Montecasino, SA’s very own Tuscan Village on African soil, is celebrating the summer season, in a true Italian style with festivo spirit! So if you are around the Northern Suburbs of Jozi, even if you are only visiting these parts of the country, check out things to do this December season, at Montecasino…

Magical Italian Village of Lights:

Don’t miss the magic of Christmas in an Italian village this holiday season as you marvel at the largest indoor festive lights display in Joburg. This year, Montecasino takes festive lights to previously unseen heights with the largest indoor display in Joburg. The custom-made displays that incorporate over 285 300 LED lights will illuminate Gauteng’s Tuscan Village, and the best of all, come rain or shine, the lights can be enjoyed 24/7, eliminating any chance of disappointed little faces when the Highveld storms take hold.

Magical Outdoor 3D Projections:

Continuing the Magic of the Season onto the Piazza, where friends and families can share in the holiday spirit with mesmerizing stories told through state-of the art 3D projection on Montecasino’s Tuscan façade, a first of its kind in Joburg. This is a must-see experience that the entire family can enjoy daily from Saturday, 7 December, at 19h30 and 20h30. You can share in the magic from any of the restaurants on the Piazza or by simply standing under the stars.

Piazza Holiday Vibes:

The Piazza will be jam-packed with activities for kids of all ages from Saturday, 7 December to Sunday, 29 December. The fun starts at 10h00 and continues until 18h00 every day! Entrance is free and includes rides on inflatable bumper cars, bungee jumping, ceramic painting, sand art, inflatables, the Piazza fountain for the kids to cool down in, candy floss, freezo’s, and the epic Italian touch – decadent Gelato!

Bring in the New Year, Montecasino-style:

Montecasino has got it all when it comes to New Year’s Eve options. From Indian to Mexican, Italian to Greek, Thai, and more, there are restaurants for families, friends, party animals and revelers, each offering a unique experience to bring in the New Year. As has become customary at Montecasino, the Piazza will be the center of the action, with exclusivity guaranteed to those who book directly with the Piazza restaurants. Enjoy an indulgent set menu at Ocean Basket, PortuGalo, Col’Cacchio, Hussar Grill, Malt Barrel & Fire and Milk & Honey for just R650 per person. Your reservation gives you exclusive access to the Piazza on the night as well as live entertainment and the countdown to midnight by Christian Heath and DJ Lance. There are only 1 000 seats available at the Piazza restaurants, guaranteeing your spot even if it rains, so be sure to book early to avoid disappointment. Remember, all your purchases contribute to your Anyone Can Win a Ferrari promotion entry. The Outdoor Events Area will be open to the public, with all the Piazza entertainment screened live.

Family Holiday Photo with Santa!

See the pure joy on your little ones’ faces when they get to take a photo with their hero of the festive season: Santa! You’ll find him on the promotions stage, next to Casa Bella, from Friday, 13 December to Tuesday, 24 December from 12h00 to 16h00 and from 17h00 to 21h00 when children can make their wishes known and have a keepsake of this special time of year.

Festive Surprises in the Casino:

Montecasino will be spreading the festive cheer to over a thousand winners in just three weeks, who will go home with gifts and gadgets! All you need to do is play your favorite slots or tables games at specific intervals between 16 December and 5 January to stand the chance to be randomly selected to spin the prize wheel each day. Prizes include a R5 000 cash jackpot, headphones, speakers, coffee machines, meal and accommodation vouchers, FreePlay, Mangwanani spa vouchers and pocket routers. Remember, if you are a Montecasino Rewards cardholder, you earn tickets into the Anyone Can Win a Ferrari promotion for each casino visit, so don’t forget to claim yours!

Peter Pan on Ice:

The world’s premier theatrical ice-skating company, The Imperial Ice Stars, returns to South Africa with a brand-new show Peter Pan on Ice this December. Take a journey to Neverland in this classic tale of magic and make-believe, spectacularly staged on real ice at The Teatro from Friday, 6 December till Saturday, 11 January. Book your tickets at Computicket – shows are from Tuesday to Friday at 19h30, Saturday at 15h00 and 19h30, Sunday at 14h00 and 17h30. A dazzling performance – not to be missed! Remember, your show ticket purchase contributes to your Anyone Can Win a Ferrari promotion entry.

Goldfish Outdoor Experience:

The Goldfish Outdoor Experience, on Saturday 14 December, will bring a truly unique music festival to the outdoor event area. You can expect a fun-filled day with over 20 of Joburg’s best street food vendors, great live music and a kid’s entertainment zone. The proudly South African line-up includes some of SA’s best bands and DJs, such as December Streets, Easy Freak, Kyle Cassim, Ricardo Da Costa, MS Cosmo, Roger Goode and a whole lot more! Ticket prices range from R50 for children under 13 to R400 for VIP entrance. Remember, your event ticket purchase contributes to your Anyone Can Win a Ferrari promotion entry.

A Christmas Carol at Montecasino:

What would Christmas be without the Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol, to get us into the festive spirit – and to remind us what the season is truly about? Charlie Bouguenon portrays Scrooge in this timeless tale of warmth and redemption from Thursday, 5 December to Sunday, 5 January 2020. Catch the action at Pieter Toerien’s Studio Theatre for only R130 to R180 per person. Remember, your show ticket purchase contributes to your Anyone Can Win a Ferrari promotion entry.

Santa Claus is Coming to Town:

That’s right, Santa Claus is coming to Town this festive season at Pieter Toerien’s Studio Theatre from Thursday, 5 December to Sunday, 5 January 2020. Bring the whole family along for a fun-filled musical theatre experience featuring all your favorite Christmas songs, including Winter Wonderland, Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire, White Christmas and many more. Tickets are from R100 to R350 per person. Remember, your show ticket purchase contributes to your Anyone Can Win a Ferrari promotion entry.

movies@ Montecasino:

The festive season would just not be festive if there wasn’t a solid line up of blockbuster movies to take you away from the here and the now! Feel the magic at movies@ Montecasino with 21 Bridges releasing on Friday, 29 November. An embattled NYPD detective is thrust into a city-wide manhunt for a pair of cop killers after uncovering a massive and unexpected conspiracy. If you prefer a good, side-splitting comedy that will also pull at your heart strings – book your tickets for Last Christmas – releasing on Friday, 6 December. On Friday, 13 December you can catch the much-anticipated Jumanji Sequel. This nail-biting show will, as always, have the whole family totally captivated from start to finish. And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better – Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker hits the big screen on Friday, 20 December! Remember, your movie ticket purchase contributes to your Anyone Can Win a Ferrari promotion entry.

Don’t forget about the Bird Gardens:

You don’t need to leave Joburg to truly get away! Get down to the magnificent Montecasino Bird Gardens and wonder through the enchanted walkways. After exploring the gardens, you can quietly watch a wide variety of colorful birds, mammals, reptiles and unusual animals from around the world as they go about their everyday life. In our walk-through Aviary, you’ll find over 60 species of birds including Scarlet Ibises and Nicobar pigeons, reptiles and small mammals, with smaller antelope wandering freely in the undergrowth.

And, remember, your entrance ticket purchase contributes, in fact, every cent you spend at Montecasino, will count towards your next R500.00 goal, for another ticket into the draw, increasing your chance, where Anyone Can Win a Ferrari. Fantastico!

The post Holiday Fun at Montecasino appeared first on Stage and Screen.

Cape Town City Ballet presents a sumptuous production of A Christmas Carol – The Story of Scrooge that will be the perfect holiday entertainment for the whole family! The production will be presented at Artscape Theatre from 14 to 24 December.

This special Dickens treat for all ages, is a timeless classic story of the triumph of joy and the human spirit over greed.  An enchanting dance delight, A Christmas Carol – The Story of Scrooge has been restaged by South African dance doyenne Veronica Paeper and features lighting design by Wilhem Disbergen. The production was created in 1982 and has not been seen for over 20 years.

On Christmas Eve, the elderly and unpleasant old man Ebenezer Scrooge, is paid a visit by the Ghost of his dead business partner Joseph Marley who tells him that three Spirits will call on Scrooge: The Spirit of Christmas Past, The Spirit of Christmas Present and the Spirit of Christmas Future. Marley tells Scrooge that unless he listens well and changes his miserly ways he will be forever condemned to be in chains of damnation. This is the story of that night.

The role of Ebenezer Scrooge will be played by highly regarded performer Marcel Meyer.  This is his first role in a professional ballet, since playing Doctor Coppelius in a student production of Coppélia at the Breytenbach Theatre in Pretoria. Meyer has played leading roles in several plays by Shakespeare and Tennessee Williams to acclaim on stages across South Africa, Europe and the USA.   Most recently seen in the much lauded production of The Glass Menagerie at the Artscape, his many accolades include amongst others, seven Fleur du Cap nominations for Best Costume design.

A Christmas Carol – The Story of Scrooge is one of more than 40 ballets, among them 16 full-length works, that have been choreographed by Paeper, who began choreographing in 1972.

During her performing career, Paeper rose to become a principal dancer with three South African companies: Capab Ballet, Pact Ballet and Pacofs Ballet.

Please note that performances on 24 December, includes Fairy and Prince Fancy Dress Parades after each performance.

A Christmas Carol – The Story of Scrooge

 Artscape Theatre

14 to 24 December 2019

Tickets ranging between R150 and R295.

Bookings through Computicket or at any Shoprite, Checkers outlet.

The post Cape Town City Ballet’s A Christmas Carol appeared first on Stage and Screen.

VR Theatrical is proud to once again present Charles Dickens’ evergreen tale of redemption, A Christmas Carol with Charlie Bouguenon as Scrooge and Amber Burnhams as Everyone Else, in this two-hander adaptation by the amazing Elizma Badenhorst, whose talents are labelled by Stage and Screen as very underrated, deserving of more acclaim.

Bah, Humbug! the famous exclamation of Ebenezer Scrooge, will be heard this Christmas Season and Holiday Period, on stage, in the intimate setting of Pieter Toerien’s Upstairs Studio Theatre at Montecasino. Not only will A Christmas Carol be a good addition to any Christmas Feeling, but visiting this entertainment centre will just be the Carol on the Christmas Cake, brightening up the Holidays with the biggest indoor display of Christmas Lights in Johannesburg…

This classic holiday favourite story will come to life as you have never seen it before, wearing a brand new interactive jacket by staging animation and original musical numbers that promises to be a feast for the eyes, ears and imagination!

This play is a sensory delight for any tired soul – and even though critics in the likes of old Scrooge, might wonder why this play is being staged once again, we just want to say: “Cheer Up: Every year we are singing Jingle Bells and the song about Rudolph’s Red Nose too, which are Christmas Tunes and age-old traditions, just like Dickens’ A Christmas Carol… that’s why!”

In this year’s run, Executive Producer, Jaco van Rensburg and his team, are introducing several ghosts and characters from his past, present and future. The play takes us on an emotional journey from the old Scrooge’s tight-fister, miserly ways, to the new Scrooge, spreading goodwill and cheer through his generous spirit.

A perfect outing for the entire family, this production has now become a family tradition!

The proven winning team of VR Theatrical’s productions, is once again in part this year, with Wessel Odendaal directing the music, Oliver Hauser who designed the lighting, and Naret Loots, once again the talent behind the animation.

On stage, Bougeuenon and Burnhams will be seen in Badeenhorst’s adaptation, in this 65-minute stage play of pure nostalgia…

A Christmas Carol

Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Studio Theatre

3 December 2019 – 5 January 2020

Wednesdays to Fridays at 19:30,

Saturdays at 16:00 and 19:30,

Sundays at 15:00

Special Holiday Performances, are scheduled for:

Monday, 16 December at 15:00

Tuesdays, 24 and 31 December, both days at 18:00

Tickets

Ranging from R130 – R180 per ticket, and available from Computicket, or the Theatre Box Office.

The post A Christmas Carol appeared first on Stage and Screen.

VR Theatrical expands to collaborate with various artists under the banner Crewworks, to bring to the stage Charles Dickens’ Evergreen tale of redemption, A Christmas Carol, with Jason K. Ralph as Scrooge, and Naret Loots as Everyone-one-Else, in this 2-hander adaptation by Elizma Badenhorst.

Bah, Haumbug! The famous exclamation of Ebenezer Scrooge will be heard this Christmas season at Pieter Toerien’s Studio Theatre between 08 November and 6 January.

This classic holiday favourite will come to life as you have never seen it before, wearing a brand new interactive jacket featuring animation and original music that promises to also be a sumptuous banquet for the eyes, ears and imagination. With original music by Wessel Odendaal, animation by Naret Loots, voice overs by Christopher Dudgeon and direction by Elizma Badenhorst, this play is a sensory delight for any tired soul.

Introducing several ghosts and characters from his past, present and future, the play takes us on an emotional journey from the old Scrooge’s tight-fisted, miserly ways, to the new Scrooge, spreading goodwill and cheer through his generous spirit.

A perfect outing for the entire family, this play is bound to become a family tradition!

The post A Christmas Carol appeared first on Stage and Screen.

by Louw Mulder

The age old tale of the miserable Scrooge in Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol, is evergreen and familiar to theatre goers worldwide especially with the silly season in full swing! For the first time ever, the tale of goodwill and cheer, has been adapted for the stage by Elizma Badenhorst, with the aim to entertain and delight the whole family!

In this collaboration, VR Theatrical teamed up with CrewWorks, to create a 75-minute joy-filled experience, perfect for the Christmas Season. The story is narrated using Christopher Dudgeon’s voice, with original music composed for the stage, by Wessel Odendaal. My opinion, is that the narration made it so much easier for the young ones to follow the thread of the story, so that they can enjoy everything happening on and around the stage so much more.

The production of A Christmas Carol is simple, yet very amusing, and will captivate theatre goers, young and old. With animated projection, designed by Naret Loots, the story flows seamlessly, with every scene of Scrooge’s past, coming to life. I thoroughly enjoyed the idea of the audience members getting drawn into Scrooge’s experiences throughout the show. This was evident by hearing the young laughs in the audience.

The role of Scrooge is played by the very talented Jason K. Ralph, who we previously loved as Riff Raff in The Rocky Horror Show. He played his role effortlessly, encouraging audience members to travel with him on a journey of reflection and understanding. I thought that Ralph had the talent to theatrically force the audience member to grow on his character, and all the various conversions of Scrooge himself.

All other characters are played by Loots, and I thought she did a marvellous job in keeping everything together. From various ghosts; past, present and future, to all the other little characters that came along Scrooge’s way, she executed these roles with determination and eagerness. Loots’ talent was already showcased as part of the Wig and Wardrobe team in the recent VR Theatrical production of The Mystery of Irma Vep, as well as in Rock of Ages, where she was the prop master. I believe her contribution to A Christmas Carol was very valuable, and contributed a big deal to its success.

Although the stage is small, It is used to its full potential  Audience members can prepare themselves for ghosts entering from the back of the house, puppets caressing the changing Scrooge, and even singing along to some favourite Christmas carols.

I would really suggest that families include A Christmas Carol as part of their festive to do list! It is not too long for the young ones, and for the adults, this one-act experience, is guaranteed to give you that warm and fuzzy Christmas feeling, with an emphasis of Goodwill to all men.

Bah, Haumbug! The famous exclamation of Ebenezer Scrooge will be heard this Christmas season at Pieter Toerien’s Studio Theatre between 27 November and 7 January.

The post A Christmas Carol appeared first on Stage and Screen.

VR Theatrical expands to collaborate with various artists under the banner Crewworks, to bring to the stage Charles Dickens’ Evergreen tale of redemption, A Christmas Carol, with Jason K. Ralph as Scrooge, and Naret Loots as Everyone-one-Else, in this 2-hander adaptation by Elizma Badenhorst.

Bah, Haumbug! The famous exclamation of Ebenezer Scrooge will be heard this Christmas season at Pieter Toerien’s Studio Theatre between 27 November and 7 January.

This classic holiday favourite will come to life as you have never seen it before, wearing a brand new interactive jacket featuring animation and original music that promises to also be a sumptuous banquet for the eyes, ears and imagination. With original music by Wessel Odendaal, animation by Naret Loots, voice overs by Christopher Dudgeon and direction by Elizma Badenhorst, this play is a sensory delight for any tired soul.

Introducing several ghosts and characters from his past, present and future, the play takes us on an emotional journey from the old Scrooge’s tight-fisted, miserly ways, to the new Scrooge, spreading goodwill and cheer through his generous spirit.

A perfect outing for the entire family, this play is bound to become a family tradition!

The post A Christmas Carol appeared first on Stage and Screen.