NZ Idol Judge To Host Sing-A-Long-A Sound Of Music

NZ Idol Judge To Host Sing-A-Long-A Sound Of Music At Taranaki Festival Of The Arts

NZ Idol judge Jackie Clarke will be warming up the vocal chords of audience members at the Sing-a-Long-a Sound of Music, one of many shows featuring during the three week event.

But, says Jackie, the only judging she will be doing on the night will be of the costume contest.

Festival organisers invited Jackie to host the sold-out event at the TSB Theatre, TSB Showplace, New Plymouth on Saturday 6 August and she says she was delighted to accept.

“I knew I couldn’t possibly say ‘no’ to this. I have loved The Sound of Music ever since I was a little girl and if it was played here every Christmas I couldn’t be happier. Every time I see the film it just pulls me in – I think it’s a work of genius and it’s complete magic.” Jackie says she has yet to see the Sing-a-Long-a Sound of Music version, but is looking forward to the experience.

“My role is to warm everyone up and get the audience into the spirit of participation – this is not a passive experience at all.” Jackie will also be judging the costume competition and encourages all audience members to dress up. “My costume is a secret, but it will be something very Juliesque,” she promises.

Sing-a-Long-a Sound of Music takes one of the world’s most popular musicals and turns it into an event. With all the lyrics subtitled on screen, audiences sing a long with Julie Andrews and become active participants in this unforgettable movie.

Since Sing-a-Long-a Sound of Music first was screened in 1999, audiences in the United Kingdom, Ireland, United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have donned nun’s outfits, waved edelweiss, cheered the Von Trapp kids, booed the Nazis and hissed at the Baroness.

Jackie believes the event will be as popular in New Plymouth as it has been elsewhere in the world.

“I’m ready for anything to happen – bring it on Taranaki!” “A spontaneous, magical event. You will unabashedly sing your heart out.” – Los Angeles Times “One of the funniest and most extraordinary evenings of my life.” – The Independent, London Sing-a-Long-a Sound of Music is part of the Taranaki Festival of the Arts that follows the sell-out success of WOMAD New Zealand 2005 where Jackie Clarke also performed alongside Bravura, and as part of the Jubilation Choir. Both events are organised by the Taranaki Arts Festivals Trust.

Tickets for the Taranaki Festival of the Arts are available through Ticketek and the full programme is available online at www.artsfest.co.nz.

The Taranaki Festival of the Arts 2005 is funded and supported by the following organisations; CORE FUNDERS: New Plymouth District Council, Taranaki Electricity Trust MAJOR FUNDING PARTNERS: TSB Community Trust, Creative NZ, Te Waka Toi GOLD SPONSORS: Hooker Pacific, Staples Rodway, The Zieltjes Family in association with the Practical Education Institute GOLD MEDIA: Classic Hits Taranaki, Taranaki Daily News, More FM Taranaki SILVER SPONSORS: Reeves Middleton Young, Clelands Construction Ltd, Price Waterhouse Coopers, Transfield Worley Services, Plymouth International Hotel BRONZE SPONSORS: Billings, Fuji Xerox, Swift Energy NZ Ltd, The Most FM, Newstalk ZB, Westgate Transport Ltd, TSB Bank FESTIVAL GRANTS: South Taranaki District Council, New Zealand Community Trust, Venture Taranaki, Lion Foundation

ENDS

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