Journey Beyond is an extraordinary artistic collaboration between Zip Zap Circus and the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra.  After 2 immensely successful runs in Cape Town in 2017 and 2018, Journey Beyond will be performed for the first time ever at the Joburg Theatre in September, as part of Heritage month.  Journey Beyond artfully blends mesmerising choreographed circus acts with orchestral masterpieces, amplified by soloist Zolani Mahola from Freshlyground.  This Symphonic Circus will captivate, thrill and transcend audiences beyond their imaginations.

Zip Zap Circus School began their journey in 1992 from humble beginnings and inspired by a daring dream.  To use circus performing art as a powerful tool for social transformation, youth empowerment and community upliftment.  Today, they perform 65 shows nationally every year, have undertaken 30 world tours, gained local and global recognition and impact 2000 youth each year through their free social programmes.  Many of their students have joined the world stage as professional performers.

The Johannesburg Youth Orchestra is a full symphonic orchestra comprising of entirely children playing stringed, wind and percussion instruments. Established in 1976, they are acclaimed throughout the city and further afield, providing training and performance opportunities for over 600 young people.  Several young musicians who graduated from this project now work with the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra.

Both non-profit organisations, this is a pioneering collaboration that merges world-class circus acts with classical orchestral renditions on one stage to create magic.

These are ordinary children who through sheer determination and hours of hard work have augmented enormous talent.  This showcase is an exploration of talent that is set to break all boundaries, free the imagination and instil belief that those who dare to dream can transcend their social circumstances.  This show is a celebration of the heritage of all South Africans.

What makes this partnership even more remarkable is that the different elements of the production will rehearse independently at their home bases. The directors then have just two days in Johannesburg to bring the unique elements of the show together and create a spectacular event.

Audiences can expect to be taken on a mesmerising musical and visual journey that pushes boundaries and reaches a crescendo of classical entertainment.   A talented group of circus dare devils will jump, fly and soar effortlessly through the air in gravity-defying aerials and extraordinary acrobatics. The captivating beauty of these daring acts will be performed in concert with stirring symphonic performances and the hypnotic voices of Zolani Mahola and soprano, Zita Pretorius. This is what one can expect at Journey Beyond.

Journey Beyond – Symphonic Circus will be performing at the Johannesburg Theatre on Friday 20, Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September.

Visit Joburg Theatre’s website for more info.

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The CoLab Network is proud to announce the next exciting show being produced under its banner! Gone Too Soon will be on stage at The Lyric at Gold Reef City for two shows only on Saturday 20 October at 20h00 and Sunday 21 October at 14h00.

Gone Too Soon is a fabulous tribute to the music legends we all loved, who died way before their time, but live on through their timeless music. The show will delight audiences old and young as they celebrate the powerhouse singers that became legends through their music over the past few decades.

Be transported on an unforgettable journey of pure nostalgia and heart-warming moments as homage is paid to a diverse selection of some of the greats, including Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Freddie Mercury, Luther Vandross, George Michael, Elvis Presley, David Bowie, Prince, Amy Winehouse, Nat King Cole, Natalie Cole, John Lennon and more.

South African artists will also be featured in the show, including Brenda Fassie and Mandoza.

While the show pays homage to these music icons who have left us too soon, the focus will be strongly on the uplifting atmosphere of inspiration that they continue to live on through their music, the memories they still evoke in all of us, as well as the impact that so many of them have made on the industry and world as a whole.

Three of South Africa’s most talented vocalists, Timothy Moloi, Joseph Clark and Mariechan will set the stage alight as they perform the instantly recognisable hits.

An exciting collaboration is the inclusion of the superb Johannesburg Youth Orchestra conducted by Eddie Clayton, celebrating their 20th Anniversary, who join the vocalists on stage to evoke over 2 hours of unforgettable memories.

Gone Too Soon is the ideal concert experience for old and young to celebrate in the magic of the legacies these music icons left behind and the indelible mark they left on all of us.

Gone Too Soon

The Lyric at Gold Reef City

20 October at 20:00

21 October at 14:

Tickets range from R150 – R280.

Bookings are through www.goldreefcity.co.za or Computicket or by calling The Lyric Theatre Box Office on 011 248 5000.

Discounts for senior citizens, students and scholars apply.

Tsogo Sun Rewards cardholders enjoy instant savings: 10% (Gold); 15% (Platinum); 20% (Black).

For group bookings of 10 or more, please contact the theatre directly on 011 248 5000.

Group Bookings of 50 seats or more qualify for a 15% discount if booked directly with The Lyric Theatre Box Office on 011 248 5000.

For these various discounts, contact the Gold Reef City Box Office for more information on 011 248 5000 or email goldreef.boxoffice@tsogosun.com

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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

The post A Night with the Stars appeared first on Stage and Screen.

In a dynamic celebration of young talent, the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra Company joins forces with Born To Perform for three shows only in “A Night with the Stars” at UJ Arts Centre Theatre in Auckland Park on Friday 27 May at 19h30 and Saturday 28 May at 14h30 and 19h00.

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 burst onto the entertainment scene following their successful inaugural Gala Concert last July, and you have a 2-hour concert that’s accessible and fun whilst giving the audience an experience of music and vocal excellence at its best.

Industry greats Samantha Peo and Timothy Moloi add their voices to further enhance the concerts as guest artists, thus ensuring a non-stop journey of pure delight for old and young.

Audiences will be treated to a diverse selection of hits from classic standards like The Greatest Love of All and The Impossible Dream to orchestral classics like Holst’s Jupiter and John Williams’ Olympic Spirit. Other instantly recognizable hits will include You’re The Voice, Radiohead’s Creep, Uptown Funk to the Labrinth/Emile Sandé massive hit Beneath Your Beautiful and a number of other fantastic surprises thrown into the mix.

Included in A Night with the Stars will be the exclusive premiere live performance of the Born To Perform star Marianthe Panas’s upcoming single Here I Am, written with Tree 63’s John Ellis, ahead of it’s official release in time for Youth Day Celebrations in June.

MC for the concerts will be another Born To Perform star, Isabella Jane and her “side-kick”, puppet Rosie, who shot to fame following her runner-up placing in SA’s Got Talent in 2015.

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

Says Schimmel; “I joined the Board of Directors of the JYOC a little over a year ago to be able to lend my experience and capabilities to this fantastic organisation and support the advancement of youth in the arts. My vision for  the 2016 A Night with the Stars  is to position the youth as the stars of the show showcased in a mind-blowing event that promises maximum entertainment, emotional impact and youthful energy.”

Schimmel continues; “When one thinks of a youth orchestra, it is easy to assume that they are not as good as a professional ensemble. Under the firm and nurturing hand of conductor, Eddie Clayton, the young musicians of the JYOC perform with a sense of musicianship, precision, tuning, style and experience comparable to any professional orchestra and I am thrilled to be working with them. I have also assembled a first class creative team of seasoned design and technical professionals who are all lending their expertise and experience to ensure  a spectacular event..”

Says Susan Rendall, Chief Executive Officer of JYOC;  “The 2016 A Night With The Stars will be staged at the UJ Arts Centre Theatre. We are delighted to have the use of this wonderful venue. As a resident company of the University of Johannesburg, we work closely with UJ Arts and Culture making this a fitting choice of auditorium for this year’s performance.

Operating in Soweto and Johannesburg, the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra Company (JYOC) is a centre of musical excellence in instrumental tuition. Responding to the needs of the youth in all communities, the JYOC is a meeting place for over 600 young people with musical aspirations. Almost 300 of the students are members of one of 10 graded ensembles and orchestras which cater for all levels of competence. Under the direction of Eddie Clayton, the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra has risen to extraordinary heights and continues to amaze all who hear them.

Born To Perform was created by Matthew Marinus and Gemma Donnelly 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.

A Night with the Stars stars the JYOC and Born To Perform, featuring Samantha Peo and Timothy Moloi and is being staged for 3 shows only at UJ Arts Centre Theatre (University of Johannesburg Kingsway Campus, Auckland Park) on Friday 27 May at 19h30 and Saturday 28 May at 14h30 and 19h00.

Tickets are R200 & R250 and booked through Computicket on www.computicket.com or 0861 915 8000.

Group Bookings of 10 or more tickets qualify for discounted rates of R185 and R235 and are also available through Computicket.

The Johannesburg Youth Orchestra Company is a Not for Profit Organisation, with these “A Night with the Stars” concerts being their main fundraising event for 2016.

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