May 2, 2003
By Tshepiso Mogotsi
AKIN Omotoso from TV soap Generations as well as Karin van der Laag of Isidingo, are among the stars likely to be seen at this year's National School of the Arts (NSA) Festival of Fame. The event, under the slogan "Truly famous, newly famous and about-to-be famous", will run from 5 to 11 May at the NSA in Braamfontein as well as at the University of the Witwatersrand.
The festival begins with a preview on Monday 5 May of the school's production of the longest-running show in Broadway history, A Chorus Line. The show, directed by Yvette Hardie, is about the ordinary lives of unsung hopefuls auditioning and begging for jobs in theatre.
According to one of the stars, Keke Chele, in this piece of musical theatre, the artists tell the story of their past harsh-reality days of auditions, before becoming superstars.
"The aim is to highlight to people that even today, professionals experienced a long walk to fame," Chele said.
This performance can also be seen at the Wits Theatre on 6, 8 and 10 May at 7.30pm as well as on 11 May at 2pm.
Manqoba Mkhize, the NSA's publicity officer, said the festival provides a chance for up-and-coming artists to showcase their skills and also gives them the opportunity to rub shoulders with professional artists such as directors William Prophet and Lara Foot, violinist and composer Michael Masote, choreographer David Matamela, comedian Hennis Baird and designer Gerhard Marx, in practical, exciting workshops.
Moments of brilliance are expected from a play, The Chilli Boy, a one-man show starring Matthew Ribnick as an old Indian woman who dies and is reincarnated as a white gangster from Boksburg. The Chilli Boy was also performed at last year's National Arts Festival in Grahamstown as well as at the 10th annual Hilton Arts Festival in Natal.
Ribnick said the show is truly authentic South African theatre and he promised audiences a great fun.
There are only three performances of this play, at the National School of the Arts theatre on 7 and 9 May at 7.30pm as well as on 10 May at 2pm.
Among the highlights of the festival is the "Battle of the Bands" competition, whereby bands compete against each other in the NSA main hall. The winner gets two days free in a studio to record a demo CD. The prize is worth R2 000.
The Natal Mercury Newspaper's best play of 2002 - Baobabs Don't Grow Here, which won the Natal Mercury's award as best play of 2002, will be on show for a single performance on 10 May at 11.30am at the NSA Theatre.
The show, starring Helen Iskander, is about a young Eastern European gypsy couple who travel to Africa, searching for the baobab tree, which they believe will grant them fertility.
A variety of workshops will also be conducted, including photography, contemporary dance, calligraphy, creative writing and advanced acting workshops.
Learners from PHL Moraka High School are expected to showcase their talents on Friday 10 May at the NSA Laboratory when they will be dishing out their 45 minutes of fame in a show titled Schools' Showcase.
Also to be seen at the festival is Dance Spectrum, which incorporates a wide variety of dance techniques - classical ballet, Spanish, African as well as jazz.
In the Backyard by Petros Motsamai of the African Uhuri Theatre group in Hillbrow is a play about 10 youths sitting in a backyard with no hope for the future - until they decide to take their lives in hand. Motsamai said the play explored everyday challenges the youth are facing in the townships. The first performance is on 6 May at 11.45 am at the NSA Laboratory.
Music addicts are invited to the Orchestravaganza, a symphonic explosion celebrating the music, culture and community of Jozi's youth working and playing together. It will be directed by Masote.
Yvette Hardie, the festival's artistic director, would like to invite artists as well as audiences to attend the festival, which, she hopes, will promote interactions between professionals and up-and-coming artists and creating new audiences.
The entrance fee is R40 for the general public and R30 for learners.
For more information call Manqoba Mkhize on 011-339-3941 or email festivaloffame@artschool.co.za.
