Broadway of the bush: Kyabram and Echuca Dillmac performers combined their talents to produce several amazing renditions of smash hit songs, dance routines, musicals and rock hits. This song, titled Hello, was from the Broadway production of the Book of Mormon. Photos: Chris McDonald, Dillmac
Pint-sized versions of the world’s most famous entertainers strutted their stuff on stage at the Dillmac Entertainment showcase held at Kyabram P-12 College hall at three separate concert events at the weekend ― showcasing the extraordinary wealth of singing, dancing, acting and musical talent involved with Dillmac Entertainment.
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Friday night kicked off the triple-extravaganza when senior members of the Kyabram and Echuca-based multi-faceted performing arts company launched back-to-back (to-back) two-and-a-half hour shows that involved everyone from two-year-olds to teenagers about to complete their secondary educations.
A Million Dreams: Performing the duet from The Greatest Showman is Holly Bourke and Billy Sidauruk.
The preschool showcase followed on Saturday before a massive 42 acts, involving solo performances, duets, dance troupes, band performances and musical theatre tributes, took to the stage then followed by the junior showcase later that afternoon.
Channeling the likes of Elton John, Marilyn Monroe, Fleetwood Mac’s late front woman Christine McVie, Alanis Morrisette and several of the world’s best known rock bands ― Dillmac performers offered the hundreds of family and friends that attended the concerts an insight into the work of the past 12 months.
Dressed for the part: Isobel Cunningham had a lead role during the opening act, an Elton John medley, producing an outfit worthy of the eccentric performer.
A film crew of three with seven cameras ― was scattered throughout the college hall and DVD sales will be heavy if the enthusiasm of the audience is any indication of how much everyone enjoyed the show.
An Elton John tribute, where five different students took on the role of the legendary English performer, kick-started the event.
Black and gold: Dillmac’s senior dance competition team performed several outstanding acts during the Friday and Saturday showcase celebrations.
Dancers of varying ages, numbering up to 120 (for the junior show) and all dressed in brightly coloured suits with typically outrageous sunglasses on their faces, supported the leads in the performance.
For some of the performers it was a warm-up for a pair of smaller events (on November 10 and 16) that will be staged at different venues, including the Plaza Theatre at Kyabram.
Saluting Sir Elton: Izayiah Ryan during the Elton John medley, which involved several wardrobe changes and was a fitting way to kick-off the 42 acts that followed in the next two-and-a-half hours.
That will again feature several of Dillmac’s Triple Threats, the singing, dancing and acting talent that promise so much for the region’s entertainment future.
There wasn’t a whole lot that wasn’t covered in the junior showcase, where I had an almost front row seat.
It included rock ’n’ roll music, an operatic duo, several Broadway classics, amazing dance routines, music from Disney productions and even a tribute to the white shirt and black tie-wearing, door-knocking team from the Book of Mormon.
There was even ballet on the program.
Nothing was really left uncovered and it was a tough decision for those who decided to fill out the voting cards that were offered up for the people’s choice awards.
Team Dillmac: Claudia Moon, Ruby Oman, Indi Gilmore, Harper Raverty, Indra Hubble, Kate Thomson, Rose Grills and Mikala Brown in one of several song and dance routines.
I am hardly a student of the arts, but I felt a few of the performers were worthy of mention, one in particular the show stopping duet from Holly Bourke and Billy Sidauruk who performed A Million Dreams from Hugh Jackman’s The Greatest Showman.
Indi Gilmore and Ruby Oman had various roles in the show, but their Flower Duet piece was similarly gobsmacking.
Izayiah Ryan confirmed his status as one of the town’s top talents, while Hannah McCleary, Lila Mislicki, Indra Hubble, Kinsey Graham, Macy Campbell and Salikah Phommathet also had solo performances.
And Elton again: Sir Elton Hercules John CH CBE was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight and, just like during the Dillmac concert, underwent many costume changes during the years. Playing the part in the Dillmac concert is Hunter Cannon.
Friday night’s showcase also featured solos from Matilda Altoft and Maelle Lyle, while Hunter Cannon teamed up alongside Indi Gilmore and their core group for a rendition of Let it be.
Harper Raverty, Kinsey Graham, Libby Johns and Arliah Rudd were also among the featured performers at the senior concert.
At the preschool showcase Macy Campbell and Kinsey Graham kick-started things, while Lucy Hemming, Josh Parker and Archie Turnbull were also on the program.
Band members Isobel Cunningham, Ella Hickey, Digby Newman, Kate Thomson, Sarsha Dunstall, Sarah McKenzie Ross and Will Mitchell also rocked out on several occasions during the showcase to have the crowd bopping along to some of the latest ― and some more classic ― rock ballads.
Marilyn’s moment: Ruby Oman (as Marilyn Monroe) and the Dillmac core group performed a tribute to the famous Hollywood actress who has been a constant in musical tributes through the years.
Liz Dillon directed and produced the showcase, with Chris McDonald the music director, Millie Dillon-McKenzie the head choreographer, Isabelle Turnbull in charge of tap and ballet choreography (with assistance from Rose Grills and Indra Hubble).
Andrew Moore and Bodhi Hawken managed lights and sound, while Troy Styles managed the band and Boyd Butcher the spotlight.
There were a dozen groups with almost 130 members involved in the junior showcase alone.
Lead singers: Kate Thomson and Sarah McKenzie-Ross were front and centre as the Dillmac band produced several smash hits to keep the audience entertained.
In the spotlight: Indi Gilmore and Ruby Oman produced a showstopping Operatic rendition of the opera, Flower Duet, which is a soprano and mezzo-soprano piece which premiered in Paris in 1883.
