Gateway to fame’s rising stars shine

THE toughly contested Gateway To Fame talent search competition is reaching a crescendo, with the final performances and judging due to take place at The Barnyard Theatre at Gateway on Monday and Tuesday 23 and 24 September.

The fourth annual Gateway To Fame competition has already been a huge success, with the competition going bigger and better and there now being two final shows due to demand.

Performers are again competing in Junior (Grades 1-7) and Senior (Grades 8-12) and Young Adult (18 to 24 years old) singing categories, as well as the toughly contested Dance Crew category.

The initial audition process was a rigorous one which took place on 20 and 27 July, with call-backs being introduced to the number of quality auditions. The finalists selected then undertook invaluable performance-specific workshops with local entertainment personalities (Shelley McLean, Liesl Coppin, Shelley Haggard, Calli Thomson and Rory Booth) on four consecutive weekends in August and September to prepare them for the final event.

Commenting on the process thus far, event co-ordinator, Shelley McLean said: “Gateway To Fame is a platform for youngsters to showcase their performing talent, under professional direction, in a nurturing environment.

“This year’s finalists fought exceptionally hard for a place in the finals as they were up against more than 200 hopefuls. The competition has proved to be a platform that opens the performing industry doors and this year will be no different,” she said.

The Gateway To Fame finalé will be hosted by local theatre personality, Rory Booth, who will also do an opening performance. It will also see individual performances from each of the 24 singing finalists, as well as the seven dance crews.

The finalists will be judged by a panel of experts consisting of local personalities: Evan Roberts, Janine Bennewith, Lisa Bobbert, Melanie Roberts and Terence Pillay.

There will again be great prizes valued at R78 500, as well as a cameo performance for all three singing winners in a Barnyard Theatre production next year.

The main prize sponsor is Gateway Music who have sponsored microphones, instruments and lessons for all categories. The Gateway To Fame final performances will take place at 7pm on 23 and 24 September and tickets cost R60 each. For bookings or enquiries call 031 566 3045.

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The finalists in this event are:

* Junior – Bernelee Frick (Crawford College La Lucia), Jenna-Leigh Fourie (Umhlali Preparatory), Keely Crocker (Amanzimtoti Primary), Kwanda Nhxukumeshe (Glenmore Primary), Lasandra Majola (Morningside Primary), Leah Mari (Eden College), Marianthe Panas (Our Lady Of Fatima), Raihaanah Osman (Northlands Senior Primary), and Samuel McCall (Chelsea Junior Preparatory).

* Senior – Chayane Coetzee (Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High), Deneska Theron (Crawford College La Lucia), Emma Devine (Northlands Girls’ High), Jason Jeffereys (Crawford College North Coast), Maegan Graham (Northlands Girls’ High), Monique Nel (Grosvenor Girls’ High), Phehello Makgoe (Northwood Boys’ High), Phindile Dube (Pinetown Girls’ High), and Watu Ntuli (Pinetown Girls’ High).

* Young Adult – Gracie Sonjica (University of KwaZulu-Natal), Jessica James (Correspondence), Minnie Ntuli (Pinetown Girls’ High), Ndumiso Shabangu (University of KwaZulu-Natal), Rory Morrison (Crawford College La Lucia), and Senamile Mkhanazi (Creative Arts College).

* Dance Crews – Beat Breakerz, Demolition Warriors, Dlala Mapansula, G.I. Janes, Hip Hip Divas, Sho’Dem and Total Playerz.