One of New York's most celebrated Musical Theatre Stars- Christine Pedi - brings her hilarious one woman musical comedy show Great Dames to the New Space One theatre for three weeks only from 24 March TO 12 April 2009. Pedi, a brilliant impressionist, will be appearing in Cape Town for the first time along with her accompanist, Matthew Ward on the piano. This award-winning performer conjures up the dolls, divas, broads, babes and bombshells of stage and screen with the songs they made famous. Stage divas, Liza Minnelli, Julie Andrews, Sarah Brightman Ethel Merman and Carol Channing will all be channelled during this musical comedy extravaganza, brought to us by Christine's amazing voice, talent for impersonation and comic flair. This will be Pedi's first Cape Town appearance, after seasons in Johannesburg and Durban earlier this year.
Named by Show Business Weekly as one of its top female cabaret performers and the winner of the 2007 New York Critics Choice Musical Comedy Award for Great Dames, Pedi has garnered a string of prestigious awards over the years such as the 2008 Nightlife Award and a Back Stage Bistro Award for best musical comedy performer, following her recent sensational performances at the Metropolitan Room in Manhatten. Additionally she has received an MAC award, a Drama Desk nomination and an LA Ovation award as well as several nominations for Wonderful Songs - An Evening Of Comden & Green and Forbidden Divas. She has also appeared on the Rosie O'Donnell Show and in productions such as The Vagina Monologues and fans of the hit television gangster series The Sopranos may recognise Pedi as the dearly departed Karen Baccala, a brief but pivotal role. Pedi is not only accomplished in musical theatre, but is also an actress and radio show host, presenting on Sirius Satellite Radio and was most recently seen on Broadway in Talk Radio, opposite Liev Schrieber In April she produced her first studio album,Good to Mama, in association with Afro Asia Events, that features top South African musicians and will be released in New York City in 2009. .
The show at the NewSpace Two cabaret venue is Sister Mary McArthur Coming At Ya! starring Tim McArthur from the UK. We've had Julie Andrews singing about the hills being alive with the sound of music, now get ready for another singing nun, Sister Mary McArthur, who'll soon be coming 'round the Mountain to deliver wickedly wonderful cabaret to Cape Town audiences. Sister Mary, the fictional alter ego of UK musical comedy actor Tim McArthur, is flying into Cape Town for a brief sabbatical at the NewSpace Theatre in Long Street, from 24 March to 20 April, 2009. This West End star, celebrity nun (if there is such a thing) and Singing Sister of the Nuns of Soho will be camping it up in the hilarious musical Sister Mary McArthur Coming At Ya! Appearing alongside this all-singing, all-dancing, all flapjack-making nun is Brother Tom, depressing the keys of the pianoforte in his inimitable style.
McArthur's comic creation promises to serve up witty spins on sing-along tunes and standards from the pop music catalogue, ranging from Annie to Cats, the Village People to Barry Manilow - all stitched together with a barrage of side-splitting one-liners and linking dialogue. Tim McArthur's versatility is demonstrated by his track record as an actor, television and radio presenter, director and cabaret artist. He has racked up impressive cabaret credits in the UK and abroad, and is the voice of www.heatradio.co.uk, conducting weekly interviews with leading West End luminaries, as well as the presenter of Theatre247.tv on Sky. He likes to get wild and wacky every now and then in the guise of Sister Mary, whose flapjacks have been the subject of a BBC Food documentary and who recently became a YouTube sensation when she made a lip-synch version of the United Kingdom's cheesy entry to the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest, Flying the Flag (For You), originally by the band Scooch. So prepare for an evening of devotional musical comedy with this classy cabaret act from the UK - this zany nun will leave you rolling in the pews, and praying for more!
Catch Great Dames and Sister Mary McArthur Coming At Ya! at the NewSpace Theatre Complex on 44 Long Street. Performances take place from the 24th March from Tuesdays to Fridays at 8.15pm (with Tuesdays being buy one, get one free nights), Saturdays at 5.30pm and 8.30pm, and Sundays at 4pm. Tickets are priced from R145 with special discounts offered for groups of 20 or more, students and Senior Citizens. Booking is via Computicket or 083 915 8000. For further info dial 021 462 7384 or visit www.newspacetheatre.co.za. On select Sundays there will be a special celebrity flapjack show -watch the press for details. Great Dames and Sister Mary McArthur Coming At Ya! is produced in South Africa by Afro Asia Events, with set design by Stan Knight and lighting by Jane Gosnell.
