The Full Monty

Nelson Mandela Theatre, Civic Theatre Friday, 12th of September - Saturday, 12th of October 2008 Price: from R190.00 (excluding booking fee) The musical adaptation of the record-breaking and 1997 Academy Award-nominated box office hit movie of the same name, will première in South Africa in July 2008. The production will be at the Nelson Mandela Theatre, The Johannesburg Civic Theatre, where it will run from Friday, 12th of September - Saturday, 12th of October 2008. THE FULL MONTY – The Broadway Musical, with book by four-time Tony Award® winner Terrence McNally and music and lyrics by pop composer David Yazbek, tells the tale of six unemployed steelworkers of odd shapes and various ages looking to earn a few dollars by stripping. When a local male strip show – whose dancers venture down to their G-strings – is a hit with the local women, the cash-strapped factory workers figure they can cash in big time if they go the "Full Monty". If they can pull it off, is quite another matter! However, regardless of the title, this show is about perseverance and how a night out for the ladies became a way out for the guys. According to McNally, writer of the book for the stage production, the show is about friendship and the struggle of being a single parent. "It is about an image-obsessed society that says you have to look like a movie star. THE FULL MONTY says quite the opposite – as a matter of fact, it celebrates everybody for who they are." says McNally. During an interview prior to the US National Tour, composer and lyricist David Yazbek, winner of the 2001 Drama Desk Award for his music, explains: "THE FULL MONTY is a sports story. It’s not about stripping. It’s a bunch of guys who get together and form a team. There are ups and downs, and, in the end, they win." The South African cast will feature Steven Hicks (THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE and GREASE – The Musical) in the lead as Jerry Lukowski with Tiaan Rautenbach (currently starring in the SABC2 television series, KOMPLEKS) playing the role of Dave Bukatinsky, Jerry's somewhat overweight but best friend. The six-man strong "Hot Stuff" will also include illustrious stage, film and television actor, Mike Huff (FAME, MY FAIR LADY, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF and HAIRSPRAY playing the guys' former manager-turned-choreographer Harold Nichols with Clinton Hawks (GREASE – The Musical) as Malcolm MacGregor, a security guard living with his mother, Shaun Brian Murphy (AFRICAN FOOTPRINT, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR and HAIRSPRAY) as the hugely talented Ethan Girard and Thokozani Nzima (SOWETO STORY and RENT) as Noah "Horse" T. Simmons, a disco-era dancer still going strong. The legendary stage and television star, Judy Page (recently seen in MY FAIR LADY and FIDDLER ON THE ROOF) as Jeanette Burmeister, a weathered old showgirl, rehearsal pianist and voice of reason, who will be schooling the guys in show business and life in general, whilst renowned television and stage personality, Ilse Klink (CHICAGO, MENOPAUSE – The Musical and RENT) will be playing Vicki Nichols, Harold's loving wife. Natalie Chapman and Tessa Denton feature in the roles of Pam Lukowski and Georgie Bukatinsky, Jerry's ex-wife and Dave's wife respectively, whilst Matthew Counihan (Janice Honeyman’s PETER PAN) will play Jerry's son, Nathan. This very talented and experienced cast furthermore comprises Bella Mariani, Mortimer Williams, Cobus Venter, Jo Galloway, Marlee van der Merwe, Gemma Donnelly, Derrick Anderson, Aidan Lithgow, Phumi Mncayi, Byron Lee Olivato and Dominique Paccaut. Renowned West End director and producer, David Bownes will direct the local cast production. The South African creative team include the highly talented Clinton Zerf as musical director, Henri Noppé as choreographer, Denis Hutchinson as scenic and lighting designer and Lyn Leventhorpe as costume designer. THE FULL MONTY is presented by Creativentertainment™ by arrangement with DALRO and in association with M-Net. Tickets are from R190 (exclusive of the booking fee) and are available at Computicket. Discounted tickets for groups of ten or more are available by calling VIP Ticketing (011) 877-6854. For more information, visit the production's official website at on the address alongside.