Ashburton born and raised Jack Hanrahan is thrilled to have landed a spot in the ensemble of Wicked. Photo Katie ToddJack Hanrahan was eight years old and sitting in the audience of Fiddler on the Roof when he decided performing arts was what he wanted to do with his life.

“I looked at my mum and I said, ‘I want to do that’, and she just said, ‘sure’!” he said.

Thirteen years later, true to his word, Jack has a NASDA course, six years of singing lessons, eight Big Little Theatre Company shows, five years’ worth of Variety Theatre shows, endless Summer Singing School productions and “every other opportunity there was to take in Ashburton” under his belt.

Now, the 21-year-old is ready to tackle his first role out of NASDA, in the ensemble of Wicked in Christchurch.

The Showbiz-produced show will open on April 6, and it’s a role Jack said he was thrilled to land.

“A lot of people auditioned and I know a lot of people who missed out, but I was really thrilled to get it,” he said.

Under the direction of Steven Robinson, Jack will be performing along a host of Kiwi talent, including two other Ashburtonians – Jane Leonard and Greta Casey-Soley.

The family-friendly classic follows the story of an unlikely but profound friendship between two girls who first meet as sorcery students at Shiz University: blonde, very popular Glinda and misunderstood, green-skinned Elphaba. It will show 10 times at the Isaac Theatre Royale, and will be proudly attended by Jack’s mum and dad among other friends.

“I have a lot of thanks to my parents, who have supported me so much,” said Jack.

“I got my licence really late so there were a lot of late nights for them growing up, with rehearsals and singing lessons and so on.”

He also credits his singing teacher Jo Castelow, without whom he said he would not have got through the “really scary” NASDA auditions and into the performing arts school.

Beyond Wicked, Jack said he looks forward to imparting his own theatrical knowledge to learners. He has also just been accepted into a one-year teaching course for performing arts.

“I’ve always enjoyed the directing aspect of performance and I’m looking forward to teaching. I like helping people and saying ‘let me help you with what I know’ kind of thing,” he said.

It will be a balancing act – workshops and rehearsals for Wicked, classes for the teaching course and part-time work at Burgers & Beers in Christchurch – but Jack is ready and raring to go.

“I’ve dropped off a big colour-coded schedule of my rehearsals and classes to work,” he laughed.

Tickets and more information on the Showbiz season of Wicked is available at ticketek.co.nz/showbiz.

Katie Todd © The Ashburton Guardian - 22 January 2018