MILFORD STATION - Emily Robertson is taking her chances on traveling to Oz.
The 16-year-old Milford Station girl was recently given a golden ticket to move onto the next round of auditions to play Dorothy in a national production of the Wizard of Oz.
"It was terrifying at first, but I can really relate to Dorothy," said Robertson from her home. "She's someone who is looking for bigger things and looking to be heard and she goes on this journey only to realize that the things she was looking for are in her backyard. They were always there."
Robertson said she's always looking for bigger things in life and is trying her hardest to get noticed doing two of the things she loves to do - sing and act.
"I've been singing since I was about three. Ever since I was little, I have adored singing. I always wanted to sing for people. It's how I can express myself through something that I can naturally do."
On June 10, Robertson auditioned in Halifax and was one of nine girls chosen to fly to Toronto this week.
The girls went through a screening process with a vocal instructor, who gave those auditioning advice and tips on their singing of Over the Rainbow.
From there, the instructor could advance the girls on to an audition with the casting director.
"I went in and sang Over the Rainbow again, and then I was asked to stand outside while they talked about me," Robertson said of those leading the audition.
"I waited and waited, and thought I did something terribly wrong, but then someone came out and told me the casting director wanted to talk to me personally."
Robertson had a chance to talk with the casting director while doing a series of interviews on camera.
"The casting director said, ‘Dorothy is 16 and you are 16, but you look about 10,'" she said.
"And I know I do - I'm short and I look really young. But then the casting director took a golden ticket out of her back pocket and gave it to me.
"That was the best moment ever."
When she travels to Toronto on Wednesday, Robertson will be one of 100 girls from across Canada auditioning for one of the top 20 spots. When the top 20 are chosen, it will be narrowed down to the top 10, which Robertson thinks will be done in August.
"Then those top 10 will go through an audition process on CBC in a new series called Over the Rainbow," she said.
Robertson thinks she will be back on her home turf on Friday, but she isn't sure when the top 20 will be announced - she's hoping it will be before she leaves Toronto to come home.
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