Showtime Management, SA Producers of the soon to be staged international hit musical, Priscilla Queen of the Desert today announced the three boys who join the all South African cast alternating the role of Benji when the show opens next month at Artscape, running from Wednesday, 26 March to Sunday, 23 April 2017
Ten year olds, Jack Fokkens and Jagger Vosloo and eight year old Alexander Wallace take to the stage as Benji, the son of lead role Tick played by Daniel Buys (Jersey Boys, West Side Story, Saturday Night Fever). Benji is the real reason Tick convinces his fellow friends Bernadette and Felicia to head off into the desert in a big pink bus for a four-week stint at a Hotel Casino Resort in Alice Springs, the same resort managed by his estranged wife Marion played by Taryn-Lee Buys (Singin’ in the Rain, Jersey Boys). Interestingly, the roles of the estranged couple are played by real life husband and wife!
Tick hasn’t seen eight-year-old Benji for years and is nervous about exposing him to his colourful lifestyle, only to be surprised that Marion has raised him to be sweet and open-minded so he’s fully supportive of his father’s sexuality and career.
“The role of Benji presents itself as a wonderful opportunity for a young actor to work with multi-talented all South African cast and creative team in one of the best known productions in the world.” says SA Producer, Hazel Feldman of Showtime Management. “This is going to be an exceptional learning curve especially as the boys will be working with Australians Dean Bryant, Worldwide Associate Director of Priscilla, and Andrew Hallsworth who co- choreographed the international production of Priscilla, for Broadway with Ross Coleman.”
The three “Benji’s” share a love of dancing, singing and acting and their enthusiasm for this, their first professional musical theatre role is infectious. The youngest of four children, Jack Fokkens has been performing in ballet productions since he was four years old, most recently in Cape Town City Ballet’s Peter Pan. He is an accomplished pianist and French Horn player, and when not practicing, he loves learning new tricks at ‘the College of Magic’. Jack is starring in his first international movie ‘The Kissing Booth’, to be released on Netflix later this year.
Fellow “Benji”, Alexander Wallace has been entertaining friends and family since he could walk and talk. Also an early starter, Alexander has attended the Waterfront Theatre School for the past four years where he is studying dance and drama. He has featured in various international commercials and has starred in several movies, most recently acting as the young Eric Bana in ‘The Forgiven?. This is Alexander?s first professional theatre production.
Jagger Vosloo recently starred in ‘The Magic Carpet’, a school rendition of Aladdin. He enjoys playing guitar, and attending Hip Hop classes. Jagger comes from a family with strong theatrical ties so it seems he is destined to be in the theatre. In his spare time he enjoys playing Xbox, ramping on his scooter and building Lego. To learn more about performing both Jagger Vosloo and Alexander Wallace attended classes at the Musical Theatre Workshops.
Presented by Showtime Management in association with Lunchbox Theatrical Productions and Nullarbor Productions and brought to South Africa by BBC First, Priscilla Queen of the Desert is a heart-warming and uplifting tale of three drag artist friends who hop aboard a battered old bus aka “Priscilla” and go off on the adventure of a lifetime through the Australian Outback, to perform in Alice Springs. On the way they find friendship, love and far more than they ever dreamed of.
Priscilla Queen of the Desert has been seen by over 5 million people and grossed in excess of $300 million worldwide to become the most successful Australian musical of all time. With 10 years and several thousand kilometres racked up, the pink bus is looking more magnificent than ever for its South African debut and will run for a strictly limited season at Artscape before heading to Montecasino’s Teatro, opening on 29 April and running until 18 June 2017. The three Johannesburg season “Benji’s” will be announced shortly.
This wildly fresh and funny musical, based on the Oscar-winning film, features a hit parade of dance-floor favourites including I Will Survive, Hot Stuff, Finally, Boogie Wonderland, Go West, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, and I Love The Nightlife plus more than 500 outrageous costumes, 200 extraordinary headdresses and a 10 metre long customised bus weighing 6 tonnes as its sparkling centrepiece – Priscilla Queen of the Desert is a must-see extravaganza! Book now at Computicket. This musical contains some strong language and adult themes, therefore parental guidance is recommended for children under the age of 12.
For further information visit www.showtime.co.za or www.montecasino.co.za or www.artscape.co.za Special hospitality packages as well as Show & Stay packages available from Montecasino Hospitality & Corporate Events, (011) 3674250 or montecasino.reservations@tsogosun.com. Stay current on the latest news through social media on Facebook Twitter and YouTube. #PriscillaSA ENDS
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SHOW INFORMATION:
C A P E T O W N
VENUE: Artscape
DATES: Sunday, 26 March to Sunday, 23 April 2017
SHOW TIMES:
No Monday performances.
Weekdays: Tuesdays – Fridays 20h00
Weekends: Saturdays 15h00, 20h00; Sundays 14h00, 18h00
NOTE SHOW SCHEDULE– EASTER WEEKEND 2017
Friday, 14 April: No performance
Saturday, 15 April: 15h00 and 20h00
Sunday, 16 April: 14h00 and 18h00
Monday, 17 April: No performance
PRICES:
Tuesdays/Wednesdays/Thursdays/Sunday evenings: R150, R250, R350, R450
Fridays/Saturdays/Sunday matinees: R200, R300, R400, R500
BOOKINGS:
Computicket by calling 0861 915 8000, visit www.computicket.com or visit your nearest Computicket outlet
or call Artscape Dial-A-Seat 021 421 7695
GROUP BOOKINGS:
20% Discount on groups of 20 and more – all midweek and Sunday evening performances only
Bookings through Jill Somers, 079 218 1658, sales@showtime.co.za
IMPORTANT INFO:
This musical contains some strong language and adult themes, therefore parental guidance is recommended
for children under the age of 12
ON LINE:
FB – facebook.com/showtimemanagementsa
Twitter – twitter.com/showtime_sa
Youtube – www.youtube.com/channel/UC4u5EG0Cj-_17kFpOPqhqjQ
Website – showtime.co.za
Hashtag – #PriscillaSA
Artscape
Website: www.artscape.co.za
Facebook: /Artscape Theatre
Twitter: @ArtscapeTheatre
J O H A N N E S B U R G
VENUE: Teatro at Montecasino
DATES: Saturday, 29 April to Sunday, 18 June 2017
SHOW TIMES:
No Monday performances, except for Monday 01 May 6pm (Workers Day Public Holiday).
Weekdays: Tuesdays to Fridays 20h00
Weekends: Saturdays 15h00, 20h00; Sundays 14h00, 18h00
PRICES:
Tuesdays/Wednesdays/Thursdays at 8pm and Sundays 6pm: R150, R250, R350, R450 inclusive
Fridays/Saturdays (matinee and evening) and Sunday matinees: R200, R300, R400, R500 inclusive
BOOKINGS:
Computicket by calling 0861 915 8000, visit www.computicket.com or
visit your nearest Computicket outlet
GROUP BOOKINGS
20% Discount on groups of 20 and more – all midweek performances and Sunday evenings only
Bookings through Jill Somers, 079 218 1658, sales@showtime.co.za
GROUP HOSPITALITY PACKAGES:
For Montecasino Group Hospitality Packages (20+ tickets) montecasino.reservations@tsogosun.com or 011 367 4250
SHOW & STAY PACKAGES
For Montecasino Show and Stay Packages at one of the Montecasino Hotels, telephone 011 367 4250 or montecasino.reservations@tsogosun.com
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
This musical contains some strong language and adult themes, therefore parental guidance is recommended
for children under the age of 12
ON LINE:
FB – facebook.com/showtimemanagementsa
Twitter – twitter.com/showtime_sa
Youtube – www.youtube.com/channel/UC4u5EG0Cj-_17kFpOPqhqjQ
Website – showtime.co.za
Hashtag – #PriscillaSA
Montecasino
Website – www.montecasino.co.za
Facebook – montecasino
Twitter – @montecasinoza
