TEN-year-old Charlotte Reece will perform a role in this year's Rotary Manning Valley Schools Spectacular that many female musical theatre performers only dream about.
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The Taree St Joseph's Primary School student will portray Elphaba, the green witch, from the hit musical Wicked, and sing the duet For Good with special guest star and professional musical theatre performer Rachael Beck.
Katie Hardyman, one of the people working behind the scenes of the spectacular and a local representative of the Australian Children's Music Foundation, said Rachael had wanted to dress up and perform a song from Wicked and was interested in working on a song with one of the young people from the local area.
Charlotte, who loves musical theatre and has been taking singing lessons for the past three years with teacher Helen Monckton, was selected for the opportunity.
She was a featured performer in last year's schools spectacular and is looking forward to taking part again.
"I'm really excited," she said.
In preparation for the performance, Charlotte has been rehearsing with Katie, who is also a locally-based award-winning songwriter.
She's enjoying the song and is working extra hard to perfect the high notes, which she finds a bit challenging.
Charlotte has already seen Wicked on stage and said Elphaba is her favourite character.
"It's really good and I'm going to see it again in Sydney."
In addition to singing her duet with Rachael, Charlotte will present her dance solo, Cat in the Hat, and also be part of the Sound of Music musical item and the dance group performance to the Taylor Swift song, The Best Day.
A student of the Andrea Rowsell Academy of Dance, Charlotte has been dancing since she was two. She also studies drama with Marilyn Connors.
The Rotary Manning Valley Schools Spectacular is on at the Manning Entertainment Centre on Wednesday August 27 with concerts at 11am and 7pm.
Tickets are available online through the Manning Entertainment Centre or from Movies Games and More in Victoria Street, Taree.