SA star for West End Chicago
23 August 2005
South African actor, dancer and singer Amra-Faye Wright has secured the coveted lead role in the hit musical Chicago in London's West End.
The South African actress so impressed international theatre bosses with her lead role in South Africa's production of Chicago that they offered her the same part in the world's flagship production of the show at the Adelphi Theatre in the West End.
Eastern Cape-born Wright is playing merry murderess Velma Kelly to packed houses in the South African production at the Artscape in Cape Town. The role was played by Catherine Zeta-Jones in the movie version of Chicago.
The Broadway producers of Chicago, Barry and Fran Weissler, caught Wright's performance at the local production's opening night in Cape Town.
"Amra-Faye put in a world-class performance. She is simply sensational," Barry told the Sunday Times.
It's a dream come true for 44-year-old Wright. "I've always seen the West End as the pinnacle of any theatrical career," she told the newspaper. "Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd get this far.
"I've retired a number of times, and then opportunities just jump up around the next corner."
The mother of two teenage daughters has pursued her career around the world, only to get her lucky break playing Kelly back home in South Africa.
It will be Wright's first West End appearance, although she did play Velma in Chicago's original British touring cast and in the European touring cast a few years ago.
She first enjoyed the limelight in her late 20s as dancer at Sun City in North West, headlining the extravaganza Viva Sun City. This led to a remarkable career, including the female lead in the Starburst extravaganza in Korea and roles in local hits such as the Elvis Las Vegas extravaganza and Grease.
Wright performs in German, French, Italian and English.
"Amra grew a lot for this role - a physically challenging one, too," Chicago international choreographer Gary Chryst told the Sunday Times. "For this show we really need actresses with strong individual personalities."
But Wright's climb to the top has not been easy.
"This industry is a big ocean with many fish swimming in it," she told the Sunday Times. "It's tough; you learn to deal with rejection. You've got to take the knocks along with the ups."
Local producer Richard Loring says Wright's move to the West End is an "important achievement".
He told the Sunday Times he could recall only three other South Africans who have played starring roles on West End stages: Craig Urbani as Buddy in Buddy Holly, Edward Baker Duly as Riff in West Side Story and Kate Normington as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard.
With a 23-member cast, Chicago has been produced in 261 cities and seen by over 12-million people.
The South African production runs in Cape Town until 11 September.
Wright starts two weeks of rehearsals in London on 26 September and has been signed up for the role until January.
SouthAfrica.info reporter
