Whoa! It’s been over a week since the inaugural Hope Project! And what a ride it’s been! I would like to officially thank every everyone who has visited our site and offered love and support. Please keep coming back for updates. We’re just getting started y’all! Tons of special stuff in the pipeline.
A super-special shout out to those of you who made it out to the show on Saturday, July 25th. I thank the Father, from whom all blessings flow for you! Thank you for entrusting this dream to me, Lord!
Big thanks to the concessions, sacrifice and passion shown by every volunteer, performer and production pro: starting with our talented vocalists (Lindile Ngcobo, Thubelihle Ngcobo, Nyiko Mongwe and Bongi Mkhonza- you blew our minds!), our guest artists (RJ Benjamin, Jarrid John, Emily Dangwa (you little instigator!), Sibongile Mlotshwa, Adriana Naude-Scholtz and Nono Hove (y’all made it extra special). And the amazing band- Dio Santos on drums (you are a genuine giver- may God return to you a thousand fold), Matthew McFarlane on the guitar, Tlale Makhene on percussion and Jason Green on bass. I commend the phenomenal musical direction provided by my good friend, Chadwin Alexander. It’s been an honour, Sir Chad.
The actors… What would this event have been without the ‘drama’! Sibulele Gciltshana (your humility astounds), Tumelo Sibanda (your super-professionalism is so appreciated) , Nhlanhla Ngwenya (can’t believe this was your theatrical debut!), Ashley Moyo (your time is now, buddy!) and Musa Kalenga (how you found the time, I will never know). You guys were marvelous to watch! Director and Co-writer Zwelethu Radebe, thank you for sharing your ‘old’ wisdom and unique insights with us, and for bringing such beauty out of this stellar cast.
Working earnestly, and often unthanked behind the scenes were production coordinator, Bathobile Dube (your tireless dedication to this cause is legendary), technical director, Allewyn Scholtz (thank God he made you a perfectionist- you tuned us perfectly), Sibusiso Mthiya (backstage management was a thing of beauty thanks to you), Ernest Loveland (you are every production professional’s dream assistant- well done lad!), Connie Bentlage (for all those hours working with Chadwin on a score for our string section- you rock, woman!), our make-up artist, Mbali Radebe (you brought it on with such class!), cast caterer, Lwazi Khoza (wind beneath my wings, friend), volunteers back and front of house staff and runners Anele Ngcobo, Christopher Kapanga and his fantastic family, Norma Tyili (y’all rock like that!) and Nicolene Steyn (you believed from day one!).
A huge thank you to our MC for the evening, Thuli Zulu, the University of Johannesburg, The State Theatre, the amazing people at COACH, UJ Campus SDASM leadership (you literally lifted us up), Parable Magazine, Siyabonga Ngcangisa (you did so MUCH!), the wonderful church families that allowed us to minister to them- not least my home church, Joburg North SDA Christian Church, my amazing head elder Beryl Hook (you are such an enabler!) and Mrs SM Dube (you opened doors for us at UJ). Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
To my loving Mum, Dad and awesome brothers, Dumoluhle and Ndabezinhle and his lovely wife, Nontokozo, my gorgeous girlfriend, Smangele and to my Super Six, who have stuck by me through the harrowing uncertainty leading up to the event, through the loneliness of the aftermath and who share my excitement for where we’re going next. I know this isn’t just a gig to you. I love you and thank God for you daily!
To the rest of you who said it wasn’t possible, suggested that perhaps the dream was too big or unrealistic; to those who came to the show to see a flop or looked on in curiosity when you could have been of practical assistance. To those who demanded that we make it ‘worth your while’ in order to take part when heaven knows you could have sacrificed just a tad to help out. THANK YOU! God isn’t finished here. Please don’t hesitate to approach us in the future if there is some way you can be of service. We bear no ill will. I pray that Hope will overcome every negative notion, banish every selfish spirit and inspire those who mistakenly think there’s stuff God can’t do for or through them. Ironically, God’s boundless provision would not have shone through as clearly to me without the angst.
If I somehow forgot to thank you for something you contributed I apologise. May God richly bless you!
Finally, our plans going forward include a studio recording of the original Hope Project soundtrack and taking the show to other parts of Gauteng and to Cape Town later this year. We look forward to your continued support and can’t wait to see you all there! Pray for us! Moh-fah-yah!
Good Chap .. It was a success! Thank God for giving us such talented people. We can’t wait for more …