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Kat and the Kings extends to August 18DIVA PR05/28/2012 10:31:31 
After a total sell out in May at the Fugard Theatre in District Six, David Kramer and Taliep Petersen’s high-energy Kat and the Kings is taking bookings into August. An Olivier award-winning production, produced by Eric Abraham and directed by David Kramer, Kat and The Kings stars a multi-talented young cast, headed by veteran actor Danny Butler as Old Kat and newcomer Dean Balie as Young Kat. They are wonderfully supported by Grant Peres as Bingo, Zak Toerien as Magoo, Carlo Daniels as Ballie and Amy Trout as Lucy. Don-Veno Prins directs the live onstage band. Penny Haw writing for the Business Day had this to say: "I'm going back for a second helping of Kat and the Kings, I enjoyed it that much." "…the energy of the cast, who put not an imaginatively choreographed foot wrong, had the full house on its feet, well before the last song was sung," wrote Steve Kretzmann from City Press Mariana Malan from Die Burger expressed her view "Alles smelt naatloos saam in 'n onvergeetlike produksie". Faheem Abz Abrahams in his blog on whatsonincapetown.com writes that "Kat and the Kings is a play that every South African should see in their lifetime.....and every tourist too for that matter. This award winning musical is a piece of pure brilliance beating in the heart of the rich artistic history and creativity of this city." "It’s easy to see why global audiences have fallen in love with this Kramer directed production," Fazielah Williams, writing in her blog for Cape Town Tourism. Marina Nel, freelance arts journalist, referring to the significance of the musical playing for the first time in District 6, called the production a “triumphant homecoming”. Set in Cape Town’s District 6 in the 1950s, Kat & the Kings explores the journey of teenager Kat Diamond, from singing outside the Westminster Café to recording a seven single record and performing at The Claridges Hotel in Durban. Young Kat, who is convinced that he is the best singer and dancer in District 6, forms the a cappella group the Cavalla Kings with his friends Ballie, Bingo and Magoo. When Magoo’s sister Lucy Dixon decides to take them under her wing, the quintet, with their American doo wop and rock and roll influences, becomes a sensation in the District. Danny Butler who played the older Kat Diamond in London, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Vienna will reprise his role at the Fugard Theatre. A dynamic live band, led by the talented musical director and saxophonist Don-veno Prins, accompanies the action every night. After touring South Africa, the original production of Kat & the Kings was invited to the Tricycle Theatre in London in November 1998 and thereafter transferred to the Vaudeville Theatre in London’s West End. The production won the Olivier Award for Best New Musical and the entire cast won the award for Best Actor in a Musical in 1999, a first for a South African production. The production then transferred to Broadway where it was nominated for a Tony, a Drama League and 3 Drama Desk Awards. “This is a wonderful production for the whole family and with the school holidays just around the corner make sure you plan to have Kat & the Kings as part of your holiday experience, It is delightful to see our audiences singing and dancing out of the theatre after the show!” says Daniel Galloway the General Manager of the Fugard Theatre. The Fugard Theatre is offering an excellent Family of Four special when booking through the box office. David Kramer, who has dedicated the production to the late Taliep Petersen, said, "Taliep and I spent so many hours talking about District 6 and I know that being able to stage one of our musicals in the heart of the District would have given him an enormous sense of pride. My one great sadness is that he isn't here to experience that pleasure.” Kat & the Kings is now booking until 18 August with performances Tuesdays to Fridays at 8pm. Saturday performances in June are at 5pm and 8:30pm and to beat the winter chill, Saturday performances in July and August are slightly earlier at 4pm and 8pm. Tickets range from R100 to R150 via the Fugard Theatre box office on 021 461 4554, Computicket.com and 0861 915 8000, with generous discounts available for the Friends of the Fugard when booking through the Fugard Box Office. Patrons who are not yet signed up members of the Friends of the Fugard program can do so by clicking onto www.thefugard.com or by calling the theatre’s box office. Advance booking is recommended. Artslink.co.za Account: Allison Foat DIVA PR diva_events@iafrica.com 021 462 7384 083 635 6312 The Fugard www.thefugard.com Related Venue:
The Fugard Theatre, Cnr of Harrington Street and Caledon Street District Six Cape Town Western Cape South Africa
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