Kingsway pupils set to rock n roll in Buddy Holly musical
The show is filled with toe-tapping hits including Buddy Holly classics like That’ll be the day, Everyday, Oh Boy!
THREE Kingsway High pupils are among the young cast who will wow audiences with the story of a pioneering Rhythm and Blues legend in ‘Buddy: the Buddy Holly Story’ at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre from 23 July to 7 August.
Keely Crocker, David Van Staden and Dumiso Dumiso are the talented locals who will bring the musical to life with their performances.
Continuing in the great tradition, Catalina UnLtd presents the smash-hit musical under the capable direction of Themi Venturas. He brings together a top professional team including Daisy Spencer (choreographer and co-director), Des Govender (vocal coach), Dawn Selby (musical director), Megan Levy (sound engineer), Michael Broderick (lighting design) Clinton and Ronel Stevenson (AV design) and Black Coffee Productions, all of whom will contribute to making this a musical theatre experience of the highest standard.
Durban has a fine tradition of musical theatre youth development projects. It began in the early days of our new democracy with what was then known as the VW MusicActive programme. During this time, Durban audiences enjoyed the best of our young musical theatre performers in productions like Hair and Siyajema. This was followed up by 15 glorious years of the Young Performers Project, which has operated under different guises and funders, staging productions such as Curtain Up, One Voice, Grease, Annie, The Wiz, Oliver!, Fiddler on the Roof, School of Rock SA, Big River, Hairspray, Seussical, Can you Feel it?, Footloose, and Soldiers in the City.
High school learners were auditioned from around KZN and those selected are the cream of the 2016 crop. There are 21 talented young performers all of whom can sing, dance and act. The cast are from Durban High, Glenwood High, Westville Girls High, Queensburgh Girls High, Durban Girls High, Kingsway High, Roseway Waldorf, Curro Hillcrest Christian Academy, Skethuxolo High, St Mary’s High School and Umhlanga College.
In the lead role of Buddy Holly for this version is accomplished DHS learner, Joshua Arnold.
The show is filled with toe-tapping hits including Buddy Holly classics like That’ll be the day, Everyday, Oh Boy!, Maybe Baby, Peggy Sue, Big Bopper’s Chantilly Lace, Ritchie Valens’ smash hit La Bamba and Chuck Berry’s Johnny B Goode. Audiences can expect a rocking and rollicking fun show that tells the story of an amazing music industry legend whose life was tragically cut short
The fine tradition of youth musical theatre continues with a new version entitled #MusicalTheatreAlive produced by Catalina UnLtd as part of their capacity building development programme funded by the Ethekwini Municipality, the KZN Department of Arts & Culture, and RCL Foods.
Buddy: the Buddy Holly Story is presented by arrangement with DALRO, representing Joseph Weinberger Limited, London on behalf of David Spicer Productions, and all authorised performance materials have been supplied by DALRO (Pty) Ltd.
Bookings are through Computicket with discounted performances at 2.30pm and 7pm on Saturday 23 July and 2.30pm on Sunday, 24 July at R70. General public performances at R120 are from 26 July to 7 August at 7pm. School performances at R50 per learner are at 2.30pm on 29 July and 2 and 4 August. Bookings for schools can be done by emailing info@catalinatheatre.com for details.
