Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, which was performed by Dreamcoat Productions at Twyford Hall in late November and early December, has received five nominations and one commendation at the Canberra Area Theatre Awards (CAT Awards).
The nominations were announced on Monday evening, December 12 at an event in Canberra after judges considered performances throughout the wide area from Merimbula, Canberra, Cooma, Dubbo, Bathurst to Wagga Wagga.
The nominations are a reflection of the enormous success the production enjoyed.
Luca Yi, of Bega has been nominated for the Patricia Kelson Encouragement Award for his role in the Joseph and also for his role as Pugsley Addams in Spectrum Theatre Group’s The Addams Family.
Luca has been performing in the family’s living room in front of friends and family since the age of six.
“I’ve always wanted to act since I was small,” the 12-year-old said on Tuesday after hearing of his nomination.
“We have a lot of musicals on record at home, so I sing along to those all day.”
From Westside Story to Fiddler on the Roof and new musical Hamilton, he’s practised them all, and dreams of one day of hitting the stages on New York’s Broadway and London’s West End.
“I love the feeling of being on stage in front of all those people,” he said.
In a tribute to Luca’s undoubted talents, he has been asked to perform at the CAT award night in Dubbo, February 2017.
“I was so excited when I heard I would be performing,” he said with a smile.
Luca will perform a solo rendition of the song Those Canaan Days from Joseph.
“Musical theatre really brings everyone together,” he said.
All proceeds from the production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat are being donated to the Social Justice Advocates of the Sapphire Coast.
Director of Joseph, Shaun Wykes said it was really nice to be nominated in the CAT Awards as the organisation specifically recognises community theatre.
“The quality of talent in this town is just amazing and I am very proud of everyone involved,” Mr Wykes said.
He said that the nomination for the musical director (David Willis) was also a nomination for the entire cast and the orchestra, “a compliment for the musical side of the show”.
