It was Siena Elchaar's reputation as a stellar performer that earned her the chance to play a leading role in the world premiere of Sinbad The Musical.
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The Cordeaux Heights teenager, who made her professional debut as Annie in 2012, didn't have to audition for the new musical, which is being staged at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC) from April 11 to 27.
The musical's executive producer, Ric Herbert, had seen Elchaar in Annie and he already had her in mind for the role of Hajji in the two-hour theatrical spectacular.
At a later stage, Elchaar sent off a video of her singing talents to Joe Hasham, Sinbad's director and co-founder of KLPAC, and the role was hers.
"Ric Herbert had seen me in Annie and knew what I could do," Elchaar said from Kuala Lumpur where she has been since February with her mother, Gina.
"I was also on Channel 7's The Morning Show singing for Annie, Foxtel on the Bio Channel in a program An Audience With The Cast Of Annie and The 3 Factor on ABC TV, and from that they could also see what I could do."
Elchaar, 14, is the first person in the world to play the stage role of Hajji the orphan thief who becomes Sinbad's offsider.
"The set and costumes are amazing and really bring the musical to life," Elchaar said.
"I also love the song that is written for my character, Waiting For The Day.
"It is a touching song that opens the show and is sung again during the show."
Elchaar will stay with her mum in Kuala Lumpur until April 29 and then they will travel to Penang where the show will continue until mid-May.
Elchaar, a year 9 student at the Wollongong High School Of Performing Arts, has a tutor while she is rehearsing and performing the musical.
"My teachers email me school work weekly, which I complete with the help of my tutor and email my assessments and assignments back to school in Australia," she said.
Elchaar, a lead vocalist in Southern Stars for the past four years, attends the Charmaine Gibbs Studios in Wollongong for singing lessons and the Keiraville Music Academy.
She is also on the Australian small screen in the mini-series A Place To Call Home, playing the character of Gilda Poletti.
Her dad, Tony, recalls seeing something special about his daughter when she was four and performed at the Wollongong Song and Dance Festival.
"I thought she was great but when other people started talking to me about her talent, I knew it was true," said the proud dad.