Here are the mentors of Musicool of yore...
Fiona Laird
As well as starting the gong-winning London Small Theatre Company, Fiona Laird has worked as a director at the National Theatre and also used to be an agony aunt. A useful skill to have in this show we imagine!
Fiona, what does star quality mean to you?
If I could answer that question I'd be a millionaire! It's just that extraordinary thing that makes you want to look at someone. It's to do with an inner belief in the person that makes them worth looking at.
We've known toasters that can sing and dance better than us. Can you make anyone good?
There has to be a modicum of talent to start off with. You can teach them the steps, put them in the best make-up, in the best costumes, put them in the best group of actors; but if they can't do it, you can't force a talent on them; it has to come from inside.
What's the best advice you can give someone starting out?
Work incredibly hard. When you think you can't work any harder – work harder. Exploit every opportunity and never give up.
Click here to watch Fiona's film clip
Mike Dixon
A graduate of Trinity College Of Music, Mike Dixon has worked as a musical supervisor, director and composer on West End shows and primetime TV talent shows.
What does star quality mean to you?
I'll give you a little 'for instance'. In about 1982-83 I was dragged to see Liza Minnelli, who I wasn't a great fan of. I was in the fifth row of the theatre, feeling a bit grumpy. She walked out on stage and I looked up, and within 30 seconds I was crying. There was something extraordinary about this woman. It's indefinable, but something extraordinary happens. That's complete star quality.
We've known toasters that can sing and dance better than us. Can you make anyone good?
You can get somebody with a very small amount of talent, and with the right amount of training you can make them better. But you can't make a sow's ear into a silk purse! All you can do is make their Mum love them.
What's the best advice you can give someone starting out?
If you believe in yourself, you are on your way to making other people to believing in you.
Click here to watch Mike's film clip
Sean Cheeseman
A trained figure skater and dancer extraordinaire, Sean co-choreographed Janet and Michael Jackson's superb music video 'Scream'. He has also leant his choreography skills to Prince, Whitney Houston and Britney Spears.
What does star quality mean to you?
Mainly it's a person you just can't keep your eyes off - an original person, someone that there isn't a copy of anywhere.
We've known toasters that can sing and dance better than us. Can you make anyone good?
No. I'm a choreographer so I can make people learn steps, but I can't teach them rhythm - that's something you're born with. I can't teach you style, but I can teach you steps.
What's the best advice you can give someone starting out?
Never be comfortable in a job - it's always an audition. Even when you have the job, you're still auditioning for the next job.
Click here to watch Sean's film clip
Find out about the stars of the show here!
Click here for a list of the nice people who made Musicool possible.
