MyJHB

Stuff from Johannesburg

Jonathan Roxmouth’s My Favourite Broadway

Advertorial:
Jonathan Roxmouth’s My Favourite Broadway:

Jonathan Roxmouth’s new show, MY FAVOURITE BROADWAY, presented by Howard Events, sees the multi-award-winning theatre and musical performer return to Johannesburg and Montecasino’s majestic Teatro for a limited season to bring his Phantom of the Opera presence and some of Broadway’s most compelling anthems and emotional showstoppers. There will be eight unforgettable performances over two consecutive weekends: Friday, 25 July to Sunday, 27 July and Friday, 01 August to Sunday, 03 August 2025. Tickets are on sale at Webtickets.co.za.

Jonathan Roxmouth will be backed by the newly-formed 32-piece Egoli Symphonic Orchestra, under the baton of Maestro Adam Howard. This exciting ensemble is a group of world-class musicians Howard brought together to push the boundaries of what orchestral music can be in South Africa. Their official debut was at The Teatro in June as they performed at Red Bull Symphonic – and was a sold-out success that has already positioned the Egoli Symphonic Orchestra as a powerful new force in not only orchestral, but collaborative music circles in South Africa.

Adam Howard is excited to be working with Jonathan Roxmouth again, particularly with his sublime new orchestra: ‘For me, the proudest moment is seeing people respond not just to the music, but to the message: that collaboration, when done with intention and heart, can transcend expectation. We’ve had the privilege of working alongside Jonathan for more than a decade, producing his albums, promoting his concert performances locally, and sharing the stage in front of thousands. Our admiration for him is boundless.”

MY FAVOURITE BROADWAY audiences will also be able to experience Jonathan Roxmouth’s phenomenal vocals and the complex arrangements played by the Egoli Symphonic Orchestra in a breathtaking new technology created by L-Acoustics’ L-ISA technology, which traditional audio systems simply cannot match. L-ISA (Immersive Sound Art) by L-Acoustics is an advanced audio technology that creates a multidimensional soundscape, placing each instrument, voice, and effect precisely in space. Unlike traditional stereo systems that deliver sound from just two directions, L-ISA surrounds the audience with multiple sound sources, allowing them to feel as if they are literally inside the music.

Utilising an array of strategically placed speakers and sophisticated spatial audio software, L-ISA precisely positions each musical element within the Teatro. This innovative approach ensures unparalleled clarity and depth, turning each seat into the ‘best seat in the house’!

MY FAVOURITE BROADWAY takes audiences from the haunting passion of The Phantom of the Opera to the revolutionary anthems of Les Misérables, the grandeur of Evita, the romance of My Fair Lady and beyond — interpreted by a performer with a voice loved around South Africa and the world, sharing his own favourites from Broadway’s most beloved musicals.

Says Roxmouth: “This year feels like a significant homecoming – first MY FAVOURITE BROADWAY in July and then playing Billy Flynn in Chicago – The Musical from the end of August until early November. I have missed the South African audience very much – it’s a special relationship that I am looking forward to rekindling. And to perform with Maestro Adam Howard and the Egoli Symphonic Orchestra really elevates these concerts to a once-in-a-lifetime experience!”

Other songs featured in MY FAVOURITE BROADWAY will be tunes from Singin’ in the Rain, Gypsy, Funny Girl and Oliver, given new energy and depth by a hugely accomplished vocalist and pianist and some of South Africa’s best orchestral musicians. Join Jonathan Roxmouth and the Egoli Symphonic Orchestra, produced by Adam Howard and Belinda Howard for Howard Events, for an evening of musical theatre extravagance. It’s a must-see for anyone who loves musical theatre. Book now at webtickets.co.za. Special 20% discount on the top two ticket prices for group bookings of 10+, excludes matinee performances.

– MyZA

CLICK HERE to submit your news to www.MyPR.co.za.

Click here to submit your South African News – free.

Prepaid Meters: Straton Prepaid

Category: Tag: , , ,

The Oriental Plaza: A Phoenix in Fordsburg

If Johannesburg is a city of forced displacements, the Oriental Plaza is its most resilient response. While the Rand Club was built for the elite and Ponte for the “jet-set,” the Oriental Plaza was born from the trauma of the Group Areas Act—a piece of Apartheid legislation designed to geographically separate the races. Yet, in true Johannesburg fashion, what was intended as a tool of containment and financial ruin for the Indian community transformed into one of the most vibrant, independent commercial powerhouses in the country.

The story of the Plaza begins with the destruction of Pageview, affectionately known as Fietas. In the mid-20th century, Fietas was a legendary multicultural hub, centered around the bustling 14th Street. It was the city’s premier destination for textiles, clothing, and spices, where shoppers of all races would rub shoulders in a “jazzy, soulful” atmosphere. However, because Fietas was located so close to the white-only city center, the Apartheid government declared it a “white area” in 1962. The community fought back for decades, but by the 1970s, the bulldozers arrived. Homes were leveled, and the thriving traders of 14th Street were forcibly relocated to a purpose-built, modernist complex a kilometer away in Fordsburg: the Oriental Plaza.

The government’s intent was cynical: by moving the traders into a controlled environment with high state-mandated rents and strict rules on what could be sold, they hoped to break the back of Indian commercial dominance. The early years were devastating; many businesses folded, and the “Grand Bazaar” felt like a sterile warehouse compared to the street-level energy of Fietas. However, the traders refused to vanish. They eventually won the right to purchase their own shops, making the Oriental Plaza unique among South African malls because it is owned by the shopkeepers themselves rather than a corporate landlord. This ownership model changed everything. Without the burden of massive monthly mall rentals, the 360+ independent stores can offer prices that national retailers cannot touch, turning the Plaza into a “bargain-hunter’s paradise” that draws millions of visitors a year.