The PE G&S Society has had an exciting year in 2023, producing 6 unique and entertaining shows for the local theatre loving community. Their latest offering was the critically acclaimed hit musical Hairspray, seen by over 3000 enthusiastic audience members. G&S has made development their number one focus and every production this year has seen people of all ages, especially young people, being given training, mentoring and the opportunity to shine in whatever aspect of theatre making they enjoy.
Last December, G&S held auditions for the first Holiday Theatre Project which built up to the show Music! Movies! Magic!, or MMM, as it’s affectionately known. This exciting initiative showcased 35 cast members, 7 of the crew and dynamic young Choreographer, Ashleigh Maling-Nel, who were all aged from 7 to 17 years old. Co-Director Rose Cowpar laughs about how she “came up with the craziest idea ever – let’s do an all-singing, all-dancing show in 15 days with 35 kids and 25 songs!”. That crazy idea was such a success that G&S plans to do it all again, starting with auditions on Sunday 3rd December at the Savoy Theatre.
Music! Movies! Magic! features songs from all the wonderful family movies and musicals that have been enjoyed by people of all ages, all over the world. For the production team, it’s a trip down memory lane as they draw up this year’s song list, “a longer trip for some of us than others” quips Cowpar, adding that even the latest releases such as Trolls 3 will be included. Cowpar is joined once again by producer, director and actress Leandi Fontini, last seen on stage in Hairspray. Fontini is looking forward to making the magic happen and is hoping for auditions to unearth some amazing new talent “I think we have a unique approach to auditions that’s all about the kids, making them feel comfortable and enjoying the process so they can give their best”. Amanda Engelbrecht returns as Vocal Director and Abi Ranwell makes her Choreography debut for G&S. Between them, this exciting team will mentor 6 rising stars all under 21.
In 2022 the Society appointed their first Youth Ambassador, Brooklyn Plaatjies whose favourite task over the last year and a half has been supporting and inspiring young performers, especially turning tears to smiles at last year’s auditions for MMM. She will be sharing her positive energy at auditions alongside her outstanding young successor for 2024, whose name will be announced on December 1st.
The auditions are open to all young singers, dancers and actors aged 7 and 17 years. The audition process will start at 11am with a drama workshop that all auditionees must attend, followed by a movement audition, group singing audition and individual singing auditions for any child wanting to be considered for a solo.
Anyone who would like to audition for a solo should prepare a song from any animated movie that suits their voice and they will be asked to stay and sing again after the group audition. Rehearsals will start on Wednesday 27th December and the show runs from 10-14th January. All cast members must be available throughout this period as rehearsals are intense and run from 10am to 5pm most days.
The first step is to register by sending a Whatsapp to Rose on 072 906 1977 with the name of a parent/guardian plus the name and age of the auditionee. You will then receive a link to the Google form to register and receive the audition package with all the relevant information.
G&S are looking forward to a great turnout of talented young people to be part of this project.
Port Elizabethan
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