AUDITIONS & REHEARSALS

LAST YEAR

The Riverside Restaurant in Laxey again saw the first of the auditions for Manx Stars in Their Eyes 2008.

Once again a mixed bunch of young and old sang a variety of songs for the organisers to ponder over and put forward the best for the rehearsals to begin.

The rehearsals are not just about the singers learning their songs. The dancers had to begin the choreography planning for each artist, the  stage had to be mapped out so as every one knew where to come on and where to leave, the final three had to be practised receiving pretend cheques, the crew had to know what props were required (including a Grand Piano), the questions and answers have to be prepared and all of it got filmed and played back on the night in JP's Star Montage (out-takes included).

Then there was the recorded interviews - "Hi my name is .... I live in Douglas with .... The artist I'm gonna be tonight started out in ..... and tonight, I'm going to be ..."

This as always was the artists favourite bit (not). We've seen grown men sweat, women forget there own names and usually the most unlikely shy and sheepish artist just comes in and reels of the script in one take.

The fun began when the rehearsals went to the Villa - reality kicked that the night was looming in and the size of the Villa became apparent.

So the big night came and went and Jodie Teare won as Duffy.

It should be remembered that Manx Stars in Their Eyes has been running since the year 2000 to raise money for charity. It doesn't offer an life changing contract to the winner and although the Stars crew would all love it to happen, the winner is probably not going to have a number one single in the charts - we live in hope.