'Back to Broadway' boasts 3 pianists

GEORGE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS - Not one, but three pianists will take to the stage for the Arts Theatre's upcoming production, Back to Broadway.

The production will be showcased during six performances on Friday and Saturday evenings 18 and 19 June; and 25 and 26 June, with two matinees on the Saturdays.

"Back to Broadway is proud to say that we will be singing live onstage and we have three talented pianists to keep you entertained," says director Wayne Strydom.

"They come from a wide range of backgrounds. The well-known Schalk Visagie, who's been on stage since 2005 in every possible kind of role, will be joined by an organ teacher, Christopher Petrie, and a jazz pianist, Ricardo Muller."

Three pianists

Visagie started piano lessons when he was eight years old and finished Grade 6 Unisa exams. He participated in his first show at the Art's Theatre in 2005 (The Mikado) and chooses Edwina Rapley's shows Anything Goes and Singing in the Rain as his two top picks.

Petrie studied music at Stellenbosch University with organ as his main instrument and piano as his second and received his honours degree in 2019. He moved to George in 2019 but continued to work freelance, doing theatre shows, the last of which was at the 2020 Woordfees right before lockdown.

Muller is a jazz pianist, which is one of his many passions aside from composing and producing music. "I've been playing piano since I was eight years old. I learned to play piano through my father, Neels Muller, and my uncle, Leon Hendricks, and have taught myself further on and got my theory down from research I did on Google and YouTube," says Muller.

"Ever since lockdown I was unable to do any performances. With the lifting of restrictions, things started to get better for us as musicians and performers. The Jazz through the Storm fundraising concert in March 2021 at the George Arts Theatre was the first performance we hosted after a year of not being able to play due to Covid-19."

Schalk Visagie (behind the piano) teaching the children's choir.

New blood

In the last three months, Muller has organised two jazz shows at the theatre and brought new talent to the stage.

"He decided to apply for an internship at the theatre and we are really blessed to have him and all his skills at The George Arts Theatre for the next year," says Strydom. "Be sure, we will be seeing more of this talented jazz pianist!"

Bookings can be done through Computicket or the theatre. Remember, only 100 people can be seated to allow social distancing. For more information phone 044 873 3938.

Christopher Petrie (front) and Lida de Villiers working on the Phantom Medley.