There’s no doubt Tevra Plamondon closed her eyes, clicked her heels three times and imagined herself on stage.
But she’ll have to wait to learn whether she snagged the role of her young life.
Plamondon, 16, made the shortlist of 20 aspiring stars from across Canada hoping to sing, act and dance her way to play Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz, the upcoming Andrew Lloyd Webber production in Toronto.
Now Plamondon must impress the judges at a musical boot camp, the next stage of the competition, in Toronto in August.
Only 10 contestants will move on to the elimination-style competition on the upcoming CBC television show Over the Rainbow in September.
The show will run two days a week with the contestants performing on the first night and live eliminations on the second night.
“Like every other little girl, my dream is to play Dorothy,” said Plamondon, a Grade 11 student at Notre Dame High School. “I was Dorothy for Halloween when I was younger. I watched the movie whenever it came on television and I have known the songs forever. When I found out this was happening, I was like I have to play Dorothy.”
And Plamondon has already put on ruby red shoes and asked the Good Witch of the South to take her back to Kansas. She was the understudy for the high school’s production of the Wizard of Oz in March.
The 16-year-old has danced competitively for 13 years. She was also a part of tap duet with her brother, Chadd, 18, for about seven years. When she is not dancing, she is participating in community theatre productions.
“I’m probably not the only girl who placed Dorothy in their high school musical,” laughed Plamondon.
irls are really seasoned performers. They are all fantastic. I was extremely intimidated when I auditioned because they have all had formal voice training. They voice train like I dance train.”
Plamondon said she may not be able to keep up with her voice but she is grateful for the opportunity.
Plamondon auctioned for the spot last month in Calgary where she made the top 100. Two weeks later, she was in Toronto singing Over the Rainbow for casting directors and producers.
The budding starlet is daughter of Ruby and Wayne Plamondon and dances out of Strive Dance Academy Society. Plamondon is one of two teenagers from Alberta in the top 20. Kelsey Verzotti of Calgary also made the cut.
crhyno@www.reddeeradvocate.com