LiiLa and Friends #ComingAttractions

We have such an exciting event coming up that I would like to tell you guys about!

Ferdinand and I have been assisting a beautiful, young and talented emerging South African artist named LiiLa to launch her debut album #LosDans. Prior to the album launch we released the music video for the title song #LosDans and it reached an amazing 2000 views in just 24 hours!

It was soooo much fun to shoot this video for LiiLa and as always a pleasure to work with PhotoElements' Eben Liebenberg filming, RMANN Films' Hermann Winter-Greyling editing and hubby Ferdinand Gernandt from FADCreationS conceptualising and directing.

Now at over 3000 views, check it out for yourself below.. It will make you want to get up and get 'jiggy' with it!

We held a wonderfully attended and successful album launch at the Brooklyn Theatre on 12 September, where LiiLa was supported on stage by her three gorgeous dancers, Mongene Stoffberg, Shani Spelt and Mia Uys as well as the handsome and ever entertaining emcee Marco Spaumer. She looked beautiful and at 13 years of age wowed the audience with her vocal prowess and performance.
Also joining her on stage was the delightful team from Follicle Hair Atelier's Follicle On The Move team who styled LiiLa's hair and makeup with magical transitions onstage whilst Marco kept us all engaged and enchanted.

LiiLa's debut album was excellenty produced by Frans and Marlee van der Merwe as well as Alron Matthews and Herman Steyn. 

AAAAAAND it is now available on iTunes! Just search for #LosDans the album!

   Fresh off of her #LosDans album release LiiLa performed at the Heart of Midstream event, opening for the likes of the popular artists Bobby van Jaarsveld (photographed with LiiLa below) and Karlien van Jaarsveld.

The next event we are planning together is 'LiiLa and Friends' on the 16th of October at the Live Arts Little Theatre (LALT) in Boksburg. It is going to be a fabulously fun collaboration and variety evening between LiiLa and other FADlings Armand Joubert, Kristen Raath, Teneal Brown, Elske Swart and Daniah de Villiers. 

We would love to see all of you there!!

So come and join us at 19.00 for 19.30 Friday 16 October at LALT in the Terminal Life and Style Centre, Trichardts Road in Boksburg for an eventful evening! Tickets (R80) available at the door or online at www.lalt.co.za.

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Chat soon peeps!

DinsdagDeuntjies #FanClub

My beautiful friend Clarice Pieterse launched a new online initiative about 3 months ago called #DinsdagDeuntjie and it is so exciting to see how this seemingly 'small' seed and concept has grown and mushroomed into the ever-growing movement in music that's creating a platform for artists to showcase themselves and their work, particularly those who are 'up-and-comings' and new to the industry!

It all started with the idea to get musos and singers to upload their covers of Afrikaans songs accompanying themselves or accompanied by musician friends - just to celebrate their love for music and get their voices out there!

It has quickly evolved and every Tuesday we eagerly await all the brand new 'TuesdayTunes' for the week to be loaded to the DinsdagDeuntjie Facebook PAGE or artists using the #DinsdagDeuntjie hashtag on their own pages.

This is the story on the DinsdagDeuntjie Page about how it came about and how it works:
Dinsdae is die dag net na Maandag…en vir baie van die kreatiewes wat vassit in ń 9-5 werk …begin die week lekker ritme vang ...na n Blou Maandag…En dis hoekom Dinsdae MOOI moet wees!!!

#DinsdagDeuntjies gee enige persoon wat n Afrikaanse liedjie op die hart het die geleentheid om dit te leer speel…te record en met die wereld te deel!! Mens weet nooit wie sien jou video raak nie…
Jy mag dalk net ons Land se volgende groot ster wees!!!(=
Die trick is dat jy moet COLLABORATE…
As jy (nog)nie n instrument speel nie, kry n pel Of Pelle wat jou kan begelei…DAN IS DIT ń:
#DuoDinsdagdeuntjie. Daag jouself uit om n instrument te leer speel en saam te sing…DAN IS DIT ń:#DinsdagDeuntjie

Wees kreatief!!! Ons sien uit om julle videos te sien!!! 1 keer n week . Dinsdae. MakingMagic. Afrikaans. Akoesties!! PS. Geen Backtracks nie asseblief!!

Many of our crazy talented Mentorship Students at FADCreationS have climbed right onto that bandwagon and every Tuesday they post their Afrikaans covers or even original music to join in the DinsdagDeuntjie fun!



What is even better, is that the online phenomenon has now grown to a once monthly LIVE musical #TydOmTeSkyn event! Once a month on a Friday, Clarice invites a handful of DinsdagDeuntjie online participants to a live evening of music and showcasing of talent! These #TydOmTeSkyn events are hosted by the ProMusica (@ProSound_Studio) venue in the Hillfox Centre (Unit 39 right on the end) on Hendrik Porgieter Road, Weltevreden Park. 

It's such a fun event to attend (only R60 per person!) and we always have plenty of fellow FADlings supporting and attending the live event. *(There is really yummy coffee and snacks available as well, mmmmm!) Each live event enjoys the BEST sound & lighting services and equipment provided by ProSound Studios and their team of technicians.They really are cool, check out their website at this link.

And now they have even begun LIVE streaming the monthly events on a new app, download the ProSound Studio Radio App on iStore to listen in next time!!




















We were so proud to see three of our FADCreationS Mentorship Students debuting on the DinsdagDeuntjie stage at the recent TydOmTeSkyn #3 event and we're grateful to the entire DinsdagDeuntjie team who make it possible for them to perform live and showcase their talent on this platform, AND that alongside the likes of incredibly talented and popular Afrikaans musicians Joshua Na Die Reen.

Check out Kristen Raath Artist, Savannah Georgia Artist and Liila (only 12 years old!) and their Facebook links (click on their names) to follow their exciting young careers and new developments.

I really hope that you'll come and join us at the next live event or even post your very own rendition of a #DinsdagDeuntjie this week!

Komaan!!! Gaan groot en sing saam hierdie Dinsdag!!

Check out the #DinsdagDeuntjie website at this link and follow all their social media links below!!

Thanks for the support guys, and for supporting all the peeps I write my #FanClub posts about. If you have a cause or project or business you think I should check out and would like some support - leave me a comment or send me an email... I'd love to hear from all of you!


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Chat soon music-makers!

The Crucible #OutAndAbout

What an incredible thrill to have watched such a star-studded incredibly talented cast performing the set-work production of The Crucible at UJ Arts Centre last night. Man, I just love the theatre, there is something so magical about a live performance created only for the pleasure and provocation of one group of people lucky enough to witness that one fleeting performance that will never quite be the same the next night or the next.

I have to say I was really excited to see this play (in spite of its heavy content), firstly to watch and support friends performing the work but also because I haven't seen a straight play in ages and was hungry for a classical piece of dramatic work.


This poignant Arthur Miller piece written in 1953 was presented in a way that drew me in and had me emotionally involved from start to finish. Particularly when I take into account that the play set during the Salem Witch trials of 1692, is based on actual events where the vindictiveness of human nature fueled enraged religious witch hunts.

The sheer brilliance of the direction, performances and creative elements is testament to true theatrical talents in our country and for me as an actress, it had me metaphorically salivating to not only personally be doing work like this but also to watch more productions of its nature and quality. 

Gimme more layered dual characterizations, more pure unadulterated theatre and more timeless classic plays!

The direction by Alby Michaels blew me away with a wonderful blend of professional talents and up-and-coming UJ students. It was such a pleasure to watch friends Neels Clasen, Cindy Swanepoel and Jacques Bessenger performing this kind of material and I thoroughly enjoyed each of their performances. Jacques Bessenger astounded me in his dual roles of Reverend John Hale and Reverend Parris; his transitions felt seamless and his fleshed out characters captivating. Neelsie, Neelsie... what can I say.. a man of many talents, Neels Clasen as John Proctor.. it's hard not to shed a tear when this mighty man breaks down and weeps on his knees in a bed of autumn leaves - powerful. I know Cindy Swanepoel mostly from her comedy work and it was delightful to see her tackle both demanding roles of Abigail and Elizabeth Proctor with such fervor. It was my first time seeing Lebohang Motaung (Mr Thomas Putnam, Giles Corey and Givenor Danforth) as well as Chan Marti (Mrs Putnam and Rebecca Nurse) perform and they were both excellent in their dual portrayals. I thought the students held their own with a particular stand out performance by Thobile Makukule as Tituba. 

Wow, the set by Wilhelm Disbergen - so beautifully simplistic and clever, magical lighting by Oliver Hauser (watched him since school and just love the work he's doing). The incredible masks were designed by friends Toni Morkel and Rob Pombo - eek please can I have one? and brilliant costume design by Jo Glanville - go Jo!

It's fun to see so many friends' creative work showcased and I feel a sense of 'big sister' pride in their successes. AND it's always a pleasure to have our mentorship graduate FADlings along who continue to grow together with us - Roelien, Morne (aka James!) and Michaela - Love you guys!

This piece is quoted in the program: 

"[W]e conceive the Devil as a necessary part of a respectable view of cosmology. Ours is a divided empire in which certain ideas and emotions and actions are of God, and their opposites are of Lucifer. it is as impossible for most men to conceive of a morality without sin as of an earth without a 'sky'. Since 1692 a great but superficial change has wiped out God's beard and the Devil's horns, but the world is still gripped between two diametrically opposed absolutes. The concept of unity, in which positive and negative are attributes of the same force, in which good and evil are relative, ever-changing, and always joined to the same phenomenon - such a concept is still reserved to the physical sciences and to the few who have grasped the history of ideas." Arthur Miller THE CRUCIBLE

I believe there may be only one performance left on this Saturday 15.00 at UJ Arts Centre so get onto Computicket or contact the UJ Arts Centre offices during working hours. For more information call 011 559 3058011 559 3058 or e-mail preciousm@uj.ac.za. Tickets are R80, R70 for pensioners and R50 for students - nothing! Go see it! (But take tissues and wear waterproof mascara)

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Chat soon guys!

Looking Back #FlashbackFriday

It's been a while since my last post, and so I thought I'd catch you up on some of my recent activities.

Our months of April and May have been filled with lots of great projects. One of which was our FADCreationS annual Broadway Performance Showcase Experience. This year the production was entitled 'Follicle The Musical', in partnership with the wonderful team of stylists from the salon Follicle Hair Atelier. The hair and make-up styling was out there, outrageous and out of this world, wow!
After a two week workshop auditioning, dancing, singing and acting at Dance de Art studios, we moved onto stage at Monte De Dios with excellent staging and technical equipment provided by EPH Productions and JSF Productions. The production was such a great success and the talent astounding. Each year our candidates manage to creep into our hearts and it's a great reward to hear all of their feedback about how much they've learned, grown and enjoyed the 14 intensive days with us.

This is the awesome logo and poster below that was designed for the show this year by the talented Anzel Liebenberg from Fire Cherry Creative Branding.  

Ferdi and I with designer Anzel Liebenberg

Hubby Ferdinand acted as a writing assist on the screenplay for the 8 Days Film which highlights the growing and pressing issue of human trafficking. The film had already premiered in several major cities in the States when director/producer Jaco Booyens began planning the South African premiers. It was a star-studded premier in Johannesburg on the 14th of March, and a wonderful privilege to attend. The 8 Days message is truly important for the trafficking awareness campaign, if you want to follow this movement or donate to the cause, visit their site at this link.


It was also particularly special to attend this year's Naledi Theatre Awards with Ferdi who was nominated as choreographer for his work on the production of Reik Na Die Sterre die Musical, which he produced together with Johan Ferrreira and Henre Bornman as TheSmashHitCo. The musical was nominated for 7 Naledi categories, and was a grateful affirmation and reward for the vision and hard work that went into the production.

My beautiful friend Clarice Pieterse recently launched an online musical 'movement' named #DinsdagDeuntjie. Every Tuesday, performers record videos of themselves playing their instruments and singing cover or original songs and post them online with the hashtag #DinsdagDeuntjie.

A brand new development has evolved from the growing popularity of this movement! We recently attended the second monthly 'live' #DinsdagDeuntjie event at the ProSound venue at the Hillfox Centre in Roodepoort. It is a wonderful platform for up and coming vocalists and musical artists to showcase their brands and perform live.

The next live event is happening on Friday 5 June 2015, TydOmTeSkyn#3 - you should all come and check out the great talent! For more info go and like their Facebook Page. 


Another highlight of the past few weeks was the official premier of the French Toast feature film.

I was so thrilled to play a cameo in this film and thoroughly enjoyed playing the french nurse Marion, as well as working on speaking the french language which I've been in love with since high school.
The premier was held with a lot of 'french flair' (and lots of really yummy) french toast at the knew open air cinema at the French Toast Coffee Cafe in Hartebeespoort. The smaller replica of the Eiffel Tower was all lit up on the other side of the romantic lock bridge, and had everyone experiencing a little bit of Paris in Gauteng.
It was such a lovely evening!

Wow it's been an eventful few weeks, it's been fun looking back.

I am looking forward to all that is still lying ahead and all the exciting new possibilities!!
Will keep you posted :)

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Chat soon peeps,