00:00For 36 years, the school spectacular has turned students into stars.
00:10Inside a stadium usually booked by the biggest names in entertainment,
00:15children put on the biggest show in town.
00:22More than five and a half thousand public school students are part of the production.
00:26Auditions began at the start of the year.
00:28It's almost a nine-month process from the start of planning the show,
00:32and the creative team builds it up.
00:34The end result is pretty mind-boggling, so just to be a part of it, I'm really honoured.
00:38The theme this year is stars, and anyone from any background and of any ability
00:44is given the opportunity to shine.
00:51Townsend became part of an opening to...
00:54It's something that I love from the start, and it just, it gives you so many good opportunities.
01:00Today's audience also had VIPs.
01:03150 kids from drought-affected towns brought to the big smoke for some much-needed R&R.
01:09Out there you can barely do anything because it's so dry, it's too hot, and here it's pretty cool.
01:14The scale of this event is impressive, but it's the message that it sends that is so spectacular.
01:20It's one of positivity, inclusiveness and cooperation.
01:24It's about public education, it's about excellence in the arts, and it's about everyone having a go.
01:30The full school spectacular will be shown on 7 on December 7 at 7pm.
01:36Dreaming about the things that we could be.
01:39Andrew Denny, 7 News.
