Call Me Lee #OutAndAbout

Who knew that three gentlemen creating a world of characters around one piano on a black stage, could create such vivid colour and fullness. The production of Call Me Lee showing at Pieter Toerien's Montecasino Theatre, with a cast of three powerful performers, Jonathan Roxmouth, Weslee Swain Lauder and Samuel Hyde, had me engaged and enthralled from start to finish. And I just love that there are performers and artists out there brave enough to take the plunge of producing and investing in their own works. It's fantastic to watch original pieces created and produced locally, performed by incredibly gifted local talent and see it succeed and be well supported.

Samuel Hyde, who  plays the roles of Seymour Heller, Scott Thorson and various others, is the youngster of the three performers. Fresh out of Oakfields College, he has an ease and confidence rarely found in performers of his age and experience, and it was great to see him hold his own. With this being the launch of his professional career, there is only promise that lies ahead.




My talented friend and colleague, Weslee Swain Lauder never ceases to amaze me. Weslee plays Frances Liberace, George Liberace, Carlucci and others (including a fabulous frenchman), but I enjoyed the brother George and Liberace's mom especially. Brava Wessy, just superb!
If you read the program, Ian von Memerty (direction and choreography) writes a memoir about the night when the late Doyenne of SA theatre, Joan Brickhill first met Liberace during his South African tour in 1968. Joan and Liberace became life long friends and it is truly special to note that the mink stole Joan wore on the night she first met Lee, is now being worn in this production by Weslee, portraying Lee's mother.

Okay, Jonathan Roxmouth is just ridiculous. I knew he played and that he played well, but I had no idea he could play the piano quite like that! Those liquid fingers bring the sensational Liberace to life and added to that, his wonderfully endearing and sincere character portrayal draws you in, warms your heart and makes you fall in love with the man who would wink and say... 'Call Me Lee'.

It was another special evening at the theatre and I love that we get to expose our mentorship students to quality theatre and have them meet the real people, the working artists behind the characters on stage. Thanks guys and may you have a terrific run!
Call Me Lee is showing until 27 April, go and see it!



And just... Call Me Dee x

BPSE 2014 '96000' - Where Your Treasure Lies #Projects

We were so blessed with a wonderful group of incredible talents this year and if I may be so bold - I believe each one of them had a deeply impacting and life changing experience in the short space of time together - approximately 70 jam packed hours in 2 weeks. The Broadway Performance Showcase Experience workshop is intense, it is hard work, it is intimate and it is grueling.. but somehow it has the power to positively influence young individuals in such a significant way, something we can't orchestrate or plan - it just happens. 

At BPSE, you experience unnerving auditions, grueling vocal sessions, exciting studio recordings, exhausting dance rehearsals, detailed acting, plotting and staging and finally putting together a production in a top class theatre and learning what it takes to put up a musical theatre production from start to finish. But more than that, you experience the unity and bond of a tight-knit cast, how wonderfully positive and uplifting we can be in this industry and how many others share your passions, your talents, your dreams and hopes. A BPSE Grad will never forget the experience, the friends made and the lessons learnt. 

This is what one of our talented cast members of the BPSE 2014 production '96000' had to say a few days after our final day of the Broadway Performance Showcase Experience.

Roelien Prinsloo Message

Three of our candidates have been scouted by agents (can not reveal names yet) and will most probably be contacted and signed in the next month. One of our candidates was all set to go and study to become a chartered accountant and now stands on the edge of a major career and life changing decision having been ignited and inspired to follow his heart and passion. Many of our candidates are about to leave school and enter tertiary education, and have received invaluable input and guidance in their degree, diploma and institution choices. 

I believe one of the most valuable and memorable parts of our workshop to be the two hour Q and A session with high profile industry professionals from various job designations, sharing their hearts as well as their years of invaluable knowledge, expertise, networks and personal learnings. Every year it leaves me inspired and moved and excited about our industry, the people in it and especially those about to enter the wonderful world of theatre, screen, music and the performing arts.

BPSE has grown to be more than just an idea or a project, it has become a formidable team, passionate about providing this platform, in this way, to the many young impressionable artists out there; it has become a family of BPSE Grads all linked by what they love to do and committing themselves to be the very best versions of themselves.

We are so #grateful for a very successful two weeks of BPSE 2014 and the final performances of '96000 - Where Your Treasure Lies' at the Atterbury Theatre. 

To know more about the annual Broadway Performance Showcase Experience hosted by FADCreationS click here. 

These great pics from the production are courtesy of Photo Elements. 

Chat soon, 

Droomkind Opening #OutAndAbout

So blessed to be attending so much theatre at the moment. It truly is a testament to the health and growth of the industry and I love that I'm able to experience so many productions from the audience perspective and support all my friends and colleagues who share my passion and love for the stage.

It's a special thing to be able to experience theatre in your own home language and makes you feel not only proudly Afrikaans but also proudly South African to watch the original production of Droomkind - Die Storie van Josef come alive. There were many wonderful performances but the two performers I want to highlight, are Zak Hendrikz and Clint Arno Lesch. 

Clint (also Musical Director) plays a delightfully comic character who bursts into joyous song in the jail and I am so thrilled for him and his incredible vocals to be showcased in this way. Zak demands your attention as several characters in the production and creates a heart wrenching scene at the climax of the second Act, he is just one of the most intellectual, layered and committed actors I have come across and I so enjoy watching him in action.

Marisa Drummond is fabulous as the sassy Zelda and never disappoints, Bobby van Jaarsveld's velvet voice (and golden torso) is soaked up by the room who all just love to love Bobby. And Philip Moolman and Edrien Erasmus are heartwarming narrators of the well known story in its re-worked setting.  

Visually Droomkind is beautiful, with the stage design by Nadine Minnaar so clever, so practical and so seamless. Nadine creates magic, the State Theatre is so lucky to have her. The lighting, wardrobe and hair designs are wonderful. (I just love Marisa's hair as Zelda) But to me, the star of the show is the choreographer Timothy Le Roux, who's work is instantly identifiable for its finesse and sophistication, for its effortless transitions and how he manages to make anyone executing his work look magnificent. It always makes me wish he had choreographed it on me. I believe Tim to be such an under-appreciated gem in our industry and I really hope that he will be celebrated and revered as he deserves to be.

Renier and Lise-Marie Keyser, Elizma Badenhorst, Timothy Le Roux, Clint Lesch, Matthys Maree and the Droomkind company can feel very proud of a great production, I wish them every success with their run. It was certainly a lovely Sunday afternoon out with my hubby after a very busy two weeks and I felt blessed to have been there. 

Chukkas Droomkind Co - Toi Toi!

Love,