Every once in a while, a unique opportunity presents itself to see some of the best global talent in one place, and ‘Finding the Light’ is one such opportunity. This ‘Evening With Musical Theatre Stars’ is an exhilarating celebration of some of musical theatre’s best-loved shows, performed by some of the best musical theatre stars on earth. Top singers from London’s West End and South Africa will be performing songs from ‘Phantom of the Opera’, ‘Les Miserables’, ‘West Side Story’, ‘Company’ and many more.

The show is staged by the UK’s Paul Robinson (Singing In The Rain – Olivier Nominated), accompanied by the full Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Brandon Phillips (CPO resident conductor), and hosted by the South African star of comedy, Marc Lottering. This exciting event is also for good cause – 100% of net proceeds are going towards the Kolisi Foundation, which works to improve food security and alleviate gender-based violence through education and sport.

But let’s take a more in-depth look at the stars we’ll see performing on stage for ‘Finding the Light’:

Kim Criswell

Kim Criswell is a legendary musical theatre and opera singer with a long and illustrious list of theatre credits. She’s not only appeared at La Scala, London’s Wigmore Hall, the Royal Albert Hall and many, many more, but has also featured on no less than 40 albums, and has recorded four solo albums.

Her speciality in the classic American theatre songbook has taken her to Broadway, West End and beyond and awarded her an Olivier nomination for the title role in ‘Annie Get Your Gun’ at London’s Prince of Wales Theatre, and the Washington DC’s Helen Hayes Award for ‘Side by Side’ by Sondheim. Most recently in the US she starred in ‘Call Me Madam’ at Goodspeed Opera House and co-starred with Joseph Fiennes and Charles Edwards in ‘Happy Days’ in the Art World in NYC, while recent UK roles include Big Mama in ‘Cat On a Hot Tin Roof ‘at Royal Exchange and Carrie’s mother in ‘Carrie’ at Southwark Playhouse.

Michael D. Xavier

This distinguished stage and screen star recently played the lead role of Joe Bradley in the European premiere of ‘Roman Holiday The Musical’, and the lead role of Henry Higgins in the UK tour of ‘My Fair Lady’. Some of his numerous impressive roles include the lead of Joe in ‘Sunset Boulevard’ opposite Hollywood film star Glenn Close on Broadway, as well as the lead in ‘Prince of Broadway’ directed by the late, legendary Hal Prince and Susan Stroman.

Lead screen roles in feature films ‘Utopia’, ‘Hammarskjöld’ and ‘The Isle Tide Hotel’ are the most recent feathers in his cap, while a successful TV career can be seen in his appearances in ITV’s ‘Grantchester; Gentleman Jack’ (BBC/HBO), ‘The Blacklist’ (NBC) and ‘Outlander’ (Starz) and many others.

He’s also sung Tony for BBC Radio 2’s ‘West Side Story’, and was awarded two concurrent Olivier Award nominations in 2011 for his performances in ‘Into The Woods’ (at The Open Air Theatre) and ‘Love Story’ (at The Duchess Theatre).

David Habbin

David Habbin boasts a rare and diverse career. After training as an opera singer and joining the Glyndebourne Festival Opera for ‘Die Fledermaus’, ‘Don Pasquale’, ‘Falstaff’, ‘Madama Butterfly’ and ‘La Traviata’, Habbin made his mark in musical theatre with equal aplomb. His career includes performing in the London cast of ‘Les Misérables’ at the Palace Theatre, playing Combeferre and Marius; Young Scrooge in the musical ‘A Christmas Carol’ at Nottingham Theatre Royal and Tony in the West End revival of the original ‘West Side Story’ production, directed by the show’s co-creator Arthur Laurents. Other recent stage productions include ‘Carrie, the Musical’, ‘Closer to Heaven’ and ‘Funny Business’.

Concertgoers may also recognise Hobbin as one of the five original members of Sony BMG ‘classical crossover’ group, Amici Forever. Their debut CD album ‘The Opera Band’, achieved gold status in the UK, double platinum in Australia, triple platinum in New Zealand and was named as the number 2 Classical Crossover album for 2004 in the United States. They recorded and performed the BBC’s theme music for the 2004 Olympics and performed on tour in some of the most prestigious concert halls around the globe.

Nikki Renée Daniels

Nikki Renée Daniels has an impressive list of both stage and screen roles and has also recorded an album of original songs (Home – available on iTunes).

She played Angelica Schuyler in ‘Hamilton’ at the CIBC Theater in Chicago, while her Broadway credits include ‘Company’ (Jenny),  ‘The Book of Mormon’ (Nabulungi), ‘The Gershwins; Porgy and Bess’ (Clara), ‘Les Miserables’ (Fantine), ‘Anything Goes’, ‘Promises, Promises’, ‘Aida’, ‘Nine’, ‘Little Shop of Horrors’, ‘Lestat’, and ‘The Look of Love’. She has performed as a soloist with numerous symphony orchestras across the country and in Canada, and at Carnegie Hall.

On screen, Daniels has appeared in ‘The Other Woman’, ‘Billions’, ‘The Chappelle Show’, ‘Madam Secretary’, ‘The Equalizer’, and ‘The Sound of Music: Live’.

Jonathan Roxmouth

Jonathan Roxmouth is an inimitable performer and triple threat. This singer, virtuoso showbiz pianist and musical director has been dominating musical theatre spaces in South Africa and beyond for the last few years. Most recently, he’s performed in ‘Key Change’, in which he plays piano and belts out the music of piano and singing stars such as Elton John, Jerry Lee Lewis, Billy Joel, Liberace, and many more. Directed and arranged himself, he’s been nominated for four Naledi Theatre awards for this show, including best male lead performer.

While he’s famous for his outstanding vocal performances in ‘Phantom of the Opera’, ‘Joseph’, ‘West Side Story’, ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’, and many others, he’s also dazzles audiences regularly with concerts as a pianist, performing with top orchestras.

Lynelle Kenned

Lynelle Kenned is an opera singer, musical theatre singer and actress, crossover artist, TV Presenter, and media personality from South Africa. She’s performed lead roles in a multitude of operas as well as musicals, including Maria in ‘The Sound of Music’, Musetta in ‘La Boheme’, and Maria in ‘West Side Story’, for which she won a Fleur du Cap Award in 2016 – among many others.

She sings regularly in and around the country as a soloist for classical and crossover concerts with the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra and more. Her impressive list of awards also includes the Kunste Onbeperk YOUNG VOICE 2019, as well as a 2018 Naledi Award 2018, 2017 Fiësta Award. Kenned’s frequent charming TV appearances and superb stage performances have cemented her place as a local favourite, while her number of international appearances is fast growing.

Tshepo Ncokoane

Tshepo Ncokoane is a singer, actor, dancer and choreographer from South Africa who has fast made a name for himself over the last few years. He’s known for his performances in Janice Honeyman’s ‘Peter Pan Pantomime’, ‘Kinky Boots’, and ‘We Will Rock You – The Musical World Tour’, while his awards include a Fleur du Cap for Showtime’s ‘Priscilla Queen of the Desert’, award nominations for the Male Featured Role Categories from Broadway World and SAT Mag award, and more.

Other excellent performances include ‘Sarafina’, ‘The Color Purple’, ‘Legally Blonde the Musical’, ‘Shrek, Robin Hood And The Babes In The Wood’, and ‘Sleeping Beauty’.

Lucy Tops

Seasoned artist and recording performer Lucy Tops is known for her outstanding performances in ‘Kinky Boots’, ‘Funny Girl’, and as part of ‘The Romantix’ singing duo, with her husband Alexander Tops. She’s enthralled audiences in performances of ‘Another Day’, ‘You Should Be Dancing’, ‘Bar None’ (for which she received a Fleur du Cap nomination for Best Actress in a Musical) ‘Bon Soir’ and ‘Woman on Top’.

She regularly appears in large-scale productions, with particular recent highlights including ‘Soul Classics Black Ties and Friends’ at the Baxter Theatre, and the Fugard Theatre’s ‘Rocky Horror Show’, ‘Shakespeare in Love’, ‘Significant Other’ and many more.

Brandon Phillips

Marc Lottering

Marc Lottering is a South African comedy giant, keeping audiences laughing for over 20 years now. With extensive experience in both theatre and television, he’s written no fewer than 16 one-man shows for the stage, earning him two Fleur Du Cap Theatre Awards, a Naledi Award, and several nominations along the way.

Lottering has also penned two critically acclaimed musicals, ‘Aunty Merle The Musical’ and the smash hit award-winning sequel ‘Aunty Merle It’s a Girl!’ Lottering has performed in London, Toronto, Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, Auckland and Dubai, and broke local online-show records with his first online show in 2020, when his show ‘My Fellow South Africans’ sold more than 17,000 online tickets.

How to book your tickets for ‘Finding the Light’

Cost: From R290pp to R1600pp. Book via Webtickets
Wheelchair-accessible seats as well as disabled parking are available.

VIP Package, Available for the GALA night – Thursday, 18 April 2024

This package includes an opportunity to meet the cast, company and select celebrity guests and a R500 donation to the Kolisi Foundation. A dedicated underground parking space for one car, a bottle of sparkling wine as a welcome drink in the VIP lounge on arrival, and prime seats also form part of the package. During intervals, VIP guests can enjoy a glass of wine or soft drink of choice.

Cost: R1600pp, book via Webtickets

VIP Package – Available for all other performances

Enjoy the best seats to watch the show as well as a dedicated underground parking space for one car, and toast with sparkling wine on arrival in the VIP lounge.

During Interval, VIP guests are served a glass of wine or soft drink of choice. Further drinks can be ordered from the private cash bar at the interval. The ticket also covers an R500 donation to the Kolisi Foundation.

Cost: R950pp, book via Webtickets

When: Running from 17 to 21 April 2024. Wednesday to Friday, 8pm. Saturday, 3pm and 8pm. Sunday, 2pm
Where: Artscape Opera House, D.F. Malan St, Foreshore, Cape Town

Website: kolisifoundation.org
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: @kolisifoundation
Instagram: @kolisi_foundation

Donate to the Kolisi Foundation’s ‘Finding the Light’ campaign: bit.ly/FTLDONATE

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