Follicle Friends #MeMoments

Not one, but two visits to my favourite salon and all-in-one beauty stop, Follicle Hair Atelier this week.
(#luckygirl!) I really am blessed to have this amazing team I can rely on for advice, expertise and input on my 'look', not only for shoots but also for day-to-day beauty and image branding.

I love being able to sit around the large wooden table in the salon, catch up over a coffee, discuss colour options with the gorgeous stylists Cornel and Danielle (feels like 'the sisters of the wooden table'), debating over my hair as if it's truly a matter of national concern and see the two of them get genuinely excited over it. (Follow these ladies on twitter at @cornelnel_ and @Danielle_e91)

I believe it's called colour blocking.. you seperate triangular sections of the hair and colour every alternate section with a second colour that is close and complimentary to the first. And well - after coffee, biscuits and a snip here and there, it came out beautifully!

Two days later and I'm back in the salon. Why? Because I have a portfolio shoot! And who else would I go to for styling help? What an incredible team... they all jumped in, discussing options and advising how I could go about re-styling by myself for variety later on at the shoot. Complete with demonstrations and working the best options to keep my 'look' lasting longer, until the time of the first (and last) flash that afternoon.

Walter conceptualised, created and prepped every little curl, Cornel styled an 'up-do' of note, Glenda gracefully turned my nails into art, Hannes contoured, sculpted and crafted my face (including the detail of tiny lashes on the edges of my lids) and Glen advised and supervised with elegance.

You absolutely have to go and try them out, the salon is in Brooklyn in the Waterkloof Corner Centre (co Crown and Main str). Follow them on Facebook here, @FollicleH on Twitter and @hairaterlier on Instagram.
And watch their 'space' - it will soon be expanding with floor space, stylists, added beauty services and more!
I'm taking you up on that lash-tint Hannes! (follow him @hannesbgood) I can't wait!

Here is my 'magic team'!

Have a #folliclefriday!
Love,

My Ultimate Treadmill Power Playlist #MeMoments

Let's face it, the treadmill can be downright boring and tedious if you don't have some audio inspiration. Recently I have begun 'upping' my treadmill 'attendance' - so I thought I'd share with you the music I've got pumping very loudly (illegal decibel levels) in my ears and pumping me up to go that little bit longer... that little bit further... that little bit harder.

My treadmill list contains 25 songs (1 hr 31 min), which I shuffle to keep things fresh for each 12-20 minute run. 

It may be a little 'girly', it may have some strange combinations... but it gets me amped up to keep going when I think I can't anymore! 

So, here it is: (alphabetically) 

1. Catchafire (Whoopsi-Daisy) - TobyMac
2. Dance Again - Jennifer Lopez feat Pitt Bull
3. Disturbia - Rihanna
4. Evacuate the Dancefloor - Cascada
5. Fort Knox - Goldfish
6. Glamorous - Fergie feat Ludacris
7. Goodbye - Kristinia DeBarge
8. Hottie - T-Pain
9. In Person - The Pussycat Dolls
10. Jump - The Cube Guys and Luciana
11. Just Dance - Lady Gaga feat Colby O'Donis
12. Moves Like Jagger - Maroon 5 feat Christina Aguilera
13. Nobody - Ne-Yo
14. Radar - Britney Spears 
15. Release - Timbaland feat Justin Timberlake
16. Rock This Party (Everybody Dance Now) - Bob Sinclair
17. Rumour Has It - Adele
18. SexyBack - Justin Timberlake 
19. Sing My Song - Bob Sinclair 
20. Slut Like You - P!nk 
21. Soundtracks and Comebacks - Goldfish
22. Try - Cupid feat B.o.B.
23. Walk of Shame - P!nk
24. When I Grow Up - The Pussycat Dolls
25. Yes - Merry Clayton

If you have any song suggestions leave me a note in the comments box below, I'd love to add to my list! 

Burn Baby Burn!

Happy 'treadmilling'!

Gaynor Young #InstantInspiration

Thank you Gaynor Young! Thank you for the joy of your blog "'Ear 'Ear"and the incredible gift of sharing your journey with the digital world. I stumbled across it as I searched through many entertainment, theatre or arts blogs and I am so profoundly happy that I did. It was the perfect thing at the perfect moment.

As artists, we so often fall victim to our own self-doubt, criticism and cynicism. We allow our 'artistic' selves to run away with endless questions, musings and often hopeless convictions about the industry or our careers.
And then you get to read a post (The Loved One!) by someone who many years after a tragic and horrific accident in a theatre and two cochlear implants later, for the first time was able to listen, really listen to a performance by the wonderful South African vocal artist PJ Powers, ... and tears begin to well up.
You read the post called Pardon! on forgiveness for those who held responsibility for this tragedy and cannot stop the gentle tears from spilling over.

Gaynor, your story is such a well known tale among theatre folk and your name synonymous with theatre safety and tragedy. BUT what people don't bother thinking about is what came after, how many challenges you must have faced and conquered since then, how you have turned that event into a pivotal moment of change and motivation in your life and how you manage to inspire so many by what you continue to accomplish day by day.

I can not wait to delve deeper into the depths of your blog and somehow get a hold of your book 'My Plunge to Fame'.

Thank you for reminding me that life is a gift, that every day is a gift and that every obstacle we face is a gift... to be more, to do more and to live more.

For #InstantInspiration go and read or follow Gaynor's blog 'Ear 'Ear and follow her on twitter at @earearblog.

Much inspired love,

Reik Na Die Sterre #ComingAttractions

Reik Na Die Sterre - Die Grootste Afrikaanse Musical nog ooit!

Many performers begin their careers going from contract to contract and job to job, merely grateful to be working - not always considering where life or their careers are taking them. But then there are some among us who have a very clear idea of where they are headed, it is purely a case of how and when they'll get there.
My husband, Ferdinand Gernandt is one of those incredibly talented and driven individuals and this is a forthcoming project he's in the middle of preparing for - I can not tell you how excited I am for it!

The Smash Hit Company has been developing this original project for over a year now and it is mind-blowing to think that in such a short time it will become a reality. Ferdinand wrote the piece around the memorable and well-known music of the Afrikaans legend Bless Bridges. However it is a completely fresh original story (not relating to the life of Bless) and all the newly arranged songs by Murray Lubbe further enhances and carries this tale about young love, war and family.

Here is the newly released music video of the title song 'Reik Na Die Sterre' sung by Willem Botha and Kristen Raath. Produced by The Smash Hit Company.

This production has secured some of the most talented artists in our industry, a powder keg full of well-knowns and up-and-comings!

The magical Sarah Theron and Richard van der Westhuizen will portray the parents of young Stephan, played by the talented Willem Botha. Neels Clasen will be playing the militaristic father of beautiful young Jana, who will be portrayed by the bright Kristen Raath, making her theatrical debut. The full cast list further includes Kenneth Meyer, Lee Scott, Marcel Spaumer, Marco Spaumer, Zak Hendrikz, Weslee Swain Lauder, Reg Hart, Clint Lesch, Phillip Schnetler, Stephan van der Walt, Emil Haarhoff, Tristin Gernandt, Annica Steenkamp, Joanna Abatzoglou, Michelle Pieterse, Stefania duToit, Pulane Rampoana, Suzaan Helberg, Nastassja Jooste, Sarah-Ann Kroukamp and Marijke Bezuidenhout.

Here is a 'behind-the-scenes' chat with Willem Botha, on set of the music video shoot at the Groenkloof Nature Reserve in Pretoria.

Hubby will be directing and choreographing for Reik Na Die Sterre, which is about to go into rehearsals and preparations from the 8th of June. Doors at the The State Theatre will officially open on 10 July for this exciting project (running until 3 August) and tickets are already available at Computicket.

I personally cannot wait and will be front and centre at the Opening!
So opgewonde hiervoor!! Yay x

Chat soon,

Witches of 'West Rand' #FlashbackFriday

Photographic Flashback Friday! Make-Up on this one was done by the wonderful Gerlia Groenewald and magnificent photography and editing by Jacky Joubert at The Playroom.
Don't get a fright... it's a glimpse into my darker side.. hehe. I love exploring characters and particularly enjoy the opportunity to be the villain for a change.

Have a wonderfully 'witchy' weekend!

Vettie Vettie #OutAndAbout

'Vettie Vettie', the first ever Afrikaans play to appear on the Pieter Toerien's Montecasino Theatre stage. A privilege to have attended the opening performance, and something of a historical moment.

Has their ever been a South African theatre legend quite like the Tobie Cronje... 

Fred Astaire meets Robin Williams meets Stanley Tucci. 

(think about that for a minute)...

His sheer brilliance, wonderful subtlety, genius timing, animated physicality and divine carrying of the character/scene between the lines...  I could watch Tobie perform the cygnets from Swan Lake whilst whistling 'Siembamba mamma se kindjie' and I'd think it's amazing. (it probably would be too) 

But it's his gentle giant nature, his 'Tai Chi' spirit and his kind, humble soul that just draws you in and makes you want to sit at his feet and absorb his goodness. I have had the honour of working with Toobs in two different productions and am so grateful for it. He is probably one of the most popular people after a show, but took the unhurried time to meet and shake hands with our mentorship students, Jaydee and Mongene joining me at the event. 

Love you Toobs x 

The other three cast members, namely Hanna Grobler, Luan Jacobs and Andre Lotter are faced with quite a feat to match up to the level of expertise and experience of the theatre veteran in their midst, but I truly enjoyed each of their performances. I adored Hanna especially for her lovable and miserable 'fat' Vicky, Luan for his quirky and excellent physicality (not spilling that coffee was sheer magic) and Andre for his suave manner and using his small amount of stage time so well. 

I laughed... hard and a lot. 

But even through the light comedy, this line spoke to me... 'meeste mense ploeter maar voort, 

omdat hulle nie die moed het om te verander nie.' 

I do have things I want to change (don't we all), and they ain't gonna change all on their own. It's going to take some guts, determination and lots of perseverance. 

Now I just need a 'Henry' (played by Tobie) to follow me around and make sure I don't eat any chocolates, or deviate in other ways from my goals! 

Any takers? 

(Vettie Vettie is showing until the 1st of June and then travels to the Theatre on the Bay in Cape Town, tickets available at this link. )

Chat soon, 

Chicago the Musical #FlashbackFriday

The very first musical theatre production I was ever a part of was Chicago the Musical, and what a musical to enter the world of musical theatre with!

It is certainly my favourite musical and the one that holds my fondest memories (not excluding the fact that I met my now-husband on this production). When I first auditioned for Chicago, I was one among about 900 candidates in Johannesburg alone (auditions were held in Cape Town as well) who fought to be a part of the debut cast of Chicago the Musical's first ever South African production. I was 22 and had never had any vocal training. So I went for a crash course in song preparation and the basics with an SA vocal coach called Kevin Feather, (forever in his debt) and decided to give it a go, never expecting to really be considered. I was blown away and so grateful to be confirmed as part of the cast.

I was chosen as one of the two female swings (covers), which meant that I got to learn all of the cell-block tango characters as well as Kitty (Lucy Liu character from the 2002 film). I was lucky enough to perform 4 out of the 6 ensemble parts: Hunyak (the Hungarian girl), Liz ('I fired two warning shots'), June ('he ran into my knife') and Kitty, whom I played regularly as the girl playing her part happened to be booked off often. I enjoyed playing all of them, but I guess at the time Kitty was my favourite as I knew her track the best ...AND she got to slide down the banister of the large band stand on the stage (closet adrenaline junkie).

The gentleman who taught us the skill was in fact a trainer from Cirque de Soleil and I felt so privileged to have worked with him. Damn, I loved sliding down that banister.
The jist of the Kitty 'slide' moment is this: you climb up a ladder to the top level of the band stand where the band's brass section are seated, you present yourself 'gymnast-like' and then basically (note in an extremely sexy manner) climb onto the side banister to sit with your bum on your leather-gloved hands leaning back slightly and your long legs crossed in front of you. Once settled you slightly release your grip on the banister which allows you to slide all the way down on your hands to the bottom. Once down there is an elaborate side-split/back-bend/sexy-vibes moment that leads into Kitty's scene.

What I found most unnerving was that Ferdinand (now-hubby) was seated in a chair on the side of the stage exactly opposite where I had to do 'sexy-vibes' at the end. (Must have been doing something right *winks*)

Whenever I played Kitty, I had the added benefit of the brass section  (I love those guys!) cheering me on - my unofficial fan club! They would write me notes and hold them up for me to read just before the slide... And I would reciprocate by passing them notes covered in red-lipped kisses and other silly messages... needless to say, there was great expectation in the brass section every time I got to play the part!

Here is a link to a media release on Artslink in Oct 2004 when it all had just become a reality. In those days I was still Diani Joubert (maiden name).
http://www.artlink.co.za/news_article.htm?contentID=21266

There are so many great stories and memories connected to this musical but I'll leave some to tell you about at a later stage. In 2008, the musical was brought back for a second SA season, which I jumped at. Some parts were recast, but many of the debut cast returned to the piece. In this season I secured the role of June ('he ran into my knife') but was still asked to cover the roles of Kitty and Hunyak. I was thrilled with the arrangement, it was like having the best of both worlds - on stage every night but still able to play multiple characters and my favourites too. My then-hubby was playing Tony Manero (John Travolta) in Saturday Night Fever and so we were 'strutting' our stuff on different stages that time around.

Both those seasons of Chicago are major milestones and incredibly memorable and meaningful to me.
If given the chance, I would take on another production of Chicago in a heartbeat.

Who knows if or when SA will see Chicago again? Never say never...



And 'all the jazz'... x