A Night with the Stars

A Sensory Symphonic Sensation

Building on the success of their dynamic collaboration in 2016, the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra Company joins forces once again with Born To Perform for three shows only in A Night with the Stars at The Lyric Theatre at Gold Reef City from Friday 19 – Sunday 21 May in the celebration of vibrant young talent.

The Johannesburg Youth Orchestra Company (JYOC) is a full symphony orchestra and is without doubt, one of Jozi’s hidden treasures, made up of over 70 young musicians who have delivered quality performances since their inception over 20 years ago and who continue to excel.

Add to this mix, the incredible talent of the Born To Perform youngsters who are now firmly established on the entertainment scene following their previous Gala Concerts in 2015 & 2016, and you have a 2-hour concert that’s accessible, fun, unexpected, edgy and emotional whilst giving the audience a sensory symphonic experience of music and vocal excellence at its best.

Richard Stirton, the hugely popular winner of The Voice SA, and Tima Reece who exploded back on the music scene at the end of last year with her comeback album “9”, both add their voices to further enhance the concerts as guest artists, thus ensuring a non-stop journey of pure delight for old and young.

The concert repertoire is full of surprises that range from Beethoven and Tchaikovsky to John Williams and Coldplay, from Fleur East and Jess Glynne to Queen.

Audiences will be treated to a diverse selection of hits from classics like Sounds of Silence and Bohemian Rhapsody to orchestral standards like the Overture from Candide, the Imperial March from Empire Strikes Back, to a twist on the main themes from Swan Lake and Beethoven’s 5^th in true Bryan Schimmel style…including hip hop dancers into the mix.

Other instantly recognizable hits will include Defying Gravity, Viva La Vida as well as a marathon medley celebrating 30 iconic South African songs.

In keeping with the focus on youth in the arts, Included in A Night with the Stars will be the stunning teenage aerialist Lelethu Mda from Art of Synergy who will delight the audience with her dexterity.

MC for the concerts will be Catherine Coetzer, a 21-year old, up-and-coming comedian who goes by the stage name Awkward Cathy.

A Night with the Stars will be produced and directed by Maestro extraordinaire Bryan Schimmel  and Gemma Marinus and conducted by Eddie Clayton.

Born To Perform was created by Matthew and Gemma Marinus after seeing a huge need in SA for the development of professional opportunities for talented children and teens. They strive to create Theatre, Music and Television platforms to showcase our amazing young SA talent.  For more information : www.borntoperform.co.za

A Night with the Stars stars the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra Company and Born To Perform, featuring vocalists Richard Stirton and Tima Reece and is being staged for 3 shows only at The Lyric Theatre at Gold Reef City on Friday 19 May at 19h30,  Saturday 20 May at 19h30 and Sunday 21 May at 15h00.

Tickets are from R150 – R250 and available through www.goldreefcity.co.za or Computicket on www.computicket.com or 0861 915 8000.  Alternatively, you can call The Lyric Theatre Box Office on 011 248 5000.

Group Bookings of 10 or more tickets, Scholars, Students and Pensioners qualify for discounted rates of R130 and R225 respectively and are also available through Computicket or directly with The Lyric Theatre Box Office on 011 248 5000.

Production Credits:

Starring:  Johannesburg Youth Orchestra Company & Born To Perform

Guest Vocalists:  Richard Stirton and Tima Reece

Producer/Director:  Bryan Schimmel and Gemma Marinus

Conductor:  Eddie Clayton

Additional Staging & Choreography:  Gemma Donnelly

Video Inserts:  Matthew Marinus

Sound Design:  Richard Smith of Sound Harmonics

Set, Graphics & Lighting Design:  Oliver Hauser of Hauser Lighting Design

Screens and Set Construction:  Pieter Joubert of Gearhouse SDS

Additional Tehnical Supplier:  Alistair Kilbee of Splitbeam

Publicity:  Collett Dawson of The CoLab Network