GC’s MICHELLE HERBISON chats with Stefanie de Castro about her rise from schoolgirl at Geelong’s Sacred Heart College to performing with the stars on Australia’s biggest stages.
GC: As an ensemble member in the national tour of Grease the musical, with Melbourne shows coming up in January, what’s it like sharing the stage with big-names Bert Newton, Todd McKenney and Anthony Callea?
As ensemble member I’m in a lot of the show, which is great. I’m in all the main numbers everyone knows from the movie and a few extra songs that are in the musical that people might not know.
I get to dance a lot and sing a lot because the ensemble’s on stage a lot in this show.
So far it’s been really great working with people I’ve watched on TV, admired and looked up to. It’s a bit surreal, especially with Bert Newtown in particular, because I used to watch him on TV all the time. He’s really lovely – all of them are lovely, actually.
I understudy two roles in the show, Marty and Patty, and I actually got to go on in Brisbane. Bert gave me a bottle of champagne and a card – he’s just a sweetie.
GC: Why is Grease one of your favourite musicals. What are your favourite moments in the show?
I grew up watching the movie with John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. I’ve always loved the whole show.
My favourite part in the musical would have to be doing Beauty School Drop-out, dressing up in all the long, white angelic costumes. It’s similar to the movie with all the girls dressed as angels; it’s kind of Frenchy’s dream sequence.
I actually played Frenchy when about 10 at a singing school concert – to actually be in the professional musical is definitely a dream come true for me.
GC: Tell us about your musical theatre debut in 2012 as an original cast member of the Australian premiere of TML’s Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was a really great production to be involved with as well. It’s hard to break into the musical theatre industry, so it was great landing Chitty.
It’s more old-fashioned compared to Grease, which is a bit more up-beat and set in the ‘50s. The cool thing about Chitty was definitely the flying car.
It was pretty cool singing and waving to the car every night and I’ll never forget that.
GC: What’s it like being a professional dancer in stage shows?
It’s a lot of hard work and obviously a lot of physical energy goes into every show. We do eight shows a week, sometimes nine.
It’s tough and you have to take care of your body, eat healthy and get a lot of sleep.
Being in a touring production I have to spend a long time away from my family and my husband – he’s got a full-time job as well, so it’s hard to balance work and family life.
It can be tricky negotiating, ‘When am I going to see you next’, but at the same time it does have its fun side. My husband comes up and we see a bit of Sydney together, then we see a bit of Brisbane.
More in the latest Geelong Coast Magazine – out now.
