Big Apple about to be Drumstruck
8 March 2005
Acclaimed South African musical "Drumstruck", the world's first interactive theatrical drumming experience, is set to take on New York.
Drumstruck opens at the prestigious new Dodger Stages in May, after a deal was concluded between Drumstruck co-creator Warren Lieberman and Dodger Theatricals CEO Michael David.
This means that Big Apple audiences will join thousands worldwide who have been entertained by this original, uniquely African theatrical experience.
Since its inception four years ago, Drumstruck has wowed audiences in South Africa, Vietnam, China and, most recently, Australia - where the show received standing ovations nightly for six weeks at the Star City Casino in Sydney.
"It's a dream come true for all of us and a triumph for South African theatre", says Lieberman. "We've got a vibrant, uplifting, winning show, and it's very exciting to have the opportunity to infuse some African rhythm into the heads and souls of
American audiences."
Back in 2001, Lieberman, also founder of The Drum Café, which launched corporate drumming in South Africa, approached friend Kathy-Jo Ross, well known for her experience in the entertainment industry.
Together they created an original, interactive musical developed especially for theatrical venues.
Drumstruck is unique in that the audience helps create the show - everyone participates in the musical's show-stopping rhythms and drumming sequences on their own (provided) African djembe drums.
It was during Drumstruck's engagement at Johannesburg's Market Theatre in 2004 that movie producer Amy J Moore saw it and recommended the show to Dodger Theatricals.
After flying in scouts to see for themselves, Dodgers began immediate negotiations to produce the show on Broadway and for worldwide touring companies.
No stranger to award-winning musicals and plays, Dodgers has been a major player in New York and worldwide theatrical
entertainment for the past 41 years, receiving over 140 Tony Award nominations and winning 55.
Its impressive list of long-running Broadway shows includes "Into the Woods" starring Bernadette Peters, "Guys & Dolls" starring Nathan Lane, "42nd Street", "Big River" and "Prelude To A Kiss".
Dodger Stages is a complex of five Off-Broadway theatres located in the heart of New York's theatre district on 50th Street between 8th and 9th avenues.
Drumstruck will be directed in New York by David Warren, well known for numerous Broadway productions. He will spend much of April in South Africa rehearsing with the Drumstruck cast.
Mid-April will see a limited-run Drumstruck preview at the Wits Theatre in Braamfontein, Johannesburg - details to be announced in due course.
SouthAfrica.info reporter
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