Buddy – the Buddy Holly Story chronicles the rise to fame of pop music icon, Buddy Holly, from his first performances with Buddy Holly and the Crickets to the tour that saw him die in the infamous plane crash that also claimed the lives of J.P. Richardson (also known as The Big Bopper), Ritchie Valens and their pilot, Roger Peterson.

Production Details

Artscape Opera House: 28 March – 16 April 2023.
Teatro at Montecasino: 21 April – 28 May 2023.

Presented by Pieter Toerien Productions by arrangement with Alan Janes. Producer: Pieter Toerien. Production Assistant: Ande Gibson. Production Team for Pieter Toerien Productions: Mark Sage, Geraldine Swanepoel, Dylan Sage, Dean Roberts, Courtney Johnson, Darryl Evans, Michael de Beer, Prohress Mphande and William Haycock.

Book by Alan Janes. Music and lyrics by Paul Jury, Robert Blackwell, John Marascalco, Buddy Holly,  Norman Petty, Jerry Allison, Chuck Berry, Kelly Isley, Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley, Frankie Lymon, Morris Levy, J. P. Richardson, Bob Montgomery, Richie Valens, Felice Bryant, Boudleaux Bryant, Paul Anka and Bill Tilghman.

Director and Choreographer: Nick Winston. Musical Director: Wessel Odendaal. Resident Director: Anton Luitingh. Resident Choreography: Duane Alexander.

Production Design: Niall Griffin. Set Construction: Nadine Minaar and Corne Roodt for Scene Visual. Furniture Manufacture: Gerhard Morkel. HOD Wardrobe: Lineza Louw. Dressers: Mariam Moerat, Frances Moerdyk and Kasha Solomon. Wigs: Soekie Haupt and Steven Buys.

Sound Design: Mark Malherbe. Sound Operator: Cara Dowling. Sound: Savannah Vermaak and James Muritz. System Technician: Morne Kruger. Lighting Design: Oliver Hauser. Lighting Operators: Glenn Duncan and Nazeem Griebelaar. Followspot Operators: Ismail Toffar and Valentino Davids. Video Design: Louis Minaar.

Production Manager: Ricardo Abrahams. Stage Manager: Juanita van Wyk. Deputy Stage Manager: Jaco Griessel. Assistant Stage Managers: Leandri van Wyk and Amber Mgushelwa. Stage Management Intern: Nicole Austin. Flyman: Gcobani Zatu. Stage Crew: Angelo Maart, Kariem Petersen, Zaheer Murphy and Uzair van Reenen.

Cast: Jethro Tait (Buddy Holly), Gianluca Gironi (Jerry Allison), Michael Stray (Tommy Allsup/Hayrider/Buddy Holly Cover), Stephan Bezhuidenhout (Joe B. Mauldin), Nic Sedgwick (Hipockets Duncan), Bethany Dickson (Vi Petty/Mary Lou Sokoloff), Thoko Jiyane (Norman Petty/James Brown), Keaton Ditchfield (The Big Bopper/Decca Producer/Murray Deutch), Chad Baai (Richie Valens/KDAV Engineer), Gabriela Dos Santos (Maria Elena Santiago/Ensemble), Sindiswa Ndlovu (Marlena Madison/Shirley/Ensemble), Gerard Van Rooyen (Clearlake MC/NY Interviewer/Ensemble), Virtuous Kandemiiri (Eva Isaac/Ensemble), Morgan Marshall (Swing/Dance Captain), Koketso Mere (Tyrone Jones/ Ensemble) and Che-Jean Jupp (Jackdaw/KDAV Producer/Swing).

Band: Wessel Odendaal (Keys), Stephan Galvin (Drums), Luke Verrezen (Bass), Kuba Silkiewicz (Guitar), Renaldo Wales (Trumpet), James George (Trombone) and Mark Lynch (Tenor Saxophone).

Special thanks to Propeller Period Props, Prop Art, David Scales and Cape Town Opera.

Reviews

BroadwayWorld; The Cape Robyn; Theatre Scene Cape Town; Weekend Special.

Marketing Materials and Photographs

The information on this page was sourced from press releases supplied for the production and the souvenir brochure for the show. Something missing? Want to add or correct information? Please contact the South African Musical Theatre Archive with the details via the “Contact” tab at the top of the page.