SMASH HIT KAT AND THE KINGS TO RETURN TO THE FUGARD

Smash Hit musical Kat & the Kings to return to the Fugard Theatre for a Summer Season by popular demand!

The Fugard Theatre’s critically acclaimed production of  Kat & the Kings – the award-winning all South African musical created by David Kramer and the late Taliep Petersen – is set to return to the Fugard Theatre in Cape Town by popular demand, immediately after its current season in Johannesburg ends on 18 November 2012.

The two act production has been wowing Jo’burg audiences since opening at Pieter Toerien’s Theatre in Montecasino last month. Jo’burg’s The Citizen called it “the Kat’s Whiskers” and described it as “…pure, undistilled joy flowing from the stage into the theatre!” The Business Day said it is “in a league of its own” and called it a “modern day South African Classic”. The Star newspaper called the company “Kings of Song and Hope” and described the Musical as “…fresh, slick and polished… poignant, upbeat and laced with wit!” The Star Tonight simply proclaimed “Kings Conquer the Stage!”

The Fugard Theatre revival of Kat & the Kings opened in May this year, playing to capacity houses for four months and receiving rave reviews. The consistently high demand for tickets led to three extensions and left local audiences wanting more. The Fugard Theatre General Manager, Daniel Galloway, announced this week that the hit Musical will be back on the Fugard boards from 24 November for the holiday season. He said, “We are so proud of our production of this South African classic. Seeing it grow from strength to strength has brought us such joy – what better way to spend the Summer Holidays than in the company of Kat Diamond and the Cavalla Kings? This is a fantastic show for the whole family!”

Kat & the Kings is set In Cape Town’s District Six in the late 1950s and explores the journey of teenager Kat Diamond and the a cappella group he forms, The Cavalla Kings. Veteran actor Danny Butler, who recently celebrated his 1 000th performance in the production since he took the role as Old Kat Diamond in 1995, reprises his role as the Old Kat. Dean Balie is the Young Kat Diamond, Grant Peres plays Bingo, Zak Toerien is Magoo, Carlo Daniels is Ballie and Amy Trout plays the part of Lucy.

Kat and the Kings is a “a feel-good, bop-till-you-drop musical blast that’s fun, fun, fun all the way; a joyous jive that’ll put a smile on your dial and worth seeing twice!” (Business Day) with a live onstage band that has had audiences leaping to their feet and dancing in the aisles, night after night.

After touring South Africa in 1996, the original production of Kat & the Kings played at the Tricycle Theatre in London 1998 and thereafter transferred to the Vaudeville Theatre in London’s West End. In 1999 the production won two prestigious Olivier Awards – the Olivier Award for Best New Musical and the entire cast won the award for Best Actor in a Musical – a first for a South African production. The musical then transferred to Broadway where it was nominated for a Tony, a Drama League and 3 Drama Desk Awards.

Kat & the Kings is produced by Eric Abraham and the Fugard Theatre and is directed by David Kramer who has dedicated this production of Kat & the Kings to the late Taliep Petersen.

The return season at the Fugard Theatre in District Six opens on 24 November 2012 and runs throughout the holiday season. Tickets range from R90 – R160 and are available at Computicket or 08619158000 and via the Fugard box office on 0214614554.  Friends of the Fugard discounts are available thought the box office and a family of four special is available over the weekends. The full schedule is available on www.thefugard.com.