DUBBO was the first of seven stops for a brand new talent competition leading hopefuls across the country in search of Australia’s next “triple threat”.
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The 91 cast and crew members of Network Ten’s newest entertainment show I Will Survive arrived in Dubbo on Tuesday afternoon, stopping at locations such as the Dubbo sale yards, the Holy Trinity Anglican Church and Victoria Park’s No.1 oval as just a few filming locations.
The entourage of television and musical theatre stars included former Packed to the Rafters star turned host Hugh Sheridan and judges Jason Donovan and Priscilla: Queen of the Desert director Stephan Elliot, as well as an appearance by guest judge actress Rachael Taylor.
The show’s premise is to search for Australia’s next big star who can sing, dance and act, and who would eventually wow international audiences in Broadway musicals.
Series producer Michael Dye said the seven-town tour would stop in Alice Springs, with the cast and crew headed to Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New York.
“Contestants came from Sydney and would sing, dance and act in carefully selected locations in places like Dubbo and Alice Springs, and be judged accordingly by Jason Donovan, Stephan Elliot and a special guest judge,” he said.
He said the producers chose the Dubbo sale yards as a location because it was the epitomy of a country town, and aimed to showcase natural and unique locations across Australia.
“Once the tour wraps in Alice Springs, the show contestants will have a final test in Sydney before travelling to the United States to hear the decision of who will win $250,000 and have their life changed forever,” he said.
Mr Dye said the show would “kickstart an international career” in musical theatre for the winner, with the aim of training them up to impress an international audience.
“We have been blown away by the high standard of our cast...this will be a fantastic experience for them,” he said.
One of the final stops for the cast and crew will be tomorrow’s rugby union game between the Dubbo Rhinos and Parkes Boars, with the contestants putting on a very special performance about 2pm.
Mr Dye promised it would be a “truly unforgettable experience”.
Filming of the Ten Network’s I Will Survive began in late May, with the Dubbo footage expected to air in the series’ premiere episode later this year.
