4:10pm Wednesday 4th August 2010
By David Watkinson
AN ACCRINGTON teenager is hoping to win over stage stars on a new prime-time reality TV show.
Natalie Graham, 19, of Whalley Road, will be taking to the stage on Five’s talent show ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ on Sunday with her group Sorority.
The 15-strong group is made up of girls studying for a degree course in Musical tTheatre at the new University Centre at Blackpool and the Fylde College.
They are one of just 24 acts nationwide to reach the live semi-finals after impressing producers and industry experts at the auditions in Manchester, beating competition from 4,000 hopefuls.
Such was the strength of their performance that the show’s producers contacted them and have since filmed extensive background material at the college.
Natalie, a former Moorland High School pupil, said: “We’ve been practising so much and can’t wait to do the show at the weekend.
“It will be an all-singing all-dancing performance and a mash-up of all different styles.”
The show is recorded live and relies on the votes of viewers to see their favourite acts progress.
She said her parents, Diane and Paul, will be watching at home.
David Scott Thomas, musical director of the group, said: “This degree course, one of the very few in the country to offer training specifically in the Musical Theatre industry, always attracts really talented students and it’s great that this show has come along just at the right time to allow us to showcase those talents.
“The girls are working very hard to put the finishing touches to their performance and it would be great to see them in the final.”
The show is presented by former Spice Girl Emma Bunton and judged by singers Anastacia and Duncan James from Blue, former EastEnders actress Tamzin Outhwaite, and High School Musical choreographer Charles 'Chucky' Klapow.
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