Swan Lake by South African Mzansi Ballet. Photo by John Hogg courtesy of SAMB

Time to bring out those evening dresses and suits…

A lengthy list of well-known stars has been confirmed for this dress-up-to-the-nines gala event, where you can expect a vibrant line-up of dancing, singing, comedy and other exciting stage performances in the concert’s line-up.

Dance variety

As for dance,  the Tshwane Dance Theatre will perform an excerpt from their celebrated dance drama, Pula (“blessed rain” in Sepedi), based on the legends and myths of Southern Africa’s rain-making queens; and the ballet world will be beautifully represented by the stars from the South African Mzansi Ballet, who will perform the waltz from their upcoming production of Cinderella as well as the Act II pas de deux from Swan Lake.

And then for ballet of the humorous sort, Tony Bentell and Mark Hawkins, along with two additional male colleagues will perform the hilarious Swan Lake Pas de Quatre (the four little swans) from their hit music revue Doo Bee Boobies, which apparently had audiences rolling with laughter some years ago.

“We are vibrant, passionate and new. We are opera’s magicians. We are Forté.”

Musical magic

The award-winning soprano diva, Sibongile Mngoma, will be joined by Cito, who is best known as the charismatic frontman of SA rock band Wonderboom, although he’s also a renowned theatre star (notably playing the lead role in Jesus Christ Superstar).

The audience will also get to enjoy the exciting new pairing of four singers from the Black Tie Ensemble, known as Forté, while musical-theatre darling Samantha Peo will perform a mischievous medley of songs from Chicago.

The orchestra will comprise more than 70 members, under the known baton of Maestro Graham Scott, and it will be a rare delight for a Johannesburg audience to hear a live orchestra accompanying the magnificent singing and dancing.

Angela Kilian, one of South Africa’s leading ladies of musical theatre.

All the better to enjoy a few more stars of the SA musical stage spanning across the generations: with doyennes Judy Page and Abigail Kubeka; then stage queen Angela Kilian; and the opera princess, blind 8-year-old Rochelle Veenemans, who will open the gala event with the aria O Mio Babbino Caro, one of Puccini’s best known compositions.

But wait, there’s more… really

How about a few more famous names such as Fiona Ramsay, Anne Power, Louise St Clair, Michael Richard, Michael de Pinna and Harry Sideropoulos, who will entertain you with Brush up your Shakespeare from the musical Kiss me Kate.

And there’s even more yet, with Sandra Prinsloo and Xolani Gwala in action as they present some of the programme too.

This shine-like-a-diamond fundraising concert was all made possible when the Joburg Theatre Complex donated the main Mandela auditorium, free of charge. In fact, every individual and organisation involved has donated their skills and services without remuneration, which means that the full proceeds of the evening will go towards the well-deserving SA Guide-Dogs Association for the Blind.

Will we see you there?

Event details:

Date: Wednesday, 5 June 2013 at 8pm
Venue: Joburg Theatre, Johannesburg
Tickets: Range from R150, R250, R350, R500 and R1000. Bookings can be made through www.joburgtheatre.com or call 0861 670 670.

And to get the toe-tapping started early, here’s a little clip of Mama Sophiatown herself, Abigail Kubeka, performing  her version of Miriam Makeba’s Yini Madoda.