Stripper role: Geelong’s Amy Lehpamer.
Erin Pearson
GEELONG actress Amy Lehpamer will take a giant leap into the world of Broadway musicals winning a lead role in the upcoming Australian production Rock of Ages.
Ms Lehpamer, a former Sacred Heart student, said the “role of a lifetime” would be her biggest role.
The “Mama Mia for dudes” musical promised a rock concert production brimming with ‘80s music and tongue-in-cheek humour, she said.
“Think mini-skirts, midriff tops, afro wigs and eye liner,” she laughed.
“The character I’m playing, Sherrie, is a small-town girls, like myself, who moves to Los Angeles to seek out her dreams but she’s a bit naive, runs into a bit of trouble and ends up as a stripper.
“I had to sit mum and dad down for that one and explain to dad that I’d be scantily clad throughout the second half of the act.”
Ms Lehpamer said she went through six auditions and workshops with American producers to win the role.
“The process started off with us singing our own songs then the next round we were dancing around in skimpy clothes and knee pads. The whole thing was a lot of fun.”
Ms Lehpamer said she found out she had made the cut in June but was told sworn to keep quiet, with even friends and family unaware of her success until last week.
“I couldn’t tell any one because the other main characters hadn’t been chosen.
“I was very excited but knowing felt like a bit of a burden. Everyone I knew in the world knew I was auditioning and I didn’t want to lie.
“It’s been nice to finally be out in the open with it.”
Ms Lehpamer said she hoped the starring role would help catapult her into other leading on-stage roles.
“What I love about being a performer is you’re constantly looking for ways to challenge yourself. I’m excited to look to the future now.”
Ms Lephamer said the “big-hair-meets-big-dreams” production was set in 1987 on the Sunset Strip, with hit songs from the decade such as I Want to Know What Love Is, Don’t Stop Believin’ and The Final Countdown.
The five-time Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical will open at Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre in April.
