (NCMS); Joanne in RENT and Martha in Spring Awakening (MUSOC).
While Catherine’s passion lies in musical theatre, she has also performed as a soloist in a number of concerts and cabarets throughout the South Island in pop, rock and classical genres.
Ben Freeth
Ben Freeth has immersed himself in theatre since graduating from the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art (NASDA) with a Bachelor of Performing Arts. His previous Showbiz credits include: Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, The Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia! and Wicked. Ben’s Court Theatre credits include Romeo and Juliet; Mary Poppins; Cops and Robbers; Legally Blonde the Musical; The Ugly Duckling; Chicago; Titus Andronicus; Jesus Christ Superstar and Les Liaisons Dangereuses, in which he also worked as intern director.
Ben and a number of his talented colleagues have also founded the Christchurch-based theatre company, Blackboard Theatre Collective
There are three categories:
– solo performers, group performances, any dance genre
– solo singers, duos, choral groups, bands with vocals
– instrumental performers, bands with no vocals, circo, acting, acrobatics, comedy
$1000 cash prize is awarded to the winner, and $500 cash prize to the runners up of each category. The overall winner, selected from the category winners, will also receive and extra $1500 cash prize!
