Tag Archives: Teatro at Montecasino

Legendary Musical BUDDY – THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY to Rock SA Stages in 2023

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Pieter Toerien will present a brand-new stage production of the legendary rock musical, Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story, in South Africa in 2023. Promising to deliver all the thrills of a full-scale live rock ‘n’ roll experience, Buddy will run at the Artscape Opera House from 28 March to 16 April 2023, and at The Teatro at Montecasino from 21 April to 28 May 2023.

A poster for BUDDY: THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY, showing a neon image of Buddy Holly as well as the production dates and venues.

Buddy follows the incredible journey of Buddy Holly’s meteoric rise to the top of the charts during the golden age of rock music. Following a start as a country and western singer, he formed a band, The Crickets, and shifted his style to rock music, shooting to stardom in 1957. Just two years later, Holly died tragically in a plane crash alongside Ritchie Valens and J. P. Richardson, also known as The Big Bopper. It was a tragedy that shook the world – to wit, “the day the music died”.

The all-South African cast of Buddy will be led by singer-songwriter Jethro Tait as Buddy Holly. Joining him on stage will be Bethany Dickson and Keaton Ditchfield, as well as Michael Stray, Chad Baai, Simone Neethling, Gianluca Gironi, Thoko Jiyane, Che-Jean Jupp, Gerard Van Rooyen, Koketso Mere, Gabriela Dos Santos, Virtuous Kandemiri, Sindiswa Ndlovu and Morgan Marshall.

Nick Winston, the internationally renowned English director and choreographer, will stage a newly conceived production of Buddy, unlike any previous incarnation of the show seen on South African stages. Wessel Odendaal will handle the musical direction, while Niall Griffin will create original set and costume designs for the show.

Bookings for Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story are open at Webtickets for both the Artscape season and its transfer to The Teatro at Montecasino. Tickets range in price from R150 – R500, with performances taking place on Tuesdays through Sundays. Group bookings for the Cape Town run can be made with Dean Roberts (dean@theatreonthebay.co.za) and with Geraldine Swanepoel (geraldine@montetheatre.co.za) for the Johannesburg run.

Richard O’Brien’s ROCKY HORROR SHOW Set to Do the Time Warp Again on SA Stages from December

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Rocky Horror 2018Pieter Toerien and Howard Panter will present a new production of Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show on South African stages, with seasons of the legendary musical extravaganza set to play the Artscape Opera House in Cape Town from 6 December 2019 – 12 January 2020 and the Teatro at Montecasino in Johannesburg from 17 January – 1 March.

The Rocky Horror Show tells the story of Brad and his fiancée, Janet, two squeaky clean college kids who meet Dr Frank’n’Furter by chance when their car breaks down outside his house whilst on their way to visit their favourite college professor. It’s an adventure they’ll never forget, with fun, frolics, frocks and frivolity, bursting with timeless songs and outrageous outfits. The Rocky Horror Show is a guaranteed party, which famously combines science-fiction, horror, comedy and music while encouraging audience participation meaning, of course, getting dressed in the most outrageous fancy dress.

Directed by Christopher Luscombe, the smash hit show features all of the famous musical numbers which have made The Rocky Horror Show such a huge hit for over four decades, including “Sweet Transvestite”, “Science Fiction/Double Feature”, “Dammit Janet” and, of course, the timeless floor-filler, “The Time-Warp.”

The local cast stars Craig Urbani as Dr Frank’n’Furter and Kate Normington as the Narrator, with Anthony Downing, Marlee van der Merwe, Stefania du Toit, Zac Hendrikz, Jarryd Nurden, Jessica Sole, Usisipho Nteyi, Robin Timm and Sean Louw completing the company.

The Rocky Horror Show first began life in 1973 before an audience of just 63 people in the Royal Court’s Theatre Upstairs. It was an immediate success and transferred to the Chelsea Classic Cinema, before going on to run at the Kings Road Theatre from 1973 – 1979 and the Comedy Theatre in the West End from 1979 – 1980. In 1975, it was transformed into a film called The Rocky Horror Picture Show. This film adaptation took over $135 million at the box office and is still shown in cinemas around the world more than 40 years after its premiere. The stage show itself has been performed worldwide in more than 30 countries and has been translated into over 20 languages.

Ready to thrill you with fun and naughty moments, The Rocky Horror Show is the boldest bash of them all. Promising to be bigger and better than any production ever seen before on South African stages, The Rocky Horror Show is sure to have local audiences waiting in actici… pation as opening night draws nearer. Bookings are through Computicket.

MATILDA THE MUSICAL to Play Cape Town this Festive Season

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MatildaPieter Toerien and GWB Entertainment’s highly anticipated production of Matilda the Musical will play the Artscape Opera House from 9 December to 13 January. Billed as perfect entertainment for the whole family, the musical is currently entering the final leg of its Johannesburg run, where it has played to capacity houses at the Teatro at Montecasino, prior to its transfer to the Mother City next month.

Based on the much-loved 1988 Roald Dahl novel, Matilda the Musical tells the tale of a precocious young girl who uses her extraordinary powers to overcome obstacles caused by her family and school, also helping her teacher to find her way in life. The musical features a book by Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin.

The coveted title role of Matilda is shared by three uniquely talented young Capetonian  girls: Lilla Fleischmann, Kitty Harris and Morgan Santo. The young starlets are accompanied by Cape Town actors Ryan de Villers as the gigantic holy terror, Miss Trunchbull, and Bethany Dickson as Matilda’s devoted teacher, Miss Honey. Stephen Jubber and Claire Taylor play Mr and Mrs Wormwood, Matilda’s awful parents, and the lovable librarian Mrs Phelps is played by Nompumelelo Mayiyane.

The adult company is comprised of Jasmin Colangelo, Katrina Dix, Sinead Donnelly, Michael Gardiner, Kent Jeycocke, Weslee Lauder, Carlo McFarlane, Kenneth Meyer, Daniel Parrott, Adrianna Patlaszynska, Jonathan Raath and Logan Timbre.

Matilda the Musical. Photo Credit: Christian KotzePlaying the other pupils at Crunchem Hall Primary School  are Jack Fokkens, Keeran Isaacs, Robyn Ivey, Joshua LeClair, Levi Maron, Ipeleng Merafe, Megan Saayman, Taylor Salgado, Cameron Seear and Zac Gabriel Werb.

Matilda the Musical premiered at the Royal Shakespeare Company’s home in Stratford-upon-Avon, playing to sold-out audiences from November 2010 to January 2011. Capturing the imagination of young and old alike, the Royal Shakespeare Company transferred the production to London’s West End in October 2011 where the show continues to play to sold-out houses at the Cambridge Theatre. The production also played a season of 1 555 performances at the Shubert Theatre on Broadway.

The production reproduces Matthew Warchus’s orignal staging, as well as Peter Darling’s choreography, Rob Howell’s sets and costumes, Hugh Vanstone’s lighting and Simon Baker’s sound design. Additional music and musical supervision for the production are by Christopher Nightingale.

Tickets for the Cape Town season of Matilda the Musical are available online from Computicket or by phone via the the Artscape box office on 021 410 9838. Performances take place on Tuesdays through Sundays, with tickets ranging in price from R100 – R520. No children under five years of age will be admitted at evening performances.