February 2009
1 post
Jozi to Durbs to Kapstad
Though we are back in New York I wanted to take a moment and share the rest of Johannesburg and Durban on the blog, as the end of our time in Johannesburg and our stay in Durban was basically an opportunity for us to meet some of South Africa’s strongest and most empowered women.
First off please take a moment and visit the website for Keep A Child Alive at www.keepachildalive.org. The...
January 2009
38 posts
A quick post to catch up
Since our last post, we’ve had no internet service so we haven’t been able to write. There is too much to say at once so here’s a quick rundown:
- We flew to Durban, which is absolutely beautiful.
- Spent the day at Operation Bobbi Bear, a crisis center for children who have been raped. By far the most moving day of our trip here.
- Visited and performed at The Agape...
My name is Babazile Mahlangu
Just when I think this trip can’t be any more incredible, along comes a day like today. We left at 6am to go to the Theo Twala Primary School in Kwa-thema, outside of Johnannesburg, planning to spend from 7am-9am performing for the kids and visiting the classes. We stayed for four hours.
In October, I directed a benefit concert for BSA at Symphony Space in New York. Theo Twala sent us some...
Concert press coverage
Since we’ve been in South Africa, we have done interviews for radio, newspapers, and websites. In Johannesburg, a local new site covered the concert and posted photos of the performers, as well as some of the notable South African patrons in attendance:
http://www.myfourways.co.za/slideshow/broadway-south-africa
If You're Out There
Early Sunday morning I went to Theatre on the Bay in beautiful Camps Bay, home to our first benefit concert. I met the theatre staff and started the day teching lights and sound, then added the musicians—Brett, our music director, and a local guitarist, bassist, and drummer who met for the first time that day. A few hours later the singers arrived for rehearsal and we continued to work...
Day 2 Joburg
I’m still reeling from the close to such an incredible and whirlwind week. Very few moments go by without thinking about those kids and the last day of camp. Such an inspiring thing to be a part of…watching those kids get up in front of their family and community members en masse to dance and sing with us AND to even do some of their other work from class — playing scenes from...
End of Camp
Yesterday was our fourth and final day of camp. As with every other day, the children far exceeded any of our expectations. We combined music and dance class as well as playwriting and acting. This was great for the teachers because they were able to witness how the children communicated and responded with other teachers and great for the kids because they were able to not only work with other...
Beautiful U R
Today is Day 4, the fourth and last day of our workshop in Gugulethu. The anticipation and uncertainty of the day is clear among the BSA staff as we finish our breakfast. However, there are certain things we can expect: we will probably cry, there will be a dance “parade” at lunch, and of course, these kids will continue to amaze us.
At the end of today’s camp there will be a...
Camp Day 3 at JL Zwane Centre
Finally blogging here at camp after some international computer issues!
What an unreal experience no one could have predicted the magnitude of…the impact on these children AND on the artists is almost overwhelming at points to witness. These teachers have put so much passion and dedication into their lesson plans and I cannot believe the osmosis that occurs with the kids here. Rhythm,...
Upcoming Benefit Performances
In addition to teaching the arts workshops, Broadway in South Africa is also presenting two benefit concerts: one on Sunday night at Pieter Toerien’s Theatre on the Bay in Camps Bay; the second on Monday night at the Montecasino Theatre in Johannesburg. Proceeds from the concerts will go to the Benevolent Actor’s Fund—a local charity much like The Actor’s Fund in New...
Arts Workshops Cape Town Day 2
It’s about 7:30 am on Thursday Jan 15th and we are preparing to leave for the second day of our arts workshops in Gugulethu. Everyone at the JL Zwane Centre (where we are holding the workshops) have been more than accommodating and helpful and we can’t wait to continue to work with these students.
Day 1 was a little crazy…We expected 50 kids to arrive at 9 am for registration....
Day 2
Today is our first day of camp! We are leaving here at 8 am to set up and wait for the arrival of our campers. The Gugulethu center is beautiful- the rooms are spacious, full of light and newly renovated. The day includes a meet and greet and introduction of campers and teachers followed by a full day of classes- acting, music, dance and playwriting. Everyone is so excited to get going and we...
We made it!
So after a 30 hour travel day, we made it! We arrived in Cape Town yesterday at 4:30 pm, traveled to our beautiful accommodations and enjoyed an authentic South African meal. On the way to downtown Cape Town, we were able to view the Gugulethu township where we will be teaching as well as many scenic beauties including Table Mountain, Lions Head, the waterfront and even some wildebeests....
Leaving on a Jet Plane
Our journey to South Africa begins tomorrow. First stop: Cape Town. The next week is going to be very fast paced between our arts camp at the JL Zwane Centre in Gugulethu and prepping for our 1st benefit concert at Pieter Toerien’s Theatre on the Bay. There will be lots to blog about, and I personally can’t wait to see everyone’s reactions to this country that some of us have...
I just spoke to 600,000 people in South Africa...
Hi,
This is Lisa Nicole, Co-Founder and Communications Director for Broadway in South Africa. For the past couple of months I have spent tireless hours creating press materials and networking with people (on the phone, via the net, in person in one-on-meetings and at large gatherings) to get people to know about US and the great work we are so proud to be doing. Well, this morning I spoke to my...
Broadway World Article →
Broadway World article about the trip!
Zachary Zirlin, Creative Director, Broadway in South Africa
SA Good News →
Our first South African publication about the trip!
Zachary Zirlin, Creative Director, Broadway in South Africa
T-Minus 4 Days (or: 5,760 minutes)
Today, we had an amazing music rehearsal with our music director extraordinaire, Brett Schrier. We started off by singing “Seasons Of Love” with the Broadway In South Africa company. Tracy McDowell and I were a bit emotional - the last time the two of us had sung this song together was onstage at the Nederlander Theater for the final performance of RENT on Broadway.
There was a...
5 DAYS!!!
Broadway in South Africa officially leaves this Sunday, January 11th. We are so excited to start our work.
Yesterday all the artists did taught a mini version of their classes for the workshop to everyone. One of the cool things Frankie and Lisa are doing in dance is incoporating the name game into choreography. We’re sure the children in Gugulethu are going to have a blast with that.
We...
