Original Buffy musical

Vampires, werewolves and witches will step onto Ararat Town Hall stage tomorrow and Friday in an original Ararat College musical.

‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer the Musical’, loosely based on the TV series, will feature an on-stage cast of 40 students playing a mix of characters including Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Buffy the Vampire Slayer series character Spike.

Director and teacher Janine Pool said students had been dedicated in their rehearsals, with many stepping into roles that were originally cast for other students.

“The students have been working hard to learn their lines, dances and songs,” she said.

“They have practiced during many lunchtimes, after school and even in the school holidays. And, as always, I have

my reliable cast who step up and take on extra roles when others withdraw.

“They have all shown inspirational acting skills and have stepped into roles that weren’t initially theirs.

“They have no idea how grateful I am that they are willing to do this.”

Ms Poole said the college’s musical would tell the story of Buffy, played by Caitlin O’brien, who fights vampires and other mythical creatures.

She said to add to Buffy’s enemies, a ‘Demon of Song and Dance’, Harry Hauser, will be set on wreaking havoc on the town of Sunnydale by making its residents sing and dance ‘to their doom’.

“They begin to sing and dance so much, they cannot do their everyday chores and eventually they all might expire unless Buffy and her team can stop him and his evil minions,” she said.

“There are even some werewolves thrown into the mix. There will be numerous well-known songs. It’s definitely worth seeing as the students have been hard at practice.

“And even though this musical is about vampires and demons, it remains PG rated, so it will be lots of fun for all the family.”

Other lead roles include Ashleigh Evans-schott as ‘Watcher’ Giles, Jack Ward as Xander, Lauren Bowles as Cordelia, Zane Saunders as Angelus, James Mullin as Spike, and Zafirah Davies-harrison as Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

Ms Poole said many students were new performers, had taken on their first lead role for the production, or were experiencing back-stage work for the first time.

She said she was impressed by their talent and excited for all cast and crew to be able to see ‘the fruits of their labour’ across their two performances.

People can buy tickets from Ararat College office.