Housing trust has fingers crossed for 'Over The Rainbow' starlet

Published by Jon Land for 24dash.com in Housing

Weaver Vale Housing Trust staff will be glued to their televisions as the daughter of one of their colleagues attempts to win the BBC’s latest talent show.

Dani Rayner – daughter of the Trust’s deputy chairman Jenny Rayner – is in the finals of Over The Rainbow, a search to find the next Dorothy for a stage production of The Wizard of Oz.

Trust Chief Executive Steve Jennings said everyone would be keeping their fingers crossed for the 16-year-old star.

“We all wish Dani well and I am sure lots of Jenny’s colleagues at the Trust will be voting for her,” he said.

“Dani is living her dream and it is always pleasing to see someone achieving their goals.”

Over The Rainbow is on BBC 1 on Saturday nights and reunites presenter Graham Norton with Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Jenny has been with the Trust for five years and also serves as the audit committee’s chairman.

“Dani adores musical theatre and her dream is to play a lead role in a role in a West End musical,” said Jenny, of Whitegate in Cheshire.

“She initially applied for her audition without telling us because she is doing her AS Levels this year and knew we were keen for her to get the exams under her belt first.

“She wanted to apply now to know whether she is good enough for a career in musical theatre – otherwise she would have to think again. She’s always been very determined.

“She only told us she had an audition the week before so we let her sweat on it overnight before telling her she could go for it. We’re now so glad she did and are 100 per cent behind her.”