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West End Star for a Day
by Sally Parker | 17 March 2022
Ever since I was a youngster, I’ve dreamed of being the star of a West End show, belting out showstoppers in the style of Liza Minnelli and receiving standing ovations from my legions of adoring fans. If only I could sing, dance and act, I’d have the whole thing nailed!
So, when I receive an invitation to be a ‘West End Star for a Day’ I couldn’t turn it down. The invitation told us to arrive at Pineapple Dance Studios in Covent Garden at 3.00pm and to wear comfortable clothes and shoes “to get the moves” and “get the mood” - say no more!
The 90-minute session is run by professional coaches in acting, singing and dance, many of whom have performed in the West End.
Entering Pineapple is like arriving on the set of Fame and I can’t help but sneak a peek at what’s happening in the other studios. Our coaches, Adam and Livio, gather us into a circle and we begin with exercises designed to get us using our voices. Then we start to move, wiggling our bodies and making strange noises. By the time we are finished any self-consciousness is gone and we are raring to go.
Our performance is inspired by the well-known musical Mamma Mia (of course!) but we begin by first pronouncing the words to the songs clearly "making them choppy" and annunciating every syllable. We then team up with a partner to say the words directly to them. As we embrace our roles, arms start flying everywhere, “why, why, did I ever let you go!”
With our acting skills improved to Olivier Awards standard, we now start to learn the dance routine. Designed to be fairly easy to grasp, but still look impressive (and west-endy), we add on a little bit each time until we have a suitably long segment, and feel like pros!
Burning off all of that energy has created quite an appetite and so with a spring in our step we enjoy the next part of the experience, a pre-theatre dinner with wine at The Real Greek on The Strand. The package also includes “Mamma Mia” The Musical Tickets, making the full experience last around five hours. I happily settle in to watch the professionals show me how its done.
Imagine Events launched West End Star for a Day with Mamma Mia on March 11 and are already making plans to add other shows to the collection, including Drifters`s Girl, Jersey Boys, SIX, Grease (only on for 22 weeks) & Tina all spread across the spring & summer of 2022. Groups of six or more can have their own private coaching session for no additional charge.
The full experience is £219 and includes a 90-minute studio session, dinner, and best available seats for a West End show. Imagine Events pay a 15% commission to travel agents.
Other Imagine Events experiences include ‘Bond for a Day’, ‘London Ghosts, Ghouls and Taverns’ and ‘The Soho Music Experience’, and, coming soon, a range of experiences in Kent and Scotland.
More information can be found at: imaginexperiences.com/west-end-star-for-a-day-experience
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