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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by Louw Mulder

Very seldom a theatre production of this scale makes you proud, and very positive about the future of SA Theatre. In this case, Annie doesn’t disappoint; it is a showcase of the young talent we can expect major success from in the future.

There are many aspects of Annie to rave about, but most of all, credit has to go to the producers for casting such an unbelievable cast. Perfectly fitted into each role, each character is portrayed with ease, contributing effortlessly to the magic of Annie’s Story. But Annie, the musical, is famous for the orphan girls, who serve as the core focus of the show. In this Pieter Toerien and Hazel Feldman Production, each little girl crawls into the heart of each audience member, which makes Annie an explosive experience of theatre excellence.

With great appreciation to the producers, I was blessed to see Annie three times, to witness all three groups of orphans perform their roles. It would be totally unfair of me to label the one better than the other, because the standard, dedication, and hunger to perform from all the kids, were astonishing and noticeable in their performances.

Bonisiwe Nomoyi plays Molly in Team Empire. It is this 11 year-old’s debut performance on the big stage, but her wittiness and comfortable demeanour would make you think she is already an experienced stage actress. From team Rockerfeller, also playing Molly, is Mikah Smith. Mikah is the ultimate definition of cuteness on stage. With an impressive resume already for a 12 year-old girl, her dream of becoming a professional performer, might be realised much sooner than she thinks.

But let’s talk about Annie… or the three Annies in this production. It was nothing short of entertaining to see all three off them perform; Emma-Rose Blacher, Caitlin Dicker and Lilla Fleischmann. Each of these Annies has the characteristics of a true performer. I still insist that choosing the “best” Annie, would be unfair, but I was really impressed with Fleischmann’s performance as Annie. It is not easy being alone on stage, with a dog that decides not to play its part. Fleischman showed real professionalism by continuing with her act, not fazed at all by Sandy’s unwillingness to co-operate.

To add to this, the chemistry between Fleischmann as Annie, and Daddy Warbucks, on the night played by Anton Luitingh, was so effective; the connection between orphan and adopted father-to-be was tangible. In saying this, there is nothing short of Neels Clasen’s performance as Daddy Warbucks. All the adult cast members showed real class in all the respective roles necessary to make Annie such an easy-to-enjoy musical.

Now, sometimes you get an actor that has to act in a silly, funny role, which is normally associated with the villain in the story. Many times, it is easy for such an actor to overplay the silliness and funniness, that it becomes annoying towards the end of the show. This was certainly not the case with Charon Williams-Ros, in the role of Miss Hannigan. Nominated for two Best Actress awards for her role in Sweeney Todd, Williams-Ros portrayed this role with perfection. She knew exactly where to draw the line between the silliness the role required, and overplaying the part. It is no wonder she had audiences on their feet at all three performances.

Completing the evil threesome with humorous success, is Stephen Jubber and Delray Halgryn as Rooster and Lily respectively. In total contradiction to these sly characters, is the loving and beautiful Taryn Sudding, perfectly cast in the role of Grace. To complete the cast in the ensemble, are well known theatre stars Duane Alexander, also the Resident Choreographer for this production,  Ambre-Chanel Fulton, Cat Lane, Stefania du Toit, with other talents like Michael Fullard, Michelle Lane, Hope Maimane, Jonathan Raath, Candice van Litsenborgh and Richard Vorster.

To join this wonderful cast, was Ben Mundy, in the role of Bert Healy, who got his training at the Arts Educational School in London.  Mundy acted previously as a swing in the UK and European tours of Annie, and no doubt his experience contributed immensely to this production,  in which he fulfilled the role of Dance Captain.

The production was executed in world-class fashion. The transitions between sets are done very smartly, changing right before your eyes, whilst distracted by some activities which makes the next scene just appear out of nowhere. Directed by Nikolai Foster, choreographed by Nick Winston, and taken over by resident director Anton Luitingh, this wonderful cast mastered this direction flawlessly.

Under the baton of Musical Director, conductor and Flying Maestro, Bryan Schimmel, the music is as magical as one would like to look forward to. I believe that directing all these kids, in their three groups, was not an easy task, so a huge F-Sharp and B-Flat thumbs up to Schimmel and the rest of the musical coaches for such delightful sounds.  Schimmel has an eight piece orchestra in the pit under his direction in this production.

Annie will enchant audiences in Gauteng until 27 November at the Teatro, Montecasino, after which it will move to Cape Town, to continue their hard knock life in the Artscape, from 2 December. Don’t delay. I will advise to book early, as tomorrow, is only a day away.

Annie is proudly presented by Pieter Toerien and Hazel Feldman, in association with Michael Harrison Entertainment and David Ian Productions.

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This review was edited by Bronwen Kerry from B Sharp Entertainment.  Photos by Louw Mulder

The post Annie appeared first on Stage and Screen.

Book by THOMAS MEEHAN, Music by CHARLES STROUSE, Lyrics by MARTIN CHARNIN

ANNIE is based on Harold Gray’s popular comic strip Little Orphan Annie. The comic strip premiered in the 1920s in the New York Daily News, and became one of the most widely read strips in the 30s and 40s. Lyricist-director Martin Charnin bought a coffee table book called “The Life and Hard Times of Little Orphan Annie” as a Christmas gift for a friend in 1970. The clerk at the bookstore was too busy to wrap the book, so Charnin took the book home to wrap it. Instead, he read it and fell in love with the strip, and set out to secure the rights, Christmas week of 1970. The friend never got the book.

Charnin championed the idea to colleagues Charles Strouse, a two-time Tony-winning composer, and Thomas Meehan, a short story writer for The New Yorker. It took a great deal of campaigning to get them interested, but the team was finally formed in 1971, when they began to write the musical.

This cracking new production of ANNIE, the world’s favourite family musical, stars Charon Williams Ros (Mrs Lovett in Sweeney Todd) as the tyrannical Miss Hannigan and Neels Claasen (Mamma Mia!, We Will Rock You) as Daddy Warbucks. Taryn Sudding (CATS, Sound of Music) plays Grace, with Stephen Jubber (Sunset Blvd, Jersey Boys, Mamma Mia, JC Superstar) as Rooster, and Delray Halgryn as Lilly. Mike Huff (Phantom of the Opera, The Sound of Music), Candice von Litsenborgh (Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors), Stefania du Toit, Jenna Robinson, Michelle Lane and Hope Maimane complete an all-star South African cast with a special appearance by Grant Almirall (Star of Singin’ in the Rain and Jersey Boys) as Bert Healey. The Resident Director is Anton Luitingh and the Resident Choreographer is Duane Alexander.

Following an extensive 6 month nationwide search we have found the 3 best ANNIES in the country – Emma-Rose Blacher, Lilla Fleischmann and Caitlin Dicker!

Set in 1930s New York during The Great Depression, brave young Annie is forced to live a life of misery and torment at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage. Determined to find her real parents, her luck changes when she is chosen to spend Christmas at the residence of famous billionaire, Oliver Warbucks. Spiteful Miss Hannigan has other ideas and hatches a plan to spoil Annie’s search.

With its award-winning book and score, this stunning musical includes the unforgettable songs It’s a Hard Knock Life, Easy Street, I Don’t Need Anything But You and the eternal anthem of optimism – Tomorrow.

Leapin’ Lizards! You can bet your bottom dollar that you’ll love it!

Johannesburg: The TEATRO, Montecasino – 12 October 2016 to 27 November 2016

Performances: Tue – Fri @ 8pm, Sat @ 3pm & 8pm, Sun @ 2pm & 5:30pm

Tickets: R500, R400, R300 R200. Tuesday @ 8pm & Sundays @ 5:30pm: R450, R350, R250, R150

For Group Bookings and Charities please contact Geraldine (011) 511 1988

Cape Town: ARTSCAPE Opera – 2 December 2016 to 8 January 2017

Performances: Tue – Fri @ 7:30pm, Sat @ 3pm & 7:30pm, Sun @ 2pm & 5:30pm

Tickets: R500, R400, R300, R200, R150. Tuesday @ 7:30pm & Sunday @ 5:30pm:  R450, R350, R250, R150, R100.

For Group Bookings and Charities please contact Tracy (021) 438 3301

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