The Blues Brothers live on stage at the NewSpace Theatre

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Mongezi Mtati

The smash hit Rock and Roll, Rhythm and Blues Musical The Blues Brothers comes to The NewSpace Theatre on 1st July, 2009. This award winning musical celebrates the music made famous by the “pork pie and wayfarers” duo, Jake and Elwood Blues in the cult eighties movie called ‘The Blues Brothers'.

These iconic kings of cool were created by the late John Belushi and Dan Ackroyd for NBC's Saturday Night Live show and the subsequent film was made on the strength of the cult success of these characters. The first Blues Brothers stage show was a 1980 musical comedy directed by John Landis and starred Belushi and Aykroyd as "Joliet" Jake and Elwood Blues. Musical numbers featured in this two-hour production include songs by singers James Brown, Aretha Franklin, and Ray Charles, amongst others.

The original South African production broke box office records in Johannesburg and Durban. The Cape Town season is directed by Clayton Stewart, the original Elwood Blues in the SA show. The Blues Brothers with serious attitude are played by Johan Baird and Alwyn Kotze who are joined by three Bluettes, namely Capetonians Mono Dullisear as Mono Blues, Lyndle Kearns as Lyndle Blues and Crushanda Forbes and Crushanda Blues.

The season at the NewSpace 1 Theatre on 44 Long Street runs from 1st July to 1st August 2009. Tickets cost from R85 to R135 and performances run from Monday to Friday at 8pm with two shows on Saturday at 5pm and 8pm. Bookings are via Computicket or 083915 8000. Group prices for 10 persons or more cost R100 per ticket via or via the theatre information line on 074 1346636.