On Saturday night (9 August) the
HSM: Spotlight SA Creative Peam narrowed down the
Top 42 to a final 22 and in last night's fourth episode (11 August) they chose a Top 18, who'll perform for viewers' votes as from this week Saturday (16 August).
Originally planned to be a Top 14 vote-down, the Creative Panel and Producer
Pieter Toerien changed their minds at the last moment to include 4 extra contenders.
"The young performers we saw all showed such remarkable promise that we wanted to include as many as we could for the first public vote," Toerien explained.
At the start of last night's episode, Toerien split Saturday's final 22 into two groups: one group of 8; and one group of 14.
"There's good news and there's bad news," he told everyone.
First he addressed the group of 14 - telling them they had one more chance to work with the Creative Panel before making their final impression in one last audition.
Then he let the group of 8 off the hook by announcing. "You're through to the next round - you don't have to do any more!"
Carmen Pretorius, Darren Vercuiel, David Schlachter, Dineo Moeketsi, Mario Ogle, Melissa Allison, Steven Lewis and Courtney Jonas were all in this group.
The following day it was back to Artscape for everyone else. "Any one of these people could be in the competition - and stand a chance to win," musical Director
Charl-John Lingenfelder emphasised.
Director
Paul Warwick Griffin spelled out the task that lay ahead. "Today we're going to be pairing you up into boys and girls. You're going to be learning a new duet. You'll be learning a new piece of choreography, boys separate from girls, and downstairs I will be doing some acting scenes with you, in your couples."
In the vocal session the performers worked in couples, singing the High School Musical love song 'And There Was Me And You'.
"I've worked so intensely with storytelling and technique that I wanted these performers to have the opportunity to play and just have fun," explained Charl-Johan.
Everyone moved on to their final audition, starting with the the boys who showed off their dance routine. Following the dancing, each couple performed their song together.
At the end of the performances Pieter Toerien and the Creative Panel deliberated and discussed each performer's progress before announcing their final decision. "It's the last time we have to do this terrible thing," Toerien said.
He called Emile, Jordanna, Jerrain and Zolani to one side and broke the news: "I'm very sorry - we're sending you home."
10 performers remained on stage, with just 6 places to fill in the planned Top 14.
"It's been changed!" Toerien announced. "The Top 14 has now become the Top 18 and if you can all count - you're all through! Congratulations!"
And here they are - the High School Musical: Spotlight South Africa Top 18:
| Top 18 |
Melissa Allison - Port Elizabeth (18)
|
Carl Ellis - Pietermaritzburg (24)
|
Lorri Glajchen - Johannesburg (25)
|
Eloise Horjus - Johannesburg (25)
|
Josslyn Hlenti - Durban (17)
|
Courtney Jonas - Cape Town (19)
|
Steven Lewis - Cape Town (24)
|
Tshepi Mashego - Centurion (23)
|
Dineo Moeketsi - Johannesburg (19)
|
Jarryd Nurden - Pietermaritzburg (16)
|
Mario Ogle - Pietermaritzburg (19)
|
Carmen Pretorius - Roodepoort (18)
|
Danaë Rau - Durban (17)
|
Tshepo Seloane - Boksburg (18)
|
David Schlacter - Durban (20)
|
Lyle Volkwyn - Johannesburg (21)
|
Daniel Wessels - Durban (18)
|
Darren Vercueil - Alberton (18)
|
From now on the Top 18 will study and rehearse each week on location in Cape Town, and perform in Saturday evening's show - broadcast from the Theatre On The Bay in Camps Bay.
Voting lines open on Saturday nights and viewers will have the chance to vote until 10h00 on Monday morning. Each Monday evening the Results Show will be broadcast live from the Theatre On The Bay.
Viewers will have 100% of the vote but, as Producer, Pieter Toerien will be able to "save" those he thinks deserve a second chance.
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