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There were not many surprises awaiting in the list of final nominees for the 2011 Naledi Awards. While the cream of the theatrical crop may be represented in this year’s categories, it will certainly be a battle of the best in each category when the 9th Annual Naledi Theatre Awards grace the magnificent Lyric Theatre at Gold ReefCity on Monday, 5 March.

The spectacular staging of “Dreamgirls” leads the pack in the musicals categories with no less than 10 nominations, followed by the brilliant “Mandela Trilogy” and the whacky “Pirates of Penzance” with eight enthusiastic nods each.  
Nataniel’s dynamic “Combat”,  Peter Toerien’s bonzai musical “JC Superstar” and Deon Opperman’s original work “Tree Aan”, received 6 nominations each.

The Best production of a play includes Aubrey Sekhabi’s uncompromising production of “The Rivonia Trial” (first staged in 2010 but not included then) with 9 nominations, and Alan Swerdlow’s immaculately directed “The History Boys” with 6 nominations.
The best performance by an actor in a lead role includes Brian Webber in a sensitive portrayal of a gay prisoner in “Kiss of a Spiderwoman”; the masterly Graham Hopkins as the controversial teacher in “The History Boys”; Sello Maake ka Ncube’s dignified and restrained performance as Mandela in “The Rivonia Trial”; and Isidingo star, Stephen van Niekerk in “The Crucible”, a lucid production at the Joburg Promusica Theatre in Roodepoort directed by Alby Michaels. 

Best performance by an actress in a lead role includes diva Annabel Linder as the matriarch in “The Table”, Noxolo Tshabangu’s unforgettable performance in “Loving Lulu”, and Robyn Scott who was absolutely endearing in “London Road”.

Best Director of a Play or Musical includes some of the country’s best: Aubrey Sekhabi for “The Rivonia Trial”, Alan Swerdlow for “The History Boys”, Christopher Weare for “Decadence”, Greg Homann for “Pirates of Penzance”, and Cape Town’s Lara Bye for “London Road”.

A complex category is that of the creators and curators of Musical Excellence, and this year sees several contributors nominated together for composing scores, arrangements and musical direction, all of which are amalgamated to create the world class music heard on our Gauteng stages during 2011.  Original scores were created for the “Mandela Trilogy”, “Tree Aan” , “The Table” and Nataniel’s “Combat”.  Other scores include “The Pirates of Penzance” and “Dreamgirls”.

The judges for this year’s awards are certainly going have a gruelling task ahead of them, but all will be revealed in a glittering awards ceremony with Alan Committie as MC and entertainment  by Gloria Bosman, singing a medley from “Mandela Trilogy” accompanied by Bryan Schimmel, both nominees. The evening will not only be filled with suspense, but with fun too. Other performances will include pop singer Nádine, nominated for her debut performance in JC Superstar, performing “I don’t know how to love Him”; “Listen” from Dreamgirls, performed by Lindiwe Bungane and Tracey-Lee Oliver - again accompanied by Bryan Schimmel; and  “Ek Staan Wag Oor Jou Hart” from “Tree Aan” performed by Nadia Beukes and Vaughn Gardiner. 

Suitably, Cinderella and her Prince Charming will be appearing at the glamorous Naledi Awards.    From Janice Honeyman’s latest All-star Pantomime , “Cinderella”; a duet performed by Carmen Pretorius and Bongi Mthombeni, a Top 10 finalist in Idols SA 2010. With them, dancing on stage will be Joburg Theatre’s cutest Ballroom Champions; child ballroom dancers from Richman Dance School in Orange Farm, who also featured in the Joburg Theatre production of “Cinderella”. 

“The Naledi’s won’t be complete without some serious send up and laughter”, says Executive Director Dawn Lindberg, “which will be provided by Off-Beat Broadway in “Les Mini Miz”, starring Anton Luitingh, Lindy Abromowitz and Paul du Toit. 

“Once again top celebrities from our stages will don their glam gowns to present the Awards and each winner will receive a newly designed trophy by  Chris Drake of Cubed Models as well as a cash cheque”,  said Dawn,  “thanks to generous funding from the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, and which we are holding fingers and toes will continue for the next few years.”

“The use of the Lyric Theatre and all technical staff have been sponsored for three years by Gold Reef City, for which we are eternally grateful, as this is surely one of the most beautiful theatres not only in Gauteng, but in SA” enthused Dawn.  

“We also honour those who have passed onto the Great Stage In The Sky over the past year, Community Theatre, Children’s Theatre and two Life Time Achievement Awards will be given to legendary veterans of our stages.”

The event will be filmed by Phonicart Media and edited into a 90-minute special for television.
“We are currently negotiating with a very hot channel,” hints Dawn.

The Naledi Theatre Awards Ceremony and cocktail event is open to the public and tickets may be bought directly from the Lyric theatre 
011 248 5168  /  Box.Office@grcc.co.za  at R150 per person, all inclusive of the most exciting and glamorous Event on the SA Theatre Calendar.

The full list of the 2011 Naledi Theatre Awards nominees is below.

 
Best Production of Musical
Dreamgirls - Showtime Management in assoc. with Vienna Waits Productions, dir by Robert Longbottom
Jesus Christ Superstar - prod by Pieter Toerien & The Really Useful Group, dir by Paul Warwick Griffin
Mandela Trilogy - prod by Cape Town Opera in collaboration with Rand Merchant Bank, written and dir by Michael Williams
Combat:Nataniël - prod by Nataniël House of Music in collaboration with Emperors Palace, written and dir by Nataniël
The Pirates of Penzance - prod by Daphne Kuhn and Old Mutual Theatre on the Square in assoc with the South African State Theatre, dir by Greg Homann
Tree Aan! - prod by Packed House Productions, written and dir by Deon Opperman 

Best Production of Play
Decadence - prod by The Mechanicals & Daphne Kuhn, dir by Christopher Weare
Kiss of the Spiderwoman - prod by Yellow Bunny Productions, dir by Lynne Maree
Play Me - prod by The Market Theatre, written by Monde Mayephu, dir by Mpho J. Molepoi
Rivonia Trial - prod by The South African State Theatre, written by Aubrey Sekhabi, Mpumelelo Paul Grootboom and Mandla Dube, dir by Aubrey Sekhabi
The Crucible - prod by Joburg Promusica and Alby Michaels, dir by Alby Michaels
The History Boys - prod by Pieter Toerien, dir by Alan Swerdlow


Best New South African Script (Musical or Play)
London Road - KBT Productions and Simon Cooper in assoc. with Daphne Kuhn, written by Nicholas Spagnoletti, dir by Lara Bye
Play Me - prod by The Market Theatre, written by Monde Mayephu, dir by Mpho J Molepo
Rivonia Trial - prod by The South African State Theatre, dir by Aubrey Sekhabi, written by Aubrey Sekhabi, Mpumelelo Paul Grootboom and Mandla Dube
The Prize of Peace - prod by Old Mutual Theatre on the Square, written by Les Morrison, dir by Clare Stopford
The Table - prod by The Fortune Cookie Theatre Company, The National Arts Festival in assoc. with the Market Theatre and supported by the Aardklop Festival, dir by Sylvaine Strike, Written by Craig Higginson, Sylvaine Strike in collaboration with the cast

Best Performance by an Actor in a Lead Role (Play)
Brian Webber - Kiss of a Spiderwoman
Fana Mokoena - Play Me
Graham Hopkins - The History Boys
Scott Sparrow - Decadence
Sello Maake ka Ncube - Rivonia Trial
Stephen van Niekerk - The Crucible

Best Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role (Play)
Annabel Linder - The Table
Emily Child - Decadence
Lerato Mvelase - Play Me
Noxolo Tshabangu - Loving Lulu
Robyn Scott - London Road

Best Performance in a Musical (Male)
Aubrey Lodewyk - Mandela Trilogy
Aubrey Poo - Dreamgirls
Aubrey Poo - Mandela Trilogy 
Brendan van Rhyn- Tree Aan
Jonathan Roxmouth - Jesus Christ Superstar
Nataniël - Combat:Nataniël

Best Performance in a Musical (Female)
Gloria Bosman - Mandela Trilogy 
Lindiwe Bungane - Dreamgirls
Nádine - Jesus Christ Superstar
Tina Mene - Mandela Trilogy
Tracey-Lee Oliver - Dreamgirls

Best Director: Play or Musical
Alan Swerdlow - The History Boys
Alby Michaels - The Crucible
Aubrey Sekhabi - Rivonia Trial
Christopher Weare - Decadence
Greg Homann - The Pirates of Penzance
Lara Bye - London Road

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role / Cameo
Clyde Berning - The History  Boys  
Lebo Toko - Dreamgirls
Macks Papo - Rivonia Trial
MoaGi Modise - Rivonia Trial
Sello Sebotsane – Play Me
Theo Landey - The History Boys

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role / Cameo
Candida Mosoma - Dreamgirls
Harriet Manamela - Rivonia Trial
Maphuti Komape - The Prize of Peace
Ntomboxolo Makhutshi - London Road
Thuli Thabethe - So What's New
Xolile Tshabalala - Rivonia Trial

Best Comedy Performance: Play or Musical
Adam Pelkowitz - Tree Aan!
David Dennis - The Pirates of Penzance
Emily Child - Decadence
James Borthwick - The Pirates of Penzance
Scott Sparrow - Decadence 


Best Ensemble Production/Cutting Edge
Decadence - Prod by The Mechanicals & Daphne Kuhn, dir by Christopher Weare
DET Boys High - Prod by The South African State Theatre in association with Sibikwa Arts Centre, written and dir by Smal Ndaba and Phyllis Klotz
I Am An Emotional Creature: The Secret Life of Girls Around The World - prod by The Market Theatre and V-Day, dir by Jo Bonney, written by Eve Ensler
London Road - KBT Productions and Simon Cooper in assoc. with Daphne Kuhn, written by Nicholas Spagnoletti and dir by Lara Bye
The Pirates of Penzance - prod by Daphne Kuhn and Old Mutual Theatre on the Square in asso with the South African State Theatre, dir by Greg Homann
The Table - prod by The Fortune Cookie Theatre Company, The National Arts Festival in assoc. with the Market Theatre and supported by the Aardklop Festival, dir by Sylvaine Strike, Written by Craig Higginson, Sylvaine Strike in Collaboration with the cast

Best Musical Director / Score / Arrangement
Albert Horne (MD), Allan Stephenson (Composer Act 1), Mike Campell (Act 2), Péter Louis Van Dijk (Act 3) - Mandela Trilogy
Eddie Clayton (MD) & Peter McLea (Arrangements) Janine Neethling (Composer) - Tree Aan! 
Nataniël (MD, Score and Arrangements) - Combat:Nataniël
Rowan Bakker (MD & Arrangements) & Cameron Harris (Arrangements) - The Pirates of Penzance
Sam Sklair & Dan Selsick (Original score & Arrangements) - The Table
Bryan Schimmel (Music Supervisor) & Tshepo Mngoma (MD) - Dreamgirls 

Best Original Choreography: Play or Musical
Matthews "Oupa" Manamela - Play Me
Ignatius & Martin van Heerden - Combat:Nataniël
Shelley Adriaanzen - The Pirates of Penzance
Sibonakaliso Ndaba - Mandela Trilogy
Timothy le Roux - Jesus Christ Superstar

Best Community Theatre
Circle - prod by The Market Theatre, dir by Oscar Motsikoe, written by Tau Maserumule
DET Boys High - Prod by The South African State Theatre in association with Sibikwa Arts Centre, written and dir by Smal Ndaba and Phyllis Klotz

Best Performance by Newcomer / Breakthrough (Male/Female)
Bjorn Blignaut - Dreamgirls
Brandon Lindsay - The Pirates of Penzance
Lindiwe Bungane - Dreamgirls
Roberto Pombo - The History Boys
Zimkitha Kumbaca - So What's New

Best Production of a Play or Musical for Children
African Adventure - prod by Paisley Production in association with South African National Parks, dir by Jesse Christelis and Zak Hendrikz
Aladdin - prod by National Children's Theatre, dir by Francois Theron
A Pocket Oliver Twist - prod by National Children's Theatre, dir by Joyce Levinsohn
Fun, Magic and Tales of Africa - prod by The People's Theatre, dir by Jill Girard and Keith Smith 

Best Theatre Sound Design / Sound Effects
Barry Thomson, Dawn Selby, Glen Turrell - The Guitar That Rocked The World
Mark Malherbe - Jesus Christ Superstar
Larry Pullen- Combat:Nataniël
Trevor Peters - Tree Aan!
Richard Smith - Streets of Gold

Best Theatre Lighting Design
Faheem Bardien - Mandela Trilogy
Lewellyn Peters - The Guitar That Rocked The World
Kevin Stannet - Combat:Nataniël
Nomvula Molepo - The Table
Steve Mmotong (based on original design by Hardus Koekemoer) - Rivonia Trial


Best Costume Design
Floris Louw - Combat:Nataniël
Michael Mitchell - Mandela Trilogy
Sarah Roberts - The Pirates of Penzance
Suzaan Heyns (Costumes & Stylist) & Robert van der Westhuizen (Wig Master & Hair Design) - Streets of Gold

Best Theatre Set Design
Andrew Botha - Sailing Somewhere
Chen Nakar & Sasha Ehlers - The Table
Keith Anderson - Jesus Christ Superstar
Themi Venturas & Brandon Bunyan - The Guitar That Rocked The World
Michael Mitchell - Mandela Trilogy