Excitement levels are building among Ballarat Specialist School's senior students as they prepare for the school's first public musical theatre performance.
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More than 100 year 10, 11 and 12 students are stepping back to the 1950s to perform Grease at the Wendouree Centre for Performing Arts Centre next week.
The cast have been rehearsing every Friday since March, with the students so keen that many of the boys arrived at their first rehearsal wearing leather jackets and their hair slicked back.
"They are putting us to shame with their energy," said specialist leading teacher Caitriona Ferrer.
"Most of the students didn't know Grease before, but we did an audition and after we showed them the film of Grease, then they started watching it at home and on Friday afternoons."
In previous years the school has held one big school concert for all year levels, but this year has chosen separate experiences for different learning areas.
"It's the first time we've done a public show," Ms Ferrer said.
"We have a really great history of bands and music through the school and we've got lots of performing interests. Students perform publicly through eisteddfods and school concerts but we believe in their ability to take it to the next level."
Ms Ferrer said the senior school production would give middle school students something to look forward to and something different when they move up to the senior school, which is now located on the school's farm campus in Norman St.
"Our cast is an all abilities cast - we've got students with physical disability right up to intellectual disability - we are fully inclusive to get everyone up there and we'll have an Auslan interpreter at our Friday night performance to ensure we cater for the wider public."
On Thursday and Friday night the Ballarat Vintage Car club will have convertible cars on display outside the theatre, and rock and roll dancers will help set the atmosphere.
"We are super excited. We started with yes, the kids can do it and quickly realised they can do a lot more. They've surpassed our expectations, which were high, they've smashed it."
Tickets are available at wcpa.com.au
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