(Charon Williams-Ros)
The newly-invigorated Young Performers Project
is re-staging a reprise of its very first production, Curtain Up! at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre on UKZN campus from May
15 until June 2, 2019.
Curtain Up! has been re-written and
updated by multi-award-winning actress Charon Williams-Ros who wrote the
original script for the first production in 2001.
The first Curtain
Up! and many subsequent YPP productions were directed by the late Themi
Venturas - an integral part of the YPP family over the years. This time, it
will be directed by multi-award-winning, Johannesburg-based actor,
producer/director and choreographer, Jaco van Rensburg, a newcomer to YPP.
As always, YPP boasts a fully professional
production and creative team. This year, the two professional actors who will
work together with the youthful cast will be Mthokozisi Zulu and Sbongiseni
Shezi.
Curtain Up! will feature show-stopping
musical theatre numbers woven into a script about a diverse group of talented
young performers who take shelter from the rain in a derelict theatre where, to
their delight, they discover the evocative remnants of past productions.
Inspired by the idea of bringing the old theatre
back to life, the performers appeal to the new owner, Siyanda, to re-open as a
community theatre, only to learn that the theatre is to be knocked down to make
way for a casino. The passion with which the young performers fight to save the
theatre leads Siyanda to the realization of where his true values lie.
Some of the featured songs include numbers from The Wiz; Little Shop of Horrors; Cats;
Cabaret; Fiddler on the Roof; Oliver!; Rent; Les Misérables; Into the Woods
and a medley of South African numbers.
In 2001, the Young Performers Project’s founder
and current Production Manager, on behalf of the YPP trust, Linda van der Veen,
had a dream to help talented youth get a taste of the world of musical theatre,
and help them decide if this was a possible career choice for them. This
project has been actively changing talented lives for over 18 years:
“The Young Performers Project’s goal is to groom
talented high school youth in the art of musical theatre, under the guidance of
professional directors, musical directors, vocal director and choreographers,
whilst promoting cross cultural friendships, strong interpersonal skills and
developing a talent pool of young performers for the future of arts and culture
in South Africa. Only through a personal experience in a professional
environment can talented youth learn about commitment, disciple and achievement
that will carry them through to adulthood with a sense of pride and
accomplishment,” said Van der Veen, MD of production company, Snazzi Solutions.
Curtain Up! will be staged at the
Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre on UKZN campus from May 15 to June. Booking is
through Computicket outlets at Shoprite Checkers, by phone on 0861 915 8000 or
online at www.computicket.com
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