Camera IconCredit: News Corp Australia

Sydney child stars set to perform in Evita the musical

JOCELYN AIRTHThe Sunday Telegraph

SCHOOL, homework, piano practice and basketball games — life will be normal five days each week for these boys and girls from this September.

Then there will be the other two days, when they’ll be singing and dancing alongside Australian pop legend Tina Arena in the smash hit musical Evita.

Eighteen of Australia’s up-and-coming child stars will perform in three groups of six, alternating ensemble roles over the musical’s seven-week season in Sydney.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW
The children set to perform in Evita. From left: Robbi Morgan, Zoe Zantey, Julian Daher, Ben Park, BeBe Liu-Brennan and Alleriah Murdock.
Camera IconThe children set to perform in Evita. From left: Robbi Morgan, Zoe Zantey, Julian Daher, Ben Park, BeBe Liu-Brennan and Alleriah Murdock. Credit: News Corp Australia, Sam Ruttyn

Robbi Morgan, 9, said he can’t wait to wow audiences at the Sydney Opera House.

“I was so excited, I was in the car coming home from school. I got a call from my agent saying I got Evita. I got home and I ran straight into my dad’s office and told him all about it” Robbi said.

With almost 100 children auditioning for the ensemble, Julian Dahr, 8, and Zoe Zantey, 9, said they were thrilled to be in the production.

“I was a bit nervous at first because it was scary. There were lots of kids and this is my first time being in a (major) musical,” Julian said.

Zoe said: “I was really excited to get it, because I have never done something like this before. I was also proud of myself.”

Tina Arena will star in the Evita musical production.
Camera IconTina Arena will star in the Evita musical production. Credit: News Corp Australia, David Caird

Evita tells the rags-to-riches story of Eva Peron (Tina Arena), the wife of former Argentina dictator Juan Peron (Paulo Szot), and how she became the “spiritual leader of the nation”.

Written by Broadway kings Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber the musical boasts a cascade of major awards including the Olivier and the Tony for Best Musical

In between rehearsals and shows, the child stars all still manage to squeeze in homework, sport, music lessons and all the things normal kids do.

“I play the saxophone and drums. And also soccer and basketball,” Robbi said.

“At home, I still like to dance, practise piano and play video games,” BeBe Liu-Brennan said.

* Evita the Musical will play at the Sydney Opera House’s Joan Sutherland Theatre from September 12 to November 3.