Get ready for a musical adventure of a lifetime! Jill Girard and Keith Smith are delighted to bring to life for the very first time on stage at The Peoples Theatre, the popular Madagascar – A Musical Adventure JR, providing children, parents and all those with a love of joy and laughter, the ideal family entertainment over the coming winter months.
Join Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the Hippo and, of course, those hilarious, plotting penguins as they bound onto your stage in the musical adventure of a lifetime.
Based on the smash DreamWorks animated film, Madagascar – A Musical Adventure JR follows all of your favorite crack-a-lackin’ friends as they escape from their home in New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien’s Madagascar.
Alex the Lion is the king of the urban jungle, the main attraction at New York’s Central Park Zoo. He and his best friends — Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe and Gloria the Hippo — have spent their whole lives in blissful captivity before an admiring public and with regular meals provided for them.
Not content to leave well enough alone, Marty lets his curiosity get the better of him and makes his escape — with the help of some prodigious penguins — to explore the world.
Filled with outlandish characters, adventure galore and an upbeat score, Madagascar – A Musical Adventure JR will leave audiences with no choice but to “Move It, Move It!”
Madagascar – A Musical Adventure JR is directed by Jill Girard and Keith Smith, with musical direction by Dale Scheepers, musical staging by Sandy (Dyer) Richardson and set & lighting design by Grant Knottenbelt.
Jill Girard states; ‘We’re so thrilled to have obtained the rights for Madagascar – A Musical Adventure JR. Everyone loves the movie, the songs and the characters, so here we are with the perfect musical theatre experience which is 100% family friendly.’
She continues, ‘Madagascar – A Musical Adventure JR is hilariously funny, where each and every crazy creature is brought to life. Songs like “I like to move it” “Best Friends” “Relax, be cool, chill out” will entertain in a joyous and funny adventure which, like all good stories, ends happily ever after.
‘Peoples Theatre is ecstatic to produce this first ever production of Madagascar – A Musical Adventure JR in South Africa.’
One of Peoples Theatre’s favourite performers, Luciano Zuppa, will be playing Alex the Lion, “The King of New York City.” He’s a fun-loving fella whose devotion to steak is matched only by his devotion to his friends.
Marty the Zebra will be played by the energetic Thokozani Jiyane, who has dreams of exploring beyond the confines of the Central Park Zoo and into the wild.
Joëlle Rochecouste, a newcomer to the Peoples Theatre, will be bringing her fresh and vibrant flair to Gloria the Hippopotamus, who is a bold young lady with a maternal streak that shines when she’s with her three closest friends: Alex, Marty and Melman.
Marvin Molepo, who charmed us as Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast, will be playing Melman the kind-hearted Giraffe who is a bit of a hypochondriac. He’s always just a little bit nervous, but when it comes down to it, he’ll rise to the occasion.
Previews of Madagascar – A Musical Adventure JR begin on 3 June at The Peoples Theatre with the official opening on Sunday, 9 June. The show runs through the June/July school holidays, with the final performance on Sunday, 4 August 2019.
Madagascar – A Musical Adventure JR runs at Peoples Theatre at the Joburg Theatre Complex from Sunday 9 June – Sunday 4 August (previews take place from 3 June).
Performance times are Mondays to Friday at 9:00 and 11:00, Saturdays at 10:30 and 14.30 as well as all Sundays and Public Holidays.
Ticket prices are R140 for general public or R100 for members of the Peoples Theatre Kids Club (you can become a member for R120 membership fee – contact Peoples Theatre on 011 403 1563/2340 for more information).
Discounts for school bookings apply, with tickets being R80 per person.
For bookings, call Peoples Theatre on 011 403 1563/2340 or email info@peoplestheatre.co.za.
Otherwise you can book online at www.joburgtheatre.com or through Webtickets.
Be careful what you wish for, a few escapees from the Central Park Zoo and you will quickly find out that living in the wild is… well, a pretty wild experience!
