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BY BILLY SUTER
DURBAN’S Steven Stead and Charon Williams-Ros continue to be recognised for their outstanding work on last year’s excellent touring production of Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd.
The dark, haunting work has resulted in Stead being recognised as best director of a musical in South Africa at the annual BroadwayWorld Regional Awards, which call on the public to vote for theatre productions in more than 75 regions worldwide.
BroadwayWorld has announced that the 2016 South Africa winners include Williams-Ros as best actress in a musical, for her role as conniving pie-maker Mrs Lovett in Sweeney Todd.
The musical by Durban’s KickstArt theatre company also took the awards for best ensemble cast, best revival of a musical, and for Jonathan Roxmouth as best lead actor in a musical. In addition, Anne-Marie Clulow received the award for best featured role in a musical, for her role as Beggar Woman.
It was a double delight for Roxmouth as he also took the award for best featured role in
a musical, for his Elvis-like Pharoah in the touring Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, which also won a well-deserved award for Duane Alexander’s fun, high-camp choreography.
Surprisingly, the brilliant Singing in the Rain took only two awards – for the lighting design of Tim Mitchell and the scenic designs of Simon Higlett.
The award for best musical went to Hedwig and the Angry Inch, which opened Cape Town’s new Café 99 supper theatre run by Brendan van Rhyn.
Tiaan Slabbert took the award for best actor in a featured role in a play, for his performance in Porselein, which also took awards for best play; Quintin Wils for best director; Quintin Wils for best sound design; and for best new work (Brackenfell Drama Group).
The award for best actor in a play went to Andre Odendaal for his performance in DOP, while Claire-Louise Worby received two awards – for best lead actress in a play (Court) and best actress in a featured role in a play (Clybourne Park).
Heidi was named as best production for young audiences and also took an award for the costume designs of Madeleine Lötter
The award for best revival of a play went to Raminidam and Pieter Toerien Productions for Cock and Bull Story.
BroadwayHD is exclusive presentingsSponsor for this year’s awards.
Since its launch in 2015, BroadwayHD has aimed to extend the reach of Broadway to fans old and new, anytime and anywhere.
BroadwayHD is the only online streaming service of its kind, offering viewers an unprecedented Broadway experience and access to exclusive live streams. In addition to exclusive live streamed content, BroadwayHD offers subscribers unlimited access to an on-demand library of some 160 theatre productions from the comfort of their own homes – or wherever streaming is possible.
In June of 2016, BroadwayHD made history with the live stream of Roundabout Theatre Company’s She Loves Me, marking the first Broadway live stream.
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