Difference between revisions of "Dawn Lindberg"

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[[Dawn Lindberg]] (1945-2020) was a singer, actress and theatre entrepreneur.
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[[Dawn Lindberg]] (1945-2020) was a singer, actress, director and theatre entrepreneur.
  
 
== Biography ==
 
== Biography ==
  
 +
Born '''[[Dawn Silver]]''' in Durban on 19 April 1945, educated at Parktown Girls High and was an AFS Scholar in Detroit, USA (1963-4), then obtained a BA (Fine Arts) [[University of the Witwatersrand]]; Diploma Etching (Urbino, Italy), Stage Design (Salzburg).
  
Born [[Dawn Silver]] born in Durban on 19 April 1945, educated at Parktown Girls High and was an AFS Scholar in Detroit, USA (1963-4), then obtained a BA (Fine Arts) Wits; Diploma Etching (Urbino, Italy), Stage Design (Salzburg).  
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Dawn met [[Des Lindberg]] in 1962 and they married in 1965.  They began performing together as [[Des and Dawn Lindberg]]. They collaborated on a number of projects, under the banners of [[Folk on Trek Productions]], The [[Soirée Society]] and [[CAT Productions]].  
  
She met and married [[Des Lindberg]], and they started out in the 1960s as a singing duo called [[Des and Dawn]], specializing in folk music. From there they moved on to cabaret, TV shows and, despite an ongoing musical career as singers, theatre production with their company [[Folk on Trek Productions]]. In the 1970s they put in a very competitive tender for the theatre that was to be built in the old Newtown produce market, but lost to [[Mannie Manim]] and [[Barney Simon]], who went on to found the [[Market Theatre]].
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'''For further information on these projects, see the entry [[Des and Dawn]].  
  
Besides her own work as producer (she directed and designed  all the productions for [[CAT Corporate and Stage Productions]]) she also held many management positions in the industry at various times, including being  secretary and treasurer of the [[Theatre Managements of South Africa]] ([[TMSA]]) and convenor/Executive Director of the [[Naledi Awards]].  
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'''For Des Lindberg's biographical and career information, see the individual entry under [[Des Lindberg]]'''.
  
Besides her theatre work, she was at one time President of Soroptimists International (the Highveld branch), produced the Double Gold: "Fat Off" fitness tape, co-authored: ''How Did I Begin?'' (a book on the facts of life for kids) and delivered motivational talks on topics such as ''Every Night is an Opening Night'' and ''Unfreeze Your Speaking Assets''.
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She was at one time President of Soroptimists International (the Highveld branch), produced the Double Gold: "Fat Off" fitness tape, co-authored: ''How Did I Begin?'' (a book on the facts of life for kids) and delivered motivational talks on topics such as ''Every Night is an Opening Night'' and ''Unfreeze Your Speaking Assets''.
 
   
 
   
Dawn liked Theatre, Art movies, elephants, cats, sushi and chardonnay. The couple were also well known for the marvelous musical soirees regularly held at their Houghton home in Johannesburg.
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The couple have two sons, Adam and [[Joshua Lindberg]].  
  
Des & Dawn have two sons, Joshua and Adam.  
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Dawn died of a COVID-19 related illness on Monday 7 December 2020 .
  
She died of a COVID-19 related illness on Monday 7 December 2020 .
+
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
 +
 
 +
===As theatre producer===
 +
 
 +
The Lindbergs produced a number of theatre productions.
 +
 
 +
'''For further information on these, see [[Des and Dawn]].'''
 +
 
 +
===As actor===
 +
 
 +
Dawn appeared in a number of productions.
 +
 
 +
Des and Dawn Lindberg joined [[Robert Kirby]] in his show ''[[8 Birds]]'' at the [[Labia Theatre]] in 1970. They helped convert the [[Carlton Cinema]] in Von Weilligh Street into a small theatre which opened with ''[[Birds of a Feather]]'' (a revised version of ''[[8 Birds]]''), also about 1970. 
 +
 
 +
She performed in ''[[The Shrew]]'' (1975, 1980).
 +
 
 +
She had the lead role in ''[[I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking It On The Road]]'' (1980-1981).
 +
 
 +
Together with Des, they performed ''[[Sex, Tango and Everything Else]]'' in the [[State Theatre Arena]] (2001).
 +
 
 +
She performed in ''[[The Vagina Monologues]]'' (2002-2003).
 +
 
 +
===As director===
 +
 
 +
Dawn directed a number of productions, including ''[[Godspell]]'' (1973 and several subsequent productions), ''[[Pippin]]'' (1975), ''[[The Shrew]]'' (1975, 1980), ''[[The Black Mikado]]'' (1976), ''[[Gloo Joo]]'', ''[[The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas]]'' (1979), ''[[Lennon]]'' (1981).
 +
 
 +
She directed the [[PACT]] production of ''[[Every Good Boy Deserves Favour]]'' which was a collaboration of Tom Stoppard’s text ''Every Good Boy'' and André Previn’s music starring [[Danny Keogh]], [[Michael McCabe]], [[Michael Richard]] and [[Lynne White]] in 1986. It won the [[Vita Award]] for best production.
 +
 
 +
She also directed ''[[When I Was a Girl I Used to Scream and Shout]]'' (1987), ''[[The Vagina Monologues]]'' (2002-2003) and ''[[The Good Body]]'' (2007).
 +
 
 +
===As choreographer and designer===
  
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
+
She was contracted in 1965 by [[Taubie Kushlick]], the producer, to do choreography for ''[[The Wizard of Oz]]'', her [[Children's Theatre]] production, while [[Des Lindberg]] was to write extra music and lyrics. [[Keith Blundell]] was the musical director, [[Nina Campbell-Quine]] did décor, while [[Heather MacDonald-Rouse]] did costumes. It was staged at the [[Wits Great Hall]] in 1965.
+
 
Produced and directed
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She also choreographed and designed their production of ''[[Pippin]]'' in 1975.
''[[Godspell]]'',  
 
''[[Pippin]]'',
 
''[[The Shrew]]'',  
 
''[[The Black Mikado]]'',  
 
''[[Gloo Joo]]'',
 
''[[The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas]]'',
 
''[[Lennon]]''.  
 
  
She had the lead role in ''[[I'm Getting my Act Together and Taking it on the Road]]''.
+
===As Arts administrator===
 +
Besides her own work as producer (she directed and designed  most of the corporate and stage productions for [[CAT Productions]]), she also held many management positions in the industry at various times, including being  secretary and treasurer of the [[Theatre Managements of South Africa]] ([[TMSA]]). Dawn Lindberg’s greatest achievement has been the creation and nurturing of the internationally recognised [[Naledi Theatre Awards]], which has honoured over 300 artists and theatre makers, and awarded over 60 Lifetime Achievement Awards.
  
She was contracted in 1965 by [[Taubie Kushlick]], the producer, to do choreography for ''[[The Wizard of Oz]]'', her [[Children's Theatre]] production, while [[Des Lindberg]] was to write extra music and lyrics. [[Keith Blundell]] was the musical director, [[Nina Campbell-Quine]] did décor, while [[Heather MacDonald-Rouse]] did costumes. It was staged at the [[Wits Great Hall]] in 1965. Together with [[Des Lindberg|Des]] they travelled for three years with their show ''[[Folk on Trek]]'' from 1965. The Lindbergs joined [[Robert Kirby]] in his show ''[[8 Birds]]'' at the [[Labia Theatre]] in 1970. They helped convert the [[Carlton Cinema]] in Von Weilligh Street into a small theatre which opened with ''[[Birds of a Feather]]''. They staged ''[[Godspell]]'', directed by Dawn at the Maseru Holiday Inn in Lesotho from 30 September 1973 to 17 February 1974. On 30 September 1974 they returned from tour to stage a run at the [[Lake Theatre]] in Parkview. She directed Charles Marowitz’s ''[[The Shrew]]'' with [[Don McCorkindale]] and [[Molly Seftel]] at the [[Chelsea Theatre]] in 1975. [[Des Lindberg|Des]] and Dawn Lindberg staged ''[[Pippin]]'' with music and lyrics by [[Stephen Schwartz]] and direction, choreography and design by [[Des Lindberg|Des]] starring [[Hal Watters]], [[Sammy Brown]], [[Jo-Ann Pezzarro]], [[Bess Finney]], [[Taliep Petersen]], [[Sophia Foster]], [[Robin Dolton]] and [[Andre Hattingh]] here in 1975.
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===As writer===
  
The Lindbergs opened their production of the musical ''[[The Black Mikado]]'' at the [[Diepkloof Hall]] in Soweto on 13 May 1976. It went on to play in Coronationville and at the [[Loreto Convent]] in Pretoria, Pietersburg, Pietermaritzburg and Durban’s [[Lyric Theatre]] before opening at the [[Brooke Theatre]] on 29 July. They formed a club called the [[South African Living Theatre]] ([[SALT]]) to get around the governments opposition to their multi-racial company. They also revived ''[[Godspell]]'' circa 1976. Together with Des she staged [[Jeremy Taylor]]’s ''[[Back in Town]]'', and ''[[The Importance of Being Irish]]'', directed by [[Nicholas Amer]] with [[Thom Delaney]] at the [[Arena]] in 1979. ''[[Back in Town]]'' went on to play at the [[Alhambra Theatre]]. Together with Des she staged ''[[The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas]]'' starring [[Victor Melleney]], [[Judy Page]] and [[Annabel Linder]] under direction by Dawn at [[His Majesty's Theatre]] in 1979. Des and Dawn produced ''[[I'm Getting my Act Together and Taking it on the Road]]'' directed by [[Malcolm Purkey]] and starring [[Bruce Millar]] and Dawn at the [[Arena Bistro Theatre]] in 1980. Des and Dawn presented ''[[Lennon]]'' with Dawn directing this tribute starring [[Bruce Millar]], [[Gay Lambert]], [[Colin Shapiro]] and [[Colin Shamley]] at the [[Arena Bistro]] in 1981. The Lindbergs directed a guitar festival called ''[[Guitars from Africa]]'' at the [[Civic Theatre]] in 1981. Together with Des she again directed ''[[Godspell]]'' starring [[Sam Marais]] at the [[Civic Theatre]] for [[PACT]] in May 1986 (1985?). She directed the [[PACT]] production of ''[[Every Good Boy Deserves Favour]]'' which was a collaboration of Tom Stoppard’s text ''Every Good Boy'' and André Previn’s music starring [[Danny Keogh]], [[Michael McCabe]], [[Michael Richard]] and [[Lynne White]] in 1986. It won the [[Vita Award]] for best production. The Lindberg’s presented ''[[When I Was a Girl I Used to Scream and Shout]]'', directed by Dawn at the [[Adcock-Ingram Auditorium]] in July 1987. Together with [[PACT]] the Lindberg’s staged ''[[King Afrika]]'' at the [[Standard Bank Arena]] in 1988. In conjunction with the [[Civic Theatre|Civic]] the Lindbergs produced a revival of ''[[Godspell]]'' in 1994.  They also performed ''[[Sex, Tango and Everything Else]]'' in the [[State Theatre Arena]] in 2001 (Written by [[Dawn Lindberg]], Choreography by [[Adéle Blank]] and Musical Direction by [[Dave Polecult]]).
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Dawn wrote ''[[Sex, Tango and Everything Else]]'' (2001).
  
 
== Awards, etc, ==
 
== Awards, etc, ==
 +
 +
Des and Dawn Lindberg were named Living Legends by Minister of Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa in 2015.
 +
 
She was presented with the [[Women: The Real Architects of Society Awards]] ([[WRASA]]) [[Drama Excellence Award]] to acknowledge and honour her 51 years in theatre and show business in 2017.
 
She was presented with the [[Women: The Real Architects of Society Awards]] ([[WRASA]]) [[Drama Excellence Award]] to acknowledge and honour her 51 years in theatre and show business in 2017.
  
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[[Pretoria News]], 11 April 2001.
 
[[Pretoria News]], 11 April 2001.
 +
 +
[[Herman Lategan]]. 2020. Tot einde hartstogtelik oor teater em kunste, [[Rapport]] Weekliks, 13 Desember, 2020: p.2.
  
 
ESAT Bibliography Tra-Tz|Tucker]], 1997.
 
ESAT Bibliography Tra-Tz|Tucker]], 1997.
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https://ewn.co.za/2020/12/08/naledi-awards-founder-dawn-lindberg-dies-of-covid-19-related-illness
 
https://ewn.co.za/2020/12/08/naledi-awards-founder-dawn-lindberg-dies-of-covid-19-related-illness
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 +
http://www.desdawn.co.za
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 +
https://www.up.ac.za/calendar/event-info/2359366/living-legends-legacy-openbare-lesing-des-en-dawn-lindberg
  
 
== Return to ==
 
== Return to ==

Latest revision as of 15:01, 27 May 2025

Dawn Lindberg (1945-2020) was a singer, actress, director and theatre entrepreneur.

Biography

Born Dawn Silver in Durban on 19 April 1945, educated at Parktown Girls High and was an AFS Scholar in Detroit, USA (1963-4), then obtained a BA (Fine Arts) University of the Witwatersrand; Diploma Etching (Urbino, Italy), Stage Design (Salzburg).

Dawn met Des Lindberg in 1962 and they married in 1965. They began performing together as Des and Dawn Lindberg. They collaborated on a number of projects, under the banners of Folk on Trek Productions, The Soirée Society and CAT Productions.

For further information on these projects, see the entry Des and Dawn.

For Des Lindberg's biographical and career information, see the individual entry under Des Lindberg.

She was at one time President of Soroptimists International (the Highveld branch), produced the Double Gold: "Fat Off" fitness tape, co-authored: How Did I Begin? (a book on the facts of life for kids) and delivered motivational talks on topics such as Every Night is an Opening Night and Unfreeze Your Speaking Assets.

The couple have two sons, Adam and Joshua Lindberg.

Dawn died of a COVID-19 related illness on Monday 7 December 2020 .

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

As theatre producer

The Lindbergs produced a number of theatre productions.

For further information on these, see Des and Dawn.

As actor

Dawn appeared in a number of productions.

Des and Dawn Lindberg joined Robert Kirby in his show 8 Birds at the Labia Theatre in 1970. They helped convert the Carlton Cinema in Von Weilligh Street into a small theatre which opened with Birds of a Feather (a revised version of 8 Birds), also about 1970.

She performed in The Shrew (1975, 1980).

She had the lead role in I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking It On The Road (1980-1981).

Together with Des, they performed Sex, Tango and Everything Else in the State Theatre Arena (2001).

She performed in The Vagina Monologues (2002-2003).

As director

Dawn directed a number of productions, including Godspell (1973 and several subsequent productions), Pippin (1975), The Shrew (1975, 1980), The Black Mikado (1976), Gloo Joo, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1979), Lennon (1981).

She directed the PACT production of Every Good Boy Deserves Favour which was a collaboration of Tom Stoppard’s text Every Good Boy and André Previn’s music starring Danny Keogh, Michael McCabe, Michael Richard and Lynne White in 1986. It won the Vita Award for best production.

She also directed When I Was a Girl I Used to Scream and Shout (1987), The Vagina Monologues (2002-2003) and The Good Body (2007).

As choreographer and designer

She was contracted in 1965 by Taubie Kushlick, the producer, to do choreography for The Wizard of Oz, her Children's Theatre production, while Des Lindberg was to write extra music and lyrics. Keith Blundell was the musical director, Nina Campbell-Quine did décor, while Heather MacDonald-Rouse did costumes. It was staged at the Wits Great Hall in 1965.

She also choreographed and designed their production of Pippin in 1975.

As Arts administrator

Besides her own work as producer (she directed and designed most of the corporate and stage productions for CAT Productions), she also held many management positions in the industry at various times, including being secretary and treasurer of the Theatre Managements of South Africa (TMSA). Dawn Lindberg’s greatest achievement has been the creation and nurturing of the internationally recognised Naledi Theatre Awards, which has honoured over 300 artists and theatre makers, and awarded over 60 Lifetime Achievement Awards.

As writer

Dawn wrote Sex, Tango and Everything Else (2001).

Awards, etc,

Des and Dawn Lindberg were named Living Legends by Minister of Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa in 2015.

She was presented with the Women: The Real Architects of Society Awards (WRASA) Drama Excellence Award to acknowledge and honour her 51 years in theatre and show business in 2017.

Sources

SACD 1973; 1974; 1975/76; 1977/78; 1979/80; 1981/82.

Pretoria News, 11 April 2001.

Herman Lategan. 2020. Tot einde hartstogtelik oor teater em kunste, Rapport Weekliks, 13 Desember, 2020: p.2.

ESAT Bibliography Tra-Tz|Tucker]], 1997.

Various entries in the NELM catalogue.

Schwartz, 1988, De Beer, 1995, Joyce, 1999.

www.jozilife.co.za/theatre/dawn-lindberg/

https://www.msn.com/en-za/news/other/theatre-legend-dawn-lindberg-dies-aged-75/ar-BB1bJcBO?ocid=msedgdhp

https://www.msn.com/en-za/news/other/naledi-awards-founder-dawn-lindberg-dies-of-covid-19-related-illness/ar-BB1bJimO?ocid=msedgntp

https://ewn.co.za/2020/12/08/naledi-awards-founder-dawn-lindberg-dies-of-covid-19-related-illness

http://www.desdawn.co.za

https://www.up.ac.za/calendar/event-info/2359366/living-legends-legacy-openbare-lesing-des-en-dawn-lindberg

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