REVIEW: Dare to Dream Jr. – On the Boards Theatre Company

Dare to Dream Jr. – A Disney Musical Revue

Presented by On the Boards Theatre Company

Venue: The Old Museum, Brisbane

I’m writing this while sipping coffee from my Little Mermaid mug—the one that says “Follow Your Heart”—which feels very appropriate after seeing Dare to Dream Jr., On the Boards Theatre Company’s Disney-filled celebration of dreams, courage, and childhood wonder.

Stepping into this revue felt like stepping right into Disneyland: colour, sparkle, music, and magic bursting from every corner of the stage. A perfect pick for the April school holidays, Dare to Dream Jr. was an uplifting celebration of imagination and determination, with a heartfelt message about chasing your dreams. For Disney lovers of all ages, this revue offered a vibrant showcase of favourite songs and a few surprises too. While the show leaned heavily into Disney-style clichés (truly enough to make a game out of spotting them all), that was part of the charm. Every earnest quote and heartfelt lyric were delivered with genuine conviction by the young cast, making even the cheesiest moments feel authentic and sweet.

Directed by Lyn Pelgrave, this 60-minute musical revue follows a group of enthusiastic Imagineering trainees on their first day at the Walt Disney Imagineering Studio. As they navigate self-discovery and creative collaboration, they explore the idea of dreams—how they inspire us, unite us, and keep us going even when things get tough.

The stage, populated by a huge and wonderfully diverse youth ensemble from Dance and Theatre Factory in Wynnum, was buzzing from the get-go. Colourful overalls, ribbons, and Minnie Mouse-inspired polka dots adorned the cast. The set was made up of bright, modular blocks that moved around the expansive Old Museum stage with ease, creating versatile and playful environments for the story to unfold.

Musical Director Robert Clark, Vocal Director Laine Loxlea-Danann, and Choreographers Ella Astle, Mel Nobes, and Poppy Nobes crafted a show that was tightly rehearsed and joyfully executed. The sound was beautifully balanced—clear mics, rich backing tracks, and vocals that carried perfectly throughout the space. Major kudos to the tech team for that flawless delivery.

Some musical highlights included cleverly arranged mashups such as “When You Wish Upon a Star”/ “A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes” and “How Far I’ll Go”/ “Part of Your World.” These combinations not only gave the performers more depth to explore musically but also highlighted the thematic thread of self-discovery that ran through the entire revue. “Just Around the Riverbend" / "Out There” was breathtaking. Kaitlin Everitt and Aidan Boak absolutely nailed their solos, and the vocal harmonies gave me chills.

Felicity Rapson and Ben Rimes kicked things off with star quality, leading “A Dream Is a Wish” (the Disney Channel Circle of Stars version - Ahhh I love me some millennial nostalgia!) and “Be Our Guest.” It felt like watching a performance straight from a Disneyland stage show. Their confidence and charisma were magnetic, and their presence lit up every ensemble number they were part of.

Young soloists Azumi Masuda Kevans (“How Far I’ll Go”) and Willow Christer (“Part of Your World”) handled these challenging songs with grace and control. Watching the cast create an ocean with flowing fabric around them added a stunning visual touch, and the transition straight into “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King,” led by Yunmi Tan, was magical. It was like the sea itself had released a wave of tiny dancers onto the stage.

Other standout moments included:

• “Surface Pressure” led by the confident Matilda Bradshaw, paired with hip-hop choreography to highlight the emotional weight of feeling overwhelmed by expectations.

• A stripped-back, five-part harmony version of “Let It Go” led by Hayley Pope and her vocal group—this arrangement was absolutely killer. The harmonies were tight and beautifully blended, and the ribbon dancers swirling around them made the number feel like a snowstorm of talent.

• “Friend Like Me” was a huge showstopper featuring tap dancers, tumblers, and a wonderfully energetic lead performance by Eva Rose McMurray. She also shone in a sweet, sincere duet of “You’ve Got a Friend” with Kai Boak, bringing quieter emotional warmth to the show.

• “Try Everything” (from Zootopia) was a prop lover’s paradise—hats and outfits galore! Reuben Newlands and Matilda Bradshaw brought the house down.

• Matilda’s follow-up solo “Go the Distance” was a vocal triumph. Alone in a spotlight, she delivered a performance that was mature, polished, and deeply moving.

• Group numbers like “Dig a Little Deeper” (led by Alina Gilmour) and “Hakuna Matata/Bare Necessities” delivered big energy and tight choreography. Felicity and Ben led the latter with their trademark positivity—I could absolutely see these two working at Disney parks one day.

• The tiniest cast members got their moment in “When I Am Older,” led again by Yunmi Tan and featuring the cutest tap dancers.

• One surprise hit was the nonsense medley — “Heigh Ho,” “Higitus Figitus,” “Trashin' the Camp,” “Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo,” and of course, the crown jewel: “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” The final domino-line fall? Perfection! Rockettes, eat your heart out.

• And just when you thought your heart couldn’t take any more, “Remember Me” followed—complete with a Spanish verse and emotional harmonies from performers Molly Hitson, Maya Napthali, Violet Staff, Julieta Munoz, and Liam Francis. It was the kind of moment that made the entire audience pause, breathe, and feel.

Hats off to Lyn Pelgrave and the entire creative team for pulling together a production that felt polished yet playful, structured yet spontaneous. It’s no small feat to manage such a large group of young performers and deliver something that feels so cohesive and professional while keeping all the fun and joy alive. You could feel their excitement radiating from the stage—it was completely contagious. Many young audience members were singing along, and I had to bite my tongue not to join in too! What made this show even more special was how clearly visible every single cast member was—from the confident leads to the tiniest tap dancer—no one faded into the background—you could see every beaming face from any seat in the house.

Dare to Dream Jr. was everything you want from a Disney revue: uplifting, nostalgic, and heartwarming. It celebrated young talent, shared the spotlight generously, let audiences of all ages escape into a world of wonder, and reminded everyone watching that dreams, however cheesy they may seem, are always worth believing in. For this Disney-loving millennial, this show felt like stepping into my childhood. I might not have been on that stage, but a huge part of me wished I was. Bravo, On the Boards Theatre Company and the Dance and Theatre Factory. You made us believe in dreams all over again.