Year 8 student, Abby O’Donoghue, spent the October school holidays on stage, playing the lead role of Jane Banks in Mary Poppins the Musical  at Centrestage Theatre in Orewa.

Abby has been performing in musical theatre productions since she was 9 years old.  Earlier this year she was seen as the Cat in the Hat in Suessical the Musical.

Abby is a Trinity College of London student in musical theatre and studies dance, acting and vocal training with Northern School of Performing Arts, based on the Hibiscus Coast.   She is delighted to have just been selected to perform in the upcoming Broadway Jr Theatre Festival in the city where she will perform in both the new works showcase in Finding Nemo Jr as well as reprising her role of Jane for Mary Poppins, representing Centrestage Youth Theatre Company.   At the festival competition, youth theatre companies from all around Aotearoa will present a portion of a Broadway show to be adjudicated by an international panel of industry professionals from NYC and the West End.

It’s an incredible opportunity to learn from the best and make new friends from around the country.