ABOUT
Synopsis:
This is a modern Cinderella story about a cool, beautiful and hugely talented teenager, put down and manipulated by her emotionally abusive stepmother, Fiona von Ravensway (played by Kay Dewes), her teenage stepsister Brianna (played by Riandi Malan), and bratty younger step‐siblings, Victor and Victoria (played by Henro Heyl and Rachelle Weiss).
Ella's stepmother is head‐mistress of a prestigious high school that both Ella and Brianna attend. Our 'prince charming', Eric (played by Rikus Strauss), the son of a wealthy and famous music producer, is transferred to this school on condition he gets to produce the annual showcase of the school's renowned performing arts department. Humorous‐but‐cruel, Fiona is determined to win a recording contract for her tone‐deaf daughter using Ella's awesome vocal and song‐writing talents, a few little lies and some 'lip‐synching'.
The fairy‐godmother figure takes the form of Ella's best friend, Shelby (played by Ines Duffey), and some comic relief is provided by Fiona's "Asian" guru, Ravi (played by Nicho Barnard).
For Eric and Ella it is 'love at first sound', their relationship a coming together of like‐minded artists. But of course things gets weird when Eric is lead to believe that the songs are Brianna's, and he moves on to her even though it doesn't ever feel quite right. But fear not, as Shakespeare said, 'in the end truth will out', and with the help of some unexpected allies, poetic justice and true love prevail, and young Ella gets the stage, her 'prince charming' and a recording contract to boot.
Cast
Ella Williams
Eldire Strauss
Eldire is a 3rd year B.Ed. Foundation phase student at the University of Pretoria. Her dream is to be a Grade 1 teacher. She has a passion for working with children and believes that she can make a difference in their lives, guiding and helping them to reach their full potential.
Eldire has been dancing for 16 years. She is training for her third professional ballet exam with the Royal Academy of Dance and also intends to qualify as a dance teacher in the future.
Eldire also loves singing and is privileged to be part of the Tuks Camerata Choir, which won their section at the world choir games in Riga in 2014.
Eldire co-wrote and choreographed two musicals in 2012 and 2014 in partnership with her mother, Deirdre Strauss.
She is the eldest of five children and loves to spend time with her family over weekends.
Eric Morgan
Rikus Strauss
Rikus was born on the 22nd of October in 1996 (Currently 18 years old). He grew up in Potgietersrus where he also attended school and fell in love with the stage.
Since grade 8 he would participate in various musicals and revues at school, and of course he landed the main roles. He participated in musicals in his entire high school years and also receives the “Arts Boy of The Year” award twice in a row for two consecutive years.
He is currently studying performing arts at the “Performing Arts Lifestyle Institute” in Pretoria. His hobbies includes playing guitar and drums, he is also a sport fan and loves playing cricket and also likes to play video games when he has the time.
Mostly he enjoys spending time with loved ones and family.
Victor von Ravensway
Henro Heyl
Henro is a Grade 6 student at Curro Roodeplaat, with a sparkling personality that is contagious. He attends drama classes, singing lessons and horse riding. For relaxation he plays computer games, paints and he is experimenting with woodcarving. Henro has big plans for the future in the SA entertainment industry where he intends to become an outstanding, sought after performer with Christian values. He plans to study acting and video game design.
Henro has excelled in the Jacaranda Eisteddfod Academy (2011-2013, 2015), the Noordekruin Festival (2011-2014), Kungwini Eisteddfod (2012-2014) and was a finalist in the PC Mask 2015 competition.
Henro has appeared in Esther the Musical in the State Theatre, Broadway Performer Showcase Experience 2014 in Atterbury Theatre- A one man show, The Boys where he performed four drama pieces and The music video Laat dit reën for Kyknet’s Afri Visie competition (2015)
Mickey O'Malley
Conrad Rudolph
Born and bred in Pretoria, 24 year old Conrad Rudolph is an aspiring filmmaker, actor and musician. He started making films when he was 12 years old and starred in several stage productions during his school years.
After school he went on to study Industrial Engineering at the University of Pretoria. He’s been doing voice work for radio advertisements for the last 8 years, has done acting courses with Brumilda Van Rensburg, starred in music videos and short films and performs every so often with his friends, playing guitar and singing.
He is currently doing a film production course at The Open Window Institute in Centurion and has also been casted for a new drama TV Series that starts production in 2016.
Ella Williams (Aug)
Chenell Grimsell
The girl with the golden voice and our leading lady, Chenell is an 18 year old matric student from Hoërskool Zwartkop, Pretoria.
Chenell has been singing since she was 7 years old. She studies music and drama at school and plays the keyboard, piano and the hand drum. She also loves Hip Hop and received her SA colours in Disco dancing.
Chenell has excelled in numerous talent competitions including SA Nationals, IMTA, SATCH, AMTC, PC Voice, Silver Stars, MFM Idols, Radio Pretoria's “Musiek en Liriek”, Voriebergfees Megastar Idols, Dros Idols, Netcare Hospital Idols, Sing for the Stars and SA School Idols, and she been selected to join the international contingents on numerous occasions. Chenell's songs have also been recorded with other artists on a number of compilation CDs and she has 2 demo CDs of her own.
Fiona von Ravensway
Kay Dewes
Kay makes her living as a freelance editor, but aspires to be a professional actress. She loves both theatre and film and her talents include acting, singing, writing, playing the guitar, and she’s busy adding dance to this mix.
For Kay, the acting bug bit at the age of 4 and she’s been performing ever since. After performing in a stage production, Eternity Calls, in 2010, she decided to follow her passion and dedicated the next 4 years to drama studies, completing her diploma at the Method Actors Training Centre.
She has worked as a drama teacher for the last few years and directed high school house plays last year.
After Once Upon a Song, her first musical since leaving high school, she will be performing in a workshop stage production, Daydreams and Nightmares in November.
Victoria von Ravensway
Rachelle Weiss
Rachelle is a Grade 6 student at Crawford Preparatory Pretoria. She is passionate about acting, singing, dancing, and musical theatre in particular. She is a bright, quirky, unique individual with many talents and interests. She studies drama, piano, vocal training, ballet, hip hop, and is a brown belt in Funakoshi Shotokan karate. She has achieved her Trinity College Grade 3 in singing, Royal Academy of Dance Grade 4 in ballet, and Trinity College Grade 1 in speech and drama and in Theory of Music.
In 2015 she achieved gold for acting, voice and dance in the Talent Africa contest and was a finalist in the PC Voice competition. She has acted in The Sound of Music in the Teatro Monte Casino as Brigitta von Trapp in 2014 and the Tshwane Youth Theatre Production of The Little Mermaid and The Emperor’s New Clothes as well as many TV commercials.
Ravi
Nicho Barnard
Also the director of Once Upon A Song... Since the age of 8 years old, Music & Performing was Nicho’s passion. Nicho participated in the SA Championships were he excelled on many levels with honouree clothes and South African National Clothes for Performing Arts and he was chosen as a representative of South Africa to perform in Los Angelas. Nicho made his theatrical debut when he got casted in the Rock and Roll Musical “Grease” and then got the lead role of “Cogsworth” in the Broadway musical “Disney’s Beauty and the beast”.
On the age of 16, Nicho made his directional debut when he directed his very first musical production called “Fame the Show” which was a major success. Nicho studied Directing in Film & TV and Musical Productions as well as Event Planning and directed many productions which includes “Night at the Oscars”, “Hollywood” and “Christmas by Carols”. Nicho founded and started a provincial talent competition “The Xtreme Talent Search” in 2013 that ran for two consecutive years before starting with One Upon A Song and in early 2015, Nicho wrote a pilot script for a new drama-thriller series that got pre-approved for production. Nicho is currently one of the youngest Theatrical director in South Africa being just 21 years old.
Other:
Eldire Strauss
Cameo Role of Mrs. Morgan / Ms Wells.
Ane Els
Cameo Role of Delanie
Esmarelda van Tonder
Cameo Role of Painter / Extra
Carla Taute
Understudy for Brianna von Ravensway
Brianna von Ravensway
Riandi Malan
Riandi is a passionate theatre enthusiast and holds a BA Drama (Hons) from the university of Pretoria. She makes her living as a dance instructor at Beverley Hammond Dance School in Lyttleton. Hailing from Krugersdorp, for Riandi it all started when her parents took her to a musical production of Annie about 18 years ago. She has been doing drama ever since. Her talents include acting, dancing, directing and choreographing.
She never gets enough of the stage and her dream is to perform in the Teatro, Monte Casino as well as the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town, and thereafter to move on to Broadway or the West End.
Besides playing Brianna von Ravensway, our “not-so-ugly sister” in Once Upon a Song, she is also the show’s choreographer and dance captain.
Shelby Price
Esmarelda van Tonder
Esmarelda van Tonder, 20 years old is in her 3rd year of hospitality studies at the Capital Hotel School in Pretoria and hopes to pursue Event Management & HR further in her career . Even though she loves the tourism industry, her passion for the arts has always been a great love.
Since childhood she loved singing and dancing and her big dream is to one day go to Hollywood and pursue an acting career there. She first got introduced into the Theatre in 2009 when she was in “Grease” the Rock & Roll Musical and did not go back to the stage until this year with Once Upon A Song. Esmarelda is a very exciting young woman with a wining personality. She recently received a call-back in a new drama TV Series and plan to move to Thailand in 1 year to pursue other ventures.
Guy Morgan / Narrator
Peraldo Senekal
Peraldo is a freelance actor based in Pretoria. He assists with the mentoring and directing of students hoping to make an impression in the industry, which is one of his great passions. On the side, he also holds down a full time day job!
Peraldo has always been interested in the performing arts, particularly in theatre and film. He has been performing in front of audiences since the age of five. He studied drama in school and later completed 4 years of Method Actors Training at MATC (Method Actors Training Centre), receiving his Certificate and Diploma.
23 year old Peraldo is best known for his appearances in The Real Inspector Hound as Major Magnus Muldoon (Puckeridge), Mirakel as Abel , The intuitive production of Lot as Ster, local television series in South Africa, locally produced movies an award winning short film, Operasie E.N.G.E.L
Mrs. Morgan / Ms Wells
Ane Els
14 year old Ané. like twin sister Carla, is in Grade 8 at HTS Middelburg. “Singing is like breathing”, says Ane’, who was noticed by a teacher four years ago when auditioning for a singing group, who suggested she start vocal training. She’s been studying music and voice since then and attained her Trinity College Grade 5 in singing (2014) and Grade 4 in Theory of Music earlier this year. Ané is part of the Karbinna-drama group as well as the dance group at school. Ané has excelled in many talent competitions and Eisteddfods such as Talent Africa, the Talent Africa MSC Opera cruise, SATCH, INFINITY singing competition, and the NEA Eisteddfod. Ané hopes to continue her music studies when she completes her schooling.
Madison "Crazy" Girl
Carla Els
Carla is a 14-year old in Grade 8 at HTS Middelburg, Mpumalanga. Carla cannot imagine a life without music. She started vocal training and music studies in 2013 and hasn’t looked back. She attained her Trinity College Grade 4 in singing in 2014 and her Grade 4 Theory of Music in 2015. Carla has excelled in numerous talent competitions and Eisteddfods, including Talent Africa, the Talent Africa MSC Opera cruise, SATCH, INFINITY singing competition, and the NEA Eisteddfod, amongst others. She does dance at her school and is also a member of the Karbinna-drama group. Carla plans to make a career of her music one day.
Proudly Presented by NJ Entertainment & Associations
In Partnership Affiliations with
Roodepoort Theatre
Crew List.
Director: Nicho Barnard
Stage Manager: Jean Benecke
Set Designer: Willem Els
Costume Designer / Organizer: Annalie Els
Props Master: Willem Els
Secretary and Assitance: Esmarelda van Tonder
Props Assistant: Nick Schoonraad, Esje Schoeman, Marc Botha
Choreograpgher: Riandi Malan
Music Designed by: Protrax Music Production House
Someday my prince will come played by: Jean Benecke
Assisting Stage Manager: Chubby
Roodepoort Theatre Manager: Innocent Xaba
Technical Manager: Melony Skeen
Light Designer & Operator Roodepoort: Jo
Props Workers: Crew of Roodepoort Theatre
Wardrobe Manager: Annalie Els
Wardrobe Assistance: Marie-Lu Heyl, Sonica vd Sandt, Rosanne Weiss
Graphic Designer: Nicho Barnard
Photography: Hannes from Faith Productions, Rene van Heerden, Rosanne Weiss
Make-Up done by: Face to Face Roodepoort
Hair done by: Innovative Hair Design, Hartbeespoort
Makeup & Hair during October & November shows: KOHL Makeup Academy
Proudly hosted by: NJ Entertainment & Associates.
Booklet Programmes designed by: Nicho Barnard
Proof Read by: Rosanne Weiss
Printed by: Postnet
Bollywood Outfits, Ella's Opening & Final Clothes and Ravi's Clothes are proudly supplied by Razzmatazz
Venue Sponsors: YID Studio's, Oppistoep Conference Venue, Harties Gymnastics Club, Orient Hotel, Wellness Gym Hartbeespoortdam, & Forever Fitness Gym Hartbeespoortdam, Primary School Bakenkop, High School Zwartskop.
Casting Listed by: Performers Corner
Proud Sponsors: Glass Eye, Rock till you drop, NJ Solutions, Neil & Jean Grant, Marie-Lu Heyl, Earl Grey Properties, Roodepoort Oasis (Water Sponsor)
A Big Thanks also to our cast sponsors -
"Earl Grey Properties"
"Marie-Lu Heyl"
"Neil & Jean Grant"
Sponsors, Proud Partners & Affiliations
