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.

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 😄

Blow your hair back at Madame Zingara's...

Zingara is what they say it is, a big experience, a spectacle, an extravaganza. From the olde world Spiegel mirror tent, to the milly waiters sporting the best selection of big- hair wigs I've seen in ages, to the MC, performers & audience, no-one is exempt from a dose of fabulous theatrical madness. Having the job I do means I've seen a lot of superb theatre so I'm tres critical & I can tell you that there are a few acts in the 2013 Zingara Miracle Tour show that totally blew my hair back...like the beautifully costumed & exquisite Mongolian contortionist, a delicate porcelain doll of a girl; the 2 acrobats from the same country (loved their costumes & makeup) - no question, theirs is a very unique skill set & their performance had me looking very un-diva-un-dignified with my mouth hanging open; & then the drumming duo with major volcanic energy- 2 Argentinian guys with great hair, I mean talent! Seriously, they were superb. The singers, the Specifics, were kick ass fabulous & it was so good hearing the divine Carmen Maarman again (I first worked with her on a David Kramer show some years back). And as for that classy bombshell, Cathy Specific, well she takes drag to a new level. Cathy, aka Brendan Van Rhyn, is on top of her/ his game & Cathy is a slick act, outstandingly costumed, beautifully groomed & of course those legs just go on for years. Last night was Brendan's last show after 2.5 years...he now embarks on a new journey, as Frank N Furter in Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show, starting at the Fugard Theatre next month. Apologies re the poor quality of the pics...the lighting was dim, obvs.....

 

 

I finally got to taste the chocolate chili steak...

Cathy Specific herself....

http://mobi.madamezingara.com/

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Dinner before a show...

I love the tradition of eating out before going to la theatre, making a night out into an event. To this end, Side Dish is a fabulous eatery at one of the City's best entertainment venues, Theatre on the Bay in Camps Bay. The restaurant is run by one of my fave foodies, Andrea Foulkes from DISH Food & Social. I went to see the play Venus in Fur last night & the meal I had beforehand at Side Dish was divine on every level (the menu changes every 6 weeks by the way). See the pics for yourself & don't drool all over your Ipad ... Bon appetit !

A Starter ~ Crispy kaitiffi parcels filled with smoked beef carpaccio & blue cheese & sweet chili mayo on the side...

Sesame, honey & ginger seared prawns with a crunchy shredded salad...

Lemon pot served with creme fraiche & berries...

 

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Amphitheatre, just outside Cape Town

This is a beautiful amphitheatre called Oude Libertas, just outside Stellenbosch in Cape Town, about a 40 minute drive from the City. Every year they present a summer season of fabulous entertainment - music, dance, song, all done in a perfect setting. Last night La Rosa, South Arica's most established Spanish dance company, opened '... en el Flamenco Tablao'. A stunning performance setting... check out their websites www.larosa.co.za & www.oudelibertas.co.za @LaRosa1990

 

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Athol Fugard, South African Playwright

I'm doing the publicity for a new Afrikaans play by Athol Fugard called Die Laaste Karretjiegraf. Google Fugard, he is world famous & was once on the cover of Time magazine. He has lived in the USA for years & many great actors have performed in his plays- he wrote the Oscar winning film Tsotsi & last year won a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Tony's. In the pic below he is being interviewed by Hannes van Wyk (who is wearing bluecollarwhitecollar by the way) for the TV show Bravo, on Kyknet. The venue is the Fugard Theatre, named after him & arguably one of the finest Theatre's in Cape Town. www.thefugard.com @thefugard

 

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A very South African show...'Kalahari Karoo Blues'

In this fascinating production, South African musician, song writer & director David Kramer, a living legend, brings together musicians from areas such as the Karoo, the Hardeveld & the country Botswana...people who plays their unusual handmade instruments, in a unique way. Their music comes from a handmade violin (fenjoro), a coffee tin, a guitar that is played with a teaspoon....it's remarkable - a show with great integrity that reaches into the soul. These gentle folk were once accused by White people of playing the devil's music, if you can believe that. South Africa back then with its poisonous legalised belief system. I'm so glad it's behind us. Lest we forget....

A guitar made from a petrol tin...

One of David Kramer's guitars, with some beautiful engravings on the wooden surface....

A slide projection- one of the backdrops...

Above: a handmade wooden violin, the fenjoro...

Above: the Baxter Theatre, where the show is presented. People from Afar, come along...this is a wonderful showcase of South African culture that will be an amazing experience I can promise you...

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Out & About...Cape Town

With the multi talented Fiona du Plooy, actress, singer, dancer, Pilates instructor, choreographer...we were at the delightful Alexander Bar in Strand Street (corner Strand & Loop) last night to see the fabulous one man play Fully Committed, in the new theatre recently opened upstairs. The play stars the wonderful Pieter Bosch Botha & is directed by Megan Furniss. If you're in Cape Town, go & see it. @AlexanderBarCT

This Nedbank building, usually drab & quite missable during the day, looked rather good last night..also on Strand Street.

 

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