Show aims to raise funds for musical playground

Otago Daily Times

25-05-2025

For its 31st year, Wānaka's Stars in Your Eyes show is fundraising to help build the town's first 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.