In a dramatic turn in tonight's episode of M-Net's new reality drama
High School Musical: Spotlight South Africa Producer Pieter Toerien announced that as many as 18 performers will advance through to the competition phase, instead of the planned Top 14. "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," he explained. This coming Saturday's show [16 August] will mark the first time that the Top 18 will sing, dance and act for viewers' votes.
They were chosen from the 22 performers who were left standing at the cliffhanger end of Episode 3, broadcast Saturday evening [9 August]. At the start of tonight's episode [11 August], Toerien split the 22 into two groups: one group of 8 and one group of 14. Tension was running high when he stepped onto the stage with his dreaded clipboard. "There's good news and there's bad news," he said. First he addressed the group of 14 - giving them one more chance to work with the Creative Panel the next day and then to make another impression in one final audition. "Another second chance!" noted P.E.'s Emile Doubell, who got his first second chance when Zoleka Mtila was disqualified. "I'm using it to my full potential!"
And then it was time to let the final group of 8 off the hook. "You're through to the next round - you don't have to do any more!" a delighted Pieter Toerien announced. Carmen Pretorius, Darren Vercuiel, David Schlachter, Dineo Moeketsi, Mario Ogle, Melissa Allison, Steven Lewis and Courtney Jonas gasped in disbelief - they had made it!
"I'm absolutely blown away! I keep crying and I don't know why!" said a relieved Carmen. "It's a wonderful day! A most amazing day!" Melissa grinned, and did a little dance in the courtyard to prove it.
"Those are the 8 that we know can act, sing, dance well," Toerien explained. "The Creatives will put the other group to work and we will see which six can join the eight."
So the next day it was back to Artscape for Lyle Volkwyn, Jordanna Malkoff, Tsephi Mashego, Eloise Horjus, Lorri Glajchen, Josslyn Hlenti, Tsepho Seloane, Zolani Shangase, Emile Doubell, Jerraine Jaftha, Jarryd Nurden, Danaë Rau, Daniel Wessels and Carl Ellis.
"Anyone 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 hard work 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," he told the apprehensive performers.
A tough day's work, but the performers had a positive attitude. "I'm a bit on the sad side that I didn't make it into the house yet, but I'm even more excited about being here, because it gives me more experience and more know-how to do the stuff," explained Josslyn Hlenti. Emile Doubell explained that the choreography piece they had to learn was from the actual High School Musical movie, aptly called "Get your Head In The Game". "It's much faster and much more edgy," he noted. "I was working at 200% and now I'm working at 250 and I think it's just going to keep climbing as this goes on," Daniel Wessels confided.
In the vocal session the performers worked in couples, singing a love song from High School Musical. "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.
And then they had one final chance to audition for a place in the competition. First the boys showed off their dance routine, and then each couple had to perform "And There Was Me And You" from High School Musical. Darryn performed with Danaë, Carl with Dineo, Daniel with Tsephi and Lyle with Eloise, who got the fright of her life when she forgot her lyrics! She made up for it by dancing her heart out in the girls' dance routine, and then it was Jeraine's turn to sing with Tsepho, followed by Jordanna and Zolani, and Lorri and Emile.
After each performance Pieter Toerien and the Creative Panel deliberated furiously, intently discussing each performer's progress. And then it was time to announce their decision. "It's the last time we have to do this terrible thing," Toerien consoled them. He called Emile, Jordanna, Jerrain and Zolani to one side and broke the news: "I'm very sorry - we're sending you home."
Then there were ten performers left on stage, with just six places to fill in the planned Top 14. But these performers had been worrying in vain. "It's been changed!" The Producer announced. "The Top 14 had now become the Top 18 and if you can all count - you're all through! Congratulations!"
So here they are - the Top 18 who will compete for viewers' votes as of next week:
Carmen Pretorius (18) from Roodepoort
Darren Vercuiel (18) from Alberton
David Schlachter (20) from Durban
Dineo Moeketsi (19) from Fourways
Mario Ogle (19) from Pietermaritzburg
Melissa Allison (18) from Port Elizabeth
Steven Lewis (24) from Cape Town
Courtney Jonas (19) from Cape Town
Lyle Volkwyn (21) from Johannesburg
Tsephi Mashego (23) from Centurion
Eloise Horjus (25) from Johannesburg
Lorri Glajchen (25) from Johannesburg
Josslyn Hlenti (17) from Durban
Tsepho Seloane (18) from Boksburg
Jarryd Nurden (16) from Pietermaritzburg
Danaë Rau (17) from Durban
Daniel Wessels (18) from Durban, and
Carl Ellis (24) from Pietermaritzburg
From now on they will study and rehearse hard every week on location in Cape Town, and perform in every Saturday evening's show, broadcast from the Theatre On The Bay in Camps Bay. Viewers will have the chance to vote until 10:00 every Monday morning, and every Monday evening the Results Show will be broadcast live from the Theatre On The Bay. The performers who receive the fewest votes will be in the firing line. Viewers will have 100% of the vote but, as Producer, Pieter Toerien will be able to "save" those he thinks deserve a second chance.
For details on how to vote and background information on the Top 18, plus lots more information, visit the official website at
www.mnet.co.za.