Behind the Scenes
If you walk into the back entrance of the Pieter Toerien Theatre at Montecasino in the next couple of weeks, you’ll hear the sounds of pianos, guitars and six heavenly female voices. Rehearsals for a brand new production is underway…
From the producers that brought audiences the unforgettable Here’s To You – The Simon & Garfunkel Songbook, VR Theatrical proudly presents this year’s highly anticipated musical tribute: Up On The Roof – The Carole King Songbook; a second installment in the Staged Songbook genre. This extraordinary production pays homage to the timeless music of the legendary singer-songwriter, Carole King. But it is so much more than a regular music tribute show.
Says Van Rensburg of VR Theatrical: “It is always exciting and scary in equal measures to create and develop new productions. You embark on a journey with a spark of an idea, but you have no idea where exactly it will lead. When we auditioned for the production, we asked singer-musicians to sing two of Carole King’s songs and the response was overwhelming. We hand-picked six extraordinary South African female artists and much of the development is happening in the rehearsal room without a script. We are lucky to also have extraordinary humans as part of the creative team who are guiding the process expertly!”
The Material
Carole King. You know the name, but we’re sure you don’t know how many hit songs she wrote. Her second album, Tapestry, has been certified platinum fourteen times and has sold an estimated thirty million copies, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time.
But why a theatre production? Up On The Roof – The Carole King Songbook Honors the Journey of a Music Legend and storyteller. In 1957, Carole King, a 15-year-old pianist donning a poodle skirt, embarked on her musical odyssey. She rode the elevator to the Manhattan office of a record label, armed with a stack of sheet music and a determined spirit, all in pursuit of an audition for her songs. As a Brooklyn teenager, King had witnessed the genesis of rock’n’roll and wondered if she could be a part of it. Her determination and undeniable talent led her to sign her first contract with ABC-Paramount
that same year.
Renowned for her extraordinary contributions to the music industry, Carole King not only wrote for herself, but wrote hundreds of hit songs for other artists. Her compositions had left an indelible mark with iconic songs such as Aretha Franklin’s You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman, Little Eva’s The Locomotion (long before Kylie would cover it) and the Shirelles’ Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow.
Up On The Roof – The Carole King Songbook promises to capture the essence of Carole King’s incredible journey and bring it to life on stage like never before. Audiences can expect to hear all of King’s greatest hits, each song a testament to her life experiences, including those composed while her children were asleep.
“I did not grow up with Carole King, but discovered her music and lyrics in my late twenties,” says Wessel Odendaal, musical director of the production. “Her lyrics are meaningful and fragile and has a theatrical sensibility about them. I liked the idea of turning each song into an episodic musical moment which our cast could then impress their own life experience on.”
The cast comprises six multi-talented South African ladies whom have appeared in touring productions around the world.
They are Ashley Butcher (Bass, Guitar, Ukelele), Louise Duhain (Piano/Keyboards), Angelica Hattingh (Guitar), Sanli Jooste (Cello), Neo Motaung (Percussion) and Tiisetso Sefatsa (Percussion).
Under direction of Elizma Badenhorst (A Christmas Carol, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Rock of Ages) and with music direction by Wessel Odendaal (Here’s To You – The Simon & Garfunkel Songbook, Star+Crossed, Forever Plaid) this production promises to be an enchanting evening filled with unforgettable melodies and heartfelt lyrics, whether you are a longtime fan or new to Carole King’s timeless music.
The production will open in Cape Town at Theatre On The Bay in Camps Bay before touring to Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre in Johannesburg.
Details of the event are as follows:
For Cape Town
Date: 5 – 21 October
Show times: Tuesdays – Saturdays at 8pm with matiness on Saturdays at 3pm
Venue: Theatre On The Bay, 1 Link Street, Camps Bay
Tickets: Webtickets or contact Theatre On The Bay at (021) 438-3300/1.
Media Inquiries: Dean Roberts | dean@theatreonthebay.co.za
For Johannesburg
Dates: 1 – 26 November
Show times: Wednesdays – Saturdays at 8pm with matinees on Saturday at 4pm and Sundays at 3pm.
Venue: Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre, Montecasino, Fourways
Tickets: Webtickets or contact Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre at (011) 511-1988.
Media Inquiries: Mark Sage | mark@montetheatre.co.za
Ticket Prices range from R150 – R300 and are available through webtickets.
BLOCK BOOKINGS / LADIES’ NIGHTS
We will gladly host your bachelorette party, ladies’ night or other event should you wish to turn your occasion into a theatrical event.
Block booking rates are available for 10 or more.
For more information, contact Geraldine on (011) 511 1988 or geraldine@montetheatre.co.za for more information.
Cast:
Ashley Butcher, Louise Duhain, Angelica Hattingh, Sanli Jooste, Neo Motaung, Tiisetso Sefatsa
No age restriction
Running Time: 2 hours, inclusive of a 20min interval.
