Hugh Jackman, Lisa McCune and Tim Minchin are among the alumni of Australia’s most famous performing arts college.
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And now former Orange student actor and dancer Jarrod Draper is following in their footsteps.
Currently in his second year studying musical theatre at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts [WAAPA] Draper, 20, has just won the prestigious 2017 Edith Cowan University Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander scholarship.
It will provide him $2500 per semester toward completing his degree and hopefully on the road to major musicals in Sydney – and maybe even Broadway.
Draper has just finished performing in WAAPA’s production of 42nd Street in Perth.
“It’s amazing, and definitely challenging,” he said.
“They are so professional there.
“I would love to do straight acting, screen acting and musicals.”
And he said he hoped to make to the peak of musical theatre, Broadway.
“I have goals of performing on Broadway and with the skills and training I’ll acquire at WAAPA, plus my own hard work, determination and dedication I have no doubt I can achieve them.
“When you’re doing something you love it just seems to make sense and come with ease.”
Draper has already achieved a rare feat – becoming the first Aboriginal musical theatre student at WAAPA.
“Being the first Indigenous man to be accepted into the Musical Theatre at WAAPA is my biggest personal achievement.
“I have always been encouraged by my parents to follow my dreams and be proud of my Indigenous heritage.”
He said although he was proudly Indigenous he had not tried to play up his heritage to further his career.
“No, not all. It has definitely been about talent and ability.”
Several family members headed over from Orange to Perth last week to see him in 42nd Street.
His father Brad said they had helped him where they could to chase his dream.
“We thought to give Jarrod his best shot at what he wanted to do,” he said.
Mr Draper said there was still a lot of hard work to be done [for Jarrod] to achieve his dreams.
“He’s got an ultimate aim to go to Broadway.
“It is a very competitive environment,” he said.