Connie Bentlage
Summary Profile
(B.Mus WITS)
Musical Director, Keyboards & Alto and Tenor Sax
Connie has performed in shows such as: “The Official Tribute to the Blues Brothers” (which won the best theatre production of the year – Vita award 1997); “Snoopy the Musical”; Rory Rootenberg’s “Cadenza”; “Feeling Groovy”; Carousel’s “Decades”; Emperor’s “Inferno”; “Stage Fright, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and was Musical Director and performed in Richard Loring´s: “Girl Talk 1”; “Girl Talk Nite Out”, “Girl Talk 005”, “Girl Talk 007” and Jervis Pennington’s “Scribble”. Connie was assistant musical director for Janis Honeyman’s Pantomime “Jack & the Beanstalk”.
She has also performed extensively on the Barnyard theatre circuit in shows such as: “Glory Days”; “Roll over Beethoven”, “70’s Revolution”, “Natural Woman”, “The 60’s Revolution” and “The Boys are Back in Town”. She also musically directed shows such as Jervis Pennington’s “Chef, Rattle & Roll” and the Buddy Holly show “That’ll Be the Day” for Richard Loring at the Globe Theatre, Gold Reef City. For her work on this production she was nominated in the category “Best Musical Director” for the Naledi Awards.
Highlights in her performing career were Nelson Mandela’s 80th Birthday Gala at Gallagher Estate where she shared a stage with celebrities: Michael Jackson; Nina Simone; Stevie Wonder and others and opening for Joe Cocker in 2008 with Neill Solomon, as well as Hugh Masakela & Johnny Clegg for the Durban Heritage Day Festival in 2009.
Connie has performed with artists such as: Neill Solomon (The Passengers), Emmanuel Castis, Phat Brass Big Band, Ramaine and Undercover, Craig E & Connie (2 piece rock duo), Silver (Chique), and many others.