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Festive Season Love Amra-Faye 10th Anniversary of CHICAGO in London's West End Love Amra-Faye Rugby & CHICAGO in the West End After some time off Chicago, I was beginning to get a little twitchy and realized it must be withdrawal symptoms!! So I go back to Velma Kelly and Chicago in the West End on 5th November. This time for a nice long run…and over the period of the 10th Anniversary of Chicago in the West End. This will be my 2nd 10th Anniversary of Chicago (the first one, on Broadway last November). This promises to be another glittering event with a host of celebs and stars gracing the Cambridge Theatre for one night (5th Dec). Check the Chicago website for details. I have also been involved in some interesting events recently. Most fun was being flown out to my native South Africa to perform with full orchestra, a nationally televised show, AND sharing the stage with the Springbok Rugby Team at their Leaving Banquet, on their way to the world cup. I like to think I may have brought them a sequen of luck!?!! WELL DONE THE BOKKE! I couldn’t be more proud. I am now appearing regularly at Pigalle (Piccadilly Circus) hosting Cabaret night. It is a late night monthly event which is proving to be so popular; it is likely to become a fortnightly event. Check the Pigalle website for details. The whole idea is to have a platform for West End stars to sing the songs they love, and where fans can enjoy a bit of late night cabaret in distinctive New York style. Next one is 9th November. Also did a cabaret at the beautiful Lauderdale House on 21st Oct. with Tom Wakeley. If you enjoy an afternoon of song sans amplification in a grand old house, this one is for you!! Was great fun. Check Lauderdale House website for more info. Love Amra-Faye
CHICAGO in the West End and on Broadway
Posted at 11:12 (GMT) on Friday 22 June, 2007 The past year has been rather eventful for me, and although I have been performing the same show throughout the year, it has remained “fresh” for me as a result of moving from the Adelphi Theatre to the Cambridge Theatre in the West End, and then over the pond to the Ambassador Theatre on Broadway, then back to the West End and back again to Broadway….I think I have whiplash!! Besides doing Chicago, I decided that this was the year to finally get my CD recorded, (click GALLERY) and do a New York style cabaret (click Cabaret)….mission accomplished!! Now what? A well earned rest in my native South Africa – soaking up the sun in Cape Town; a one woman show in my home town, East London; and the Naledi Award Ceremony (South Africa’s Tony’s) in Johannesburg, where I will be presenting the award for “best actress.” OK.. so that was Feb. and March, its now June and I have been back in Chicago (West End) for a while, kicking that same leg but this time opposite the stunning Josefina Gabriela. Love Amra-Faye See Amra-Faye in CHICAGO
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CHICAGO 10th Anniversary; Broadway
Posted at 15:35 GMT on Monday 18 December, 2006 In November this year I was honoured to take part in the 10 th anniversary of Chicago on Broadway, along with some of the brightest stars of stage and screen. I am still reeling fro the experience! All who took part had the surreal sense that we were making theatre history. Besides the actual performance, it was agreed that the backstage camaraderie alone was enough to make the whole experience worthwhile. At any point in time, in greenrooms, passages and wardrobe you could find Brooke Sheilds feeding her baby, or Chita Rivera stretching, or Wayne Brady cracking jokes! During the actual performance though, when Chita rose from the lift to sing “All That Jazz” the audience went stir crazy, and so began the night of Chicago as it will never be seen again!! Melanie Griffith did “Roxie monologue” and Joel Gray – “Mr Cellophane”,..backed by 12 Amos’s from past productions. “Razzle Dazzle” was performed by 9 Billie’s and the original and present ensemble. I did “I Can’t do it Alone”, and Bebe Neuwirth and Anne Reinking did “Nowadays”. An apt finale to an awesome evening. Love Amra-Faye
Cabaret!
Posted at 14:30 GMT on Thursday 24 May, 2006. "Cabaret" I do wish that word didn’t have such unsavoury connotations in London!! Well there are a few of us who are intent on changing the way cabaret is perceived here. I have performed much cabaret in South Africa and around the world, but since I have been quite busy with Chicago, it took me far too long to give my first cabaret performance in London at the Kings Head Theatre in October last year. The art of cabaret lies in taking songs out of their original context and giving them new interpretations. It’s necessary to draw deeply from one’s life experiences. So I am happy to say that the older I get…the more proficient I become in this genre. Hurrah!! The process of story-telling illustrated by songs of your own choice is immensely rewarding….and when done well, is mesmerizing. OK..I’m off my soapbox! But seriously, we NEED more up-market venues, like a room at the Ritz, or the Savoy, to match venues in New York like Café Carlyle, or Feinsteins, or the Oak Room at the Algonquin. Watch this space …we’re working on it! And there will be much more cabaret from me this year! Love Amra-Faye
West End Musical Director Chris Traves collaborates on CD Posted at 11:50 GMT on Tuesday 1 May, 2006 About 3 years ago, I received a guitar for Christmas. At first I used it as a form of therapy, then slowly began to come up with melodies, and finally put them to the lyrics I have been writing since I was a teenager. The whole writing process for me has been simple, quick and relaxing. What a joy! The slow part was getting my act together and hauling myself off to the recording studio. Finally I got West End Musical Director, Chris Traves interested. We booked the studio and musicians and over the next 2 days we put down 8 tracks. This has been an exceedingly rewarding project. The fellas adopted me into their musicians club and the songs grew into something sweet…..in the genre of smooth jazz/ or pop…for people with ears! Keep tuned for availability. Love Amra-Faye |