Open mic for cabaret kids

MUSICAL theatre production company the BallaRat Pack is inviting everyone to their first-ever open mic night.

From 7pm to 10pm on Friday, 15 July, people can take to the Mercure’s stage and belt out their favourite popular song or showtune.

Although intended to be a fun family evening, BallaRat Pack’s founder and artistic director Reuben Morgan said the event will help the group with another first.

“The reason we’re putting this on is to raise some capital for our first-ever Broadway to Ballarat: Kids Edition,” he said.

“It’ll be a two-thirds kids cast singing songs from various Broadway musicals which is essentially a jukebox play we’ve written a storyline around it for them to act out.

“So, I’m looking forward to seeing a wide range of songs and performers for this because we really have built up a bit of a community around our crew and would love to see the support for this.”

The fundraiser will include a raffle, and Morgan will host as his cabaret persona Vivian Fonteyn.

The BallaRat Pack has been running their Broadway to Ballarat show for five years.

As part of the junior edition, a 40-piece orchestra will accompany the show, which includes 15 kids out of a cast of 23.

Broadway to Ballarat: Kids Edition will run from Wednesday, 3 August to Sunday, 7 August at the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute.

Morgan said the fundraiser will provide a sneak peek of the young performers.

“If people want to see a preview of some of the talent in the show, then I would highly recommend coming to the open mic,” he said.

“The kids are the stars, and I’m looking forward to seeing what they do.”

Tickets for the fundraiser are $10 and can be booked at bit.ly/3QZ1sl7.