WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN· Five Double tickets to a performance of South Africa’s international smash-hit musical!
Also in this edition:
- A discussion on HARDlove at the Old Mutual Theatre on the Square in Sandton
- Elzabé Zietsman at Foxwood House
- The MTN New Contemporaries Awards 2008 and Exhibition at teh University of Johannesburg Art Gallery
- Carol Lee Fine Art presents group show titled STILLIFE
- A Fish called Molo! for two nights at the Wits Downstairs Theatre
- Bigwood 2 at the ARTspace in Durban
Following last week’s return to South Africa of African Footprint, one of the country’s
best-loved musicals, theatre producer and director, joins us in the studio tonight as BravoBrava’s Personality of the Week.
Richard, who was born in Guernsey in the Channel Islands, has extensive experience in the entertainment industry as both a performer and producer. After a successful West End career, in musicals and records, he left London in the late 60’s to play Tony in The Boyfriend in South Africa, a country he soon adopted as his home.
Richard soon established himself on the local theatre scene and moved on to movie appearances, record releases and television shows. Remembered best for strutting onto the stage in high heels and odd socks as the Narrator in the 70’s smash hit Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, the 80’s saw a major career shift from entertainer to producer.
During the past decade and more Richard has given South Africa specialised entertainment and major events for corporate clients. To this end he opened his own theatre, The Sound Stage, which established the norm for this field of entertainment.
Despite his busy career, Richard has found time to serve as Chairman of the Theatre Benevolent Fund, was Charter Member o
f Midrand Rotary, is a Paul Harris fellow and serves as a member of The Order of St John and has most recently been appointed Chairman of the Theatre Managements of South Africa. Richard constantly lives out his own philosophy that “Life is a Journey, not a Destination”.
A chance opportunity to see “Tap Dogs” in Australia inspired Richard Loring to create African Footprint – South Africa’s longest-running musical. However, the path to success was not always easy. Loring supported the cast and crew for a year and a half of creative rehearsals before his and the cast’s faith was rewarded - their first break – a performance before Nelson Mandela on Robben Island as part of the Millennium Celebration, which was viewed by millions on television!
Gold Reef City Casino recognised the potential of the show and African Footprint held its World Premiere at the casino’s then newly-built Globe Theatre, on 11 May 2000 in the presence of President Thabo Mbeki. The show’s emotive power brought many in the audience to tears and a member of the public exclaimed, “It should be obligatory for every South African to see this show as you leave with a sense of jubilation and 
optimism.”
Some of the praise the show earned from reviewers included: “All I can say is … Wow!”, “African Footprint makes its extravagant mark, iyavaya” and “Viva “African Footprints!” In that first year, “African Footprint” won 3 Vita Awards, including Best Musical Production.
Invitations were received from international producers to take the show abroad. Audiences around the world have applauded African Footprint with sustained standing-ovations. Loring kept the show on the boards for some nine years despite broken contracts and disappointments - their England tour was cancelled due to the Foot and Mouth epidemic and the 9/11 tragedy cut their USA tour short. In this time, some 200 performers, some coming from very humble backgrounds, were trained in dance skills and professional show disciplines. As top-class performers, many have moved on to start their own companies, to perform in other shows or in the lucrative industrial theatre market.
While it is international recognition and success one aspires to, it is the growth of those who have danced and sung on the journey with Loring that he finds most rewarding.
African Footprint, now one of the country’s best-loved musicals, returned to its home at Gold Reef City Casino for a four-week season from 5 July to 3 August 2008 at the casino’s plush new 1100-seat venue, The Lyric Theatre.
The inspiring show that celebrates the vibrant and diverse history and spirit of the people of South Africa has been spreading its message of optimism about South Africa around the world for the past nine years. During this time, the performers have touched hearts and minds from China, India, Europe, Australia, Morocco, Israel and England through to Mexico, Canada and the USA. 
The show fuses the hypnotic heartbeat of the African drum, the cheerful pennywhistle and the inspiring words of Don Mattera with Kwela-jive, traditional gumboot, tap, contemporary ballet and hip-hop pantsula into an “explosive stampede of song and dance”.
"We're delighted to have African Footprint back at Gold Reef City” says Steve Hight, General Manager of Gold Reef City Casino. “After a critically-acclaimed tour in the US, the show returns to South Africa with a cast of 32 as well as new lighting, costumes and backdrops. The show is bigger and better than ever before and will be even more dynamic in our new world-class Lyric Theatre.” 
Bookings are now open at Computicket and tickets are expected to sell out fast. Don’t Miss It!
Details from Computicket; www.computicket.co.za and (011) 248 5000.
ACT NOW!, an innovative initiative in the fight against the global HIV/AIDS pandemic, was launched at last week's special performance of African Footprint in Gold Reef City Casino’s plush new 1100 Lyric Theatre on 9 July. ACT NOW! is an exciting project that aims to unify the South African theatre world in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
The launch fundraiser event was a partnership between Arts and Culture Trust (ACT), Gold Reef City Casino and African Footprint, which provided ideal platform for the launch of this initiative.
ACT NOW! is a mutually beneficial fundraising framework for partnerships between ACT and the South African theatre industry. All proceeds from tickets sold on the evening will go towards setting up the fund for ACT NOW!, which aims to mobilise the performing arts in South Africa to raise funding for arts and culture projects that support the fight against HIV/AIDS.
The initiative is loosely based on the Broadway Cares model, an American initiative which creates AIDS awareness and raises funds for artists every year, on a particular week, on Broadway.
At the initiative of the US Embassy, the embassy’s Culture Envoy Joseph Norton, brought the Broadway Cares project to the attention of South African show producers a year ago. These producers included Richard Loring producer/consultant for the Lyric Theatre, who introduced the project to the Gold Reef City Casino management and motivated for the project to be linked with the return of African Footprint from the USA. The US Embassy has supported the project even further by buying the first 100 seats for the special African Footprint show.
“As the oldest funding agency for the arts in democratic South Africa, ACT receives many such applications for support. ACT NOW! will enable us to set up a fund specifically to support these kinds of requests,” says Pieter Jacobs, the projects manger of ACT. “ACT NOW! is an opportunity for the performing arts industry to give back to its own community while supporting the fight against HIV/AIDS.”
Says Steve Hight, General Manager of Gold Reef City Casino: “We are proud to support this worthwhile initiative with a special performance of African Footprint. Gold Reef City Casino believes strongly in the importance of giving something back to the community, and we believe that ACT NOW! will help to make a difference and benefit many South Africans. African Footprint, a uniquely South African production, is an ideal show to be associated with ACT NOW!”
For more information about ACT go to http://www.act.org.za/
Elzabé Zietsman and Janine Neethling on fire.Join in an unforgettable evening with these enchanting ladies. Cabaret raw and divine. Elzabé Zietsman - a diva with no boundaries.
19 July 2008 19h30
Tickets: R100 p.p. Optional Buffet: R 135 p.p.
Bookings: Pauline Mayne: 011 846 0935
Elzabé Zietsman's prolific career has seen her on stage, television, in cabaret and film productions. She has performed all over the country and is widely known to audiences for her starring role in M-Net's popular soap, Egoli. In the mid-90's during a run of her shows in Windhoek, she was spotted by a musical director who urged her to apply for the title role of Evita for a summer festival in Germany.
Elzabé performed Evita in 1996 in German and was invited back in 1997 to perform the role of Velma in Chicago and in 2000 the narrator in Cabaret, all in German. She was allocated solo cabaret shows at the festival, which proved extremely popular with German audiences. In 1998 she performed Brecht for the Goethe Institute who invited her to Berlin in 1999 to further her studies in German.Elzabé was directed by David Kramer in Jol and Janice Honeyman in True Confusions.
She played Wallace Simpson in Pieter -Toerien's Her Royal Highness and worked with Casper de Vries in Ziets & de Vries, which took the country by storm in 1990. In 2000 Elzabé and Amanda Strydom performed the sell-out, Strydom & Zietsman in Alphabetical Order. In addition to her numerous one-woman shows, she has starred in Darrel Roodt's film, The Stick and the internationally released film, River of Death. In 2000, she played the lead in the highly acclaimed Deon Opperman musical, Vere.
Elzabé recorded her debut CD, "XIII" in 1999 and toured with her show by the same name the following year. She has performed with many highly respected South African artists and regularly performs her cabaret shows for corporate functions.
CAROL LEE FINE ART
Will be presenting a group show titled STILL LIFE with paintings and sculptures by
ALET SWARTS - RUDOLPH VOSSER - ROSEMARY JOYNT - COBUS HAUPT - GUY du TOIT - LORI SCHAPPE-YOUENS - JENNY PARSONS - EUGENIE MARAIS - MJ LOURENS - ANGELA BANKS - RETHA BUITENDACH - RUHAN JANSE van VUUREN
Venue: Upstairs@Bamboo corner 9th Street & Rustenburg Road Melville Johannesburg
Opening: Saturday 26 July 2008 09h30 - 16h00
Please join for refreshments at noon
Road closures in the area on Sunday 27 July until 1pm - access from south, down 9th Street
Hours: Sunday 27 July to Sunday 3 August10h00 - 15h30
Exhibition closes at 14h30 on Sunday 3 August
Enquiries: Carol Lee 011 486 0526
At the Wits Downstairs Theatre:
A FISH CALLED MOLO !
VENUE: Wits Downstairs Theatre, Jorissen and Station Streets,Braamfontein
SEASON: 18 and 19 July @ 20h00
RUNNING TIME: Sixty Minutes (No Interval)
BOOKING: www.computicket.com / www.strictlytickets.com
ENQUIRIES: Dale Abrahams 073 398 1769
Dale Abrahams is an actor and comedian best known for his roles in the TV series Molo Fish, Dollars and White Pipes. Some of you may recognize him from the Cerelac baby food advert; he has also featured in the TV stand up Comedy series “Comedy Showcase”. He is also a regular on the Jo’ burg comedy circuit. His new show “A Fish called Molo” is a no- holds- barred and hilarious compilation of shady politicians, load shedding, air travel and his early childhood in Swaziland.
This is a must see for comedy lovers. The show has a limited season of only two nights at Wits Downstairs Theatre on the 18 & 19th July 2008.
Tickets can be purchased via Computicket or at Wits Box Office and are very reasonably priced at R 90,00( includes Computicket’s service charge ) and a discount price of R 80,00 ( includes Computicket’s service charge ) is available for students.
NB. No persons under 18 years of age.
Light meals and a full cash bar can be enjoyed in Café Dulce, situated in the Wits Theatre Foyer.
Free, covered parking in the adjacent Senate House (the entrance is on Jorissen Street) ensures peace of mind.
Bigwood 2007 - Background - The first Bigwood exhibition was held at Manna in Durban on Friday the 13th, 2007. A crop of Durban's most inspired and talented creatives came together to create something unique, fresh and memorable. It was good to be part of something that doesn't take itself too seriously and Bigwood's success is largely due to this playful approach.There were lumberjacks painted on tree stumps, plush forest critters, byro birds on school desks and an orange Yeti even made an appearance. Furry creatures that only come out at night, well... came out at night.We've retained this playful creative spirit for the next Bigwood event.
_______________________________________________________________________________[R]evolution Canvas presents Bigwood2 at artSPACE durban, Durban - July 18 2008.
Bigwood2 is being sponsored by [R]evolution Skateboards. This year's event will feature some of South Africa's best graffiti artists, designers and illustrators. All artists have a strong individual style, a unique and rare talent, and pack some heavyweight skills in their arsenal. It's also the biggest exhibition of this kind the country has seen to date. 2008's event sees over 40 artists taking part, with a strong Cape Town contingency this time round. We're proud to have legendary artists Senyol, Theory1, Sadmascot, twelve AmiCollective members and a host of other talented Cape Town artists involved.[R]evolution are generously supplying blank skateboards to artists to customize. These limited edition (one of a kind) decks will be on display at Bigwood2. See below for more info on the [R]evolution Canvas initiative. [R]evolution are doing good things for local artists.We're taking Bigwood2 to an international stage with this year's event traveling to Artspace Berlin in March 2009. As Bigwood (Bigwood artists and all those who support), we're pulling together collectively to have South African talent displayed to a wider audience. So drop by and show your support!For Bigwood2 we have the NoNoNo!!! DJ crew - the Eclectica Allstars - on the ones and twos! Leo Janssen, Hedmekanik and the Mixin Vixin will provide an appropriately wild and wonderful soundtrack.
_______________________________________________________________________________Date: 18th July 2008Venue: artSPACE durban - 3 Millar rd (off Umgeni rd), Durban, South AfricaTickets: R20 pre-sale / R40 at the doorTime: 19:00 till 2:00Limited tickets are available so get down there early. Or pre-book to avoid the cue.Mobile: 072 863 5923 or mail me: firebrand.design@gmail.comSafe parking. Cash bar.
_______________________________________________________________________________[R]evolution Canvas[R]evolution Canvas is a collaborative initiative to encourage and promote a positive change within society. Activist at its core [R]evolution is about creating, evolving, and empowering. We aim to spread a DIY ethos to encourage people to build a better future for themselves. As movement rather than a product, we strive to work with like-minded artists in a collective effort to educate and empower the youth of South Africa. Working with artists to make their art accessible to the youth, and in turn providing a platform to get their message across. Art is a medium that has no borders or boundaries, and by working together we can spread the message of change far and wide.http://www.revolution.co.za/
_______________________________________________________________________________Participating Artists 2008: am i collective (12 Cape Town artists),Justin Bailey,Pete Bircham, Brandt Botes, Marcel Coetzee,Andrew Donaldson,Ellomennopee (Tempest van Schaik),Philip Erasmus,Richard Hart (disturbance design), Roger Jardine,Joey Hi-Fi,Ruhan Janse van Vuuren, Matt Kay, Warwick Kay,Kronkh, Kim Longhurst,Gabriel Metcalfe,Christian Mugnai,Alistair Palmer, Kevin Parry,Trevor Paul,Richard Phipson, PlayOne WK?, Dirty Sanchez (Scott Robertson), Skullboy, Sadmascot, Senyol, Jenna Shone,Theory1, Colwyn Thomas, Ross Turpin, Wesley van Eeden, Hylton Warburton
The exhibition runs through Saturday, 2 August at 1pm.
artSPACE durban3 Millar Road (off Umgeni Rdnext to Waste Centre)Durban
tel: +27 31 312 0793
http://www.artspacedurban.co.za/
Gallery hours: M - F 10 - 4pmSat and Public Hol 10 - 1pm
BravoBrava contact details:Cell Number: 071 226 8063
Email: mixaeld@gmail.com
Blogsite: http://bravobrava.blogspot.com/
Snail Mail: PO Box 85414
Emmarentia
2029 Johannesburg
South Africa
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