Madeline sets sail on the Nile
Fifteen-year-old Madeline Muir, from Parramatta Corps and Captain Roscoe Holland, Territorial Discipleship Resource Coordinator for Children are preparing to play the lead roles in The Salvation Army's upcoming musical, Spend Awhile on the Nile. (Photo: Carolyn Hide)
Fifteen-year-old Glenwood high school student Madeline Muir got the surprise of her life when asked to play a lead character in the upcoming musical Spend Awhile on the Nile. Despite being an accomplished singer and actor, Madeline was auditioning for a spot in the chorus section, but is delighted to have the chance to take on a lead role.
Madeline, who attends Parramatta Corps, is playing the character of Liza Cruise in the musical, which will open in August and feature at the Freedom Celebration in September.
Spend Awhile on the Nile follows the journey of a father and daughter who tell stories from the Bible on a boat on the Nile River.
However, Liza and her father, Mr Cruise, played by Captain Roscoe Holland don’t tell the stories accurately and it’s up to the children from Ocean View Church on the cruise ship to set them straight.
For Madeleine, who has an equal love for both acting and singing, it’s not all about the performance – it’s about enjoying the moment.
“It’s really fun. I like meeting new people. I like doing the combination of singing and acting,” she says. “I like inspiring people when I sing.”
Madeline made her first musical theatre performance in year eight at high school. She was selected for a lead role in Fame and recently played the lead role as Belle in her high school’s production of Beauty and the Beast.
Madeline received two first placings at the Penrith Eisteddfod last August, and will be sitting her fourth grade singing exams in September.
Alongside her on stage will be the energetic Captain Roscoe Holland, trading his role as Territorial Discipleship Resource Co-ordinator for Children, to sail the seas as her father. Roscoe describes his character as a “show-tune-loving tour guide”.
Roscoe is no stranger to performing. He has been involved in local corps musicals and was one of the members of Salvo boy band Niche, which recorded several albums. In the 90s he performed in the musical Spirit. And during his recent four-year ministry in Townsville, he performed at the annual Stable on the Strand, a live interactive nativity.
“As a young teen, I was a soprano which was very embarrassing at the time but I remember sensing that God wanted me to use my talents for Him.”
Roscoe, whose daughters Isobel, 11, Tierney, 6 are also in the musical, is anticipating the musical’s ability to encourage a new generation to get involved in God’s mission.
“There’s no junior Holy Spirit. I’ve seen young kids leading worship and seen the Holy Spirit at work through them. There are some amazing kids using their amazing talents for God.”
Spend Awhile on the Nile will give more than 50 young people the opportunity to serve both on stage and behind the scenes.
“There is a real energy about musicals at the moment so it is a great vehicle for them to reach their friends. We are certainly praying that people will respond,” says Roscoe.
Spend Awhile on the Nile runs from 29 August to 31 August and re-opens from 5 September to the final performance on 7 September at Freedom Celebration.
Visit salvos.org.au/sydneystaffsongsters and salvos.org.au/freedomcelebration for more details and to buy tickets.
By Esther Pinn and Anne Halliday
*Article reprinted courtesy of Pipeline magazine
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