The State Theatre has announced special preview shows exclusive for learners and students from the City of Tshwane. With the two leading actresses (see poster) being alumni from the University of Pretoria and Tshwane University of Technology, the Broadway Musical will be a hit with students from the city.
Noxolo Dlamini (casted as Sarafina) who hails from Chiawelo in Soweto completed her Drama Studies at the University of Pretoria. On the other hand, Lungisa Mayekiso studied Musical Theatre at the Tshwane University of Technology.
‘Sarafina’ was created in June 1986 and premiered at The Market Theatre in Johannesburg in June 1987, with Leleti Khumalo in the title role as the school girl activist. In its second run at the State Theatre in 2004, when South Africa celebrated ten years of democracy, the production attracted more than 25 000 people with 27 performances.
In January 1988, the musical ran on Broadway during black history month, culminating in a two-year run on Broadway in Manhattan, New York City, and a five-year tour of the US. At the same time, a second cast premiered the musical at the Market Theatre in 1988 and went on a world tour for four years, stopping over in the UK, Europe, Australia, Japan and parts of West Africa.
