CAPE TOWN YIELDS THE SECOND BIGGEST NUMBER OF GOLDEN TICKETS FOR IDOLS XII
If ever there was a Mzansi city that likes to show off, then Cape Town is it.
Already home to one of the world’s most enchanting natural wonders, the Mother City proved that it has more than Table Mountain and breath-taking beaches – it has talent galore. This was demonstrated when 20 Golden Tickets were issued out by judges during the last leg of the Idols SA season 12 auditions.
Sporadic bursts of excited screams permeated the air at GrandWest Entertainment World as contestants came out of the audition room clutching the precious ticket. There were more than a few tears, shaky hands and sweaty faces as hopefuls received their passes to Theatre Week.
“I can’t believe I made it,” said a shaken Micaela Kleinsmith, the first person to receive a Golden Ticket in Cape Town. “I was so nervous in front of the judges, I even messed up a bit on the guitar.” But her strong voice saw the 19 year-old overcome, with judge Somizi Mhlongo calling her the much-prayed-for drop of rain that people have been praying for in the drought.
Guest judge Jack Parow was also impressed with the teen, who happens to come from the “Never Gonna Grow Up” hit maker’s neck of the woods – the Parrow Valley.
The youngest contestant on this leg was also the first to get a yes from all four judges. Bevin Samuels, 18, travelled for over 12 hours by bus from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town for the audition. The solo trek, he said, was worth it. “I sang Billionaire by Travie McCoy featuring Bruno Mars. The judges didn’t say much after I finished, they just gave me the ticket,” said Bevin, himself still dazed from the incredible response.
The hunger that saw Caledon hopeful Bronwin Wyngaardt wake up at 3am so he could drive 111kms to GrandWest also paid off. The 25 year-old also received the hard-to-get four thumbs up when he finished his rendition of Swing Low. “Jack Parow’s eyes were popping and Randall kept nodding even before I finished singing. I can’t wait to join the rest of the competition on Theatre Week to show what I’m all about!”
The caliber of talent in the Mother City undoubtedly closed off the audition tour on a high note. Pretoria leads with the largest number of Golden tickets issued at 21, followed by Cape Town’s 20 while Durban and Pretoria are tied at 19.
But of the 79 Idols SA hopefuls, judges will have to be unrelenting when choosing the Top 16. The grueling week will take place in its new home, the Wild Coast Sun in KwaZulu-Natal, where contestants will sing for their lives in front of Randall Abrahams, Unathi Msengana, Somizi Mhlongo and Gareth Cliff.
For the first time in Idols SA history, the Top 16 process will be open to the public on 8 April, 2016. A limited number of tickets are up for sale for R30 a pop, so if you want to part of this live audience event, to see what happens behind the scenes months before the rest of Mzansi can, or you have friends and family you want to support, you’d better head over to your nearest Computicket.
Doors open 12h30 on Friday, 08 April at Sun International’s Wild Coast Sun.
Idols SA season 12 will be broadcast on Mzansi Magic, DStv channel 161 from Sunday 17 July at 17h00.
