(Young
Performers from the 2016 production of “Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story”)
Founded in 2001, the annual Young Performers Project is celebrating
its 16th Anniversary. In 2017, the Young Performers Project NPC will
revive its massively successful production of Footloose which is set to run at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre from
September 7 to 17.
This annual development project is open to
all high school learners wanting to gain exposure to a major musical theatre
production staged by a professional team. These learners are trained to sing,
dance, and act by industry professionals, with the aim of putting on a fully-staged
musical theatre production.
Working under the supervision of theatre
luminary Themi Venturas, the professional team engaged by The Young Performers
Project NPC, will be Daisy Spencer (director), Des Govender (vocal coach),
Jarryd Watson (choreographer) and Dawn Selby (musical director). A hugely
popular musical, Footloose is based on the 1984 film of the
same name starring Kevin Bacon.
Auditions for this year’s programme, which
are open to all who learners who are still in high school, will take place at
Durban North Baptist Church on June 17, 2017, from 11h30 (registration from 10h00).
All those wishing to audition must be
available for the whole day and must prepare a song to display their singing
ability. They will also be required to do dancing and acting auditions for
which no preparation is necessary.
There are traditionally 23 roles available
but this could change relative to the quality and number of young musical
theatre performers that turn up and do well in the auditions.
Rehearsals will be held at the Durban North
Baptist Church from June 23 to July 2 (vocal only); then July 17 to 22 (Monday
to Saturday) followed by weekends from July 29 to September 3 with the final
dress rehearsal on September 6. The production runs at the Elizabeth Sneddon
Theatre from September 7 to 17, 2017.
All enquiries can be directed to Riaan
Timson at gm@keepthedream.org