By Lia Spencer
HE’S been on television favourite’s Playschool and Jay’s Jungle and in musicals such as Disney’s The Lion King, Wicked or Star Wars and he’s now on stage in Berwick!
Playgroup Victoria and PV Events recently announced that Jay Laga’aia will be staring in Jay’s Jungle Live in Concert on 10 September.
The actor, children’s entertainer and Playgroup Ambassador took some time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions ahead of the show.
Q: What role does music play in your life?
A: Music is my identity. I communicate through sonic statements and I am never far from a musical instrument.
Q: What are some of your career highlights?
A: Some of my career highlights include, being a lead in Jesus Christ Superstar (Judas), lead in Disney’s The Lion King, The Wizard in the musical Wicked, Star Wars. Most recently co-creating my new children’s show called Jays Jungle and most recently guesting on a show aimed at the hearing impaired called Sally and Possum. By far one of my most satisfying career highlights has to be working on Playschool for the past 16 years.
Q: What is the most rewarding part about performing live to children?
A. Some of the most rewarding aspects to being a children’s entertainer is never being a stranger to an Australian child. They all know you. Also having people approach you with stories of how their sick child loves my music etc. That’s what you don’t get in the mainstream performances.
Q: You are a father of eight children – what is your favourite part about being a dad?
A. The best part of being a dad is seeing how your encouragement can benefit your children and also realising that it’s not about you. My job is to give my kids the life skills to enable them to survive in this world once I’m gone.
Q: What has been your favourite adventure in your life?
A: Creating and producing my first TV show. Jays Jungle is a labour of love. Created from a simple comment from another producer friend of mine. Monica O’Brien and I worked on another children’s show called Larry the Lawnmower and she brought her daughter, Grace, along to one of my concerts. After the show we were talking and she said ‘you should turn this into a show’. With Monica’s help, that idea became a reality and we are now looking at preproduction for the third series of Jays Jungle.
Q: Who is your role model?
A: My role model is my wife, Sandie. She is a full time teacher (maths and English), She coaches netball and attends every production that my children are in. She drives kids to soccer (four kids), swimming (two kids), netball (four kids including gala days in different cities), rugby league (one kid) and then there are the musical performances that at least four of my kids are involved in. She is also my devil’s advocate and with all of this, she still has time in her day to tell me what I haven’t cleaned in the house!
Q: What should fans expect to see at your upcoming tour – Jay’s Jungle Live in Concert – Starring Jay Laga’aia?
A. Fans should expect the fun of a live show in the jungle. Jays Jungle originated from a live show I want to bring back the call and response that is so vital in my live shows. We will utilise the sound and lighting as well as our children’s imagination to bring you a fun pack rumble in the jungle show.
Q: How much preparation goes into making a TV series?
A: The preparation for a Jays Jungle TV shoot is huge and starts months before the first camera is switched on. There are 65 x 30 minute scripts to be written and my music producer Mark Walmsley and I also sit down to write any addition new music for the third series. Our art department will start making props as soon as the scripts are finished with enough lead time before we even begin to shoot and then we cast our Jungle Crew kids for some of the newer segments and so as you see there is a lot of work to do.
Q: What makes the Jungle Crew so wonderful?
A: The Jungle Crew are so important because kids love seeing kids. Having the Jungle Crew being able to help build props and dance and play really makes the island come alive and enables us to get our message across in play and dance.
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/events/907180316078435/.
