March 24, 2006
By Emmanuel Mulaudzi
THE Civic Theatre has landed a coup – the award-winning West End musical Thoroughly Modern Millie will be staged at the Joburg venue early next year.
A joint production between the show's original London producer and a local promoter, it will feature South African artists in the leading roles.
Paul Elliot, the lead British producer for the West End and other British productions of Thoroughly Modern Millie, and South African promoter Roddy Quinn are planning a show that is not to be missed. The Civic Theatre chief executive officer, Bernard Jay, will be the executive producer.
According to a theatre press release, the show takes audiences on a fun-filled ride back in time, dropping them off in the midst of the "Roaring Twenties". This all-singing, all-dancing romance takes place in Manhattan, in the United States, in 1922. Including winning Best Musical, Thoroughly Modern Millie was the 2002 season's most awarded new show on Broadway, in New York.
Fiona Ramsay will play the comedy role of Mrs Meers in the Civic Theatre's production of Thoroughly Modern Millie
"There isn't enough product being created within South Africa in order to occupy the Nelson Mandela Theatre for 50 weeks each year, and yet we have seen in recent years that the skills and talent exist in the country to turn large-scale musical productions into hit shows," Jay explains.
Samantha Peo, who played Roxie Hart in Chicago, The Musical, will play the title role of Millie Dillmount, played by Julie Andrews in the 1967 movie version of the musical. The Civic Theatre ticketing manager, Glynnis Davies, says Peo is well loved in South African theatre and has played lead roles in shows such as Grease and West Side Story. She has also starred in the television series Under African Skies.
The actor, director and scriptwriter, Fiona Ramsay, will play the comedy role of Mrs Meers. A talented international artist, Ramsay plays the role of the news editor in the popular SABC drama, Hard Copy.
Craig Urbani will repeat the role he played in London, where he was Millie's boss, Graydon. He was nominated for an Olivier Award for his London performance in the musical Contact.
The show will feature 15 songs, including two from the 1967 film and nine original songs by Jeanine Tesori and Dick Scanlan.
Thoroughly Modern Millie will be on stage at the Nelson Mandela Theatre, at the Civic Theatre, from 11 January 2007 and run until February.
Tickets for the show will cost R235 each and will be available from Computicket. A 15 percent discount is available for groups of 10 or more, although this will only apply to a limited number of performances.
Permission to use web site material
Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as:
- Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website
(www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency
(www.joburg.org.za)";
- If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original
article on this website;
- The name of the article's author is acknowledged;
-
The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill
in this brief online form).
Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 |
