For Four Performances Only, one of South Africa’s most versatile Musical Theatre Stars, Jonathan Roxmouth, takes to the magnificent Teatro stage to perform all your favourite Broadway hits – accompanied by a full 55-piece orchestra!

Presented by Pieter Toerien, and featuring the cream of South Africa’s musicians and performers, Jonathan Roxmouth – The Musicals in Concert is back, and will run at the Teatro at Montecasino from the 17^th to the 19^th August, 2018.

Jonathan Roxmouth was seen worldwide in EVITA, The Phantom of the Opera, West Side Story, Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Sweeney Todd, Beauty and the Beast, Cats, Sunset Boulevard and Stage by Stage.

In September 2015, he made SA Theatrical history as the first local artist to headline a series of Broadway Concerts entitled From the Footlights.  Rapturous audiences packed the Teatro at Montecasino to hear him perform classic Broadway Songs backed by an 18-piece Broadway Big Band.

2017 saw him returning to the prestigious venue in The Musicals in Concert, with a full orchestra under direction of Bryan Schimmel, as well as an exceptional cast of 20 to perform the famous songs of Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Rodgers and Hammerstein and many more well-loved composers.

The great news is Jonathan returns again this year with an even Bigger show than before!  Featuring all your favourites, with arrangements of these songs custom-written to showcase Roxmouth’s vocal versatility and virtuosity to the max. Many songs are also featured on Roxmouth’s latest album entitled My Lloyd Webber. 

Audiences can look forward to songs from The Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, CATS, Aladdin, CHESS, The Sound of Music, A Chorus Line, Sunset Boulevard, Aspects of Love, Love Never Dies, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and many more…

The Musicals in Concert

17 August – 19 August 2018

The Teatro at Montecasino

Friday 17 August at 20:00

Saturday 18 Aug at 15:00 and 20:00

Sunday 19 August at 14:00

Tickets are between R125 and R375 and available through Computicket

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Tweede Kans, ‘n nuwe enkelsnit deur een van Suid-Afrika se mees veelsydige kunstenaars, wat nie net spog met ’n moderne en unieke klank nie, maar wat gaan beloof om by gehore van alle ouderdomme aanklank te vind.

André Schwartz is beslis een van die grootste supersterre wat die plaaslike vermaakbedryf nóg oor die afgelope paar dekades opgelewer het. Nie net slaan hy asems weg as bekroonde sanger, liedjieskrywer en verhoogkunstenaar nie, maar beïndruk ook as akteur en televisieaanbieder. Daarom is dit geen verrassing dat sy nuutste musiekvrystelling nie net sy bestaande reputasie gestand doen nie, maar eintlik sy wenresep oortref!

Tweede Kans, kan beskryf word as ’n popsnit met ’n volwasse kontemporêre aanslag en vertel hoeveel dit vir jouself, en iemand anders, kan beteken wanneer jy bereid is om tweede kanse te gee.

[button color=”white” size=”big” link=”https://soundcloud.com/starburstpromotions/tweede-kans-lusmaker” target=”blank” ]Luister na Tweede Kans hier[/button]

Een van die aspekte wat van hom so ’n merkwaardige musikant maak, is die feit dat sy werk nie in ’n spesifieke genre-boksie vasgevang kan word nie. Hy kan ’n kragtige emosionele stuk uit ’n musiekblyspel net so moeiteloos opvoer soos een van sy poptreffers van ouds en daarom was dit vir die sanger lekker om iets nuut te probeer.  Die enkelsnit vorm deel van ’n nuwe album wat vir later vanjaar beplan word.

André is al van jongs af doenig met musiek en het op veertien sy televisiedebuut gemaak. Hy het klassieke musiekopleiding gehad en is net so gemaklik agter die klavier as agter die mikrofoon.

Hy is ook ’n uiters talentvolle teaterster, wat bekendheid verwerf het vir kragtige hoofrolvertolkings in verskeie musiekblyspele soos Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, Pirates of Penzance en The Phantom of the Opera. Vir laasgenoemde het hy talle toekennings ontvang en word hy beskryf as een van die beste ‘Phantoms’ ter wêreld. Dié kunstenaar is die enigste Suid-Afrikaner wat Andrew Lloyd Webber se stempel van goedkeuring wegdra en is juis tans te sien in die rol van Captain von Trapp in die verhoogproduksie van The Sound of Music by Montecasino.

Kom ons vat jou terug en tyd, en herinner jou aan Andre se vorige treffer:

Volgens André moet musiek ’n storie vertel en met luisteraars praat en hy meen dat sy nuutste vrystelling dit perfek regkry en ook simbolies is van sy planne om weer vir ’n slag sy eie vertonings te doen.

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For FOUR PERFORMANCES ONLY, one of South Africa’s most versatile Musical Theatre Stars – Jonathan Roxmouth – takes to the magnificent TEATRO stage to perform all your favourite Broadway hits – accompanied by a full 45-piece orchestra! Presented by Pieter Toerien, and featuring the cream of South Africa’s musicians and performers, JONATHAN ROXMOUTH – THE MUSICALS IN CONCERT will run at the Teatro at Montecasino from June 30 to July 2, 2017. Tickets are now on sale through Computicket.

Jonathan Roxmouth (The Phantom of the Opera, West Side Story, Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Sweeney Todd, Beauty and the Beast, Cats, Sunset Boulevard and Stage by Stage) made SA Theatrical history in September 2015 as the first local artist to headline a series of Broadway Concerts entitled FROM THE FOOTLIGHTS. Rapturous audiences packed the Teatro at Montecasino to hear him perform classic Broadway Songs backed by an 18-piece Broadway Big Band. 2017 sees him returning to the prestigious venue with a full orchestra as well as an exceptional cast of 20 to perform the famous songs of Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Rodgers and Hammerstein and many more well-loved composers. The arrangements of these songs have been custom-written to showcase Roxmouth’s vocal versatility and virtuosity to the max. Many songs are also featured on Roxmouth’s latest album (released last year) entitled My Lloyd Webber. Audiences can look forward to songs from The Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, West Side Story, CATS, Aladdin, CHESS, The Sound of Music, A Chorus Line, Sunset Boulevard, Aspects of Love, Love Never Dies, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and many more…

Joining Roxmouth on the Teatro stage with a few tricks up their sleeves are some of his favourite performers who are no strangers to the musical theatre scene. Guests include leading-lady Lynelle Kenned (West Side Story, Show Boat, Orpheus in Africa) and popular comedian Alan Committie (Defending the Caveman, Little Shop of Horrors). Roxmouth and his guests will be accompanied by a 45-piece orchestra under the baton of award-winning conductor and arranger, Bryan Schimmel (Annie, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Chicago, We Will Rock You, Jersey Boys).

In partnership with Oakfields College as well as the Johannesburg Youth Orchestra, this event promises to be one of the theatrical highlights of the year.

Says Roxmouth, “Everyone has their favourite musical song, but they have to wait for it during the course of the show. THE MUSICALS in Concert is an evening FULL of those, just without the waiting and performed as you’ve never heard them before with an extraordinary orchestra.”

The Musicals in Concert

Date: 30 June – 2 July 2017

Venue: The Teatro at Montecasino

Times: Friday 30 June @ 8pm/ Saturday 1 July @ 3pm & 8pm, Sunday 2 July @ 3pm

Tickets: R200 – R350, available through Computicket

Tel: Box Office (011) 511 1818

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by Louw Mulder

There are a couple of good reasons why we can celebrate the healthy state of South African Theatre, especially if I look at a couple of the highly acclaimed and professional shows I have seen lately; like Annie, Sound Of Music, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and now, Priscilla. But the real couple worth mentioning, is our country’s most successful Director and Choreographer duo, Anton Luitingh and his fiancé, Duane Alexander.

Anton and Duane met during the first touring South-African production of Cats, in 2001. This is after Anton obtained his B.Dram (Hons) Cum Laude degree in Drama from Maties, and Duane completed his training as the most outstanding student at the Waterfront Theatre School, and obtained teaching degrees in both modern and Tap Dancing. With these credentials, together with the love and passion both Anton and Duane have for Musical theatre, success was inevitable.

After Cats, Anton and Duane’s resumes speaks for itself, and there are too many success stories to mention in this article. Both have won awards, and played various lead roles in many South African Productions, and even toured the world to showcase their talent. But acting, was only the start. “You have to contribute more to theatre than just one aspect” they both made me understand.

As we went through their long careers in musical theatre so far, we talked about their involvement in the 2007’s production of Rent. “The South African audience loves the typical classic musicals, but Rent was the first challenging and edgy production, which for me was a very sentimental piece,” Anton said. The role of Mark Cohen was also Duane’s first role in the lead, a role he has wanted to play since he was a boy. With much enthusiasm, both Duane and Anton speak about the 10 year reunion of Rent, which is coming to the Teatro later this year. It is a concert staging with the original South African cast, original band and musical director for one night only.

In the last few years, Anton has established himself as South Africa’s leading resident director of full scale Musical theatre, with Duane flourishing in choreography, being resident choreographer in most of these shows, next to Anton. We spoke about the recent production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat quite a lot, which seems to be very special to both Anton and Duane. This production, for which Duane won various awards for his choreography, is the first fully South African produced production that went on tour. Joseph is currently touring Australia and New Zealand, and as Duane says, he suffers a little bit from fomo, not being able to be there himself.

Boldly and passionately they speak about what works and what doesn’t work in today’s theatre productions. Their experience give merit to their comments, and their explanations and motivations are filled with comprehension and a detailed understanding of the industry. I just hung onto their every word for the whole two hours I spent talking to them.

Saddened, Anton explained that he would love to see more involvement in the theatre industry from an audience perspective. He explained that some brilliantly produced shows are not well attended, while others exceed expectations. Anton mentioned how he would love to see schools being more involved in theatre, and for theatre to become more prominent amongst young people. It was very evident to me that they are driven and have a vision for Musical theatre to prosper even more.

Both Anton and Duane are co-directors of the Musical Theatre Workshop, which invest in youngsters, now also expanding internationally. They elaborated that the biggest lesson that they teach in their workshops, is that the only ego anyone should be concerned about, is the ego of the show. No one individual person is bigger than the show.

I really wish I had time, and space to write about everything we spoke about, but the most exciting part is that the story of Anton Luitingh and Duane Alexander is far from over. When Priscilla’s run is concluded, their next project of being the Resident Director and Resident Choreographer couple, is the full scale production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s classic, Evita.   Anton speaks proudly when he tells me of the extensive international tour this production will embark upon, after delighting South African audiences later this year in Johannesburg and Cape Town.  And no, they are still not saying who will be playing the lead in Evita…

But for now, the attention is on Priscilla, which will open at the Montecasino Teatro next week after a very successful sold-out run in the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town. Both Anton and Duane speak fondly of how fun the show is, but also, how this show introduces new talent to the industry. In particular, they refer to Phillip Schnetler, playing his first major role as the very familiar and infamous character, Adam / Felicia.  As  up skilling and development of young future stage stars being high on Duane and Anton’s priority list, their faces both speaks of excitement and enthusiasm as they tell how promising Schnetler’s career can be.

Even though Priscilla will just be another successful entry on both Anton and Duane’s resumes, personally, this will be a production they will least forget.

During the cast party, after the Opening night performance of Priscilla in Cape Town, Duane proposed to Anton, and they got engaged to be married. They have been a happy couple for 16 years, since that first production of Cats in 2001. As both Duane and Anton explained, they waited for the right moment to do this, and an opening of a gay-themed show in their home town, with friends and theatre-family all present… they couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity.

As theatre fanatics, we congratulate Anton and Duane on their engagement, and wish them all the best in their future endeavours. With these humble artists, fully devoted to be involved with world class productions coming to our stages, we are in for some real magical theatre.

Feel free to visit http://www.musicaltheatreworkshop.co.za and also www.antonluitingh.com for more about Duane Alexander and Anton Luitingh and to follow their fascinating journey.

This article was edited by Bronwen Kerry.  Photos from Anton and Duane’s Facebook Pages.

The post We Talk to Duane Alexander and Anton Luitingh appeared first on Stage and Screen.

After much anticipation, the Naledi Theatre Awards is proud to announce the nominees for productions staged during 2016.

The Nominations Reveal was hosted by the Market Theatre and took place on 27 March at the Mannie Manim Theatre amidst great excitement from the theatre industry’s key players.

BEST THEATRE SET DESIGN

Greg King – Suddenly the Storm

Karabo Legoabe – Waiting for Jack

Kayli Elit Smith – Cheers to Sarajevo

Sarah Roberts – iLembe

Saul Radomsky – Bad Jews

Sylvaine Strike – DOP

Wilhelm Disbergen – AS

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Jade Bowers (assisted by Camille Behrens) – Scorched

Floris Louw – Mannequin

Greg King and Shanti Naidoo – Shrek The Musical

Niall Griffin – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Onthatile Matshidiso – Egoli

Sarah Roberts – iLembe

Thando Lobese – TAU

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN

Gareth Hewitt Williams – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Hlomohang Mothetho – TAU

Mandla Mtshali – A Raisin in the Sun

Nomvula Molepo – Egoli

Oliver Hauser – Scorched

Thapelo Mokgosi – 6 Characters in Search of an Author

Wesley France – Suddenly the Storm

BEST SOUND DESIGN

Disney Nonyane – 6 Characters in Search of an Author

Emily Adams – I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change

Gladman Balintulo – iLembe

Lee Brune – Shrek The Musical

Mark Malherbe – Annie

Mark Malherbe – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Richard Smith – Sneeuwitjie

BEST CHILDREN’S PRODUCTION (Supported by ASSITEJ SA) (0 – 12)

Disney’s Peter Pan – People’s Theatre.

Disney’s Junior Aladdin – People’s Theatre.

Khokho’s Treasure – The National Children’s Theatre.

Library Lion – The National Children’s Theatre.

Mr Popper’s Penguins – The National Children’s Theatre.

Ntombi Dreams Big – Alt Eye Productions, Redhill Festival and PopArt

Seussical JNR – People’s Theatre.

BEST PRODUCTION FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES (Supported by ASSITEJ SA) (13 – 17)

Hoopvol – Pit Productions.

Just Antigone – The Movement.

My Japan – Andre Stolz,

Narrative Dreams – Seeds of Water

Shakespeare’s Coriolanus – National Children’s Theatre in ass with Renos Spanoudes

Woza Albert – Market theatre

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A CHILDRENS’ THEATRE PRODUCTION (Supported by ASSITEJ SA)

Gamelihle Bovana – Library Lion

Jovan Muthray – Just Antigone

Mathabo Tlali – Ntombi Dreams Big

Nyakallo Motloung – Just Antigone

Thapelo Sebogodi – Shakespeare’s Coriolanus

Veronique Mensah – Library Lion

Palesa Makhalima – Seussical Jnr

BEST NEWCOMER / BREAKTHROUGH

Aubrey Mogali – Narrative Dreams

Dean-John Smith – A Cock and Bull Story

Edwin van der Walt – A Cock and Bull Story

Daniel Richards – Pay Back The Curry!

Ezbie Sebatsa Moilwa – The Dying Screams of the Moon

Phillru van Achterbergh – Porselein

Wilhelm van der Walt – DOP

BEST ORIGINAL CHOREOGRAPHY

Duane Alexander – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Janine Bennewith – Shrek The Musical

Lennox Sibisi – Umshado – A Marriage of Heritage

Nhlanhla Mahlangu – TAU

Sonia Thandazile Radebe – Sophiatown & Nhlanhla Mahlangu

Weslee Swain Lauder – Saturday Night Fever

Oscar Buthelezi – iLembe

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE / ARRANGEMENT / ADAPTATION

Charl-Johan Lingenfelder – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Dawid Boverhoff – Altyd In My Drome

Eddie Mathiba – Umshado – A Marriage of Heritage

Heidi Edeling & Francois Steyn – Sneeuwitjie

Neo Muyanga – Turned Away and She Was Gone

Warrick Sony & Brendan Jury – Ubu and the Truth Commission

BEST MUSICAL DIRECTOR

Arthur Molepo – Sophiatown

Bryan Schimmel – Annie

Dawid Boverhoff – Altyd In My Drome

Heidi Edeling – Sneeuwitjie

Louis Zurnamer – Singin’ In The Rain

Rowan Bakker – Shrek The Musical

Wessel Odendaal – I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change

BEST ENSEMBLE

Egoli

I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change

Sophiatown

Sherlock Holmes

6 Characters in Search of an Author

TAU

Tease!

BEST CUTTING EDGE

AS

I See You

I Turned Away   and She Was Gone

Les Cenci: A play about Artaud

Porselein

TAU

The Year of the Bicycle

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A PLAY

Ameera Patel – Scorched

Ashley Carine de Lange – Bad Jews

Barileng Malebye – Sophiatown

Lesedi Job – A Raisin in the Sun

Renate Stuurman – Suddenly the Storm

Tholani ‘Khoni’ Miya – iLembe

Toni Morkel – Tobacco and the Harmful Effects Thereof

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A PLAY

Alesandro Mendes – iLembe

Brandon Auret – The President’s Man

Craig Jackson – Sherlock Holmes

Katlego Letsholonyana – Egoli

Oli Booth – Bad Jews

Tiaan Slabbert – Porselein

Wilhelm van der Walt – DOP

BEST DIRECTOR OF A PLAY

Jade Bowers – Scorched

John Kani – The Dying Screams of the Moon

Lara Bye – Oskar en die Pienk Tannie

Marthinus Basson – A Cock and Bull Story

Sibusisi Mamba – 6 Characters in Search of an Author

Sylvaine Strike – DOP

Thabiso T. Rammala – TAU

BEST DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL/REVUE

Elizma Badenhorst – I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change

Nataniël – Mannequin

Neels Clasen – Altyd In My Drome

Paul Warwick Griffin – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Steven Stead – Shrek The Musical

Weslee Swain Lauder – Sneeuwitjie

BEST SUPPORTING/FEATURED PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL/REVUE: FEMALE

Delray Halgryn – Annie

Kiruna-Lind Devar – Saturday Night Fever

LJ Nielson – Saturday Night Fever

Taryn-Lee Hudson – Singing In The Rain

Taryn Sudding – Annie

Tessa Denton – Altyd In My Drome

BEST SUPPORTING/FEATURED PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL/REVUE: MALE

Bongi Mthombeni – Saturday Night Fever

Jacobus van Heerden – Shrek The Musical

Jonathan Roxmouth – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Rory Booth – Shrek The Musical

Stephen Jubber – Annie

Steven van Wyk – Singin’ In The Rain

BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL/REVUE: FEMALE

Angela Kilian – Sneeuwitjie

Bethany Dickson – Singin’ In The Rain

Charon Williams Ros – Annie

Jessica Sole – Shrek The Musical

Kate Normington – Robin Hood and the Babes in the wood

Lilla Fleischmann – Annie

BEST LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL/REVUE: MALE

Earl Gregory – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Graham Hopkins – Robin Hood and the Babes in the wood

Grant Almirall – Singin’ In The Rain

Lyle Buxton – Shrek The Musical

Neels Clasen – Annie

Willem Botha – Altyd In My Drome

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A PLAY: FEMALE

Busisiwe Busi Zofuka – Ubu and the Truth Commission

Busisiwe Nyundu – iLembe

Charmaine Weir-Smith – Suddenly the Storm

Ilse Klink – Scorched

Masasa Lindiwe Mbangeni – The Dying Screams of the Moon

Sandra Prinsloo – Oskar en die Pienk Tannie

Tinarie van Wyk Loots – Plant vir my ‘n Boom André

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A PLAY: MALE

André Odendaal – DOP

Andrew Buckland – Tobacco and the Harmful Effects Thereof

Andries Babalo Mbali – iLembe

Desmond Dube – I See You

Lunga Radebe – I See You

Motlatsi Mafatshe – Mooi Street Moves

Mpho Osei-Tutu – Scorched

BEST NEW SOUTH AFRICAN SCRIPT

DOP – Written by Retief Scholtz

I See You – Written by Mongiwekhaya Mthombeni

iLembe – Written by Small Ndaba & Phyllis Klotz

Pay Back The Curry! – Written by Mike van Graan

Sherlock Holmes – Written by Robert Fridjhon & Bronwyn Gottwald

Suddenly the Storm – Paul Slabolepszy,

TAU – Written by Thabiso T. Rammala.

BEST PRODUCTION OF A PLAY

Bad Jews

I See You

Scorched

6 Characters in Search of an Author

Suddenly the Storm

A Raisin’ in the Sun

Ubu and the Truth Commission

BEST PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL

Altyd In My Drome

Annie

I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Shrek The Musical

Singin’ In The Rain

Umshado – A Marriage of Heritage

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