Debbralee Burns
Debbralee lives in south London and is married to Phil who, according to Debbralee, is a 'musical genius' and her 'rock'. She is a furnishing advisor for John Lewis, Oxford Street in London.
Why did you enter Musicality?
'I was hoping that Musicality would be the key to a new life, a life full of music and drama. For me, that would be the most wonderful thing that could happen.'
Was it your first audition? Can you describe your feelings during the auditions?
'No, it was not my first audition, but for me every time is a first time. I am always full of excitement, full of nerves and full of fear. I remember walking down the stairs and feeling a bit shaky when a friendly face said, "I know you, you're Debbralee." I felt the fear disappear and a lot more relaxed.
'During the audition we all had to have sheet music for whatever song we had chosen and when they asked me for mine, it was only then that I noticed that most of the bottom of the page was missing! That's when the nerves kicked in and I started putting notes in the missing places. Not that I read music or anything like that, but I filled in the missing notes anyway, waiting for the moment of truth.'
Have you ever appeared on stage before? If so, when?
'I have appeared on stage a couple of times. I starred in 125th Street which was on at the Shaftesbury Theatre in the West End in 2002. I am a member of the Performing Arts Club at John Lewis and we put musicals on for the staff and their families and the last one was called The Melody Lingers On. It was about Irving Berlin and I was dressed as Carmen Miranda and as Annie from Annie Get Your Gun. It was fantastic.
'I have also appeared on Stars in their Eyes as Gloria Gaynor. I won the show and went on the Christmas Day special for 2002. 'I Will Survive' is my official theme tune.'
What has been the best part about being involved in Musicality?
The best part was that I was doing something different, meeting new people and learning how the professionals do it.'
And the worst?
'The total despair when things were not going right… And the dancing: give me a bit of soul, R&B, reggae or even punk and I can strut my stuff, but give me "1, 2, and 3, left, right", ughhhhh! Every time finding out I had to sing and dance I became a "train wreck".'
Do you always sing at parties?
'Yes, I always sing at parties. It seems the only time I get invited out nowadays – I am the entertainment.'
What has been the hardest thing to master – singing, dancing or acting?
'When I got there I honestly thought that I was going to be turned into an all-singing, all-dancing mini Judy Garland. Alas it was not to be. I found the singing-and-dancing-together part the hardest. I have tried so hard and have cried over it.'
What have you learnt from the experts?
'I loved everything and everybody while I was there and found out from the experts how to take words from a page and make it real by believing in it and wanting it to work with all my heart. And that is something that will stay with me for as long as I live.'
Tell us your most embarrassing moment so far on stage – either in Musicality or during another performance?
'The most embarrassing thing that has happened to me was while dressed as a clown with pink hair, large shoes and a big nose. I was singing away and making all the children laugh by running around and falling down. The next step I took found my baggy trousers below my knees! With everything hanging out, I was glad I had make-up on so they could not see me turning blueberry!
Do you hope to carry on with performing?
I want to keep on climbing up the ladder to a new life, living the dream, setting new goals and having the ability to finally achieve them.
