PIETER TOERIEN - Producer
HAZEL FELDMAN - Producer
PIETER TOERIEN
Pieter Toerien’s first foray into show business was at the age of 17. Hanging in his office is a commanding charcoal portrait dated 1965 and inscribed: To Pieter, with my love and deep thanks, Marlene. He brought Dietrich to South Africa when he was 20 years old. He has just successfully co produced the Lion King in South Africa, which broke box office records.
Perhaps some of his entrepreneurial spirit was inherited as his family on his mother’s side were all writers and newspaper people. One of them actually discovered the great actress Sarah Bernhardt in Paris and introduced her to the world.
He has provided enjoyment to millions of theatre goers and owns and runs two theatres and juggles as many as 12 different productions a year.
In the 70’s he helped create The Intimate, Barnato and Andre Huguenet Theatres in Johannesburg and brought productions to the then brand new Baxter Theatre in Cape Town with whom he had a long and happy relationship. In 1980 he bought the old Alhambra in Johannesburg which had become a rehearsal space and workshop for the Johannesburg Operatic and Dramatic Society. Realising it would soon be demolished to make room for yet another office block; he hastily purchased the property, virtually tore it down, and came up with three totally new theatres – the Alhambra, the Rex Garner and the Richard Haines.
In 1988 he purchased the derelict old Alvin Cinema in Camps Bay, Cape Town and rebuilt it in a unique post modernistic style with its amazing piece of sculpture, a giant curtain draped over the front of the building designed by Jan Corewyn.
The theatre is now called Theatre on the Bay. He now runs two theatres at the magnificent Montecasino at Fourways, one with 320 seats and the studio with 160 seats.
Toerien’s achievements have not gone unnoticed. In 1981 he was named one of the Four Outstanding young South Africans and he has won a Vita award for his contribution to the theatre. Actress Sandra Duncan said in a press interview “if he were in London he would have been knighted for his services to theatre.”
Peerless farceur Rex Garner, who is a director of Pieter Toerien Productions, says “Pieter Toerien is commercial theatre in this country”. But his contribution extends beyond pure commercial hits. Lining the walls of Pieter Toerien’s theatres are posters of his past productions that say it all: A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, EQUUS, AMADEUS, SLEUTH, AGNUS OF GOD, M BUTTERLY, MASTER CLASS, PRIVATE LIVES etc.
Toerien’s contribution to South African theatre is not limited to providing enjoyment and stimulation for audiences. During the period of transition he gave of his highly pressurized time to working on the WESTAG Task Group on the Performing Arts sub-committee. In this area of civic responsibility he also gave of his expertise on the CAPAB board to assist them in their time of adjustment to become Artscape. He was also on the board of the National Arts Council and the Western Cape Cultural Commission.
The Cape Town season of “LES MISERABLES” a co-production with Sir Cameron Mackintosh and TSOGO SUN brought world class musical theatre to South Africa and was an unprecedented success. This was followed by CATS and “The PHANTOM OF THE OPERA”, THE SLEEPING BEAUTY ON ICE, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, SWAN LAKE ON ICE and more recently CHESS.
Toerien has, for 35 years, provided for many South Africans with a talent for the theatre continued working opportunities. He has brought this nation the best of the commercial theatre of the Western World using his personal funds to finance his productions.
HAZEL FELDMAN
Hazel Feldman’s career in the South African entertainment industry spans some 30 years – involving the full spectrum of producing, promoting, and marketing international concert superstars, extravaganzas, major corporate events and musical theatre. As Entertainment Director for Sun City between 1979 and 1993, she brought some 100 international superstars to South Africa including Frank Sinatra, Liza Minnelli, Queen, Elton John, Rod Stewart and Shirley Bassey.
On leaving Sun International, she re-established Showtime Management as a leading independent and multi-faceted entertainment company, bringing to SA, amongst others, The Rolling Stones, Pavarotti, The 3 Tenors and Gloria Estefan. Internationally she presented Diana Ross in Europe, and shows in Las Vegas and Asia.
In 2003, she teamed with Larry Nestadt of Global Capital to produce FAME – The Musical, following with the hugely successful musicals CHICAGO in, and WE WILL ROCK YOU - which embarked on an extensive Asian tour at the end of 2007 and 2008 with a South African cast, musicians and tech crew. In 2007, Hazel staged MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL and RENT in Johannesburg and Cape Town. The critically acclaimed musical, CHICAGO returned for successful seasons at Artscape, Cape Town and The Teatro at Montecasino.
Hazel and her son Tony, as Associate Producer and Marketing Director of Showtime, brought Pavarotti, Black Eyed Peas; George Benson/Al Jarreau, Seal, John Legend, 50-Cent and Joe Jackson to South Africa. In a Joint-Venture partnership with legendary producer Pieter Toerien, Hazel is currently co-producing Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and the live staging of the worldwide Disney musical phenomenon, HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL.