Difference between revisions of "Bruce Millar"

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(****-****). Actor and Singer.  Performed in
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[[Bruce Millar]] (1945-2023) actor, singer and producer.  
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The Boy Friend,
 
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Butterflies are Free (for which he was nominated for a Best Actor Award),
 
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Abelard and Heloise,
 
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White Liars, Lovers,  
 
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A Macbeth,
 
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Best of Birds and Beasts,
 
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Godspell (as “Jesus”, for which he won a Gallo award for Best musical performance 1974), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dream Coat (as “Joseph” for which he was nominated for a Gallo Award),
 
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Henry IV (as Prince Hal) 
 
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Act.  
 
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(SACD 1973) (SACD 1974) (SACD 1975/76) (SACD 1977/78) (SACD 1978/79)  (SACD1979/80) (SACD 1981/82)
 
  
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(19*-) Actor and singer. ** He starred in an adaptation of  ''[[Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris]]'' directed by [[Taubie Kushlick]] and staged between 1975 and 1983. He starred in [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]] and [[Tim Rice]]’s ''[[Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat]]'' which was directed by [[John Hussey]], choreographed by [[Geoffrey Sutherland]] and also starred [[Richard Loring]] [[Mark Richardson]], [[Garth Annetts]] & [[Tony Caprari]], [[Laura Wilkie]], [[Sandy Dyer]], [[Leslie Sterry]]and [[Alvon Collison]] for [[PACT]] at the [[Alexander]] in 1974. He starred in ''[[Grease]]'' together with [[Leonie Hofmeyr]], [[Eckard Rabe]], [[Danny Keogh]] and [[Sue Kiel]] at [[His Majesty’s]] in 1977. It ran until June the following year. He starred in ''[[The Bed]]'', directed and adapted by [[Jimmy Logan]], together with [[Melody O’Brian]], [[John Lesley]] and [[Diane Appleby]] at the [[Academy]] in 1980. Together with [[Dawn Lindberg]] he starred in the [[Lindberg]]’s production ''[[I’m Getting My Act Together and Taking It On the Road]]'' directed by [[Malcom Purkey]] at the [[Arena Bistro Theatre]] in 1980. He starred in [[Des Linberg]] and [[Dawn Lindberg]]’s production of ''[[Lennon]]'' together with [[Gay Lambert]], [[Colin Shapiro]] and [[Colin Shamley]]. [[Dawn Linberg]] directed this tribute at the [[Arena Bistro]] in 1981.
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== Biography ==
  
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Quoted from the programme of Pieter Toerien's ''[[Isn't It Romantic]]'' in 1985: 'Bruce was born in Bulawayo and trained in Bristol, England, graduating with a B.A. Joint Honours Drama and English and then spent two years at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. He was first seen in South Africa as the blind boy in ''[[Butterflies are Free]]'' for which he received and Actor of the Year nomination. Since then has been seen in a wide variety of productions from [[Robert Kirby]] revues (eg. ''[[Separate Development]]'', which went to the Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre) to [[Michael McCabe's production of ''[[Everyman]]'' for which Bruce wrote and sang a couple of pseudo-Gregorian songs). He is probably best know for his performances in musicals, beginning with the original [[Des Lindberg|Des]] and [[Dawn Lindberg]] production of ''[[Godspell]]'' in which he played Jesus, winning the [[Gallo Award]] for Best Performance in a Musical. He the played the title role in ''[[Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat]]'' earning a Gallo Award nomination. Other musicals include ''[[Grease]]'', ''[[Lennon]]'' and ''[[Fangs]]''. In 1976 Bruce's recording of ''[[I Won't Give Up]]'' topped the Hit Parade for six weeks earning him a Gold Record. That same year he won two [[SARI]] awards - 'Best Male Vocalist' and 'Top Twenty Artist of the Year'. When SABC started its television service in January 1976 he sang on the opening night variety show ('thus becoming one of the first artists in the country to be switched off...'). Since then his TV appearances have included ''[[The Danny Bickett Show]]'', ''[[Along Came A Spider]]'' and he most recently was the presenter of ''[[Follow That Star]]''. Bruce is also a familiar voice to the dying breed of radio listeners, having played Al Capone in ''[[Mr Scarface]]'' and Pip in ''[[Great Expectations]]''. 
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Born in Bulawayo on 17 December, 1945, he trained in Bristol, England, graduating with a B.A. Joint Honours Drama and English and then spent two years at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
  
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He passed away om Johannesburg on 16 November, 2023.
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==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
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He was first seen in South Africa as the blind boy in ''[[Butterflies are Free]]''.
 +
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He also performed in ''[[The Boy Friend]], ''[[Abelard and Heloise]]'', ''[[White Liars]]'', ''[[Lovers]]'', ''[[A Macbeth]]'', ''[[Best of Birds and Beasts]]'', ''[[Godspell]]'' (as “Jesus”, for which he won a Gallo award for Best musical performance 1974), ''[[Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat]]'' (as “Joseph” for which he was nominated for a Gallo Award), and ''[[Henry IV]]'' (as Prince Hal) 
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 +
He starred in an adaptation of  ''[[Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris]]'' directed by [[Taubie Kushlick]] and staged between 1975 and 1983. He starred in [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]] and [[Tim Rice]]’s ''[[Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat]]'' for [[PACT]] at the [[Alexander Theatre]] in 1974, ''[[Grease]]''(1977), ''[[The Bed]]'' (1980), ''[[I’m Getting My Act Together and Taking It On the Road]]'' (1980), ''[[Lennon]]'' (1981).
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Since then has been seen in a wide variety of productions from [[Robert Kirby]] revues (eg. ''[[Separate Development]]'', which went to the Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre) to [[Michael McCabe]]'s production of ''[[Everyman]]'' for which Bruce wrote and sang a couple of pseudo-Gregorian songs).
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 +
He is probably best know for his performances in musicals, beginning with the original [[Des Lindberg|Des]] and [[Dawn Lindberg]] production of ''[[Godspell]]'' in which he played Jesus. He the played the title role in ''[[Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat]]'' earning a Gallo Award nomination.
 +
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Other musicals include ''[[Grease]]'', ''[[Lennon]]'' and ''[[Fangs]]''. In 1976 Bruce's recording of ''I Won't Give Up'' topped the Hit Parade for six weeks earning him a Gold Record.
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When [[SABC]] started its television service in January 1976 he sang on the opening night variety show ('thus becoming one of the first artists in the country to be switched off...'). Since then his TV appearances have included ''The Danny Bickett Show'', ''Along Came A Spider'' and he was the presenter of ''Follow That Star''.
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Film roles included ''[[Safari 3000]]''
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Bruce is also a familiar voice to the dying breed of radio listeners, having played Al Capone in ''Mr Scarface'' and Pip in ''Great Expectations''.
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'''TO BE ADDED''': Born Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Studied at Bristol University, then trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, England. 1970 moved to South Africa. Played Jesus in Godspell and Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. He also had a very successful career as a pop singer. His international movies include Safari 3000 (with Stockard Channing & David Carradine), Oh Brother! and Rogue Lion. These days he is a radio broadcaster and producer of Radio Drama for SAfm Radio in Johannesburg, South Africa.
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== Awards, etc. ==
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He received an Actor of the Year nomination for ''[[Butterflies are Free]]''.
 +
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He won the [[Gallo Award]] for Best Performance in a Musical for ''[[Godspell]]'' in which he played Jesus.
 +
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In 1976 he won two [[SARI]] awards - 'Best Male Vocalist' and 'Top Twenty Artist of the Year'.
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
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Tucker, 1997
 
  
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Programme of Pieter Toerien's ''[[Isn't It Romantic]]'' in 1985.  
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[[Percival Tucker|Percy Tucker]] 1997. ''Just the Ticket. My 50 Years in Show Business''. Johannesburg: [[Witwatersrand University Press]]. 
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https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0587657/bio/
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https://www.linkedin.com/in/bruce-millar-a7936430/?originalSubdomain=za
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[[SACD]] 1973; 1974; 1975/76; 1977/78; 1978/79; 1979/80; 1981/82.
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Programme of [[Pieter Toerien]]'s ''[[Isn't It Romantic]]'' in 1985.
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"Sanger en akteur [[Bruce Millar]] sterf", ''[[Die Burger]]'', 18 November, 2023: Aktueel p. 3.  
  
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https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0588006/bio.
  
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== Return to ==
 
Return to [[ESAT Personalities M]]
 
Return to [[ESAT Personalities M]]
  

Latest revision as of 20:36, 18 November 2023

Bruce Millar (1945-2023) actor, singer and producer.

Biography

Born in Bulawayo on 17 December, 1945, he trained in Bristol, England, graduating with a B.A. Joint Honours Drama and English and then spent two years at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

He passed away om Johannesburg on 16 November, 2023.

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

He was first seen in South Africa as the blind boy in Butterflies are Free.

He also performed in The Boy Friend, Abelard and Heloise, White Liars, Lovers, A Macbeth, Best of Birds and Beasts, Godspell (as “Jesus”, for which he won a Gallo award for Best musical performance 1974), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (as “Joseph” for which he was nominated for a Gallo Award), and Henry IV (as Prince Hal)

He starred in an adaptation of Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris directed by Taubie Kushlick and staged between 1975 and 1983. He starred in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat for PACT at the Alexander Theatre in 1974, Grease(1977), The Bed (1980), I’m Getting My Act Together and Taking It On the Road (1980), Lennon (1981).

Since then has been seen in a wide variety of productions from Robert Kirby revues (eg. Separate Development, which went to the Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre) to Michael McCabe's production of Everyman for which Bruce wrote and sang a couple of pseudo-Gregorian songs).

He is probably best know for his performances in musicals, beginning with the original Des and Dawn Lindberg production of Godspell in which he played Jesus. He the played the title role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat earning a Gallo Award nomination.

Other musicals include Grease, Lennon and Fangs. In 1976 Bruce's recording of I Won't Give Up topped the Hit Parade for six weeks earning him a Gold Record.

When SABC started its television service in January 1976 he sang on the opening night variety show ('thus becoming one of the first artists in the country to be switched off...'). Since then his TV appearances have included The Danny Bickett Show, Along Came A Spider and he was the presenter of Follow That Star.

Film roles included Safari 3000

Bruce is also a familiar voice to the dying breed of radio listeners, having played Al Capone in Mr Scarface and Pip in Great Expectations.

TO BE ADDED: Born Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Studied at Bristol University, then trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, England. 1970 moved to South Africa. Played Jesus in Godspell and Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. He also had a very successful career as a pop singer. His international movies include Safari 3000 (with Stockard Channing & David Carradine), Oh Brother! and Rogue Lion. These days he is a radio broadcaster and producer of Radio Drama for SAfm Radio in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Awards, etc.

He received an Actor of the Year nomination for Butterflies are Free.

He won the Gallo Award for Best Performance in a Musical for Godspell in which he played Jesus.

In 1976 he won two SARI awards - 'Best Male Vocalist' and 'Top Twenty Artist of the Year'.

Sources

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

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0587657/bio/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bruce-millar-a7936430/?originalSubdomain=za

SACD 1973; 1974; 1975/76; 1977/78; 1978/79; 1979/80; 1981/82.

Programme of Pieter Toerien's Isn't It Romantic in 1985.

"Sanger en akteur Bruce Millar sterf", Die Burger, 18 November, 2023: Aktueel p. 3.

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0588006/bio.

Return to

Return to ESAT Personalities M

Return to South African Theatre Personalities

Return to Main Page

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