Crowds of young hopefuls waited nervously to audition for Malta's very first theatre performance of the cinema box-office hit High School Musical at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta last night.
FM Theatre Productions have bagged the rights to perform the show here, and auditionees were asked to prepare both a ballad and up tempo piece to sing.
Participants, including Charlene Vella, 23, of Qormi were also put through their paces by a choreographer before they had even set foot on the stage.
Having only a short time to learn the choreography, Ms Vella and best friend Victorio Gauci, 21, are only two of many young people vying for the lead roles of Gabriella and Troy.
Director Edward Mercieca is hosting the judging panel along with art director Chris Gatt, actress and opera singer Denise Mulholland and chorographer Emma Loftus. With 22 years experience as a performer, Mr Mercieca has appeared on stage in everything ranging from pantomime to Shakespeare and has been directing for the last decade.
The judging panel are primarily aiming to find two leads, putting around 30 finalists through the next round. Following today's auditions at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, finalists will feature in a reality slot for Terrazza on TVM.
The auditions will be a gruelling obstacle of two rehearsals a week followed by a televised audition. The process is expected to take until September and, in parallel with the film, hopefuls will be "called back" six times to formally audition, numbers being cut until just the two leads remain.
However, the panel are not just looking to cast the leading roles of Gabriella and Troy. They hope to recruit some of the entrants who didn't quite make it for other parts.
Mr Mercieca said that the open auditions were designed to spot "raw natural talent" with the potential to be developed.
The judges aren't swayed by previous experience or formal training and the auditions are open to anyone aged between 16 and 25.
The record-breaking production is scheduled to be performed in December, so the chosen few will have their work cut out to meet a tough training schedule.
One thing that is clear though: the hopefuls' determination to play either Gabriella or Troy. The race is on to find Malta's next TV and theatre stars...