SA: Naledi Theatre Awards nominees announced

Among the nominees are two iconic South African musicals that made a comeback last year after many years of absence. The first is King Kong the Musical, which was first staged in 1959 and launched the careers of Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba, among others. The second is Sarafina! – first staged in 1987 at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg. The musical, which tells the story of the events that unfolded around 16 June 1976, went on to become a feature film starring American actress Whoopi Goldberg and Leleti Khumalo as Sarafina. Sarafina was played by Noxolo Dlamini during its run last year.

Both remakes have received nominations in the Best Musical of the Year, Best Director of a Musical/Revue, Best Lead Male Performance in a Musical/Revue and Best Lead Female Performance in a Musical/Revue categories. Dlamini has been nominated alongside King Kong's Nondumiso Tembe for the Best Lead Female Performance in a Musical/Revue Award as well as for the Best Newcomer/Breakthrough Performance Award.

Meanwhile, King Kong got two nods in the Best Male Lead Performance in a Musical/Revue category with Andile Gumbi and Sne Dlala competing for the same trophy.

“There are many strong contenders for the awards this year and the nominations debate was a robust one, but it has reflected the quality of the productions presented and the true non-partisan nature of the board in their deliberations, ” Naledi Theatre Awards founder Dawn Lindberg said.

The venue of the 2018 Naledi Theatre Awards is yet to be announced.

Here are some of the nominations:

Best Musical of the Year

• King Kong
• Sarafina!
• Priscilla Queen of the Desert
• Evita
• West Side Story

Best Director of a Musical/Revue

• Elizma Badenhorst – Rock of Ages
• Jonathan Munby – King Kong
• Dr Mbongeni Ngema – Sarafina!
• Matthew Wild – West Side Story

Best Male Lead Performance in a Musical/Revue

• Andile Gumbi as King Kong in King Kong
• David Dennis as Bernadette in Priscilla Queen of the Desert
• Jonathan Roxmouth as Che in Evita
• Phillip Schnetler (as Adam/Felicia) in Priscilla Queen of the Desert
• Sne Dladla as Pop in King Kong

Best Female Lead Performance in a Musical/Revue

• Claire Taylor as Sherrie in Rock of Ages
• Emma Kingston as Eva Peron in Evita
• Lynelle Kenned as Maria in West Side Story
• Nondumiso Tembe as Joyce in King Kong
• Noxolo Dlamini as Sarafina in Sarafina!

Best Play

• The Inconvenience of Wings
• When Swallows Cry
• Die Reuk van Appels
• The Suitcase
• Tamasha on Hope Street
• Moliere’s Tartuffe

Best Director of a Play

• André Odendaal – Karel se Oupa
• Lara Bye – Die Reuk van Appels
• Lara Foot – The Inconvenience of Wings
• Lesedi Job – When Swallows Cry
• Sylvaine Strike – Moliere’s Tartuffe

Best Female Performer in a Play

• Ameera Patel – Tamasha on Hope Street
• Carly Graeme – Betrayal
• Chi Mende – Chasing Chairs
• Jennifer Steyn – The Inconvenience of Wings
• Masasa Lindiwe Mbangeni – The Suitcase
• Vanessa Cooke – Moliere’s Tartuffe

Best Male Performer in a Play

• Andrew Buckland – The Inconvenience of Wings
• Christiaan Schoombie – When Swallows Cry
• Craig Morris – Moliere’s Tartuffe
• Graeme Hopkins – Freud’s Last Session
• Lindani Nkosi – Tamasha on Hope Street
• Mpho Osei-Tutu – When Swallows Cry

Best Newcomer/Breakthrough Performance Award

• Ian Roelofs – Karel se Oupa
• Isabella Jane – Evita
• Kanyi Nokwe – Pinocchio the Pantomime
• Noxolo Dlamini – Sarafina!
• Phillip Schnetler – Priscilla Queen of the Desert

Best New South African Script

• Johann Smith – Die Reuk van Appels
• Retief Scholtz – Karel se Oupa
• Rajsh Gopie – Tamasha on Hope Street
• Lara Foot – The Inconvenience of Wings
• Mike van Graan – When Swallows Cry

For the full list of nominees, visit the Naledi Theatre Awards website.