Perth actor selected to represent Australia in US festival
An aspiring theatre performer from Perth is the youngest of a WA contingent headed to the US to audition for a part in the Junior Theatre Festival in Atlanta.
Emily Sweeney, 14, is one of five from WA selected to join the 40-strong Aussie All Star acting team preparing to embark on the overseas opportunity.
'When we get to America, they choose a show and we all have to audition for it. We get four days to learn the entire show and perform it at the JTF Atlanta; typically there is only five lead roles,' Emily told PerthNow.
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'There will be about 6000 kids from America so I am very nervous. If I mess up or don't do as well as I usually do, I won't be seen.'
Emily — who as a young girl dreamed of being a florist — fell in love with acting four years ago after securing a lead role in a musical production of James and the Giant Peach.
'When I was 10 I had tried all the sports and was not good at any, so my Mum's final attempt was to let me audition for a show,' Emily said. Emily Sweeney from Perth is the youngest actor chosen as part of the Aussie Alll Stars team Credit: Emily Sweeney
'I fell in love after the first audition. I had a really good feeling about it and we went to the first rehearsal and everyone was so nice and welcoming. I felt so at home in the community.'
After attending Parkwood Primary School, which did not have a drama club, Emily was set on attending Fremantle's John Curtin College of the Arts.
She secured a lead role in Western Theatrics' Legally Blonde, which was successful enough to tour Newcastle last year.
'I played Brooke Windym and it was a hard role because I had to skip and sing at the same time,' she said.
'I thought performing in Sydney would be the biggest thing I ever do but when I was there I was asked to audition for the Aussie All Stars, the travel team that goes to America.
'I am very excited for the experience.'
This trip will be Emily's first time travelling outside of Australia and is going to cost $12,000.
She has started a GoFundMe to help pay her own way and avoid putting financial strain on her family.
'I will still be able to go to America even if we don't raise the money but when I get back I will have little money to support my parents and we will have to save for years to get back to where we are now,' she said.
The two-week trip includes choreography workshops with industry professionals, New York City sightseeing and tickets to two Broadway musicals.
'I am so excited; even if I don't get a lead role it is going to be such a great experience,' Emily said.
The theatre buff has dreams of attending the WA Academy of Performing Arts and landing a lead role in a Mamma Mia musical production one day.
Emily expects she might have to leave Perth to make her acting dreams come true but said she was looking forward to that too.
'I am more excited than scared to leave Perth,' she said.
'It's definitely scary being away from everyone that has supported me but if I got the chance to be on Broadway, I would move in a second.'
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