Manapouri-born performer Carla Ladstaetter, 10, has been selected for one of the main roles in Disney’s 'Frozen Jnr.' at the Court Theatre in Christchurch.

Based on the hit Broadway musical, Disney’s 'Frozen JR.' brings to the live stage the story of sisters Elsa and Anna.

Carla will play the role of young Anna.

No stranger to the stage, the young performer stared last year (2022) for Showbiz Christchurch as a 9-year-old in the title role of their musical production 'Matilda'. 

The daughter of a German-born pianist and music teacher Kerstin Ladstaetter, and Manapouri Freestone Backpackers owner and guitarist Jimmy Calder, Carla started singing and dancing as soon as she could walk and talk.

Her first public singing performance was at Te Anau Lodge's Brahms Music Festival where, as a 3-year-old, she sang Brahms’s Lullaby in German.

In February 2021 Carla and her mother moved to Christchurch to further her exceptional talents.

Carla enrolled at Burnside Primary, a school known for its strong music and performance programme. 

At school she attends hip hop, orchestra, choir, speech and drama classes. She also plays in a rock pop band, which won the Rockshop Bandquest competition Rockstyle award last year (2022).

Carla also has a very busy out of school schedule.

She attends ballet, contemporary, acro and competing squad dance classes every week at Christchurch’s Silhouettes Studios and has started professional singing lessons with Zara Ballara, an opera singer and University of Canterbury performance tutor. 

On Saturdays she plays with the Intermediate Symphony Orchestra at the Christchurch School of Music, where she has chamber music and violin lessons.

Ladstaetter said being a parent of a talented youngster was costly and time consuming, but hugely rewarding.

“Show auditions require 100% commitment from kids and parents."

"There is no financial support with regards to driving, costs, tickets or anything else."

"Usually you get one free ticket per parent and you pay for shirts or sometimes even scripts."

"The reward is to see Carla on stage doing what she loves doing. It's her passion."

"Sponsorship for talented kids is totally missing in New Zealand, definitely for her age group."

"The pluses are free dance, singing and theatre lessons for the show."

"The kids learn a lot and gain so much experience."

"They do learn how to cope with nerves and the after-show blues.”

“Matilda was a commitment over a year with some rehearsals up to 12 hours a day. Playing the lead to a full house, was a huge responsibility.”

However Ladstaetter said because Frozen was a junior production it would be a lot easier for her daughter.

"Carla enjoys it a lot because the kids are allowed to use their own creativity.”

“Currently they rehearse 2 to 3 times a week for at least 3 hours per day. The technical rehearsals will be longer."

“She is scheduled for 13 performances at the Court Theatre over the winter holidays, opening on Monday, 3 July. “

“She was very excited to get the lead role as 'Te Moune', and is happy that a lot of the Matilda cast are involved again. It's like a family now. She is still only 10 years old and it's a huge role to play,” Ladstaetter said. 

Rehearsals are starting this Sunday and will continue over the next 2 months twice a week for 3 hrs per session, with season starting in September. 

Ladstaetter said she felt like her daughter's manager as she kept track of her timetable, had healthy food and a good life balance.

“We practise a lot together; I play the piano and she sings or plays violin, and I help voluntarily at school."

"We are preparing for the singing competition right now."

And last week she auditioned for the 'Once on this Island' musical with Ovation Musical Theatre Christchurch.

"She also took part in a violin competition in May and would love to compete again at drama but all competitions are during the holidays and she is booked out with performances.”

Carla said she really enjoys singing, dancing and acting, and believes she was born to be a performer.

Off-stage the bright and bubbly 10-year-old loves water, sand and doing cartwheels on the lawn.