Difference between revisions of "Richard Loring"

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== TO BE EDITED ==
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[[Richard Loring]] (born 1945) [https://www.richardloring.co.za/] is an actor,  singer, [[playmaker]] and theatre [[impressario]].
  
  
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(1945?**- ) Actor and singer, theatre impressario. Born In Guernsey, he sang in the church choir as a young man then went to London at age 20. Performed in West End (e.g in ''The Sound of Music'') and recorded with EMI. Also worked for BBC. Discovered and promoted by [[Adam Leslie]], he came out to South Africa for a short run to star in  ''[[The Boy Friend]]'' which was staged by the [[Academy Theatre of Laughter|Academy]]  at the [[Brooke Theatre]] in 1969. It also starred [[[Jo-Ann Pezarro]]. This was his debut on the South African stage, but then went on to become a well known singer and performer in musicals here. His big breakthrough in the eyes of the public came with his role as the narrator in the immensely successful [[PACT]] production of the [[Tim Rice|Rice]] and Lloyd-Webber musical ''[[Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat]]''. Other shows included **, **. In the 1980s he founded his own company, [[Richard Loring Productions]], which produced some of the more successful musicals of the 1980s and 1990s, including**,  ''[[A Touch of Webber…A Taste of Rice]]'' (1992), ***, ''[[Summer Holiday]]''?* (200*), ''[[The Young Ones]]'' (200*) , **, . In 200* he produced the enormously successful ''[[African Footprint]]'', which toured the world for years. He was also involved in a short-lived attempt to found a training school for theatre entrepreneurs and technicians at Midrand University in the late 1990s. *
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==Biography==
  
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LORING, Richard. ctor and singer. Also directs and produces.He starred in ''[[West Side Story]]'' which was staged at the [[Alexander Theatre]] in 1970 by [[Hymie Udwin]]’s [[Academy Theatre of Laughter|Academy]]. It also starred [[Patricia Arnell]], [[Lynton Burns]], [[Michael Harrison]], [[Delia Sainsbury]] and [[Keith Galloway]]. [[Kip Andrews]] directed and choreographed while [[Anthony Farmer]] did the set design. It later moved to the [[Empire Theatre]] before leaving for Cape Town. He starred in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s J''[[Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat]]'' which was directed by [[John Hussey]], choreographed by [[Geoffrey Sutherland]] and also starred [[Bruce Millar]] and [[Alvon Collison]] for [[PACT]] at the [[Alexander Theatre|Alexander]] in 1974. He starred in [[Pieter Toerien]]’s  production of the American mini-musical ''[[Starting Here, Starting Now]]'', directed by [[John Montgomery]] and also starring [[Denise Freeman]] and [[Andre Hattingh]] at the [[Intimate Theatre|Intimate]] in 1978.  
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Born in Guernsey in the Channel Islands, where he worked for a period for a subsidiary of Ford Motors while taking part in many professional productions at the Little Theatre, Guernsey. He also sang in the church choir as a young man.  
  
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He starred in [[Pieter Toerien]]’s production of [[Noël Coward]]’s ''[[Oh Coward]]'' together with [[Judy Page]] and [[Ronnie Stevens]]. It was directed by [[Freddie Carpenter]] and staged at the [[André Huguenet Theatre]] and the [[Intimate Theatre|Intimate]] in 1982. He opened the [[Sound Stage]] on 11 October 1989. He directed the opening production called ''[[We’ll Meet Again]]''. He starred in Tom Lehrer’s ''[[Tom Foolery]]'' at the [[André Huguenet Theatre]] in 1989. He presented ''[[Pumpboys and Dinettes]]'' at the [[Sound Stage]] in 1990. He directed ''[[Grease]]'' which was staged at the [[Alexander Theatre]] in 1992. He preseted ''[[Forever Plaid]]'' at the [[Sound Stage]] in October 1993. His ''[[We’ll Meet Again]]'' was staged at the [[Sound Stage]] in 1994. ***(Tucker, 1997)  
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In 1962, leaving a promising career in business, he flew to London to join the famous George Mitchell singers in the Ken Dodd Show in Manchester. Thereafter, followed a season of the Windsor Repertory company's the musical version of ''[[She Stoops to Conquer]]'' (called ''[[O Marry Me!]]''), at the Royal Windsor Theatre, while he studied part-time at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. In London’s West End he understudied Hero in ''[[A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum]]'' at the Strand theatre, followed by a 3-year run (1500 performances) as Rolf in ''[[The Sound of Music]]'' at the Palace Theatre. Other roles include Septimus in ''[[Robert and Elizabeth]]'', Detlef in ''[[The Student Prince]]'' at the Cambridge Theatre in 1968 and a role in Sir Richard Attenborough’s first film, ''[[Oh What a Lovely War!]]''. (In this case he also worked on the production side with George Abbot, Harold Prince and Stephen Sondheim.)  
  
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LORING, Richard (ass. Prod) ''[[Little Shop of Horrors]]'', [[Pieter Toerien]], [[Cameron Mackintosh]], produced by [[Constance Grappo]], set by [[Edward T' Gianfrancesco]], [[Jannie Swanepoel]]’s lighting, [[Andre Hattingh, [[Mike Huff]], [[Michael Blaise]], [[André Huguenet Theatre]], Jhb & [[Baxter Theatre]], 1985.
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In this period he was discovered and promoted by South African impressario [[Adam Leslie]], and  came out to South Africa in 1969 for a short run to play Tony in the [[Academy Theatre]]'s production of ''[[The Boy Friend]]'' at the [[Brooke Theatre]] followed by Snowboy and Tony in ''[[West Side Story]]''. He ended up staying in the country and making a successful career as a highly regarded singer, performer and producer.
  
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Richard married '''[[Jeanette Loring]]''' in 1983 and they have two daughters, [[Samantha Loring]] and [[Natasha Loring]], both in the entertainment industry.
  
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Richard was born in Guernsey in the Channel Islands. He worked for a period for a subsidiary of Ford Motors while taking part in many professional productions at the Little Theatre, Guernsey.  When he left the Island, he had hopes and dreams and these became a reality as Richard soon achieved incredible success in the entertainment field as singer, movie star and stage actor.  . 
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==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
  
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Starting out with the famous George Mitchell singers in the “Ken Dodd” show in Manchester, Richard went on to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and whilst working and paying his way through college, joined the Windsor Repertory for the musical version of “She Stoops to Conquer” called ''Oh Marry Me'' followed by a season in the West End version of ''A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum'' with Frankie Howard and Kenneth Connor.  He was accepted as the understudy to this role and worked on the production side with George Abbot, Harold Prince and Stephen Sondheim; followed by ''The Sound of Music'' and ''The Student Prince'' at the Cambridge Theatre in 1968. His first film role was in ''Oh, What a Lovely War'', directed by Sir Richard Attenborough.
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===As performer===
  
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In 1970, Richard accepted an invitation which was to change the direction of his life drastically. He travelled to South Africa to play Tony in ''[[The Boyfriend]]''; Tony in ''[[West Side Story]]'' and numerous other productions.  But it was Richard strutting onto the stage in high heels and odd socks as the Narrator in ''[[Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat]]'' (1974) that firmly established him as a top favourite in the musical field.
 
  
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[[Emil Nofal]], film producer, saw Richard in his theatre roles and invited him to appear in ''The Winners'' (entitled ''My Way'' overseas) which was given international distribution and has played in over 40 countries. Other film roles: ''The Baby Game'', ''Bait'' for Heyns Films; lead roles for Karat Films, Germany – ''Unser Mann'' and ''Omaruru''. Richard has also appeared in other films such as ''Vreemde Wereld'' (Strange World); ''Diamond Mercenaries'' starring opposite Telly Savalas; ''The Winner 2''; and in 1984 in the [[Jan Scholtz]] film, ''Magic is Alive, My Friends''.
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'''Stage'''
  
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On the record side, Richard’s first single in 1966 was ''16 going on 17'' which resulted in a 15 year involvement with EMI International under the Parlophone Label. The theme song from ''The Winners'', ''Gina’s Theme'', was Richard’s first hit in South Africa and its follow-up ''Beautiful Children'', topped the charts for 18 weeks.
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His many performances have included ''[[The Boyfriend]]'' in 1969,  ''[[West Side Story]]'' at the [[Alexander Theatre]] in 1970, ''[[Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat]]'' in 1974, the American mini-musical ''[[Starting Here, Starting Now]]'' in 1978, ''[[Oh, Coward!]]'' in 1982, ''[[Little Shop of Horrors]]'' 1985 Tom Lehrer’s ''[[Tom Foolery]]'' at the [[André Huguenet Theatre]] in 1989.  
  
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Richard has starred in many television shows as well as co-presenting the highly successful award-winning ''Video Two'' magazine programme.  Richard’s cabarets have included top night spots in South Africa and the surrounding areas.  Richard was also the first “South African” to be invited to perform on the QE2.
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'''Film'''
  
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It is perhaps production-wise that Richard is most strongly respected in his adopted country of 38 years, South Africa. In 1983 he teamed up with [[Debbie Batzofin]] and drawing on their wide range of experience, they produced specialised entertainment and major events for corporate clients. They later saw a niche in the South African theatre industry and acquired a theatre space in Midrand in 1989, providing the Johannesburg audiences with a dinner/theatre venue, [[The Sound Stage Supper Theatre]].  Opening with ''[[We'll Meet Again]]''. Nineteen years later decided to close the venue as he was given a three year contract as Consultant/Producer at the new [[Lyric Theatre]] in Gold Reef City Casino.  
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The film producer [[Emil Nofal]]  saw Richard in his theatre roles and invited him to appear in ''[[The Winners]]'' (known as ''[[My Way]]'' overseas), which was given international distribution and has played in over 40 countries. Other film roles include ''[[The Baby Game]]'', ''[[Bait]]'' for [[Heyns Films]]; ''[[Unser Mann]]'' and ''[[Omaruru]]'' for [[Karat Films]], Germany; ''[[Vreemde Wêreld]]'' ("Strange World"); ''[[Diamond Mercenaries]]'' (playing opposite Telly Savalas); ''[[The Winners 2]]'', ; and ''[[Magic is Alive, My Friends]]'' ([[Jan Scholtz]], 1984).  
  
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Richard, recognized as a leader in his field, decided, whilst visiting long-time friend, Sir [[Cameron Mackintosh]] in Australia, to see a final performance of “Tap Dogs” in Sydney, and that set Richard on a path to create a truly “Made In South Africa” product, resulting in ''[[African Footprint]]'', with its World Premiere taking place in front of President Thabo Mbeki in May 2000. Previously, excerpts of the show were performed live in front of the president, Nelson Mandela and other esteemed guests on Robben Island as part of the Millennium Celebrations.
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'''TV'''
  
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The [[Globe Theatre]] at Gold Reef City Casino became the home of ''[[African Footprint]]''” where it played for some 6 years.  During that time, up to 3 companies were in existence and they toured worldwide.  One of the highest honours Richard has received was when ''[[African Footprint]]'' was invited to participate in the Royal Variety Performance in the presence of HRH Prince Charles in London in December 2000 and then in 2004 for the Duke of Edinburgh at St James’ Palace in London.  The show has toured to Australia, Europe, China, India, Israel, the USA and Mexico.  
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He starred in many television shows as well as co-presenting the highly successful award-winning ''[[Video Two]]'' magazine programme.  
  
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In 20** he and his wife left Johannesburg to settle in Gordon's Bay and in 2012 he opened [[Richard's Supper Stage and Bistro]] in Sea Point. The opening show was ''[[Kaapse Stories of the Mother City]]'', which he produced and performed in (2012).
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'''Music and recording'''
  
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An active charity man, Richard’s work has seen various charities benefit from putting together the first All Star soccer game at the Orlando Stadium in the ‘70’s to raising monies for the [[Theatre Benevolent Fund]], Midrand Crisis Centre, Hospice and others.  
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Richard’s cabarets have included top night spots in South Africa and the surrounding areas. Richard was also the first South African based singer to be invited to perform on the QE2.
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Richard has served as Charter President of Midrand Rotary, was Chairman of the Theatre Benevolent Fund, Chairman of the [[Theatre Managements of South Africa]] and is a Member of the Order of St Johns.
 
  
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Richard is a devoted family man, married Jeanette Lrong in 1983 and they have two daughters, Samantha (a CNBC - Africa presenter) and Natasha (an actress, based in London).  Richard has always firmly believed that “Life is a Journey, not a Destination” and actively lives out that philosophy.
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On the recording side, Richard’s first single in 1966 was ''16 going on 17'' which resulted in a 15 year involvement with EMI International[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMI_Records] under the Parlophone[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parlophone] label. The theme song from ''[[The Winners]]'', ''Gina's Theme'', was Richard’s first hit in South Africa and its follow-up ''Beautiful Children'', topped the charts for 18 weeks.
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LORING, Richard.  (****-****).  Actor and musician, also worked in cabaret and revue.  Performed in
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===As producer/director and [[impressario]]===
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''[[The Boyfriend]]'',
 
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''[[West Side Story]]'',
 
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''[[Lock Up Your Daughters]]'',
 
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''[[Hair Hair]]'',
 
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''[[Sweet Fanny Adams]]'',
 
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''[[Group Hairier]]'',
 
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''[[Starting Here Starting Now]]''
 
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and as the narrator in ''[[Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat]]'' (in 1979). 
 
  
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It is perhaps as a producer that Richard is most strongly respected in his adopted country, South Africa. In 1983 he teamed up with [[Debbie Batzofin]] and drawing on their wide range of experience, they initially produced specialised entertainment and major events for corporate clients.
 +
 +
In 1989 he became the CEO of [[Richard Loring Productions]], which went on to produce some of the more successful musicals of the next few decades, including**, ''[[A Touch of Webber...A Taste of Rice]]''(1992), ***, ''[[Girl Talk ]]'' (1998), ''[[Summer Holiday]]''?* (200*), ''[[The Young Ones]]'' (2003), ''[[ African Footprint]]'' (1999, which toured the world for years).
 +
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Batzofin and Loring also acquired a theatre space in Midrand in 1989, providing the Johannesburg audiences with a dinner/theatre venue, the [[Sound Stage Supper Theatre]]. Opening with ''[[We'll Meet Again]]''. Nineteen years later they decided to close the venue as Loring  was given a three year contract as Consultant/Producer at [[The Lyric Theatre]] in [[Gold Reef City|Gold Reef City Casino]].
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Some of his musical productions in this latter period have included ''[[Knights of Music]]'' (2009)[https://www.richardloring.co.za/SundayIndependent%20_25%20Oct.pdf],  ''[[Midnight Hour ]]'' (2010)[https://www.mediaupdate.co.za/media/20892/non-stop-entertainment-for-the-whole-family-at-emperors-palace]
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===As pedagogue===
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He was at one stage involved in an attempt to found a training school for theatre entrepreneurs and technicians at the [[Midrand Graduate Institute]].
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===Memberships, charity work, etc.===
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Richard’s work has seen various charities benefit from putting together the first All Star soccer game at the Orlando Stadium in the ‘70’s to raising monies for the [[Theatre Benevolent Fund]], Midrand Crisis Centre, Hospice and others. Richard has served as Charter President of Midrand Rotary, was Chairman of the [[Theatre Benevolent Fund]], Chairman of the [[Theatre Managements of South Africa]] and is a Member of the Order of St Johns.
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== Awards, etc. ==
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[[Stars for a Star Award]], 1993.
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[[ACT Lifetime Achievement Award]].
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Richard received a [[Naledi Award]] Lifetime Achievement in 2009.
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
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Correspondence from [[Jeanette Loring]] (September, 2024)
  
 
http://www.richardloring.co.za/history.html
 
http://www.richardloring.co.za/history.html
  
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[[SACD]] 1973; 1975/76; 1978/79; 1980/81.   
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https://dwrdistribution.co.za/people/legends/debra-batzofin/
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''[[Theatre Lives]]'', "Richard Loring"[https://theatrelives.co.za/people/richard-loring/#:~:text=Inspired%20by%20Australia%E2%80%99s%20Tap%20Dogs%20Richard%20created%20African%20Footprint%20with]
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''[[SACD]]'' 1973; 1975/76; 1978/79; 1980/81.   
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[[Percy Tucker]] 1997. ''Just the Ticket. My 50 Years in Show Business''. Johannesburg: [[Witwatersrand University Press]]. 
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Various entries in the [[NELM]] catalogue.
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https://www.richardloring.co.za/SundayIndependent%20_25%20Oct.pdf
  
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Go to [[South African Theatre/Bibliography]]
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''[[The Citizen]]'', 8 March 2010.
  
 
== Return to ==
 
== Return to ==

Latest revision as of 09:59, 3 October 2024

Richard Loring (born 1945) [1] is an actor, singer, playmaker and theatre impressario.


Biography

Born in Guernsey in the Channel Islands, where he worked for a period for a subsidiary of Ford Motors while taking part in many professional productions at the Little Theatre, Guernsey. He also sang in the church choir as a young man.

In 1962, leaving a promising career in business, he flew to London to join the famous George Mitchell singers in the Ken Dodd Show in Manchester. Thereafter, followed a season of the Windsor Repertory company's the musical version of She Stoops to Conquer (called O Marry Me!), at the Royal Windsor Theatre, while he studied part-time at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. In London’s West End he understudied Hero in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at the Strand theatre, followed by a 3-year run (1500 performances) as Rolf in The Sound of Music at the Palace Theatre. Other roles include Septimus in Robert and Elizabeth, Detlef in The Student Prince at the Cambridge Theatre in 1968 and a role in Sir Richard Attenborough’s first film, Oh What a Lovely War!. (In this case he also worked on the production side with George Abbot, Harold Prince and Stephen Sondheim.)

In this period he was discovered and promoted by South African impressario Adam Leslie, and came out to South Africa in 1969 for a short run to play Tony in the Academy Theatre's production of The Boy Friend at the Brooke Theatre followed by Snowboy and Tony in West Side Story. He ended up staying in the country and making a successful career as a highly regarded singer, performer and producer.

Richard married Jeanette Loring in 1983 and they have two daughters, Samantha Loring and Natasha Loring, both in the entertainment industry.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

As performer

Stage

His many performances have included The Boyfriend in 1969, West Side Story at the Alexander Theatre in 1970, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in 1974, the American mini-musical Starting Here, Starting Now in 1978, Oh, Coward! in 1982, Little Shop of Horrors 1985 Tom Lehrer’s Tom Foolery at the André Huguenet Theatre in 1989.

Film

The film producer Emil Nofal saw Richard in his theatre roles and invited him to appear in The Winners (known as My Way overseas), which was given international distribution and has played in over 40 countries. Other film roles include The Baby Game, Bait for Heyns Films; Unser Mann and Omaruru for Karat Films, Germany; Vreemde Wêreld ("Strange World"); Diamond Mercenaries (playing opposite Telly Savalas); The Winners 2, ; and Magic is Alive, My Friends (Jan Scholtz, 1984).

TV

He starred in many television shows as well as co-presenting the highly successful award-winning Video Two magazine programme.

Music and recording

Richard’s cabarets have included top night spots in South Africa and the surrounding areas. Richard was also the first South African based singer to be invited to perform on the QE2.

On the recording side, Richard’s first single in 1966 was 16 going on 17 which resulted in a 15 year involvement with EMI International[2] under the Parlophone[3] label. The theme song from The Winners, Gina's Theme, was Richard’s first hit in South Africa and its follow-up Beautiful Children, topped the charts for 18 weeks.

As producer/director and impressario

It is perhaps as a producer that Richard is most strongly respected in his adopted country, South Africa. In 1983 he teamed up with Debbie Batzofin and drawing on their wide range of experience, they initially produced specialised entertainment and major events for corporate clients.

In 1989 he became the CEO of Richard Loring Productions, which went on to produce some of the more successful musicals of the next few decades, including**, A Touch of Webber...A Taste of Rice(1992), ***, Girl Talk (1998), Summer Holiday?* (200*), The Young Ones (2003), African Footprint (1999, which toured the world for years).

Batzofin and Loring also acquired a theatre space in Midrand in 1989, providing the Johannesburg audiences with a dinner/theatre venue, the Sound Stage Supper Theatre. Opening with We'll Meet Again. Nineteen years later they decided to close the venue as Loring was given a three year contract as Consultant/Producer at The Lyric Theatre in Gold Reef City Casino.

Some of his musical productions in this latter period have included Knights of Music (2009)[4], Midnight Hour (2010)[5]

As pedagogue

He was at one stage involved in an attempt to found a training school for theatre entrepreneurs and technicians at the Midrand Graduate Institute.

Memberships, charity work, etc.

Richard’s work has seen various charities benefit from putting together the first All Star soccer game at the Orlando Stadium in the ‘70’s to raising monies for the Theatre Benevolent Fund, Midrand Crisis Centre, Hospice and others. Richard has served as Charter President of Midrand Rotary, was Chairman of the Theatre Benevolent Fund, Chairman of the Theatre Managements of South Africa and is a Member of the Order of St Johns.

Awards, etc.

Stars for a Star Award, 1993.

ACT Lifetime Achievement Award.

Richard received a Naledi Award Lifetime Achievement in 2009.

Sources

Correspondence from Jeanette Loring (September, 2024)

http://www.richardloring.co.za/history.html

https://dwrdistribution.co.za/people/legends/debra-batzofin/

Theatre Lives, "Richard Loring"[6]

SACD 1973; 1975/76; 1978/79; 1980/81.

Percy Tucker 1997. Just the Ticket. My 50 Years in Show Business. Johannesburg: Witwatersrand University Press.

Various entries in the NELM catalogue.

https://www.richardloring.co.za/SundayIndependent%20_25%20Oct.pdf

The Citizen, 8 March 2010.

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