Jukebox musical All Fired Up hosts fundraiser at Eve Late Night Bar to get locals onstage at Edinburgh Fringe

Albany locals could find themselves onstage at the world’s biggest performing arts festival via an 80s-themed fundraising event at Eve Late Night Bar this weekend. Queensland duo Rachel Terry and Roz Pappalardo are raising money to take their 80s mix-tape musical All Fired Up to the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe Festival and a local group of Albany residents has got onboard after seeing the show. Having learnt the moves the night before, Albany resident Brooke Pearson jumped at the chance to join the dancing onstage at the Albany Entertainment Centre in July. Afterwards, she linked up with fellow amateur performers Lyndsey Unwin, Mark Weller, Marcelle Cannon and Jo Wegner and the group formed a committee to help Terry and Pappalardo take their show to the Scottish performing arts festival. “Performing on stage with Roz and Rachel in our 80s gear was so much fun, one night was not enough,” she said. “The show is so well written and the process of getting locals up on stage performing is so unique. “We wanted to find a way to give more people the chance to enjoy the experience.” Their idea — an aerobics super-class and dance party at Eve Late Night Bar on Friday. Attendees will learn aerobics-style dance choreography to three 80s hits — Kenny Loggins’ Footloose, Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go by Wham! and Pat Benatar’s All Fired Up. The $25 entry fee will go towards the fundraiser and anyone who buys a ticket or donates will be invited onstage at the Edinburgh Fringe production in 2025 — provided they can secure their own travel and accommodation. Committee member Marcelle Cannon said she hopes the fundraiser will help push the show closer to its $125,000 goal and allow locals to get involved in a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity”. “We’ve already got a few Albany people who are going to make the trip across once funding is secured,” she said. “It’s just a really great process of getting the community involved, energised, connected to each other and feeling a bit of nostalgia. “There’s something about music and dancing with a group that connects people — it brings joy and positivity. “The show looks at the power of connecting music that you love and dance and it being in touch with your core values and what you care about — we were really happy to get that message across. Performer Roz Pappalardo said she is grateful for the committee’s help. “The show carries the soundtrack to generations and beyond and is a heartwarming kick for those who really just need the inspiration to follow their dreams, whatever that may be,” she said. “In two pivotal moments of the show, it engages local people who’ve always wanted to dance on stage in a professional production, but never quite gave themselves the chance, which leads the show to its climax.” The All Fired Up fundraiser will be held at Eve Late Night Bar from 6-8pm on October 25 with prizes on offer for best dressed. Tickets are available on Oztix.