Cinderella Abby Pugh, 17, and Prince Charming Judd Gosstray, 16, will help flip the lid on the traditional fairytale in Border Show Business Academy’s August production, Once Upon A One More Time. Photos: Border Show Business Academy.
A group of talented young performers is flipping the script on fairytales and learning how to move to their own beat in a production hitting Albury this August.
For rising stars Abby Pugh, 17, and Judd Gosstray, 16, their dream is to take that talent from the Border stage to Broadway after claiming the lead roles in Border Show Business Academy’s (BSBA) latest musical extravaganza.
Backed by the iconic hits of pop princess Britney Spears, the pair joins a cast of 45 members (aged between 9 and 21) to present the high school version of Once Upon A One More Time at Albury Entertainment Centre on 28 and 29 August.
Abby will play Cinderella with Judd as Prince Charming in this high-energy offering that sees fairytale princesses (aided by a rogue fairy godmother) rebel against their traditional stories and set out to rewrite their own futures.
In true art-imitates-life style, the teens are already forging their own bright futures after both being accepted into Melbourne’s Patrick School of the Arts for 2027.
Judd will also perform in the US next year at the Junior Theatre Festival Atlanta, where he can’t wait to rub shoulders with Broadway producers and guest artists.
The show’s director Allyssa Constable said there was a “beautiful connection” between the storyline of Once Upon A One More Time and what’s happening for the young performers in real life.
“There’s a correlation between the journey of the characters in the show and the teenagers who are performing – they are carving their own path and writing their own ending,” Ms Constable said.
“They are actually creating their own journey … and happy ever after as well!”
Region sat down with Abby and Judd to ask them about their showbiz story to date:
What do you love about being involved in a production like this?
Abby: I love all the songs (I love that they’re all really well known), and I really like the storyline … the feminist side of it.
Judd: I love the sense of community. We are all very similar in that I feel like none of us really judge and that’s a nice thing to have. My family are also so supportive, and even though it’s a lot of time and money, they’ve never said no to me doing a show.
How did you get into musical theatre?
Abby: It was actually suggested at school that I try it because I was a bit lost (I was 13). I’d done some singing here and there but never stuck to it. They put me in the music class and I got really, really interested in singing, and then my teacher said I was doing pretty well and I should consider doing the school show. After that, I got bitten by the theatre bug.
Judd: It was really random; I was scrolling on Instagram one day and found BSBA. I texted them and asked if they were doing any musicals. It was the week they were doing Seussical, and that was my first show with BSBA – it was like a domino effect for then doing absolutely everything I could do!
What are some of the highlights of your performance careers so far?
Abby: I was in the recent Livid Productions’ Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and last year I was in (BYTE-sized Productions’) Moana Jr. In 2024 I choreographed my school show Fire Bringer, where I was nominated for an APT (Amateur Performance in Theatre) award.
Judd: Most recently I was also in Joseph, Moana Jr, and Singing in the Rain Junior (with Murray High School) … where I was also nominated for an APT award for my role as Cosmos.
What qualities do you think you’ve developed through performing arts?
Abby: Musical theatre has helped me stay on the right path. It really inspires you to stay determined about what you are doing and always strive to be better. In Joseph, I learnt a lot from just being with the people who have so much more experience than me.
Judd: It’s definitely taught me discipline, determination and commitment. I feel like I know where I want to go in life and I am really focused on that.
How much commitment does it take to do a show?
Abby: (laughs) A lot!
Allyssa Constable (adds): “Abby has 180 lines, plus her songs plus the choreography to learn, which is a lot when you’re doing Year 12 and working, and looking into what she’s going to do next year.
Judd: For this show I’m doing about 10 hours a week; I’m also in (Albury-Wodonga Theatre Company’s) Frozen so I’m doing the hours for that, then I do dance training three nights a week, and I work for the rest of it to try and pay for things.
In Once Upon A One More Time, the show’s vocal direction is led by Lauren Schmutter and the choreography by Caitlin Clarke – together with Ms Constable, the trio are the co-founders of BSBA.
It’s the first time the academy has staged a full-length show. The production is billed as a family-friendly, upbeat mix of those iconic pop hits, high-impact dance moves and a feel-good celebration of finding your own voice.
And that’s exactly what these talented young performers are working towards with every move they make.
In between relentless rehearsal schedules, Abby, Judd and many of their fellow cast members keep daring to dream of a glittering career on the stage.
Ms Constable says even if these young performers don’t end up in theatre, the BSBA training ground gives them invaluable skills for any vocation in life.
“We’re not trying to create professional performers,” she said. “That’s up to the kids. We are trying to create confident kids who can work together, collaborate and be good humans.
“These kids started in ensembles and worked their way up, they’ve practised at home and been encouraged by their parents and teachers … and got their lead roles, which is really exciting!”
Abby is absolutely ready to step on stage and wear that Cinderella crown.
“Hopefully one day I’ll be on the West End or Broadway, but if I don’t end up in the theatre I hope I at least end up teaching,” she said.
“People like Lauren and Lisa (my singing teacher at school) have helped me so much that if I could one day be someone else’s Lauren or Lisa, I’d be pretty happy with that too.”
Book tickets for Once Upon A One More Time through the Albury Entertainment Centre website (Friday 28 August, 7 pm; Saturday 29 August, 1:30 and 7 pm).
