CQU Performing Arts graduate Andrea Shine is in the cast of 6 singers for a lavish new production called OperaMania, due to open on April 19 at Johannesburg's Nelson Mandela Theatre.

The show is billed as a rival for Cirque de Soleil in terms of production values and features arias from Carmen, La Traviata, La Boheme, Madame Butterfly, The Marriage of Figaro and many more.

Andrea in performance mode

OperaMania reportedly features dazzling 16-storey high set designs, beautiful costumes, backing dancers and even a bit of nudity. The producers hope it will become an export success for South Africa.

Patrons can look forward to an exotic underwater scene and a masked party in hell during the 3.5 week opening season.

The show has been conceptualised, designed and directed by Andrew Botha and the music is reworked and re-orchestrated by Charl-Johan Lingenfelder. Opera buffs have been promised that the musical integrity remains intact. More details and images are available at: http://www.packedhouse.co.za/

Andrea Shine is from South Africa but decided to study at CQU Rockhampton because of the multi-faceted nature of the Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA) degree.

During her time in Rockhampton, Andrea featured in the BPA production of A Chorus Line and the city's pro-am production of Jeykll and Hyde - The Musical and sang the national anthem for the Opening Ceremony of Beef 2006.

Andrea Shine (right) in the production of 'Natural Woman'. Photo courtesy Barnyard Theatre

Since returning to South Africa she has appeared in a show called Natural Woman at the Barnyard Theatre, featuring the music of divas who have made their mark on the music world - Tina Turner, Sarah Brightman, Vanessa Mae, Nina Simone, Anastacia, Kelly Clarkson, Cher, Abba, The Supremes, Nancy Sinatra and many more.

"We just wrapped up the Natural Woman show which ran and toured for a year," Andrea says.

"We finished up with a tour to the Middle East to perform for the Americans at the U.S. Navy Bases, Middle East sector. It was a pretty cool trip but it's always good to be home and then went head first into the rehearsals for Opera Mania which has been extremely challenging from a performance point of view.

"It really stretches me to my extremes; there's so many different characters to portray in the show and vocally, the material is the hardest I've ever had to sing. I'll be singing Mozart's 'Queen of the Night' or 'Der Holle Rache' from The Magic Flute which is the hardest and highest aria ever written so that's the biggest challenge but I'm coping, amazingly.

 "We open in 2 weeks and I cannot wait; this is going to be one of the most visually stimulating ever to be on stage. It really is going to be sensory overload. The musical arrangements are beyond genius and takes opera to a new level, it's opera for the modern day individual.

"It's been such a pleasure to work with such talented people in the industry, I have the opportunity to work with one of my stage mentors who inspired me to pursue a career in the arts."

Andrea says she is also waiting to hear back from the Disney team because she has recently auditioned for the role of Belle in Beauty and the Beast, the musical, and is among the top 3 being considered for the role.

Andrea Shine