Youngsters lived US dream at Universal
Encore perform in top Orlando studio
Young East Kilbride performers were starstruck in the United States.
Encore Stars Academy – which runs classes in East Kilbride and across South Lanarkshire – took 12 children, along with parents and teachers, to Orlando for the first time last month.
Youngsters from the town were among those taking part in Universal Studios’ Universal Stars programme where groups have a 30-minute slot to perform on the Lagoon Stage at Universal City Walk.
Encore performed a parody of The Walking Dead in front of thousands of spectators.
There was singing, dancing and acting – and a couple of the parents even took to the stage in the chorus along with their little ones.
Encore was founded and is run by Allen Hannah.
He opened the musical theatre school in 2013 with sister Kimberley, who has since moved to Spain after securing a professional dance contract – but joined Allen in America to lend a hand.
And Allen told the News he was proud of all his stars-in-the-making.
He said: “It was an absolutely fantastic experience for all involved.
“The children – and the adults – all had a great time and the performance went brilliantly.
“Myself and a few of the parents even ended up on stage.”
He went on: “We chose The Walking Dead theme as it was near Halloween and the Americans go all out – it’s a really big deal over there.”
And Allen praised everyone at Universal for making the experience such a memorable one.
“I think everyone was a little in awe of just how big Universal is and the sheer scale of it,” he said. “One of the parents did say when we walked in ‘it’s not M&Ds is it?’
“We also had a bit of explaining to do going through security when they scanned our bags only to see fake body parts for the performance and the kids dressed as zombies!
“But they were fantastic and we had a security escort with us everywhere which the kids absolutely loved because they felt like VIPs.
“The kids also came away with a bunch of certificates and plaques from top stage schools over there, which will be a big help for them when they go for auditions.”
As well as the performance, the group also took part in workshops hosted by professional singers, dancers and actors and performers based at Universal Studios.
“The workshops were amazing and they tailored them really well to the kids,” Allen added.
“Our group were quite young with a good few of them only eight or so and they didn’t push too hard. All the staff at Universal, in fact, were first class and we can’t thank them enough.”
Encore are now busy putting the final touches to Alice in Wonderland, which will run this Friday and Saturday, November 18 in the Village Theatre.