SIBONGILE KHUMALO - One Night Only

JOBURG THEATRE presents SIBONGILE KHUMALO
in
A SPIRIT ASCENDING


Joburg Theatre, in association with MJB Co-ordination, presents SIBONGILE KHUMALO in A SPIRIT ASCENDING on The Mandela stage, for one show only, on March 21st.

Sibongile Khumalo occupies a space in South African music that only jazz can create – a space which bridges cultures. She moves with effortless ease between the ‘traditional’ and ‘modern’, the ‘foreign’ and the ‘indigenous’ and combinations of the above and yet remains intrinsically South African in feel and place.

 

She is South Africa’s first lady of song: the most celebrated member of a musical dynasty marked by an extraordinary vocal gene-pool and passion for making music; a singer who exemplifies and crowns the rich and multi-sourced Southern African singing tradition.

You can expect two hours of music that will touch your soul, uplift your spirit, challenge your senses.  A SPIRIT ASCENDING is a show that will explore divine and spiritual love, as well as the common, everyday variety through old and new material.

Sibongile will also present Sifiso Khanyile, a veteran of the stage as a backing singer, who now steps up as a solo performer, and is the first artist to be signed up to Sibongile's label Magnolia Vision Records (MVR).

 

Tickets are R150, R180, R200 and R230, and are on sale now exclusively by visiting www.joburgtheatre.com and purchasing your print-at-home ticket on the internet, or by calling the theatre’s new direct ticketing line on 0861 670 670.

Tickets for Joburg Theatre’s shows no longer add the traditional ticketing agency booking fee, so the price you see advertised is the price you pay.  Subsequently, the theatre’s tickets are no longer available at Computicket.

 

Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s EVITA

Starring Angela Kilian as EVITA and
Featuring the hit songs “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina”, “Oh What a Circus”, “You Must Love Me”, “High Flying, Adored”, “Another Suitcase in Another Hall”, “Buenos Aires” & “On This Night of a Thousand Stars”

Tues – Fri @ 8pm, Sat @ 4pm & 8pm, Sun @ 3pm
Tickets: R295, R195 & R125 at EVITA Box Office (011) 511 1818 or online www.computicket.com

For more information visit our Theatre Website www.montecasinotheatre.co.za or email info@montetheatre.co.za

Please note: EVITA is here for a limited return season from 25 Feb to 27 March only!

Promusica’s ‘The Crucible’ : A play with movie tonalities

Joburg Promusica is proud to present Arthur Miller’s The Crucible as you’ve never seen it before.

Alby Michaels, known for his incredibly innovative and strongly visual productions, directs this production, which is designed by the talented Kosie Smit. From physical theatre to puppetry, from masks to music, The Crucible promises to be a feast for theatregoers’ senses.

The production’s top-drawer slate of actors includes Jacques Bessenger, Candi Brown, Kim Cloete, Christien LeRoux, Clive Gilson, Cindy Swanepoel, Clifford Hughes and Angus Charl Meyer, who goes by the mononym of Angus.

When one thinks of a play such as The Crucible, one seldom thinks of music, but  Dawid Boverhoff, musicaldirector,  has written a ‘score’ for the play, almost as if scoring for a film. And every piece is newly and specially composed for the show by this talented artist.

Dawid broke down the music in The Crucible into three distinct themes, being: Religion, Love, and Witchcraft. Sometimes the themes use exactly the same piece of music, but shift into either minor or major, according to the emotional quality of the scene. Different instruments will also change the quality of each composed piece. All of the music will be pre-recorded, save for the presence of a live violinist on stage; Irishman David Delaney.

For school/group bookings, contact Queen (queenm@promusica.co.za) or Nevolan (nevolanr@promusica.co.za) on 011 674 1356/7/8/9 or fax on 011 674 2365.

Other bookings can be made at Computicket Outlets (Checkers Hyper and Shoprite), or online at www.computicket.com

VENUE: Joburg Promusica’s Main Auditorium
DATES: March 7th – 26th 2011
TICKETS: R50

The Promusica theatre complex, situated within the Civic Centre at Florida Park, Roodepoort, offers ample free parking for patrons.

The production will then move to the UJ Theatre on the Kingsway Campus, booking is also at Computicket.

HEAD HONCHO SHOW LATEST COLLECTION AT AFI JOBURG FASHION WEEK

Johannesburg – Clothing brand Head Honcho, showed their latest collection at African Fashion International Joburg Fashion Week, held at Fashion Kapitol, inner city Johannesburg.

Khanyi Mbau and AKA

Head Honcho Clothing is a burgeoning Cape Town-based clothing company that was founded in November 2008 by Nick Kaoma and Mzoxolo Gcwabe. 

The company has grown its product line from just T-Shirts and caps, only a season ago to include cardigans, varsity jackets, hoodies, shirts, tank tops for men and tunics for ladies.


Our mission as a brand is to blaze a new trail, pioneer new fashion techniques and discover new ways of interacting with young urban South Africans. Our objective is not only to produce attractive fashion, but also to ensure that the clothing is embedded with a core underlying message.

The brand name itself Head Honcho implies that the clothing is made for people who aspire to be moguls, leaders and achievers.  Our motto, “Live Progressively” perfectly encapsulates what the brand stands for.

The fashion show included statement pieces from the streetwear brand, Head Honcho, with T-Shirts reading: “Respect”, “Stay Fresh, Get Money” and “Respect My Hustle”. Models, which also included socialite Khanyi Mbau, were complimented by a performance by rapper AKA, known for his chart-topping hit, “Victory Lap”.

The streetwear brand, Head Honcho was well received by the audience.
 

The Naledi Awards: Entertainm​ent for All

If you were expecting a dry, boring awards evening,well think again !

The 8th Annual Naledi Theatre Awards takes place on Monday March 7th at The Lyric Theatre at Gold Reef City. In the process of paying tribute to the best on stage in 2010, however, the Naledi organisers are piling a heap of entertainment onto The Lyric Theatre’s stage, to keep the audience enthralled throughout the night’s procedures.



One of the nominees in the Best Musical category, The Boys in The Photograph

A star-studded awards cast
With Nik Rabinowitz as the evening’s MC, almost anything can be expected - although we sincerely hope that he’ll be better behaved than Ricky Gervais was at the Golden Globes! His eloquence will be matched by that of theatre doyennes Dr John Kani and Dawn Lindberg.



NODDY, a nominee in the Children's Theatre category

Top-drawer entertainers who will keep the audience enthralled throughout the evening are the Soweto Gospel Choir, The Bala Brothers, World Champion exhibition dancers Craig and Natalie, and the powerful PJ Powers.

The amazing cast of Mamma Mia, a nominee on the Musical category

Gracing the presenters rostrum are theatre and television personalities Robert Whitehead, Sello Maake ka Ncube, Fiona Ramsay, Nat Ramabulane, Princess Zinzi-Mhlongo, Kgomotso Matsunyane, Sindi Mabe, and Napo Masheane They’re joined by local celebs Khensani and Zam of Stoned Cherrie, and Loyiso Bala of The Bala Brothers.

Market Theatre's proud nominee, The Songs of Migration

The big shows of last year will be represented in the evening’s line-up, so stand by for a cross-cultural medley from the multi-nominated Songs of Migration, Angela Killian delivering her powerhouse showstopper from the Toerien production of Evita, and Kate Normington, Gina Shmukler and Ilse Klink doing their playful Donna and the Dynamo’s routine from Mamma Mia.

Donna and the Dynamos routine from Mamma Mia

Alan Committee and Terence Bridgett will also be providing interludes in their own unique and quirky fashion - you have been warned…

An ensamble from Mamma Mia

Not a closed party
Members of the public who would like to rub shoulders with the glitterati of the South African theatre world and enjoy a high-octane show in the deal, will be pleased to know that - for the first time this year - a reserved number of seats are being made available to the public. Booking is already open at Computicket on a first-come, first-served basis.

WHERE: The Lyric Theatre at Gold Reef City Casino
WHEN: Monday March 7th at 7.30pm
SEATS: R200
(includes welcome glass of wine, cocktail party & ceremony)

PLEASE NOTE that free covered parking is available to all Naledi ticket holders.

SADE ANNOUNCES R&B SUPERSTAR JOHN LEGEND WILL JOIN HER ON ALL TOUR DATES

LOS ANGELES, CA (February 7, 2011)  Global phenomenon Sade, known for their one of a kind timeless sound, announced today that acclaimed singer, songwriter and pianist, John Legend will join every date on their highly anticipated summer tour.   Legend is nominated for five Grammy Awards and two NAACP Awards this year for his collaboration with the Roots on the extraordinary new album Wake Up!. 

The once in a lifetime tour, combining two of the most recognizable and powerful voices in R&B today, will begin on June 16th in Baltimore, Maryland at the 1st Mariner’s Arena.  The Live Nation produced tour will make 50 concert stops in top arenas across North America. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com and LiveNation.com.  

John Legend, a six-time Grammy Award winner, is nominated for five additional awards at this weekend’s telecast on February 13th for his work with the Roots on Wake Up!, including R&B Album, Best R&B Song (“Shine”), Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance (“Hang On In There”), Best R&B Performance By a Duo or Group with Vocals (“Shine”), and Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance (“Hang On In There”).

 Legend is also nominated for two NAACP Image Awards at this year’s ceremony on March 4th for Outstanding Album (“Wake Up!”) and Outstanding Group, Duo or Collaboration. 

Sade is nominated for two Grammy Awards this year, Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for their hit “Babyfather” and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for “Soldier of Love,” both from their critically acclaimed new album, SOLDIER OF LOVE.  Selling over a million copies to-date, SOLDIER OF LOVE spent three weeks in the number one spot taking its rightful place among the collection of iconic Sade albums. Sade is also nominated for four NAACP Image Awards, Outstanding Music Video (“Soldier of Love”), Outstanding Song (“Soldier of Love”), Outstanding Album (Soldier of Love) and Outstanding Female Artist.  

Sade with Special Guest John Legend Tour Dates:
June 16             Baltimore, MD               1st Mariner Arena                                 
June 19             Philadelphia, PA            Wells Fargo Center        
June 21             Uniondale, NY               Nassau Coliseum          
June 24             East Rutherford, NJ        Izod Center                   
June 28             Toronto, ON                   Air Canada Centre
June 30             Montreal, QC                 Bell Centre                   
July 6                Boston, MA                   TD Garden        
July 15              Ft. Lauderdale, FL          BankAtlantic Center
July 17              Orlando, FL                   Amway Center  
August 5           Chicago, IL                    United Center
August 6           Chicago, IL                    United Center   
August 13         Vancouver, BC               Rogers Arena
August 19         Los Angeles, CA            Staples Center  
August 20         Los Angeles, CA            Staples Center  
August 25         San Jose, CA                HP Pavilion
August 27         Oakland, CA                  Oracle Arena
August 30         Anaheim, CA                 Honda Center

Additional ticket and tour information is available at Sade.com, Ticketmaster.com and LiveNation.com.        





 

National Arts Festival, Grahamstow​n: Answer to Winter Holiday Plans

South Africa’s biggest, longest running and most diverse annual arts celebration is gearing up for its 37th season in Grahamstown to take place from 30 June – 10 July 2011

The National Arts Festival has an international reputation for being South Africa’s première arts celebration that showcases the best of South African exhibitions and performances in theatre, music, dance and other art forms.

The highlights of the Festival will undoubtedly be showcased in its Main programme featuring the imaginatively creative geniuses of the 2011 Standard Bank Young Artist Award winners: Ben Schoeman (Music), Neil Coppen (Drama), Nandipha Mntambo (Visual Art), Mamela Nyamza (Dance) and Bokani Dyer (Jazz).

With the Fringe registration deadline closed a barely a few weeks ago, the Fringe Festival has commenced with scheduling more than 280 cutting edge South African productions and at least 10 productions registered from the rest of Africa and Europe.

A number of winning producers of last year’s inaugural Standard Bank Fringe Ovation Award will be premiering new works on the Festival’s Arena programme. The Arena programme, launched in 2010 is an invitation-based bridge for artists between the finely selected Main programme and the open-access and eclectic Fringe programme.

Street theatre productions and visual art presentations in public spaces will once again create a city-wide Festival buzz in Grahamstown and its surrounding areas. A street procession scheduled with giant puppets, stilt-walkers and a number of artists in costumes will parade through Grahamstown’s High Street on Sunday 10 July. The Festival will close with laser lights and fireworks presented in a spectacular production combining artists from Grahamstown and Argentina.

The popular Village Green Market at the Rhodes Great Field will continue to be a hub for crafts and delicious food catering for diverse palettes. The Fiddler’s Green Market will this year also host a fully–fledged circus. Audiences in search of literature, stimulating intellectual debates and skills-based development workshops will be at home at Rhodes University’s Eden Grove complex where the Wordfest, Thinkfest and Hands On! Masks Off! programmes will all take place. The Spiritfest programme will run at the Cathedral of St Paul and the Cathedral of St Michael and St George. Nombulelo Hall in Joza will feature a brand new Gospel music line-up this year.

Jazz-lovers can look forward to full line-up at the Standard Bank Jazz Festival at the DSG complex with top South African musicians lined up in an internationally-flavoured programme with some of the best jazz musicians from other parts of the world.

Film enthusiasts will find an exciting line-up in the Festival’s Filmfest programme which has a strong reputation for its esoteric line-up. This year’s Fringe film programme will also be taking new leaps with an exciting format that will give independent film-makers a central space in the film programme.

Three exciting playwright development initiatives will also be homed at the Festival and visitors will be able to attend a series of script reading featuring new writers. The first in the series is a partnership between the Festival and the Wits Theatre’s writing project sponsored by the British Council, Sustained Theatre (U.K.) and the Department of Arts & Culture. The Novel-Script project will move into its third phase with last year’s winner being sponsored to develop his script for staging at this year’s Fringe programme. A new Argentina-South Africa writer exchange organised by the Proyecto 34S project.

Community-based theatre groups will be featured in the Remix Laboratory, a residency programme that enables emerging artists to perform and attend workshops facilitated by leading artists who will be at the Festival. The Student Theatre Festival will feature 13 productions expressing the voices of the next generation of arts practitioners who are presently enrolled at universities across the country.

While environmentalists and other eco-activists from Cancun to China will be gathering in Durban to participate in the UN’s 17th COP 17 conference on climate change, the Festival will feature an interactive hub for environmentalists, artists and audiences to engage in creative activities that can help to save the planet. An artwork made from more than 5000 bottle tops and which was specially commissioned for the Arts Alive festival will receive even wider national and international exposure in Grahamstown.

Visitors en-route to the Festival can this year make a brief stop-over at Route 67 in Port Elizabeth. This is a new National Arts Festival arts route-initiative to be launched and it will feature an arts journey that includes five galleries in Port Elizabeth. Route 67 is an innovative celebration dedicated to the 67-year political career contribution of Nelson Mandela to the South African nation.

With so much on offer, the Amaz!ng 2011 programmnme will be launched at the end of March, but these few sneak previews might help to get the June/July travel arrangements going.
Visit the National Arts Festival website for travel and accommodation options: www.nationalartsfestival.co.za. Start booking soon to avoid disappointment. Journalists can apply for media accreditation via the form on the Festival website.

The National Arts Festival is sponsored by Standard Bank, The Eastern Cape Government, The National Arts Council, The National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, The Sunday Independent and M Net.