Publications
- South African actor Devonecia Swartz is the new leading lady in Calling Us Home – The Musical.
- She stars as Grace, an African Princess who flees a devastating war in her homeland.
- The musical will premiere in Cape Town in February 2023 before heading out on its international tour.
South African actor Devonecia Swartz is the new leading lady in Calling Us Home – The Musical.
The Arendsvlei actor has been cast as Grace, an African Princess who flees a devastating war in her homeland, in the epic musical, composed and written by South African composer Alice Gillham and directed by New York director Peter Flynn.
"Grace arrives penniless in an American city's freezing, grimy docklands. The underworld of this city is ruled by the evil gang lord Ivan who, after an unexpected encounter, has set his sights on Grace. But another, the street-smart Rafael, a young construction worker with bold ambitions, is determined to capture her heart. Will his quest lead only to tragedy? Grace befriends Rafael's reckless sister Isabella in this new world, and together they must fight to survive and keep their dreams alive," reads the production's synopsis.
"I am really excited Devonecia Swartz is leading our production of Calling Us Home. When she first auditioned, she captured both the power and vulnerability in the character Grace. Her voice is magnificent, and she interprets Alice's lyrics with insight and care. She is a genuine leading lady, and I can't wait to get to work together," said Flynn in a statement.
Fans can get a taste of just how well Swartz plays the leading lady in a sneak peek video of her performing Fire In His Kiss, which is sung in Act II Scene 15 of the musical.
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE:
The cast of the musical is made up of both South Africans and Americans, something Gillman says was done deliberately.
"Calling Us Home is a global story that reaches across from one great continent to another, and we wanted to tell it in the most authentic way possible," she said in a statement, adding, "We wanted to work with artists who could personally understand this story's meaning from within their own lives, their own history and context, while also having the generosity of spirit to explore with us how the great human desires for love, hope and home will always unite us all," Gillham concluded.
Calling Us Home – The Musical will show at the Artscape theatre in Cape Town from 15 to 19 February 2023 before the grand-scale musical heads out on its international tour.
Tickets range from R190 to R390, and bookings are through Computicket or Artscape Dial-a-Seat.
