Flying High with Cathy Specific

Brendan van Rhyn - Cathy Specific

As far back as he can remember, Brendan always wanted to be a doctor, but opening night jitters and the possibility of forgetting an entire dance routine seemed much more inviting! He studied singing at St. Christopher School, England in 1996. There he also obtained his Grade 8 singing qualification through The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. In 1997 he was also selected to study at the prestigious London School of Musical Theatre, at the Old Vic. H returned to South Africa and the Tswane University of Technology ( Pretoria Technikon ) to complete a 3-year Musical Theatre Diploma. A lead role in The Judas Kiss, under the direction of Maralin Vanrenen, marked the beginning of his professional career and this was closely followed by a stint in Janice Honeyman's, A Lad 'n a Lamp. He then decided that ' chicken or beef ' seemed a more glamorous option and took five years off to travel the world as a flight attendant; - it was during this time that the fabulous Cathy Specific was born! The opportunity to work with Maralin again in Ladies Night convinced him that there was more to him than serving coffee and tea! Other theatre credits include Pooh in Winnie the Pooh, and the Prince Charming in Cinderella, for the People's Theatre. Brendan has also presented for the Homemark Shopping Network, has been involved in corporate functions and launches and was a featured extra in D9, a film due for release later this year. He recently found himself as the leading character in The Rocky Horror Show at The New Victory Theatre (2008).

Warren Batchelor - Producer

Warren has been involved in the entertainment industry for the past twenty years,starting out as a successful actor, appearing in many award winning theatre productions, feature films and television productions. He then moved behind the scenes first as a director, directing many major television events, as well as stage and live corporate events and then as a producer as well.

Between 2002 and 2007, after a year stint in Switzerland and the U.K he co-produced and directed many major shows, including producing and directing the African Bridal Awards pageants 2003 and 2004, The Presidents Cup Golf Tournament Opening and Closing Ceremonies broadcast to over 800 million viewers worldwide, the Channel O Music Awards TV production 2005, 2006 and 2007, the DStv PVR decoder launches in Cape Town and JHB, the CNN Multichoice African Journalist of the Year Awards 2005, 2006 and 2007 in Kenya, Mocambique and Cape Town, the FHM Sexiest Woman in the World 2004,2005,2006,2007 as well as the Equestria Christmas Extravaganza, and the 57th Miss World Final 2007 in China.

Warren opened InThaZone Entertainment at the end of 2007 and has produced and directed many major events including the ICC International Cricket Awards broadcast live to over 300 million viewers, the launch of Vodacom business to huge accolades and the 58th Miss World Final broadcast to over a billion viewers worldwide. Warren is currently producing his third Miss World Television Final to be held in Johannesburg in December 2009.

Warren is having a blast producing Cathy and knows that the audiences around the country will be blown away by the turbulence about to hit them...!

Maralin Vanrenen - Director

Maralin has always been drawn to the new, the unexplored, the unexpected - and often the controversial. Her first foray into professional theatre in the 70's was at the avant garde "struggle theatre", The Space, in Cape Town. Here she worked with acclaimed artists like Bill Flynn, Pieter-Dirk Uys, John Kani, Winston Ntshona, Yvonne Bryceland and Atholl Fugard. It was also here where she cut her teeth as a director with an outrageous production of Genet's The Maids. After spending four years in London, Maralin returned home in the 1980's to direct her own musical reviews. She co-authored Have you seen Zandile and this play won the authors a Fringe First at the Edinburgh Festival and a Jefferson Award in the US. In the 90's, Maralin adapted and directed various pantos for Janice Honeyman. She and Gaynor Young showed a nation what a young woman with incredible guts could do to overcome an horrific accident in My Plunge to Fame. Writing and directing PJ Powers in A Tribute to Janis Joplin garnered the company a nomination for Best Musical in 1994. This was followed by PJ - a Life in Song. Maralin put stand-up comedy on the map with the creation of the Punchline Pub and her production of Swopping Comics at the Civic Theatre. In this decade, Maralin's skills have included directing and writing for television's Going Up, SOS, Streaks, The Miss SA's, Positive Rocks and Muhvango. Recent highlights for Maralin were resident director of Cats and Chicago. Her direction of Menopause - The Musical and 3 Minutes Past Love for Harry Sideropoulis enjoyed continuous success. Maralin has recently directed the highly successful cult classic, The Rocky Horror Show at The New Victory Theatre.

General CV (Word doc)

Acting CV (Word doc)

Writing CV (Word doc)

Phumi Mncayi - supporting cast

Phumi Mncayi is a versatile professional performer, with vast stage, industrial theatre, voice over and television experience. He trained at The Waterfront Theatre School and acquired degrees, in performing arts (acting,singing and dance) through the London Trinity College, including television presenting under the leadership of Delia Sainsbury and Keith Galloway.His most recent achievements are playing lead roles in the stage versions of THE FULL MONTY and THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW. He has just recently achieved the role of being one of the faces and presenters of WINA MANJE; "WHAT A THRILL IT GIVES ME TO BE BOARDING THIS RETURN FLIGHT.....!"

Ryan Flynn - supporting cast

Ryan was born into the industry, touring with his parents Bill Flynn and Anne Power in various shows from a young age. His first taste of performing was in a SACCEE award winning comical rendition of Macbeth. He studied at AFDA (African Film and Drama Academy). It was during his 2nd year that he got his first experience of a professional film set in Jozi Streets. After graduation he concentrated on musical theatre and has appeared in the Gingerbread Man, Noddy, Beauty and the Beast and Peter Pan the Pantomime. But his 2 fondest memories are playing alongside his father in 'A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum' and playing Brad Majors in 'The Rocky Horror Show', one of his all time favorite shows as a teen. He was recently nominated for a Naledi Award for his Rocky performance as Best New-Comer.

Ryan is absolutely thrilled to be sharing the stage with Brendan again and is grateful that he does not have to wear the high heels this time round. He dedicates every performance to his mother, who is a constant source of inspiration and his father, whom he misses dearly...

Clifford Cooper - Musical Director

A musical graduate from the Technikon Pretoria, Clifford has performed with top artists such as Judy Page, Nataniel, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Sibongile Mngoma and Wendy Oldfield. He has released a solo piano album and appeared as a pianist for numerous major theatrical productions such as, Little Shop of Horrors, Fame, Boogie Nights and was Associate Musical Director on The Lion King - South Africa. He has a midi studio where he arranges, composes and produces music. He also produces and organises entertainment and shows for corporate functions and launches. Highlights of his career include playing piano with The Philharmonic Orchestra in a tribute to Gerry Bosman, a Vita Award for his musical The Official Tribute to the Blues Brothers (1997) and working with the Cirque du Soleil. In 2004, he went to London where he was musical director and pianist for Beauty and the Beast, a pantomime starring Paul Daniels and Debbie Mc Gee. Clifford has also appeared in the USA, Canada, Nigeria, Mauritius, and Zambia on various corporate launches. Clifford has been Musical Director and pianist for The Rocky Horror Show at The New Victory Theatre.

Vicky Friedman - Choreographer

Vicky began her career at the age of five, performing in the Brickhill and Burke production of The King and I. She graduated from Technikon Pretoria with a National Diploma in Musical Theatre. Her theatre credits include : Cinders and her Fella and Sleeping Beauty for Janice Honeyman, The Best of Girltalk for Richard Loring, Annie and the international production of Boogie Nights. Vicky played one of the merry murderesses and understudied Velma Kelly in Chicago - The Musical. In 2006 and 2007, Vicky appeared in Egoli, played a leading role in Stepping Out and understudied the role of Millie in Thouroughly Modern Millie at The Johannesburg Civic. She was nominated for a Naledi Award for her role as Penny Pingelton in Hairspray. Other experience includes choreography for SABC 3's Popstars, Isidingo in Concert, La Traviata for Opera Africa, Ladies Night, the FNB Vita nominated Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (2000) and Menopause - The Musical. Vicky is a qualified dance teacher, voice-over artist and choreographer of corporate events and theatre. She also holds a B.A. Honours Degree in Communications from UNISA. Vicky was the choroegrapher on Mile High with Cathy Specific at The Liberty Theatre on the Square (2007) and recently choreographed The Rocky Horror Show at The New Victory Theatre.