Nicole McLean pays tribute to her her family for their support while she transforms into Velma, the vaudeville vamp in Chicago, a world away from real life.
Husband Craig, ''my rock'', and children Maddie (12), Ollie (9) and Jed (5) McLean are Mrs McLean's proud audience when she practises her singing and her co-stars when she rehearses her lines, while doing all the jobs a working mum does.
''Velma's a very strong personality, very sexy, self-centred and very comfortable, until Roxie comes along,'' Mrs McLean said.
''She's relishing having her celebrity status with the crime and loves performing.
''I'm a mother of three from Arrowtown. Here I am, being able to play this incredible character.
''I have no time to be egocentric. It's liberating, I guess.''
Dancing has been a life-long passion for Mrs McLean, who studied classical ballet and performed in musical productions in the late 1980s.
Her natural singing ability was encouraged when she was asked to become one of two lead vocalists in the Arrowtown covers band Swamp Donkey and enhanced by Queenstown entertainer Margaret O'Hanlon, who taught her technique, how to use all of her voice and stage presence.
The Fitness for Life administrator and teacher said she had intended to audition for the Chicago dancing ensemble, but Ms O'Hanlon urged her to go for the role of Velma.
Mrs McLean sang All That Jazz, danced to the same signature tune and delivered Velma's speech from the middle of Cell Block Tango in her test as a ''triple-threat'' singer, dancer and actress.
''I love the opening, All That Jazz and Cell Block Tango for Velma,'' she said.
''That's when she's absolutely in her element, then things start to happen where she has to change and realises she can get knocked off her perch.''
