###Hi-5
In partnership with Nine, the globally successful Hi-5 franchise makes a grand return to Australian free-to-air television with a brand new series, set and cast - reinvigorated by the original creative team of Australian producers and writers. Casting auditions commence tomorrow, with the new series set to premiere next year. Produced by Hi-5 Australia Pty Ltd for Nine.
NEW HI-5 CAST UNVEILED
The fresh faces of popular kids entertainment group Hi-5 have been announced, with audiences set to see the new lineup for the first time when they headline the children’s segment at Vision Australia’s Carols by Candlelight on Christmas Eve on Channel Nine.
Bailey, Courtney, Joe, Shay and Lachie are set to become household names as they prepare to wow young audiences on stage and screen. The five new cast members were chosen from more than 450 hopefuls after proving their “triple threat” talent – singing, dancing and acting – during a rigorous nationwide audition process.
“We were blown away with the enormous interest from performers across Australia wanting to be part of Hi-5,” Julie Greene, Executive Creative Director and Executive Producer for Hi-5, said.
“The judging process was extremely tough with so much talent on show, but we know our audiences will fall in love with the new members, just like we have.”
Hi-5 will have their first official public appearance at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Christmas Eve when they perform at Vision Australia’s Carols by Candlelight before heading into production for their new TV series that will screen on Go! Kids in 2017.
“We’re elated to have Hi-5 return to the Nine family. A new generation of Australian kids and parents will be able to discover this cherished children’s group reimagined for a modern world,” Hamish Turner, Nine Network Program Director, said.
“This is the first announcement in what will be a number of exciting new chapters for Hi-5, which will be a flagship children’s program on Nine. We look forward to supporting them both on Go! Kids and with touring, licensing and merchandising as they hit the road in 2017,” Alison Hurbert-Burns, Nine’s Head of Commercial Development, said.
For the first time since Hi-5’s inception 18 years ago, the producers invited performers around Australia to audition for all five spots in the elite children’s entertainment group and received an overwhelming response, staging over 200 auditions in four days.
Meet the Cast
Lachie
Lachie (19), a sports fanatic, who thrilled Hi-5 live audiences when he began touring earlier this year, elected to re-audition for a role. He said: “I’m relieved and excited to be starting with a cast that are all new, similar ages and excited by the opportunity. Being in Hi-5 is such a humbling and rewarding experience.”
Bailey
Former Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) graduate and X Factor Australia contestant Bailey (19), from Perth, says making the cast was a lifelong ambition. “Wow! I cried when I found out. I’ve been so emotionally invested in Hi-5 and have dreamt of being in the show since I was a little girl.”
Joe
Joe (24), based on the NSW Central Coast, is a regular performer, doing live gigs and touring, including with the late Jon English in The Rock Show, nationally and in Sweden. “I was on my way to a gig when my agent gave me the good news and decided to drive home and tell my parents face-to-face. There were tears all around,” he said.
Courtney
Courtney (18), from the Blue Mountains in NSW, has just undertaken a gap year volunteering in Cambodia where she worked on community projects including building a primary school.
Shay
Shay (18), also from the Blue Mountains, has just completed the HSC. She discovered her love of musical theatre at 13 and has been performing ever since. “When I received the call that I had made the cast I cried and mum and I headed out to celebrate,” she said.
The first Hi-5 performances in Australia include:
December 24 8.00pm Vision Australia’s Carols by Candlelight
Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne
https://carols.visionaustralia.org/
January 14 2.00pm Hi-5 Summer Holiday Show
Crowne Plaza, Hunter Valley
www.hi-5world.com/tour
January 15 2.00pm Hi-5 Summer Holiday Show
Fairmont Resort, Blue Mountains
www.hi-5world.com/tour
Isn’t there supposed to be an Asian girl?
It’s not mandatory. There just happened to be one in two of the past casts.
I think she could be Bailey Spalding, who sang David Bowie’s Heroes at the three seat challenge during this year’s auditions.
##HI-5
Premieres Monday 15 at 9.00am on 9GO!
Hi-5 will return to the Nine Network when their brand new program launches at 9.00am on Monday, May 15, as part of the Go Kids program on 9Go!
Bailey, Courtney, Joe, Shay and Lachie each bring unique talents to the quintet and all possess the triple-threat talent of singing, dancing and acting. This will be the first television series to feature the five new cast members, who were selected from over 450 applicants in a rigorous nationwide audition process late last year.
“Since introducing Bailey, Courtney, Joe, Shay and Lachie to fans, they have dazzled audiences with their live performances and public appearances,” said Julie Greene, Executive Creative Director and Executive Producer for Hi-5.
The 17th series of Hi-5 is bursting with energy, songs, bright modern costumes, vibrant sets and plenty of playful learning. It will feature new scripts, content and fresh new characters including the introduction of new puppets The Jupsters, and a brand new song called Hi-5 Danceoff that will get everyone on their feet – mums and dads included.
“We’re elated to have Hi-5 return to the Nine family. A new generation of Australian kids and parents will be able to discover this cherished children’s group reimagined for a modern world,” Hamish Turner, Nine Network Program Director, said.
The dynamic group burst onto the scene at Vision Australia’s Carols by Candlelight on Christmas Eve in Melbourne, a concert televised to an audience of over two million viewers around Australia. The group also gained fans across the country during public appearances and live concerts in January and February.
Hi-5 was formed in Australia in 1998 to entertain children aged two to eight with music, movement, problem solving and play. Eighteen years later the children’s musical group is well known around the world, with an estimated audience of more than 10 million children globally enjoying Hi-5’s tours, music and TV shows.
Hi-5 will head up the pre-school entertainment block Monday to Friday at 9.00am and be repeated at 2.30pm on 9GO! or you can catch up anytime on 9Now.
###Meet the Cast
Lachie
Lachie (19) from Cronulla, a sports fanatic who thrilled Hi-5 live audiences when he began touring earlier this year, elected to re-audition for a role. He said: “I’m relieved and excited to be starting with a cast that are all new, similar ages and excited by the opportunity. Being in Hi-5 is such a humbling and rewarding experience.”
Bailey
Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) graduate and X Factor Australia contestant Bailey (19), from Perth, says making the cast was a lifelong ambition. “Wow! I cried when I found out. I’ve been so emotionally invested in Hi-5 and have dreamt of being in the show since I was a little girl.”
Joe
Joe (25), based on the NSW Central Coast, is a regular performer, doing live gigs and touring, including with the late Jon English in The Rock Show, nationally and in Sweden. “I was on my way to a gig when my agent gave me the good news and decided to drive home and tell my parents face-to-face. There were tears all around,” he said.
Courtney
Courtney (18), from the Blue Mountains in NSW, has just undertaken a gap year, volunteering in Cambodia where she worked on community projects including building a primary school.
Man the original Hi-5 must feel old, this new generation were the one’s watching the OGs.
I wonder if any of them could get their careers to the heights of Charli.
[since polls are the hot new rage]
Who gonna watch it (even just for the shits)?
0 voters
I think what’s most concerning is there are only four of them in the meet the cast in the post above. Did Jup Jup finally drive the fifth one insane?
Shay is missing.
Shay
Shay (18), also from the Blue Mountains, has just completed the HSC. She discovered her love of musical theatre at 13 and has been performing ever since. “When I received the call that I had made the cast I cried and mum and I headed out to celebrate,” she said.
Former Hi-5 member Nathan Foley popped up on tonight’s episode of The Voice.
Do Hi-5 still even exist anymore?
Not really.
From wikipedia:
Original series: 12 April 1999 – 16 December 2011
Revived series: 15 May – 16 June 2017
