Preston-based Wayne Smith has gone from estate agent to Joseph.
WHEN singer Wayne Smith got booted out of Grease is the Word - TV's search for a couple to play Danny and Sandy in the West End show - he thought his 15 minutes of fame were up.
Instead of returning to his job as a holiday park cabaret singer, Wayne decided it was time to stop dreaming about stardom and get a "real" job.
"After Grease ended I sent my CV to a few production companies but didn't hear anything for four months so I got a job as an estate agent," said Wayne, 26.
"I reasoned that I probably wasn't going to top Grease. I'd reached quite high, so I may as well give up.
"I'd been a cabaret singer for 10 years but there didn't seem much point in going back to that. I put singing to the back of my mind and got on with my job selling houses.
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"Then out of the blue I got a call saying they'd like me to audition for the role of Pharaoh in the new Bill Kenwright production of Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
"I went to the audition at 12pm and by 2pm I was in rehearsals. It was very fast-paced."
Wayne says he doesn't miss his short stint as an estate agent.
"Both jobs have pros and cons but I've always wanted to find work as a vocalist.
"Estate agents have a normal nine-to-five lifestyle but this is amazing experience.
"I've travelled all over the UK and seen places I would never have seen otherwise.
"I get to perform in front of thousands and thousands of people doing what I love. It's certainly been a rollercoaster of a year."
Wayne started out in the industry early - at 16 he worked at holiday parks down south dressing as a giant pig to entertain kids.
He later discovered he could hold a tune and worked as a cabaret singer in Centerparks, Cumbria.
"I stayed working for the same manager, cabaret singing in holiday parks, for about seven years until I did Grease," said Wayne.
Now he is relishing the role of Pharaoh of Egypt in the production of Joseph, alongside 25-year-old Craig Chalmers who was a finalist in the hit BBC series Any Dream Will Do.
"It's a great role," said Wayne.
"Joseph gets banished and falls at the feet of the Pharaoh, whose character revolves around Elvis. He's a rock 'n' roll Pharaoh.
"I have two songs - Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote a new one for the re-vamped show when Lee Mead went into the West End.
"It's one of the most fun roles in the show - I open the second half and get everyone in a good mood."
Happily for Wayne, it looks like he won't have to go back to estate agency after the show's run.
"They have said they're interested in using me for other productions so, fingers crossed, things will all go well," he said.
See Wayne Smith in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Manchester's Palace Theatre from April 28 to May 3 (0844 847 2275) and at Blackpool Grand Theatre from July 7 to July 19 (01253 290190).
Posted by: Linda, manchester on 1:15pm Fri 2 May 08
Ive been to see joseph twice and ive bought tickets for when they return to manchester in Nov.. I totally love Wayne and he was absolutely fantastic! And I cant believe I didnt manage to get his autograph! gutted! Lindax
Ive been to see joseph twice and ive bought tickets for when they return to manchester in Nov.. I totally love Wayne and he was absolutely fantastic! And I cant believe I didnt manage to get his autograph! gutted! Lindax
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