Thursday 16 July 2015

West Side Story, in the rehearsal studio...

One of the best parts about being a theatre PR, is that I get to be a fly on the rehearsal room wall...to watch a musical unfold, see the process and the progress from the first studio day to the opening night. Behind the scenes is a great place to be, watching creatives at work and observing performers hone their skills as they drop into their roles and become other people, transporting audiences into other worlds.
West Side Story (WSS) is the Fugard Theatre's first out-of-house production at the Artscape Opera House, opening next week 23 July.
WSS is one of the world's most loved musicals, on the boards first in 1957 and then on the silver screen in '61 and it still speaks to audiences around the globe.
Sondheim, Bernstein,  Laurents...Natalie Wood, Chita Rivera, Rita Moreno...winning 10 Oscars in its day.
Amazing! And now it's happening here in Cape Town. I recommend you book fast...this show is going to be a sellout.

















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Wednesday 1 July 2015

Madame Zingara...a look behind the scenes, where the magic reallystarts...

This is the first time I'm doing the PR for Madame Zingara's Theatre of Dreams. As an entertainment publicity specialist my usual gigs are dramatic theatre, musicals, comedy & the like. Madame Zingara is a bit of all the above, coated in flair, flamboyance & magic. It's a unique offering of circus, food, and technical theatrics, showcased in a magnificent spiegelpaleis that literally takes this type of entertainment to another level.

2015 sees the Madame celebrating her 15th year & she is pulling out all the stops and going large. How, you ask? Well for starters, there's the gorgeous triple story palace that was handcrafted in Belgium, the land synonymous with beer & waffles. Well now it has another claim to fame. The beautiful venue, sometimes demeaningly called a 'tent', actually has a name, The Queen of Flanders, & once you've met her you'll hang your head in shame at ever referring to her loveliness in camping terms! Think 3200 mirrors, 1800m of velvet and 1200m of gold tassle... we are talking plush opulence people.

And then there's the performers...the best in SA & 11 other countries. The show is hosted by the tallest aviation goddess known to man, one Cathy Specific. Artists fly at dizzying new heights above your head, there's fire, amazing lighting, advanced digital sound that'll make you think you're on Ibiza, a hot air balloon, a helicopter bar, & food, glorious food....4 courses designed by a team of uber chefs for your gastronomic pleasure.

Here are a few images taken here & there behind the scenes... see you soon for an audience with the Queen!


Getting press in to photograph the palace in its first stage of development..catching Cape Town in the background...

Belgian tent master Rik Klessens 

Canapé tastings...


The chefs....



Madame Zingara founder Richard Griffin being interviewed for CNN Africa Voices 

Aerial strap artist Bethan Williams (UK) going her morning stretch onstage, as one does...

The Diabolo Girls from China getting ready for their SABC3 Afternoon Express TV debut 

Aviation goddess Cathy Specific recording for SABC3 TV...

A lot of eye candy about...


A Diabolo Girl practices while Richard Griffin talks to Bethan & Murray onstage...

And the food that will be amazing...

And Cathy's bijoux...

So you see, so much awaits.
See you at the Palace~ I leave you with a #randomleghoist 😄


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