ONE OF US: Mamma Mia star Kellie Rode back home in Wesburn after five years in the spotlight.By ED MERRISON
AFTER lighting up the stage all over the Southern Hemisphere, a local star has come home to the Yarra Valley where the public will soon have a chance to see her shine.
Kellie Rode, 27, who grew up in Wesburn and attended Mount Lilydale College, has returned after five years playing the lead role in the hit ABBA musical, Mamma Mia.
It is two months since the curtain fell on Mamma Mia after runs in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Auckland, Hong Kong and Singapore.
ABBA fans, musical buffs and aspiring actors interested in this amazing journey can hear Ms Rode sing and talk about her role as Sophie Sheridan at Yarra Junction Library on Friday, 9 September.
Yarra Junction library technician, Maria Mithen said the evening would be a chance for locals to be inspired by Ms Rode’s career.
“The evening will be an excellent opportunity for people to see that you can have a vision for your life and go and do it,” she said.
“It will also be a great opportunity for locals to see that the library offers much more than just books, and that coming here is about being part of the community.”
Ms Rode is extremely excited about the prospect of addressing the community, and is equally pleased to be back at home.
“Wonderful as (Mamma Mia) was, it was gruelling to say the least,” she said.
“It’s fantastic to be home, to get some rest and a good dose of family and the valley.”
Rather than a gushing account of life in the spotlight, Ms Rode will present both sides of the story at the Yarra Junction evening.
“Mamma Mia brought me a lot of happiness and it was great to be part of that, but this is the inside story of being the lead role in a major musical travelling to fantastic cities all over the world and opening night parties, plus the underbelly of that and all the worst bits involved.”
Ms Rode also wants to share with the audience her background, the audition process, the demands of the role and its highs and lows.
Far from wishing to discourage people from undertaking such a career, Ms Rode wants to paint a realistic picture of the experience.
“Any young people who want to pursue a career in the arts should come along to hear how wonderful it is and, on the other side, how difficult it is as well,” Ms Rode said.
Kellie Rode will be appearing at ‘Evening with a Star’ at Yarra Junction Library on Friday, 9 September at 7.30pm. For bookings call 5967 1588.
