THE ADDAMS FAMILY Musical: South African Premiere at The Homecoming Centre


MotherCity Theatre Productions is proud to announce the professional South African premiere of THE ADDAMS FAMILY Musical by Andrew Lippa, Marshal Brickman & Rick Elice, at The old Fugard, now called The Homecoming Centre.

Based on the beloved characters created by Charles Addams, THE ADDAMS FAMILY Musical centres around the eccentric, macabre, and ghoulish Addams family, led by Gomez and Morticia Addams. With witty one-liners, crazy characters, spooky effects and all the weird wonderfulness fans of the most outrageous family ever have come to expect, the show will be a holiday hit for young and old alike.

When that beloved and moody princess of darkness, Wednesday, falls for a “normal” boy named Lucas Beineke, the two families come together for a traditional ‘get to know the parents’ dinner. But when one of those families is The Addams Family, only chaos, comedy and calamity can ensue. When the laughter dies down, however, deeper themes are explored – such as love, tradition, acceptance, and embracing one’s uniqueness… All with a darkly humorous twist, of course.

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South Africa Celebrates A Cultural Treasure As The 50th National Arts Festival Begins

PICTURE: MARK WESSELS

Drums rolled and choirs sang out as Makanda celebrated the opening of the 50th National Arts Festival. A contagious sense of national and regional pride resounded from the dignitaries who attended the milestone Festival ceremony held in the very same auditorium where the Festival was first launched in 1974.

The Festival’s home town of Makhanda is also the childhood home of the National Arts Festival’s Deputy Chair, writer and academic, Dr Siphiwo Mahala. He remarked on the journey of the Festival from a gathering founded to preserve British language and culture to “one of the most inclusive and diverse arts festival’s in the world.” Mahala said this was possible in part because of the shared values and enduring partnership of the Festival’s partners.

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The Happiness Economy Tour Launches Nationally

Laugh your way to happiness with the renowned comedic duo Jason and Nicholas Goliath as they embark on their groundbreaking “The Happiness Economy Comedy Tour.” The tour kicks off in Johannesburg at the Theatre on the Square from June 18-22, 2024, followed by shows in Cape Town at the Protea Hotel Fire and Ice by Marriott on July 26 and 27, and in Gqeberha at One Room on August 29 and 30.

Tickets for Johannesburg, Cape Town and G Gqeberha are live and available on Webtickets.co.za. Be sure to follow @goliathandgoliath on all social media platforms to keep up with show announcements and release dates.

Promising an evening of humour that cuts to the core of everyday joy and struggle, “The Happiness Economy” is not just a comedy show—it’s a lifestyle exploration through the lens of laughter. With a perfect blend of Jason’s observational humour and Nicholas’s storytelling, this tour offers a fresh, authentic take on personal growth and the pursuit of happiness.

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New Stage Musical “The Magic Box”

Disney’s The Magic Box, a theatrical experience developed in association with Disney Theatrical Group, presented by Fever, together with Proactiv Entertainment and RGB, and produced by leading local promoter Showtime Management, announced the world premiere of its English-language production.

The show, featuring an all-South African cast and crew, opens at Artscape, Cape Town, on 9 October for a limited seasonand then transfers to Montecasino’s Teatro, Johannesburg, from 22 November before embarking on an international tour.

The musical, which originally premiered with great success in January 2024 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, immerses the audience in an unprecedented theatrical adventure that combines puppetry, elaborate costumes, and projections in an innovative and large-scale staging. The show is a sensory experience that pays tribute to the art of animation and invites the audience to reconnect with the legacy of Disney music through the stories, songs, and characters that have accompanied them through the different stages of their lives. Disney’s songs merge into an iconic original score, and the characters come to life through various theatrical techniques, magnificent choreography, and the voices and performances of a South African cast of 26 top-notch artists.

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Celebrating 30 years of…EISH! DemoCrazy: A Roast of South Africa Fired Up by Comedy Central and Nando’s

As the excitement of elections fills the air, Comedy Central and Nando’s are thrilled to announce a one-of-a-kind celebration of South Africa’s 30 years of democracy. Get ready to laugh, reminisce, and witness the burns as these two brands, known for funny, prepare to fire up ‘DemoCrazy: A Roast of South Africa’.

Picture this: a gathering of South Africa’s finest comedians and special guests, all coming together to deliver a legendary grilling of our beautiful democracy. Manning the tongs, you will find Kagiso Lediga whose creative direction promises an evening of uproarious laughter and heartfelt reflection.

In the upcoming ‘DemoCrazy: A Roast of South Africa’, Comedy Central and Nando’s are channeling our nation’s penchant for perseverance and resilience into a format that celebrates our journey with humour and heart (and just a sprinkle of Mzansi cynicism). Set against the backdrop of a nation marked by both Springbok triumphs and Bafana tribulations, this comedy variety show is not just entertainment; it’s a testament to our ability to laugh in the face of adversity and find strength in our shared experiences.

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