 The hunt is on far islanders who can sing, act and dance for a brand new musical to be performed at the Jersey Opera House next year. NEXT! is a musical, written by islander Nikki Marett-Gregory with an original score by SDally Edmonson.It's set to be a unique show where X-Factor meets the musical theatre, following a group of women auditioning for the leading role in a West End musical. The finale each nighrt promises to surprise all, with audience voting designed to give a different outcome each night. 24 Seven Lifestyle Magazine issue:186 
Nikki Marett-Gregory, who wrote the musical, said: ‘I was talking to a regular client of mine and we had a conversation about auditions. I said that I had been to them before and I didn’t want to go through that again', which gave me the idea, so when I got home I just sat down and wrote it. I hope it will appeal to people because it is so modern. It is an entirely original piece.
'I need a few more leading men. I definitely need one who is really good-looking and one who would be happy to play a sleazy director type to lech over the women.’
Jersey Evening Post - August 30th, 2007
By Anna Keylock
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The musical, to be performed at the Opera House in June 2008, will confirm what audiences always suspected — thatWest Endmusical auditions are stressful events with some niceness and a lot of nastiness going on behind the scenes. The trick up the sleeve of this musical is that every audience will be able to vote for which of the people being auditioned should get the part, and the show’s finale will reflect the live outcome.
From words and music to technical support and marketing, everything to do with NEXT! has been conceived inJersey— for what the crew believes is the first time. The script is by Nikki Marrett-Gregory, with lyrics and music by Sally Edmondson, the musical director is Julie Millow and the choreographer is Emma-Jane Cole.
‘It’s been a brilliant, if scary experience,’ said Sally ‘We’ve all been working on this for ages and now we’re going public with the auditions.
‘Both Nikki and I have had so many calls of support from people keen to do something totally new to Jersey — and it’s not just going to stay here, because once we see how the show is received at the Opera House, we’ll be looking to take it to the UK — which will be scary all over again!’
Jersey Evening Post - September 8th, 2007
|  A MUSICAL being premièred at the Opera House in June and featuring local girls could be staged in the West End.
'Next! So you want the part?' is written by author Nikki Marett-Gregory, who says that two UK producers have already shown an interest in the show.
'One has a production company that did a TV show about musicals and the other is a music producer who is coming over,' she said.
According to Mrs Marett-Gregory the concept for the musical is unique, bringing reality TV auditions and audience participation to the theatre. She said that it featured Jersey women aged between 15 and 66 and looked set to be an exciting production.
We have plenty of work in front of us but it will all be worth it.
Mrs Marett-Gregory said that the show told the story of auditions and in the interval the audience would even have the opportunity to vote for their winner.
'I wrote it last January based on a conversation that I had with a client about there not being much out there for women,' she said. ‘It's so much fun giving these girls the opportunity to get on stage.'
She added that although she was enjoying the project, there was a lot of work involved in bringing the musical to the stage.
Jersey Evening Post - By Anthony Deane
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