ABC PHOTOS
Christina Brown, left, and Christie Brooke survived the audition process to land among the top six contestants in "High School Musical: Get in the Picture." The winner earns a talent agreement with ABC, among several career-launching opportunities.
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2 isle teens make ‘Musical’ finals
Two teens from Hawaii have landed in the top six of Disney's "High School Musical: Get in the Picture," a new reality show with a grand prize worth many agonizing elimination rounds.
"High School Musical: Get in the Picture" airs at 7 p.m. Sundays and Mondays on KITV/ABC
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After last night's show, which highlighted the West Coast finals, Christina Brown of Nanakuli and Christie Brooke of Kaaawa are now vying for the opportunity to secure a talent agreement with ABC, a recording contract for two singles with Walt Disney Records, and the starring part in a music video that will play during the final credits of the feature film "High School Musical 3: Senior Year," slated for theatrical release this fall.
ABC PHOTOS
Nick Lachey, right, hosts the ABC reality show, which runs through mid-September. The search included huge open casting calls in Long Beach, Calif., and at Walt Disney World in Florida.
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"I was ecstatic," said Brown, 18, who has worked as a backup singer for a show in Waikiki. "I couldn't believe it. I really consider it a blessing from God to get this far. After this, no matter what happens, I'm going to pursue singing. It's my life."
Brown indicated that learning new dance moves in short order has challenged her along the way. "Singing was more my strength," she said. "But you're constantly forced to push yourself to be a better (entertainer), to be a better person."
With plenty of support and encouragement from her parents, Brown embarked on musical theater through New Hope church several years ago.
Choir director Dane Ison "saw potential in me that I didn't know I had." This helped give her the confidence to step onto a national stage.
Eighteen-year-old Christie Brooke ended up on the show with similar prodding from those around her. A girlfriend's producer-father urged her to submit an audition video, in which Brooke claims to have done nothing more than act like her "goofy self" while hanging out with family and friends. "They ended up liking those videos, and they liked that I was wholesome," Brooke said.
Before she graduated from Castle High School last year, Brooke involved herself in every dance class available. Teacher Karen Meyer "just pulled the performer right out of me," she said. Brooke went on to participate in several major musicals while at the school, an arena that honed her skills. "(The teachers) just really connect with the kids, and treat us with such professionalism."
Both girls will remain in Los Angeles until one of them wins - or her run on the show ends. But like Brown, Brooke knows this journey won't end there. "I'm all about being a professional singer, actress and dancer," she said. "I live it, breathe it, sleep it. And for now, I love what I'm doing."