June Carter Cash Story, FROM THE HEART, to Play the Alexander Upstairs

A new stage production about the life of June Carter Cash, adapted for the stage by Candice van Litsenborgh from Carter Cash's autobiography, will premiere at the Alexander Bar this February. The 55-minute long FROM THE HEART is presented by Shannyn Fourie and Canned Rice Productions.

FROM THE HEART offers a glimpse behind the glamour of the music industry, placing under the spotlight the courage needed to be the supporting player to a superstar. A collection of defining moments in the life of a girl who was born into country music royalty, FROM THE HEART explores how little Junie, who talked too much and swung on the stage curtains, became the woman who finally got country music's ultimate bad boy, Johnny Cash, to walk the line.

June Carter Cash will be played by Shannyn Fourie, who was most recently seen on Cape Town stages in The Fugard Theatre's production of CABARET in which she played Fraulein Kost and earned a Fleur du Cap Theatre Award nomination. In 2014, she appeared on stages in England, Wales and Ireland in Janice Honeyman's production of SHOW BOAT. Other musical theatre performances include the 2010 Standard Bank Ovation Award-winning production of I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE, EDGES and GREASE. Fourie played Amy in the psychological drama, TAPE, and has also co-written and produced SALUTE THE TROOPS, a wartime musical revue. She also is an accomplished make-up artist and sought-after corporate entertainer.

Andy Lund, who will play Johnny Cash and serve as musical supervisor for the show, has released four full length albums and four EPs. His albums have all garnered critical acclaim, with his most recent solo album being voted one of the top albums of 2013 by Rolling Stone SA Magazine. Lund wrote, directed and hosted a show dedicated to the life of Bob Dylan at the BMW Pavilion Theatre, with FROM THE HEART marking his professional theatre debut.

FROM THE HEART will be directed by Richard Wright-Firth. Wright-Firth graduated from the prestigious Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts and is a former member of the BBC Radio Drama Company. An accomplished theatre performer in his own right and most well-known for his performance as Muldoon is the Starz series BLACK SAILS, Wright-Firth has directed several musical comedy cabarets on Cape Town stages, including UNDERSTUDY BLUES, which starred FROM THE HEART writer, Candice van Litsenborgh.

Van Litsenborgh has worked as a co-writer and director on several revues and comedy cabarets, including UNDERSTUDY BLUES. A regular on South African stages, she appeared as loveable blonde ditz, Audrey, in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, for which she recently won the BroadwayWorld South Africa Award for Best Actress in a Musical and is nominated for the equivalent award at the Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards. She is currently performing in the Pieter Toerien Productions and KickstArt co-production of SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARNER OF FLEET STREET.

FROM THE HEART runs at the Alexander Upstairs from 22 February - 5 March. Tickets cost R90 if booked and prepaid online at the Alexander Bar's website, or R100 if paid for at the theatre itself. Tickets can also be purchased at the bar, which is situated at 76 Strand Street in Cape Town's city centre, anytime during its regular opening hours. Under 18s must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Keep up to date with events at Alexander Bar on Facebook and Twitter.