By ABIGAIL CASPARI in Rotorua
Footloose and fancy free - Rotorua's James Harris is hoping to make it on the international stage after auditioning for the Australian production of The Lion King.
He was one of almost 80 people auditioning in Rotorua yesterday to be part of thenext cast for the Disney production.
Casting director Egil Kipste and casting co-ordinator Anne Driscoll were so impressed with James' talent he was called back for a second audition late yesterday afternoon.
He will now head to Auckland for further auditions.
"I'm very excited to get this far," he said.
"I was just so shocked."
Earlier this year the 18-year-old played the lead role of Ren in the Rotorua Boys' High School/Rotorua Girls' High School production of Footloose - played by Kevin Bacon in the 1984 film.
James has performed in several other productions including The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Westside Story and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
For yesterday's audition he sang Almost Paradise from Footloose.
James is friends with Rotorua's Turanga Merito, who plays the lead role of Simba in the Sydney production of The Lion King, and has been to Australia to see the show twice this year.
He said it would be amazing to perform for an international audience.
"It's just something I would love to do."
James has no preference about which character he would like to play.
"Just to get any character would be a privilege."
Ms Driscoll said the auditions in Rotorua were fantastic. Of those auditioning, 10 were called back for a second audition and of those six are heading to Auckland for further auditions over the next few days.
"We were impressed. It was definitely worth our while coming down here."
She said no decision would be made on who had been chosen until early next year.
Among those auditioning in Rotorua yesterday were former Rotorua Girls' High School student Huia Hamon, who has just completed a performance diploma at Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, and Nepia Stewart from Gisborne - the younger brother of Toni Stewart, who is in the present cast.
