……BY BILLY SUTER……
THE most anticipated stage show of the year, the South African premiere production of the award-winning Broadway musical, Dear Evan Hansen, is currently in rehearsal – and great news is that this site has TWO SETS OF FOUR TICKETS to give away to see the show: one set for the Cape Town season; the other for the Johannesburg run.
The four prize tickets for the Cape Town performance, at Artscape, are for the 8pm performance on February 13. The four tickets for the Gauteng performance at the Teatro theatre, at Montecasino, are for 8pm on March 20. For a chance to win, see competition entry details at the end of this post.
Durban singer-actress and songwriter Keely Crocker, who has been making a name for herself since being a highlight of Durban’s Young Performers Project musicals, is to make her professional stage debut in this production of Dear Evan Hansen. The blonde with a beautiful voice – a recent graduate of the Luitingh Alexander Musical Theatre Academy (LAMTA) in Cape Town – will fill the coveted role of Zoe Murphy.
The lead role of Evan Hansen will be played by Fleur du Cap Theatre Award-winner Stuart Brown (We Will Rock You, Mamma Mia!, Defending The Gay Man). He is a 2021 graduate of the Luitingh Alexander Musical Theatre Academy (LAMTA), who now joins the ranks of Ben Platt and the West End’s Sam Tutty in filling Evan’s shoes.
A widely acclaimed stage musical with music and lyrics by Pasek and Paul (La La Land and The Greatest Showman), Dear Evan Hansen has a book by Steven Levenson. It tells of a high school pupil with social anxiety, who invents an important role for himself after a tragedy.
At Broadway’s 2017 Tony Awards, the show was nominated for nine statuettes, winning six – including Best Musical, Best Book, Best Score, Best Actor (Ben Platt) and Best featured Actress (Rachel Bay Jones). A film was made, again starring Ben Platt in the name role, in 2021.
Showtime Management and How Now Brown Cow Productions are to present the South African premiere production of the Tony Award-winner for Best Musical at Artscape, Cape Town, from February 12 to March 9, and then at Montecasino’s Teatro, Johannesburg, from March 15 to April 13.
The cast features a mix of exciting new talent and established stars, ready to bring Evan Hansen’s compelling story to life in an original production of a musical that offers an empowering experience for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider, ‘always looking in’.
Stuart Brown said on an Instagram message that he was “beyond excited and truly honoured” to clinch the coveted lead role in Dear Evan Hansen. He added: “This show is an incredibly special story that speaks to so many of us about the impact of social media, mental health and what it means to truly belong.”
Keely Crocker’s character, Zoe, is the troubled girl Evan becomes attracted to. The casting announcement marks the second celebration this year for 22-year-old Keely, as this month marks a whole year since she underwent a successful kidney transplant; the kidney having come from her father.
Heidi Hansen, Evan’s hard-working mother, will be played in the South African production by actress, singer and voice artist Lucy Tops (The Rocky Horror Show, Kinky Boots, Funny Girl). Evan’s pals Jared Kleinman and Alana Beck will be played, respectively, by National School of The Arts alumnus Justin Swartz (West Side Story, Janice Honeyman’s Jack And The Beanstalk, The Afterlife of the Party) and Ntshikeng Matooane (Mamma Mia!).
Michael Stray (Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, Dead At The Box Office, Abraham Lincoln) stars as Connor Murphy, resident outcast at Evan’s school. Television, film and musical theatre stars Sharon Spiegel-Wagner (Hairspray, Grease, Witness For The Prosecution) and Charlie Bouguenon (Jersey Boys, Sweeney Todd, Fame) complete the Dear Evan Hansen cast as Connor’s parents, Cynthia Murphy and Larry Murphy.
Resident Director Shelley Lothian (Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Boys In The Photograph, Cabaret) also serves as Female Swing 1, joined by Léa Blerk (The Sound Of Music, Amadeus, Janice Honeyman’s Beauty And The Beast) as Female Swing 2, Arno Meyer (Paw Patrol, Janice Honeyman’s Jack And The Beanstalk, Hartklop) as Male Swing 1 and Kent Jeycocke (We Will Rock You, Matilda The Musical, Evita) as Male Swing 2.
The musical’s creative team includes Greg Karvellas (director); Charl-Johan Lingenfelder (musical supervisor); Niall Griffin (set, lighting and costume designer); Kurt Haupt (musical director); David Classen (sound designer); Louisa Talbot (choreographer) and Alistair Kilbee (technical director).
Book now at showtime.co.za, hownowbrowncow.co.za or ticketmaster.co.za. Terrific Tuesday discounts are available. Terms and conditions apply.
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WIN 4 SHOW TICKETS… WIN 4 SHOW TICKETS… WIN 4 SHOW TICKETS
Care to put yourself in line to be one of TWO winners of four free tickets to see the hit musical Dear Evan Hansen? The four prize tickets for the Cape Town performance, at Artscape, are for the 8pm performance on February 13. The four tickets for the Gauteng performance at the Teatro theatre at Montecasino, are for 8pm on March 20.
You simply have to be a follower of the SoSuterBill site to win. At no cost.
If you are not already a follower, click on the word ‘…..SoSuterBill…..’ that appears under Billy Suter’s face on the red curtain at the top of this post. Next, scroll down a little and leave your email address in the blank space alongside the ‘Subscribe Free’ banner. You will then be a follower, and receive email notification whenever a new story is posted on the site.
Once you have subscribed (there is no cost), send your NAME and PHONE NUMBER via email (NOT THIS SITE’S CONTACT FORM) to sosuterbill@gmail.com and place the words ‘DEAR EVAN HANSEN GIVEAWAY’ in the subject field. Also… please make sure you indicate where you would prefer to see the show: Johannesburg or Cape Town.
Note that the competition closes at 6pm on Tuesday, January 28, and the two lucky winners of four tickets each will be contacted soon after. Winner names will be posted in this spot thereafter. (The lucky winners are Kyle Poole (Cape Town) and Liza Smith (Johannesburg).
NOTE: PLEASE READ ENTRY DETAILS CAREFULLY AS SOME PEOPLE ARE ENTERING COMPETITIONS INCORRECTLY. NOTE, TOO, THAT ONLY ONE ENTRY PER SUBSCRIBER WILL BE CONSIDERED.
ALSO PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:
- Tickets are only valid for the specified date and performance time and may not be upgraded, exchanged for cash or for an alternate performance.
- The prize comprises of four show tickets only.
- Prize winners are responsible for their own transport arrangements.
- We are unable to assist with additional tickets
- Lost tickets/vouchers will not be replaced.
- Tickets are NOT transferable.
- Tickets will be emailed to the prize winners
- Each person, irrespective of age must have a show ticket.
- Parental guidance advised, strong adult themes and language. Recommended for children 11+ years. No children under four years.
- By entering this competition the prize-winner accepts the terms and conditions.
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.....SoSuterBill..... 