It was probably Lauren Schmutter’s destiny to take on the role of Grizabella in Albury Wodonga Theatre Company’s production of Cats.
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The Andrew Lloyd-Webber masterpiece was the first musical she ever heard as a little girl, when her mother Liz Kolisnyk brought home the soundtrack after seeing the show.
Lauren learnt the entire show off by heart.
When the AWTC’s production was locked in for early October at the Albury Entertainment Centre, it was a challenging decision for Schmutter, who was already committed to perform in Livid Production’s 10th anniversary performance of Nunsense.
Nunsense plays at The Cube Wodonga from September 26 to 29.
But it’s a challenge the Wodonga music teacher and Border stage veteran was ready for.
“We planned to do Nunsense because it’s been 10 years since we did it,” Schmutter says
“We’ve got only five in the cast and four of the original cast members from 10 years ago are in this cast as well, and I’m one of them.
“It’s a really special show for us and we’re really excited to do it again but, of course, when I heard about Cats I knew the role of Grizabella was fairly iconic but was only reasonably small so I really thought that I could juggle it.”
While playing Sister Amnesia and Grizabella in back-to-back shows is a first, the classically trained music teacher has graced stages across the region for many years.
She teaches music at Wodonga Senior Secondary College, in June co-directed BYTESized Production’s Xanadu and also is a partner in the Border Show Business Academy, a new school which combines singing, dancing and acting.