Chihana Perera is shredding her private school image and becoming a rock star – in real life and on the big stage.
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The 12-year-old Ballarat Clarendon College student will spend the coming months rehearsing for then appearing as Tomika in the latest big-budget Andrew Lloyd Webber musical School of Rock.
Chihana is in one of three alternating casts of 12 pint-sized musical prodigies who will appear on stage during the show, which opens at Melbourne’s Her Majesty’s Theatre on October 31.
“I play the role of Tomika in School of Rock which is all about singing, performing, dancing and all about music which I love,” she said. Tomika is the lead singer of the band, meaning Chihana has a long list of songs to master and the moves to match.
“I’ve always wanted to sing in front of a big audience and be part of a real life band,” she said.
Rehearsals for the season begin in Melbourne this week.
“I’m really excited to learn all the songs and dance and to meet everyone and make music,” Chihana said.
Stepping on to the stage of a blockbuster musical is nothing new for Chihana, who played the role of Amanda in Matilda the Musical during its 35 week Melbourne season at the Princess Theatre in 2016.
With that experience under her belt, she’s keen to help her cast members who will be making their big stage debuts.
“I would say to enjoy the moment. It’s a really great opportunity and enjoy every little thing you do with each other.”
Chihana, who is also a member of the Australian Girls Choir, loves music and dancing, writes her own songs, stories and piano pieces and says the School of Rock role is perfect for her.
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“I love doing music and performing, I want to be a performer and I really wanted the role,” she said.
School of Rock is based on the film which follows a failed, wannabe rock star who decides to earn a few extra dollars by posing as a substitute teacher at a prestigious private school where he turns a class of straight-A students in to a mind-blowing rock band.
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“I would say to enjoy the moment. It’s a really great opportunity and enjoy every little thing you do with each other.”