Zoe tours with The Sound of Music

A FORMER Bexhill High student is celebrating after winning a role in the nationwide touring production of The Sound of Music.

Rising star Zo Doano, 20, who recently completed a three year BA (Hons) Musical Theatre degree course at the renowned Arts Educational School London, of which Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber is President, performs in the ensemble of the hit West End musical and is one of the understudies for the role of Liesl, the eldest of the von Trapp children.

It's a dream come true for Zo as three years ago she featured in the BBC programme, How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?, in which members of the public helped select an unknown to play the starring role of Maria, originally made famous by Julie Andrews in the timeless movie classic, The Sound of Music, and which Lord Lloyd-Webber adapted for the stage in the West End production.

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Zo successfully competed against thousands of other hopefuls, reaching the final twenty two in the selection process.

The role of Maria eventually went to the talented Connie Fisher who not only starred in the West End production but is set to delight audiences up and down the country with her performance of Maria in the touring production.

Zo is thrilled to have the opportunity to perform alongside Connie and Michael Praed, who plays the part of Captain von Trapp in the production.

Zo said: "I feel so lucky to be given a job like this, my first major professional job, straight out of drama school this is an amazing experience."

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The show opened with a preview at Cardiff's Millennium Centre and received a standing ovation from an appreciative audience.

Zo said it was an incredible experience:

" It really was amazing. Connie is so lovely to work with and she received a standing ovation. It's so much fun working with her, Michael Praed and the whole cast, and the three sets of children who tour with us '“ they are all lovely."

Getting the performing bug at an early age, Zo began dancing and singing at ESSPA in Bexhill when she was six and said:

"I have always had a great passion in musicals and as soon as I realised it was possible to perform as a career, I never looked back."

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Since then her talent, determination and dedication has set Zo on a career course that has seen her excel in her performing studies, gaining top grades, distinctions and merits for her work along with already bagging many roles.

Her theatre credits include Peter Grimes (Glyndebourne Opera), juvenile dancer in Hammond Productions Cinderella at the White Rock theatre and the lead role of Janet Van De Graff in The Drowsy Chaperone, a final year production at "Arts Ed", which ultimately lead to her being snapped up by an agent.

Zo said it was "a dream come true" to be accepted at the prestigious "Arts Ed"school and to have received a full scholarship which ultimately lead to her BA degree, which is recognised by all the West End theatres and employers.

"The training, the course and the facilities are second to none and I was very lucky."

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Zo's TV credits include artist Daria Martin's Winter Garden for Tate Britain, commissioned by Film and Video Umbrella and De La Warr Pavilion.

The Sound of Music tours for a year.

For further information on tour dates, venues and ticket enquiries visit the website at: www.thesoundofmusictour.com

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