Hi Guys,
It has been an exceptional first decade for Montecasino’s Teatro, with an unprecedented over 3.8 million people attending shows ranging from concerts, ballet, musicals, opera, and international jazz to ice shows, comedy, revues, and more, since it first opened its doors in June 2007 with a highly-acclaimed production of Disney’s The Lion King. The iconic show ran for nine months and is still the longest running show in South African theatre history.
Bryan Hill, who has been at the helm of the Teatro as its General Manager since before its opening, says, “The Lion King was the perfect show to kickstart the theatre, and I believe it contributed to the Teatro’s ongoing success.” He adds that the Teatro is all about entertainment. “It’s not about heavy art. It’s about taking our minds off everyday worries and walking out of this theatre smiling.”
The decade has seen the Teatro play host to 145 productions, totalling 2 666 shows watched by 3 856 624 people, always staying steadfastly true to its original strategic decision to be a family entertainment venue with broad-based appeal. It has been part of the evolution of the theatre industry in South Africa, giving rise to new and undiscovered performing arts talent and providing a catalyst for growth in the industry .
Hill notes that over the years, determining which shows would win audiences and which wouldn’t has not always been an exact science, but three that always guaranteed full houses have been South Africa’s own Johnny Clegg, Hugh Masekela, and The Parlotones.
It has been an exceptional first decade for Montecasino’s Teatro, with an unprecedented over 3.8 million people attending shows ranging from concerts, ballet, musicals, opera, and international jazz to ice shows, comedy, revues, and more, since it first opened its doors in June 2007 with a highly-acclaimed production of Disney’s The Lion King. The iconic show ran for nine months and is still the longest running show in South African theatre history.
Bryan Hill, who has been at the helm of the Teatro as its General Manager since before its opening, says, “The Lion King was the perfect show to kickstart the theatre, and I believe it contributed to the Teatro’s ongoing success.” He adds that the Teatro is all about entertainment. “It’s not about heavy art. It’s about taking our minds off everyday worries and walking out of this theatre smiling.”
The decade has seen the Teatro play host to 145 productions, totalling 2 666 shows watched by 3 856 624 people, always staying steadfastly true to its original strategic decision to be a family entertainment venue with broad-based appeal. It has been part of the evolution of the theatre industry in South Africa, giving rise to new and undiscovered performing arts talent and providing a catalyst for growth in the industry .
Hill notes that over the years, determining which shows would win audiences and which wouldn’t has not always been an exact science, but three that always guaranteed full houses have been South Africa’s own Johnny Clegg, Hugh Masekela, and The Parlotones.
Hill says, “One of the best things the Teatro has achieved over the years is that we have increased the size of the South African theatre-going audience. At many of our shows, we have had first-time theatre visitors – who have often then come back again and again to subsequent shows. With ongoing careful selection of our short-running and long-running productions, we will continue to draw people into the theatre, not just to the Teatro, but as they become comfortable with their theatre experience, to other theatres around the country,” says Hill.
“It’s a proud achievement for us that the Teatro has won the Leisure Options Best of Jozi Readers Choice Award for Best Theatre several times,” says Hill. “We’re also proud of the extra dimension of entertainment that we add to the vibrant Montecasino environment. We have worked hard to ensure that variety, quality, and value for money have always been key requisites for productions at the Teatro – and we believe that the next decade will be no different.”
UPCOMING PRODUCTIONS AT THE TEATRO AT MONTECASINO
September
· St Petersburg Ballet – Swan Lake
· St Petersburg Ballet – The Nutcracker
October/November
· Evita
December
· Cinderella on Ice
For further information, visit www.montecasino.co.za. Be sure to join on Facebook at www.facebook.com/montecasino or follow on Twitter at @MontecasinoZA.
“It’s a proud achievement for us that the Teatro has won the Leisure Options Best of Jozi Readers Choice Award for Best Theatre several times,” says Hill. “We’re also proud of the extra dimension of entertainment that we add to the vibrant Montecasino environment. We have worked hard to ensure that variety, quality, and value for money have always been key requisites for productions at the Teatro – and we believe that the next decade will be no different.”
UPCOMING PRODUCTIONS AT THE TEATRO AT MONTECASINO
September
· St Petersburg Ballet – Swan Lake
· St Petersburg Ballet – The Nutcracker
October/November
· Evita
December
· Cinderella on Ice
For further information, visit www.montecasino.co.za. Be sure to join on Facebook at www.facebook.com/montecasino or follow on Twitter at @MontecasinoZA.
Cheers!!!
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