#Matthew Lotter

[robynsassenmyview]

Learned friends; true rotters

"Learned friends; true rotters", a review of 'Witness for the Prosecution', directed by Alan Swerdlow, until 30 June in Johannesburg, and 4 July - 10 August in Cape Town.

VERDICT under consideration, with (from left) Sir Wilfred Robarts QC (Graham Hopkins), Mr John Mayhew (Craig Jackson), defence solicitor Mr Myers QC (Mike Huff) and Inspector Hearne (Micah Stojakovic) with Mr Justice Wainwright (Peter Terry) residing. Photograph by Keaton Ditchfield. THE COURT DRAMA in the wake of a murder of passion is arguably the most enthralling context for a thrilling story…

[klapollo]

wait could you elaborate on the snl transphobia sketch thing? i don’t use twitter and haven’t watched snl since i was a teenager so i’m out of the loop.

yeah of course. i'll do a bit of a deep dive for usefulness, but it's a very dark and upsetting story so be warned this is going to discuss transphobia, transphobic violence, sexual violence and murder.

the post was about this meme:

This is late comedian Norm Macdonald, reporting on the murder of Brandon Teena for the Weekend Update segment.

Brandon Teena was a transgender man from Nebraska. He passed so successfully that most of his social circle did not know he wasn't cis. His own girlfriend, Lana Tisdel, did not know he was trans until he was jailed for check forging and she found him in the female section when bailing him out. Word got out after this.

As a result, two men in his life -- John L. Lotter and Marvin "Tom" Nissen -- assaulted him at a Christmas party a few days later. They forced Brandon to expose his genitals to Lana, against both his and Lana's will. They then took Brandon away and gang raped him. Brandon escaped and Lana convinced him to report the rape, but the rape kit was lost and the police were expectedly hostile due to his gender.

Lotter and Nissen got wind of the report and hunted Brandon down and murdered him, along with his roommate Lisa Lambert and Lana's sister's boyfriend, Phillip DeVine. Lotter was executed and Nissen sentenced to life in prison for their crimes. Brandon, only 21 years old at the time of his death on New Year's Eve 1993, was buried under his dead name with an epitaph describing him as a "daughter" and "sister."

The SNL joke comes from Weekend Update, a segment that recounts the news of the week with a humorous slant. This meme comes from a February 1996 episode, "reporting" on the sentencing of Nissen and Lotter. Macdonald's full joke is as follows:

"And finally, in Falls City, Nebraska, John Lotter has been sentenced to death for attempting to kill three people in what prosecutors called a plot to silence a cross-dressing female who had accused him of rape. Now, this might strike some viewers as harsh, but I believe everyone involved in this story should die."

Naturally, this was heinous for a number of reasons. Even in the homophobia and transphobia of the 90s, community organizations spoke up in outrage over this. The Transexual Menace threatened to picket if SNL didn't apologize. NBC even admitted the joke was inappropriate at the time.

But still, this joke also aired almost 30 years ago, before a lot of us were even born (I myself was just a baby). While Teena's murder (along with Matthew Shepard's) was a watershed moment for the gay rights movement in America, it's not as widely discussed today. But we have a responsibility to not perpetuate this joke that was castigated even in its time. It strikes me as our responsibility to do right by our elders who held NBC to account for this and not pass this meme around and rehabilitate it unintentionally. Maybe that's overdramatic. I don't think so.

[blooddrivesource]

jenny.stead: A bit of love after hacking Matthew to death in Episode 6 of Blood Drive...Balance is key! #Cliffanddomiforthewin#friendsthatslaytogetherplaytogether

[gadgetgirl71]

Top Ten Tuesday 23 February 2021

Welcome to this weeks Top Ten Tuesday. Originally created by The Broke & The Bookish, which is now hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week it features a book or literary themed category. This weeks prompt is:

Books That Made Me Laugh Out Loud

(Claire @ Book Lovers Pizza)

Rachel’s Holiday 

Synopsis: Here’s Rachel Walsh, twenty-seven and the miserable owner of size 8 feet. She has regular congress with Luke Costello, a man who wears his leather trousers tight. And she’s fond – some might say too fond – of recreational drugs. Until she finds herself being frogmarched to the Cloisters – Dublin’s answer to the Betty Ford Clinic. She’s outraged. Surely she’s not thin enough to be an addict? Heartsick and Luke-sick, she seeks redemption in the shape of Chris, a Man with a Past. A man who might be more trouble than he’s worth.

Can You Keep a Secret?

Synopsis: Emma is like every girl in the world. She has a few little secrets.

Secrets from her mother: 1. I lost my virginity in the spare bedroom to Danny Nussbaum while Mum and Dad were downstairs watching Ben Hur.

…From her boyfriend: 2. I’m a size twelve. Not a size eight, like Connor thinks. 3. I’ve always thought Connor looks a bit like Ken. As in Barbie and Ken.

…From her colleagues: 4. When Artemis really annoys me, I feed her plant orange juice. (Which is pretty much every day) 5. It was me who jammed the copier that time. In fact, all the times.

…Secrets she wouldn’t share with anyone in the world: 6. My G string is hurting me. 7. I faked my Maths GCSE grade on my CV. 8. I have no idea what NATO stands for. Or even what it is…

…until she spills them all to a stranger on a plane. At least, she thought he was a stranger…

Get You Kit Off

Synopsis: Formerly Sex, Lies & Llamas From the author of the Number 1 bestseller – No Bra Required & Guess Who I Pulled Last Night? I’ve read Nikki’s previous books and loved them so I was expecting great things from her again. Guess what? She’s delivered!! The combination of humour, thrills and classic girl might- or might not-get her man is a real winner. If chick-lit is your thing Nikki is the author you need to read. Just brilliant!! – Amazon Reviewer WOW!! I loved this book. I have to be honest and say I put off reading it after I’d bought it, I loved the other 2 books by this author but football is not my thing and I thought the football theme running through it may have spoilt it for me … how wrong was I !! I can’t recommend this book or this author highly enough, I couldn’t put my Kindle down – can’t wait for more stuff from Nikki Ashton!!! – Amazon Reviewer Molly Pearson doesn’t have children, but as the Player Liaison Manager for a premiership football club, she does have twenty-two professional footballers and one jealous fiance to take care of – which as far as she can see is quite similar. With having to deal with problems from players buying zoo animals as pets, to losing their false teeth and a whole lot more, Molly can’t wait for the season to end. But, her life becomes even more complicated, when the man who broke her heart six years earlier, comes back into her life. Hail the returning hero, Joe Bennett, now one of the best footballers in the world and the club’s most expensive signing. Every woman wants him, every man wants to be him, and he’s returned for one reason only – he wants Molly back. With engaging characters, Sex, Lies & Llamas, is a humorous, yet sometimes sad romance depicting the difficulty in always doing the right thing, especially when love is involved.

Someone Else’s Fairytale

Synopsis: Jason Vanderholt, Hollywood’s hottest actor, falls head over heels for every girl, Chloe Winters, who hasn’t gotten around to watching most of his movies. It’s the ideal fairytale… for most people. The last thing Chloe needs is public attention. It brings back dangers from the past that she’s worked her whole life to escape.

The Single Girl’s To-Do List

Synopsis: Rachel Summers loves a to-do list: • Boyfriend • Flat • Great job

NOT on the list: • Being dumped

Best friends Emelie and Matthew ride to her rescue with an entirely new kind of list – The Single Girl’s To-Do List. Rachel doesn’t know it, but it will take her on all kinds of wild adventures – and get her in some romantic pickles too. And then it won’t be a case of what but who she decides to tick off…

• Mr. bendy yoga instructor • Mr. teenage sweetheart • Mr. persistent ex • Mr. deeply unsuitable

The Single Girl’s To-Do List gives Rachel the perfect heartbreak cure – and proves love is out there if you’re willing to take a chance.

Wedding Tiers

Synopsis: The path of true love never runs smooth. But for some, it’s one seriously bumpy ride! A heartwarming new romantic comedy from the bestselling author of A WINTER’S TALE. Growing up in the beautiful Lancashire village of Neatslake, Josie Gray and her childhood sweetheart, Ben Richards, always dreamt of living a life of rural bliss. And when Josie inherits her beloved Grandmother’s cottage, it seems they might just have got what they wished for. Josie throws herself into her wedding cake business, whilst Ben gains increasing acclaim as an artist. But the tranquil village turns into a hive of activity when Josie’s childhood friend, Libby Martin – now a wealthy widow – returns to the village, planning a lavish wedding to rival any celeb bash. The day goes with a bang, and soon Libby and Josie are hard at work at their fledgling wedding business, hiring out Libby’s beautiful Elizabethan home for ceremonies, with Josie creating all manner of wonderful cakes. But amidst all this romance, Josie’s fairytale relationship with Ben turns into a nightmare, and she quickly becomes Love’s number one cynic – until charming wedding photographer Noah Sephton arrives in Neatslake with a very different outlook on love! Can this hopeless romantic persuade pessimistic Josie to give romance another try? Or will it be a case of always the cake maker, never the bride!? A charming, witty and feelgood novel, ideal for fans of Katie Fforde and Harriet Evans.

The Bette Davis Club

Synopsis: The morning of her niece’s wedding, Margo Just drinks a double martini and contemplates the many mistakes she’s made in her fifty-odd years of life. Spending three decades in love with a wonderful but unattainable man is pretty high up on her list of missteps, as is a long line of unsuccessful love affairs accompanied by a seemingly endless supply of delicious cocktails.

When the young bride flees—taking with her a family heirloom and leaving behind six hundred bewildered guests—her mother offers Margo fifty grand to retrieve her spoiled brat of a daughter and the invaluable property she stole. So, together with the bride’s jilted and justifiably crabby fiancé, Margo sets out in a borrowed 1955 red MG on a cross-country chase. Along the way, none of what she discovers will be quite what she expected. But it might be exactly what she’s been seeking all along.

From acclaimed humor writer Jane Lotter comes this madcap, laugh-out-loud adventure, The Bette Davis Club.

Revised edition: This edition of The Bette Davis Club includes editorial revisions.

13 Dates

Synopsis: When Noah Wilson first encounters the quirky, opinionated and very beautiful Angel Fallon, his world is turned upside down. It’s clear she’s not his normal type, but Noah can’t stop thinking about her—which doesn’t bode well for the blind date he’s already late for.

Convinced by his friend (and self-professed dating expert) Marlon that thirteen dates is all you need to fall in love, Noah decides to give it a try with Angel. They should be incompatible: she’s impulsive and he’s a planner; he wants to settle down and she doesn’t ‘do’ relationships—or anything, for that matter—the way Noah is used to. But there’s something about Angel, and Noah can’t shake the idea that all they need is twelve more dates.

Despite some near-disasters involving rock climbing, saddle sores and jellied eels, it seems his plan may actually work. But even if they do reach the magic number, can that really mean they’ll just fall into their happily-ever-after?

The Shelf

Synopsis: Everyone in Amy’s life seems to be getting married (or so Instagram tells her), and she feels like she’s falling behind.

So, when her boyfriend surprises her with a dream holiday to a mystery destination, she thinks this is it – he’s going to finally pop the Big Question. But the dream turns into a nightmare when she finds herself on the set of a Big Brother-style reality television show, The Shelf.

Along with five other women, Amy is dumped live on TV and must compete in a series of humiliating and obnoxious tasks in the hope of being crowned ‘The Keeper’. Will Amy’s time on the show make her realise there are worse things in life than being left on the shelf?

A funny, feminist and all-too-relatable novel about our obsession with coupling up, settling down and the battle we all have with accepting ourselves, The Shelf introduces the freshest new voice in women’s fiction.

The Wish List

Synopsis: Be careful what you wish for… Florence Fairfax isn’t lonely. She loves her job at the little bookshop in Chelsea and her cat, Marmalade, keeps her company at night. But everything changes when her stepsister, Mia, announces that she’s engaged to her boring golf-playing boyfriend. That’s when Florence meets Irish love coach, Gwendolyn. …because you just might get it! When Gwendolyn makes Florence write a wish list describing her perfect man, Florence refuses to take it seriously. Finding someone who likes cats, doesn’t wear pointy shoes and can overlook her ‘counting habit’? Impossible! Until, later that week, a handsome blond man asks for help in the bookshop… But is Rory the one, or is he simply too good to be true? Florence is about to find out that her criteria for finding Mr Right aren’t as important as she thought – and that perhaps her perfect man has been right there all along…

Until next week.

#JustForFun, #Top Ten Tuesday, #TopTenTuesday, #TTT

[otakada]

#GodsGreatestAssignment #celebration #consecration #MiracleMissions #MiracleMissionFelds #MiracleAgent #Key #MiracleKey #PeopleKey #People #SpiritKey #RiskKey #Signals #nudge #cue #bump #prompt #alert #GlobalPrayer #90DaysGlobalMatthew610Prayers #person #heart #aishambuhari #zahrambuhari #MBuhari #AsiwajuTinubu #Atiku #GEJonathan #femigbaja #jack #need #realDonaldTrump #credit #miracle #MasacreOnThePlateau #NigerianArmy #HouseSpeaker #YakubDogara #Loot #Looting #Lotters #Buhari #DavidOyedepoMin #PresidentBuhari #Channelstv #Punchng #WhiteHouse #saharareporters #Trump #Osinbajo #EndSARS #EndSWAT #SideWithNigeria #EndBadGovernanaceNIGERIA #Lalong #Sweep #Purging #AsoRock #Covid19 #Palliatives #LibertyDAM #Plateau #ProfOsinbajo #sblalong #Adeboye Sunday, November 1st, 2020. Otakada Content Count 2,220,174 Blog Link: https://www.otakada.org/breaking-news-massacre-by-the-nigerian-army-on-the-plateau-at-liberty-dam-lamingo-behind-former-house-speaker-yakubu-dogaras-residence-exposed-message-from-god-to-president-buhari-and-nigerian/ Breaking News! - Massacre by the Nigerian Army on the Plateau at Liberty Dam, Lamingo, Behind Former House Speaker Yakubu Dogara's Residence Exposed: Message from God to President Buhari and Nigerians + God’s Greatest Assignment for You and Me IS? How to Deliver a Miracle - The Five (5) Steps that Leads to a Miracle Delivery - Isolate the Need and Open the Heart - 8 + 9 of 14 + 90 Days Global Matthew 6:10 prayer and fasting - Day 32 Breaking News! - Massacre by the Nigerian Army on the Plateau at Liberty Dam, Lamingo, Behind Former House Speaker Yakubu Dogara's Residence Exposed Friends, I could not bring you the message on Wednesday because of events that took place on the Plateau between Sunday the 25th to Thursday the 29th of October 2020 at the Former Speaker of the House Representative – Yakubu Dogara’s Residence in Lamingo by Liberty Dam, Plateau State. We began to hear noises and shooting all day all night with the youth carting away tricycle parts, sewing machines, grinding machines – some already corroding, bags of rice, generators, motorcycle parts, textile materials and so many other things from Yakubu Dogara’s https://www.instagram.com/p/CHCKLS-pGuW/?igshid=bqmkrpnq24i

[wionews]

U-19 World Cup: An opportunity like never before

It's considered the stepping stone for the stars of the future and 16 teams, including three-time champions India, would be aiming to discover their Virat Kohlis and Steve Smiths when the ICC Under-19 World Cup starts off here tomorrow.

From Kohli to Smith, most modern-day greats have learnt the ropes in the biennial event, which has gained significance with every passing edition.

The boys not only become men here, they also become household names with millions following the live broadcast of the competition.

The event begins tomorrow with Pakistan taking on Afghanistan and hosts New Zealand facing reigning champions West Indies.

India, eager to prove themselves after their disastrous showing in the Asia Cup, open their campaign against Australia at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui.

The tournament's stature has risen to such an extent that a great like Rahul Dravid, the current India U-19 coach, would love to have been part of it back in the day.

"We never played this tournament in my day. After 1988 they didn't hold the tournament for 10 years, so I've no exposure of playing and being part of this tournament. I tell a lot of these boys that I think it's a terrific opportunity for them to be a part of this tournament," Dravid had said in the lead up to the event.

Countless number of U-19 players have gone on to represent their countries at the highest level. Each edition unearths oodles of talent and makes them overnight stars, be it Rishabh Pant or Alzaari Joseph from the previous edition in 2016 when three-time champions India lost the final to the West Indies.

This edition too has created high expectations with a selected bunch already proving themselves at the first-class level.

The likes of India captain Prithvi Shaw, teammate Shubham Gill, Australia captain Jason Sangha, Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi, Afghanistan batting sensation Baheer Shah, they all go into the event after making a mark on the domestic circuit back home.

Shaw, Gill, Sangha and Shah already have a first-class hundred to their name while left-arm pacer Afridi hogged the limelight by taking eight for 39 in the Quad-e-Azam Trophy, the best figures by a Pakistani on first-class debut.

The sensational performances of Baheer Shah too has created a buzz. The 17-year-old averages a staggering 121.77 in his seven-match first-class career, beating even the legendary Donald Bradman (95.14).

He has the highest average in the list of players with at least 1000 first-class runs, leaving behind not just Bradman but also Vijay Merchant (71.64) and George Headley (69.86).

The exploits of India captain and opener Shaw too are well-documented. After grabbing headlines with his performance in junior cricket, Shaw has graduated to the higher-level so seamlessly that he always belonged there. Therefore, it was not a surprise that he hit a match-winning hundred on Ranji Trophy debut 12 months ago.

Adding to the tournament flavour will be the sons of Steve Waugh and Makhya Ntini, Austin and Thando who will be turning up for Australia and South African respectively. Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland's son Will is also in the national squad.

With the IPL auction round the corner, there is every possibility that a millionaire could from the U-19 World Cup, just like Pant had a bagged Rs 1.9 crore deal with Delhi Daredevils after his stellar showing in Bangladesh.

The 22-day tournament, featuring 16 teams and being played across seven venues in the cities of Christchurch, Queenstown, Tauranga and Whangarei, will see 20 matches being broadcast live.

Squads

India: Prithvi Shaw (C), Shubman Gill, Aryan Juyal, Abhishek Sharma, Arshdeep Singh, Harvik Desai, Manjot Kalra, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Pankaj Yadav, Riyan Parag, Ishan Porel, Himanshu Rana, Anukul Roy, Shivam Mavi, Shiva Singh.

Pakistan: Hasan Khan (C), Rohail Nazir , Mohammad Ali Khan, Ali Zaryab, Ammad Alam, Arshad Iqbal, Imran Shah, Mohammad Taha, Muhammad Mohsin Khan, Muhammad Musa, Muhammad Zaid, Munir Riaz, Saad Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Suleman Shafqat.

Bangladesh: Saif Hassan (C), Afif Hossain, Aminul Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Mahidul Islam Ankon, Mohammad Naim, Mohammad Rakib, Nayeem Hasan, Pinak Ghosh, Qazi Onik, Robiul Hoque, Roni Hossen , Shakil Hossain, Tipu Sultan, Towhid Hridoy.

Sri Lanka: Kamindu Mendis (C), Jehan Daniel, Krishan Sanjula, Ashen Bandara, Hareen Buddila, Hasitha Boyagoda, Nipun Dananjaya, Thisaru Rashmika, Nawanidu Fernando, Santhush Gunathilaka, Praveen Jayawickrama, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Nishan Madushka, Nipun Malinga, Kalana Perera.

Afghanistan: Naveen-ul-Haq (C), Azmatullah Omarzai, Baheer Shah, Darwish Rasooli, Ikram Ali Khil, Mohammad Ibrahim, Mujeeb Zadran, Nisar Wahdat, Qais Ahmad, Rahmanullah, Tariq Stanikzai, Wafadar ,Waqarullah Ishaq, Yousuf Zazai, Zahir Khan.

Australia: Jason Sangha (C), Will Sutherland, Xavier Bartlett, Max Bryant, Jack Edwards, Zak Evans, Jarrod Freeman, Ryan Hadley, Baxter Holt, Nathan McSweeney, Jonathan Merlo, Lloyd Pope, Jason Ralston, Param Uppal, Austin Waugh.

New Zealand: Kaylum Boshier (C), Finn Allen, Jakob Bhula, Max Chu, Katene Clarke, Matthew Fisher, Luke Georgeson, Ben Lockrose, Callum McLachlan, Felix Murray, Dale Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Sandeep Patel, Connor Sullivan, Todd Watson.

Canada: Arslan Khan (C), Akash Gill, Ashtan Deosammy, Emanuel Khokhar, Kavian Naress, Kevin Singh, Pranav Sharma, Randhir Sandhu, Krishen Samuel, Faisal Jamkhandi, Arshdeep Dhaliwal, Rishiv Joshi, Aran Pathmanathan, Pieter Pretorius, Rommel Shazad.

England: Harry Brook (C), Ethan Bamber, Liam Banks, Tom Banton, Jack Davies, Adam Finch, Luke Hollman, Will Jacks, Tom Lammonby, Dillon Pennington, Savin Perera, Tom Scriven, Prem Sisodiya, Fin Trenouth, Roman Walker.

Ireland: Harry Tector (C), Ian Anders, Aaron Cawley, Varun Chopra, Mark Donegan, JJ Garth, Jamie Grassi, Reece Kelly, Graham Kennedy, Joshua Little, Sam Murphy, Max Neville, Neil Rock, Morgan Topping, Andrew Vincent.

Kenya: Sachin Bhudia (C), Maxwel Ager, Abhishekh Chidambaran, Aveet Desai, Jay Doshi, Aman Gandhi, Ankit Hirani , Jasraj Kundi, Jayant Mepani, Gerard Mwendwa, Dennis Musyoka, Thomas Ochieng, Sukhdeep Singh, Siddharth Vasudev, Rene Were.

Papua New Guinea: Sema Kamea (C), Eisa Eka, James Tau, Tau Toa Nou, Nou Rarua, Igo Mahuru, Simon Atai, Leke Morea, Vagi Karaho, Kevau Tau, Heagi Toua, Daure Aiga, Ovia Sam, Sinaka Arua, Boge Arua.

Namibia: Lohan Louwrens (C), Henry Brink, Petrus Burger, Jan-Izak de Villiers, Shaun Fouche, Jurgen Linde, Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Gerhard Lottering, Erich van Mollendorf, Dewald Nell, Mauritius Ngupita, Ben Shikongo, Floris Steenkamp, Ramon Wilmot, Eben van Wyk.

South Africa: Raynard van Tonder (C), Matthew Breetzke , Gerald Coetzee, Jade de Klerk, Jean du Plessism, Fraser Jones, Wandile Makwetu, Akhona Mnyaka, Andile Mokgakane, Kgaudisa Molefe, Jason Niemand, Thando Ntini, Jiveshan Pillay, Hermann Rolfes, Kenan Smith.

West Indies: Emmanuel Stewart (C), Kirstan Kallicharan, Ronaldo Alimohamed, Alick Athanaze, Cephas Cooper, Jarion Hoyte, Kimani Melius, Ashmead Nedd, Kian Pemberton, Raymond Perez, Joshua Persaud, Jeavor Royal, Keagan Simmons, Bhaskar Yadram, Nyeem Young.

Zimbabwe: Liam Roche (C), Robert Chimhinya, Jonathan Connolly, Gregory Dollar, Alistair Frost, Taun Harrison, Wesley Madhevere, Tanunurwa Makoni, Donald Mlambo, Dion Myers, Tinashe Nenhunzi, Nkosilatu Nunu, Kieran Robinson, Jayden Schadendorf, Milton Shumba.

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[thrashermaxey]

Ramblings: Draft Lottery; Lineup News; Looking Ahead – April 10

  It was quite the eventful draft lottery as Colorado did not end up with the first overall pick, sliding to fourth. The Rangers, Devils, and Blackhawks all jumped into the top-3. New Jersey ended up grabbing the top pick with New York ending up in the second slot.

Should everything go to plan, the Devils will be adding an elite talent immediately to the lineup. This team desperately needed another elite talent up front and they got it. The Rangers get a great prospect in their own right. Not a bad night for those franchises, and sincerest sympathies to Avalanche fans. 

*

Just want to say that I really hope Jake Bean can get into some postseason games for the Hurricanes. He had a marvelous AHL season and is a guy I’ve been waiting to see in the NHL for a couple years now. I assume there would have to be at least one more injury for him to get a spot in the lineup, but all the same, I have high hopes for the kid.

*

Slava Voynov has been suspended by the NHL for next season plus the 2020 playoffs for his domestic abuse plea deal. There had been murmurs that teams were interested in signing him, and this suspension will likely dissuade these suitors (not that they shouldn’t have been dissuaded before the suspension).

*

Minnesota general manager Paul Fenton expects both Mikko Koivu and Matt Dumba to be ready for the start of training camp in September. That’s great news for Wild fans and fantasy hockey enthusiasts.

*

Yesterday I was editing an article for Cameron Metz and in one paragraph he proclaimed that it marked the one-year anniversary for him at Dobber Hockey (congrats, Cam!). That got me thinking: this time of year would mark my own anniversary here at Dobber Hockey. Four years, to be exact. Next Tuesday will mark four years I’ve been with Dobber Hockey (man, time flies).

This link brings you to the first Ramblings I ever posted. Included are such topics as:

Peter Chiarelli being fired by the Bruins

Craig Berube’s future being up in the air with the Flyers

Boston’s cap crunch due to players like Carl Soderberg and Dougie Hamilton needing new contracts

The difference between Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek playing with Brayden Schenn and playing with Michael Raffl

Ryan Strome’s excellent 50-point season with the Islanders

Looking back at what’s happened since that Ramblings post nearly four years ago is kind of hilarious. Chiarelli has since been hired and fired by the Oilers, Berube is a coach of the year candidate in St. Louis, neither Soderberg nor Hamilton are still in Boston, Schenn is thriving in St. Louis, and Strome never recaptured that level of success. Time not only flies, but it makes fools of us all.

Seeing as this is the last day before playoffs start, it might be the last chance to do something like this, so I wanted to take a stab at what the NHL might look like in four years. Ready to be made a fool of again? I am.

  Unbelievable Free Agent Class

A lot of stars have signed huge contracts in recent seasons with lengths of anywhere from six to eight years. A lot of those contracts will be running out in the same three-year span, and that will lead to a lot of talent in unrestricted free agency, even if they’re older. Per Cap Friendly, here are some of the names that could theoretically be available after the 2022-23 season: Patrick Kane, Vladimir Tarasenko, Jonathan Toews, David Pastrnak, Sean Monahan, Nathan MacKinnon, Dylan Larkin, Ryan O’Reilly, Max Pacioretty, James van Riemsdyk, Jonathan Huberdeau, Shayne Gostisbehere, and Bo Horvat. That kind of talent in a single free agent class is almost surreal.

Of course, as alluded to, a lot of players will be in their 30s by that point. There are a handful of guys who will be in their mid-to-late 20s like MacKinnon, Pastrnak, Monahan, and Larkin. With the likelihood of a lockout looming, will some of the older players not named who will also be UFA like Milan Lucic, Kyle Okposo, and Duncan Keith be bought out?

The younger guys, I’m sure, will be extended by their current teams. What about everyone else? Wouldn’t it be cool for Toews and Kane to do what Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne did and take cheap contracts to sign somewhere together? Regardless, in a few years’ time, there will be a lot of high-profile free agents that will start hitting the market.

  Colorado Powerhouse

It seems pretty likely that Colorado is one of the top teams in the league in four years, isn’t it? They’ll have MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen on the roster, Samuel Girard will be a top-tier puck-mover, Cale Makar has the look of a future Norris Trophy contender, and then there’s Ottawa’s top pick from this year. There will be a great core to build around and if management can manage to not pull an Edmonton or Buffalo, it will hopefully be a championship core.

Of course, there is a lot else the team will have to deal with. Their captain, Gabriel Landeskog, is a free agent after the 2020-21 season. Will he still be around? Will Tyson Barrie? Will any of the young guys currently on the roster like J.T. Compher, Alex Kerfoot, and Tyson Jost be making an impact on the 2022-23 roster? This is certainly a team on the rise, but the toughest leap to make is from a good team to a championship-calibre team. Can the Avs be that team?

I say yes. There were some early bumps in the road but the Avalanche management group has made solid deals over the last year or so. As long as they can keep making positive deals for the franchise, there’s no reason to believe they’ll flounder. I believe in April 2023, we’ll be talking about the Avalanche as one of the top franchises in the league, returning to the glory they enjoyed early in the franchise’s existence.

  Tkachuk Brothers

In the fantasy game, guys I have a soft spot for are the across-the-board performers. They’re guys who may not excel in any individual category, but the sum of their parts makes for a great fantasy campaign. In years gone by, this included names like David Backes, Wayne Simmonds, and Andrew Ladd. When looking around the league currently, names like Kyle Palmieri, Gabriel Landeskog, and Brendan Gallagher fit this bill. We’re always looking to the future, and it appears the future in this category belongs to the Brothers Tkachuk.

In many ways, they’ve already sort of arrived in this position. The elder Tkachuk, Matthew, was a top-30 fantasy player in standard Yahoo! leagues this year, one year after being a top-130 player. He’s a young star on the rise and he’s proved himself as such.

Brady Tkachuk has also arrived but not to the same degree just yet. He had a marvelous rookie season, becoming sixth 19-year old rookie since the 2012 lockout to post a season with at least 20 goals, 20 assists, and 200 shots, joining Dylan Larkin, Jack Eichel, Sebastian Aho, Auston Matthews, and Clayton Keller. To put the cherry on top in multi-category leagues, Tkachuk had 75 penalty minutes and 174 hits. That is just outstanding.

It very much appears that Matthew and Brady will follow in the footsteps of past multi-cat stars like Backes and Simmonds, and current multi-cat stars like Gallagher and Landeskog. In four years, it’s very likely that both of those players are easily top-50 picks in roto leagues, if not higher.

  Alex Ovechkin

It’s hard to imagine, but in four years, Ovechkin could be with a different franchise (he’s UFA after the 2020-21 season). I don’t actually think he’ll finish his career anywhere else but Washington, I’m just saying it’s possible. Regardless, if Ovechkin can average 40 goals a year for the next four years, he’ll have passed Gordie Howe on the all-time goal scoring list and will be about 80 goals behind Wayne Gretzky for the all-time record.

Of course, the major wrench that could be thrown in all this is the potential of a lockout after the 2019-20 season. Ovechkin already lost a season and a half to lockouts, which have cost him, what, about 60 goals by now? If we lose another season, that’ll make Ovechkin’s task even more difficult.

It could be very likely that in four years, we’re lamenting what could have been with Alex Ovechkin. His pursuit of Gretzky’s record could be one of the great record chases of this generation. Will Ovechkin have maintained his elite goal scoring prowess while not losing a season to the lockout? I’m hopeful, but the NHL’s history with labour negotiations is cause for concern.

  Seattle

With Seattle getting an NHL franchise, the league will be at 32 teams. This new franchise is going to have the same rebuild rules as Vegas, so will the enjoy the same early success as Vegas?

I think to expect any expansion franchise to replicate the accomplishments of the Golden Knights through their first two seasons is expecting far too much. I think teams will have learned from this mistake. You won’t have teams ship out 30-goal scorers on bargain contracts (Florida), letting go of multiple young prospects to save one player (Minnesota), or over-paying to get rid of a bad contract (Columbus). Well, you probably won’t… shouldn’t? Regardless, I do think teams will learn from their mistakes and Seattle will be in for a rough early couple seasons.

This isn’t to say there won’t be hope. The end of the 2022-23 season will bring Seattle to the end of their second season. It’ll will probably be another year of missing playoffs, but they’ll have an absolutely loaded cupboard of prospects. There will be a lot of promise for the years that follow.

Seattle’s new franchise is going to go through growing pains that Vegas did not have to endure due unimaginably bad decisions across the league. But in four years, there will be promise of much better days ahead.

  Those are a few things I’ll be looking for in four years. How about you? What stands out as something we accept now that’ll change in four years? What will be the same? Hit up the comments. 

from All About Sports https://dobberhockey.com/hockey-rambling/ramblings-draft-lottery-lineup-news-looking-ahead-april-10/

[artsvark]

The world's most loved musical returns

The Sound of Music returns to The Teatro, Montecasino, from 31 March with Andre Schwartz as Captain von Trapp and Carmen Pretorius as Maria.Pieter Toerien, David Ian and The Really Useful Group present Andrew Lloyd Webber’s production of

The Sound of Music

THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Music by Richard Rodgers

Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II

Book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse

Johannesburg – The Teatro at Montecasino

31 March – 29 April 2018

Cape Town – Artscape Opera

6 May – 27 May 2018

The Sound of Music contains arguably the best-loved songs of all time – Andrew Lloyd Webber

This lavish production, presented in South Africa by Pieter Toerien, David Ian and The Really Useful Group, tells the story of the Von Trapp family’s flight across the mountains from Austria, with its unforgettable score that includes some of the most memorable songs ever performed on the musical stage including “My Favourite Things”, “Edelweiss”, “Do-Re-Mi”, “Sixteen Going on Seventeen”, “The Lonely Goatherd”, “Climb Ev’ry Mountain”, and the title song “The Sound of Music”. Featuring an all-star South African cast back from their international tour, The Sound of Music is a must-see on the 2018 theatrical calendar!

With words and music by the legendary Rogers and Hammerstein (Oklahoma!, Carousel, South Pacific, The King and I), The Sound of Music originally premiered on Broadway in 1959 to record-breaking advance ticket sales, where it won eight Tony Awards – including “Best Musical”. The show opened in London in 1961 and became the longest-running American musical of its generation. The 1965 Hollywood film, which starred Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, won five Oscars, including “Best Picture”, and quickly became the highest-grossing film in history. Even today, The Sound of Music remains the most successful movie musical in history.

The Sound of Music

Since the turn of the 21st century, the enduring magic of The Sound of Music has led to major productions around the world, giving testament to its title as “The World’s Most Popular Musical”. This production of the legendary Rodgers and Hammerstein musical opened to rave reviews and sell-out business at the Wales Millennium Centre in July 2009, following a record-breaking 954 performances at the London Palladium where it was seen by well over 2 million people. The role of Maria was cast following a hugely popular 2006 BBC reality television show called “How do You Solve a Problem like Maria?”. The 2014 South African production was a huge box office smash and garnered a flood of rave reviews from the local media:

“A MUST SEE! Magical and AMAZING!” Artslink.co.za

“A TRIUMPH! A GREAT production!” The Citizen

“ASEMROWENDE!” Beeld

“This musical is definitely one of my FAVOURITE things! An EXCELLENT production that will enchant yet another generation!” Saturday Star

“GLORIOUS production! An international family favourite! A nostalgia trip that you’ll never want to end. Cast and orchestra are SUPERB!” Business Day

The 2018 production will star Andre Schwartz as Captain von Trapp and Carmen Pretorius as Maria. Janelle Visagie returns as the Mother Abbess and Rika Sennett is Frau Schmidt. Other cast members include Malcolm Terrey, Michael McMeeking, Matthew Lotter, Sanli Jooste, Megan Rigby, James van Helsdingen and Jonathan Taylor.

The hills will certainly be alive once again with the Sound of Music in Cape Town and Johannesburg in 2018. Bookings are now open at Computicket. Performance details as follows:

Johannesburg – The TEATRO at Montecasino

31 March 2018 – 29 April 2018 Performances: Tue – Fri at 20:00, Sat at 15:00 and 20:00, Sun at 14:00 and 18:00

Cape Town – ARTSCAPE Opera

6 May 2018 – 27 May 2018 Performances: Tue – Fri at 20:00, Sat at 15:00 and 20:00, Sun at 14:00 and 18:00

Please e-mail all Cape Town media requests to Dean Roberts

dean@theatreonthebay.co.za or call 021 438 3301.

Please e-mail all Joburg media requests to Mark Sage

mark@montetheatre.co.za or call 011 511 1988.

Related Venues:

Artscape Theatre Complex, DF Malan Street Foreshore Cape Town Western Cape South Africa

Montecasino Complex, Fourways Johannesburg Gauteng South Africa

The world’s most loved musical returns was originally published on Artsvark

[deniseyallen]

Portman Congratulates Southwest Ohio Service Academy Nominees & Families

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This past weekend, despite remaining in Washington, D.C. during the government shutdown, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) called into his annual reception and delivered remarks to congratulate the Class of 2018 Service Academy nominees and their families.  He thanked Major General John Harris, The Assistant Adjutant General, Ohio National Guard, for hosting the ceremony at the Ohio National Guard Headquarters, as well as the Service Academy Review Board members who volunteered their time and energy to assist his office in selecting the very best nominees.  This year’s Southwestern Ohio nominees are from Butler, Clermont, Greene, Hamilton, and Warren counties.

“Our nominees are among the best and the brightest from Ohio, and I would be proud to have them serve our country in our Armed Forces. This annual reception is one of my favorite days of the year, and while I was disappointed that I was unable to be with the nominees in person, I was pleased to be able to call in and congratulate them,” Portman said. “The distinguished members of the Review Board helped me and our office guarantee that young individuals like the ones we selected this year have a chance to get into one of the service academies, and I am grateful for their dedication to continuing Ohio’s strong tradition of high acceptance rates.”

      Pictured from Left to Right:  Mathew Martin, Laura May, Alexander Amaya, Isabelle Boggs, Major General John Harris, Jenna Adams, Kent Perry, Amanda Reinhart, Julia Lotterer

  *

Matthew Martin, Cincinnati, Ohio; Nominated to the Merchant Marine Academy

*

Laura May, Beavercreek, Ohio; Nominated to the Air Force Academy and the Merchant Marine Academy

*

Alexander Amaya, Mason, Ohio; Nominated to the Military Academy at West Point

*

Isabelle Boggs, Lebanon, Ohio; Nominated to the Air Force Academy

*

Jenna Adams, Lebanon, Ohio; Nominated to the Air Force Academy

*

Kent Perry, Cincinnati, Ohio; Nominated to the Merchant Marine Academy

*

Amanda Reinhart, Milford, Ohio; Nominated to the Air Force Academy

*

Julia Lotterer, West Chester, Ohio; Nominated to the Naval Academy

  NOT PICTURED:

*

Max Bowman, Loveland, Ohio; Nominated to the Air Force Academy

*

John Gillen, Lebanon, Ohio; Nominated to the Merchant Marine Academy

  ###

  from Rob Portman http://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=1F92B5CF-87EE-4AF4-BD08-90F7D2483AA0

[artsvark]

Nominees for 53rd Fleur du Cap Awards announced

The Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards will take place on Sunday, 18 March at 17:30 at the Baxter Theatre Centre in Cape Town.

These annual awards are regarded amongst the most valued and prestigious in the South African performing arts industry. This year’s ceremony will take place on Sunday, 18 March at 17:30 at the Baxter Theatre Centre in Cape Town and promises to be an “Elegantly Extravagant” evening.

The nominees in the various categories are, in alphabetical order:BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEAD ACTOR IN A PLAY

André Roothman in Die Nag van Legio as Dogoman

Charlton George in Marat/Sade as Jean-Paul Marat

Craig Morris in Tartuffe as Tartuffe/Madame Pernelle

Ephraim Gordon in Die Dans van die Watermeid as Mills

Marty Kintu in Topdog/Underdog as Lincoln

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEAD ACTRESS IN A PLAY

Buhle Ngaba in What Remains as The Student

Charmaine Weir-Smith in Suddenly the Storm as Shanell

Faniswa Yisa in What Remains as The Archeologist

Tinarie van Wyk Loots in Hemelruim as Mariaan

Tinarie van Wyk Loots in Marat/Sade as Charlotte Corday

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A PLAY

Bongile Mantsai in Marat/Sade as Duperret

Darren Araujo in Shakespeare in Love as Henslowe, Ensemble

Gerben Kamper in Die Nag van Legio as Oubaas Menge

Mark Elderkin in Twelfth Night as Malvolio

Wessel Pretorius in Twelfth Night as Feste

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A PLAY

Camilla Waldman in Tartuffe as Cléante

Faith Kinnear in Marat/Sade as Patient, Chorus

Jenny Stead in The Visit as Jackie Lodin

Renate Stuurman in Suddenly the Storm as Namhla

Robyn Scott in Shakespeare in Love as Elizabeth I, Ensemble

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEAD ACTOR IN A MUSICAL OR MUSIC THEATRE SHOW

Andile Gumbi in King Kong as King Kong

David Dennis in Priscilla Queen of the Desert as Bernadette

Jonathan Roxmouth in Evita as Che

Marc Lottering in Aunty Merle the Musical as Aunty Merle

Sne Dladla in King Kong as Pop

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEAD ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL OR MUSIC THEATRE SHOW

Ashleigh Harvey in Funny Girl as Fanny Brice

Edith Plaatjies in King Kong as Joyce

Emma Kingston in Evita as Eva

Nondumiso Tembe in King Kong as Joyce

Tarryn Lamb in Aunty Merle the Musical as Abigail

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL OR MUSIC THEATRE SHOW

Anton Luitingh in Evita as Magaldi

Anton Luitingh in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as Pharoah

Sanda Shandu in King Kong as Lucky

Tshepo Ncokoane in Priscilla Queen of the Desert as Miss Understanding

Tshamano Sebe in King Kong as Jack

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL OR MUSIC THEATRE SHOW

Candice von Litsenborgh in Priscilla Queen of the Desert as Shirley

Isabella Jane in Evita as The Mistress

Josslynn Hlenti in King Kong as Petal

Kate Normington in Funny Girl as Mrs Brice

Tankiso Mamabolo in Aunty Merle the Musical as Lydia

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE

The Cast of Marat/Sade

The Divas of Priscilla Queen of the Desert

The Cast of Shakespeare in Love

The Cast of Tartuffe

The Cast of What Remains

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A REVUE, CABARET OR ONE-PERSON SHOW

Daniel Mpilo Richards in State Fracture in Various Roles

Gideon Lombard in Die Reuk van Appels as Marnus

Jemma Kahn in In Bocca al Lupo as The Narrator

Sandra Prinsloo in Moedertaal as Nellie

Tony Bonani Miyambo in Kafka’s Ape as Red Peter

BEST PERFORMANCE IN AN OPERA – MALE

Fikile Mvinjelwa in Rigoletto as Rigoletto

Jaco Venter in Der Fliegende Holländer as Holländer

Lukhanyo Moyake in Rigoletto as The Duke of Mantua

Lukhanyo Moyake in Der Fliegende Holländer as Steuermann

Martin Mkhize in The Magic Flute as Papageno

BEST PERFORMANCE IN AN OPERA – FEMALE

Brittany Smith in The Magic Flute as Pamina

Johanni van Oostrum in Der Fliegende Holländer as Senta

Leah Gunter in The Magic Flute as The Queen

Noluvuyiso Mpofu in Rigoletto as Gilda

Nonhlanhla Yende in Rigoletto as Maddalena

BEST THEATRE PRODUCTION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

Fred Abrahamse and Marcel Meyer for Peter Pan

Jon Keevy for The Underground Library

Marinda Engelbrecht and Margit Meyer-Rödenbeck for Vlooi en die Koninginby/Kipper and the Queen Bee

AWARD FOR MOST PROMISING STUDENT

Luntu Masiza, AFDA

Matthew Stuurman, UCT

Melani-Roxanne Breedt, AFDA

Tristan de Beer, UCT

Zoe McLaughlin, WTS

BEST NEW DIRECTOR

Dara Beth

Joshua G Ackerman

Nico Scheepers

Nwabisa Plaatjie

Thando Mangcu

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN

Nick Schlieper & Per Hording for Priscilla Queen of the Desert

Patrick Curtis for Marat/Sade

Tim Mitchell for King Kong

Wilhelm Disbergen for What Remains

Wolf Britz for Shakespeare in Love

BEST SET DESIGN

Brian Thomson for Priscilla Queen of the Desert (Bus Concept and Production Design)

Greg King for Suddenly the Storm

Jaco Bouwer for Marat/Sade

Nicola Mayer for Immortal

Nigel Hook for The Play that Goes Wrong

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Birrie le Roux for King Kong

Birrie le Roux for Funny Girl

Leigh Bishop and Lieze van Tonder for Twelfth Night

Sasha Ehlers for Tartuffe

Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner for Priscilla Queen of the Desert

BEST SOUND DESIGN, ORIGINAL MUSIC COMPOSITION OR ORIGINAL SCORE

Charl-Johan Lingenfelder for Original Music Composition (additional) for King Kong

Daf James & Michael Williams for Original Score for Tiger Bay the Musical

Neo Muyanga for Original Music Composition for Twelfth Night

Pierre-Henri Wicomb for Original Music Composition for Marat/Sade

Tarryn Lamb & Marc Lottering for Original Score for Aunty Merle the Musical

BEST NEW SOUTH AFRICAN SCRIPT

Die Dans van die Watermeid by Amee Lekas

Suddenly the Storm by Paul Slabolepszy

The Eulogists by Louis Viljoen

The Visit by Brent Palmer

What Remains by Nadia Davids

BEST DIRECTOR

Jaco Bouwer for Marat/Sade

Jay Pather for What Remains

Jonathan Munby for King Kong

Lara Bye for Die Reuk van Appels

Sylvaine Strike for Tartuffe

BEST PRODUCTION

Die Reuk van Appels – Theatrerocket (Johan van der Merwe and Rudi Sadler)

King Kong – The Fugard Theatre (Eric Abraham)

Marat/Sade – The Baxter Theatre (Nicolette Moses)

Priscilla Queen of the Desert – ShowTime Management (Hazel Feldman)

What Remains – Nadia Davids

For over 50 years the Fleur du Cap wine brand has proudly associated itself with the Theatre Awards as displaying the flair that is synonymous with the wine. “Theatre is the showcase for generations of artists; it is an honour to support such a pivotal part of the industry,” says SA Brand Manager for Premium Wines, Khanya Mashalaba.

Through awarding excellence in professional theatre Fleur du Cap wine and the Theatre Awards have played a significant role in the lives of South African theatre-makers.

Winners are chosen from productions performed at professional theatre venues in and around Cape Town. Theatre practitioners are recognised for acting, directing, staging and technical ability. These nominations reflect the excellent theatre talent seen on stages throughout the Western Cape last year. For the first time, awards will be made in the categories of Best Performance in an Opera (Male), Best Performance in an Opera (Female), Best Performance by an Ensemble, Best Theatre Production for Children and Young People and Best Production. This year awards will not be made in the category Best Puppetry Design.

The awards are considered in 26 different categories, including for Lifetime Achievement and Innovation in Theatre. The latter will be announced at the ceremony next month. The judges for the 2017 productions were Africa Melane, Dr Beverley Brommert, Eugene Yiga, Johan van Lill, Marina Griebenow, Maurice Carpede, Niel Roux, Tracey Saunders and Wayne Muller.

A total of 80 diverse productions from the year under review were eligible for consideration. They are, in alphabetical order:

A Handful of Keys, Angels on Horseback, Another One’s Bread, Aunty Merle the Musical, bash: latterday plays, Black, Boy Ntulikazi, Brother Love 2, Buzani Kubawo, Cathy and the Trolley Dollies, Chapter 2 Section 9, Cheers to Sarajevo, Der Fliegende Holländer, Die Dans van die Watermeid, Die Nag Van Legio, Die Reuk van Appels, El Blanco: Tales of the Mariachi, Evita, Evita Bezuidenhout and the Kaktus of Separate Development, Fiela se Kind, Funny Girl, Hamlet, Hemelruim, Immortal, In Bocca al Lupo, In Whorefish Bloomers: The Waitresses’ Lament, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Kafka’s Ape, Kidcasino, King Kong, Klara Maas se hart is gebreek, ensomeer: Die vloeistof-trilogie, From Koe’siestes to Kneidlach, Koöperasiestories, Kwamanzi, Macbeth: The Adult Panto, Mama Africa the Musical, Marat/Sade, Mate, Moedertaal, Nasty Womxn, Nice Coat (Lekker Jas), Niqabi Ninja, Peter Pan, Pieces, Police Cops in Space, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Red Aloes, Renaissance, Rent, Rigoletto, Scenes from an Execution, Selwyn and Gabriel, Shakespeare in Love, Sherlock Holmes and the Curse of the Queen’s Diamond, Single Minded, So ry Miss Daisy, Songs of this Soil, State Fracture, Suddenly the Storm, Synergy, Tartuffe, The Eulogists, The Magic Flute, The Mother, The Mystery of Irma Vep, The Native Who Caused All The Trouble, The Play That Goes Wrong, The Rabble, The Visit, Thirst, Three’s a Crowd, Tiger Bay the Musical, Topdog/Underdog, Tswalo/Source, Twelfth Night, The Underground Library, Vlooi en die Koninginby/Kipper and the Queen Bee, What Remains and Who’s Your Daddy.

The student panel adjudicated another 35 student productions, bringing the total number of productions that were considered in 2017 to an astounding 115.

“The increased number of nominees in the category for Best New South African Script is extremely exciting as it means that local theatre-makers are becoming bolder in telling the stories that are at the heart of our collective lived experience. To see life imitating art in this way is truly exhilarating. We thank Fleur du Cap wine brand, the hardworking panel of judges, theatre-makers and all the creatives behind the scenes who made this possible,” says Melanie Burke, chairman of the judging panel.

Each award carries a cash prize of R15 000 and a silver medallion. All voting processes are audited and overseen by Distell Internal Audit and the legal firm Cluver Markotter Inc.

A limited number of tickets for the ceremony at The Baxter Theatre will be on sale at R300 per person.

However, there is no reason to miss this exciting annual event! For the first time in the history of the awards theatre lovers can share in the celebrations from the comfort of their own home, in real-time, through a virtual experience, at only R100 per ticket, standard data rates apply. Purchase your tickets from the Baxter Box Office on 021 685 7880 or Webtickets from 15th February 2018.

Share your Flair with Fleur du Cap wine and celebrate excellence in theatre with the award recipients! Follow the awards on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/FleurduCap/ and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/FDCTheatreAward. For more information on Fleur du Cap Wines www.fleurducap.co.za

Nominees for 53rd Fleur du Cap Awards announced was originally published on Artsvark

[artsvark]

Celebrated Can Themba work for The Playhouse

Crepuscule at the Victoria Theatre, July 08, at the 2016 National Arts Festival, Grahamstown, South Africa. Adapted from Can Themba’s short story, Crepuscule, is a fictional interpretation of Themba’s real life love affair with a white woman, Jean Hart, during the 1950’s. Photo: CuePix / Jane Berg.

Kicking off its New Stages Season, The Playhouse Company presents a captivating stage work based on the real-life story of cultural icon, Can Themba.

Crepuscule (which means ‘twilight’) is written by Themba and adapted for the stage by Khayelihle Dom Gumede for the New Stages Season. It is a story about human connection and the search for freedom and humanity in a world that sought to deny it.

The Playhouse Company CEO and Artistic Director, Linda Bukhosini, said New Stages is about celebrating authentic South African works that are entertaining, creative, original and thought provoking. “Crepuscule is one of those works which tick all these boxes. What’s more, this is a work by a celebrated author and playwright. This year marks 50 years since Can Themba’s passing and having one of his works on our stage is an honour at this time. This is also an award-winning play, from Gauteng’s Market Theatre and we want KZN not to miss this opportunity to see it first-hand.”

The Playhouse, by arrangement with DALRO, presents Crepuscule in the Playhouse Loft Theatre from 3 to 7 May.

Crepuscule at the Victoria Theatre, July 08, at the 2016 National Arts Festival, Grahamstown, South Africa. Adapted from Can Themba’s short story, Crepuscule, is a fictional interpretation of Themba’s real life love affair with a white woman, Jean Hart, during the 1950’s. Photo: CuePix / Jane Berg.

Crepuscule had smash hit seasons at the Market Theatre and at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown. The play is directed by Khayelihle Dom Gumede, who won Best Director for his vivid interpretation of the story at last year’s Naledi Awards. The production received six Naledi nominations in 2016.

The cast for Crepuscule is stellar! Nat Ramabulana plays Can Themba, with Kate Liquorish as his romantic partner. Lerato Mvelase plays Baby/Kleinboy, Nhlanhla Mahlangu is Stan, Matthew Lotter plays Malcolm, and Thami Ngoma plays Ous Lethabo/Mama Dora/Sis Pretty.

The original Can Themba story is believed to be an interpretation of Themba’s real life love affair with a white woman by the name of Jean Hart during the 1950s. Set in the often revered and romanticised world of Sophiatown, the play asks a range of pertinent and contemporary socio-political questions. Themba and Hart’s illicit relationship across the apartheid ‘colour bar’ serves as a means to unpack just how much of our identity is formed by our environment and how much is shaped by our choices as individuals.

Crepuscule will run in the Playhouse Loft Theatre from 3 to 7 May. Schools performances are on at 11h00 on 3, 4 and 5 May. Schools performances, at R30 per learner, can be booked by calling (031) 369 9407. Public performances take place at 19h30 on 5 May, 14h00 and 19h30 on 6 May, and at 14h00 on 7 May. Tickets for these performances are available via Computicket or Shoprite Checkers at R80 each.

Celebrated Can Themba work for The Playhouse was originally published on Artsvark