IT was a question and answer session with a difference.
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Before the youngsters of the Carillon Junior Theatrical Society unveil their performance of Aladdin Jr later this year, they had the chance to quiz the man who has been performing the role on the biggest stage.
Bathurst's Ainsley Melham, who has just finished a six-month run on New York's Broadway, made a surprise visit to the Carillon Theatrical Society's home in South Bathurst on Thursday night.
"I'm back in Bathurst visiting my family and I thought I have to come along, say hello and check in and see how everybody's doing because I've lived with this show [Aladdin] for the last three years," Mr Melham said.
"And I brought my partner [Callum Francis] along. He's also just been in New York performing as Lola in Kinky Boots.
"We just wanted to come along, answer some questions, meet the kids and wish them good luck for the rest of their rehearsals and for the shows."
Mr Melham, who grew up in Bathurst and went to school at Stannies, is a former member of the children's group Hi-5 and played the role of Aladdin in Australia between 2016 and 2018 before landing the same role on Broadway.
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The youngsters on Thursday had plenty of questions.
"They want to know a lot about how to get into theatre as a career; what it takes to be on stage professionally eight times a week in a big show," Mr Melham said.
"And there were a lot of questions about what it was like to perform on Broadway."
Mr Melham and Mr Francis are off to London next to visit Mr Francis' family.
"And we have a project over there that we'll go over to do - something that we can't talk about too much at the moment," Mr Melham said.
He said it was strange, but in a good way, to be back in his old stomping ground.
"It is crazy because I started dancing just next door at the church hall," he said.
"That's where I did my first dance lessons when I was three years old.
"So it's this rush of memories that come back when you walk past.
"But it's nice being back home. We have it so lucky here in Australia, particularly here in Bathurst: the beautiful air and the birds and the stars.
"I was just excited to come back and relax and decompress a little bit after being in New York."
Mr Melham said his success showed what was possible for a young performer from Bathurst.
"I guess that's our reason for coming and visiting today: it's to send that message that if this is something you really love to do, then pursue it, don't give up on it."
