Cape Town audiences can look forward to an enchanting mix of romance, wit and emotional drama when Cape Town Opera (CTO) stages Stephen Sondheim’s acclaimed musical A Little Night Music at Theatre on the Bay later this month.

From Tuesday 30 June to Sunday 12 July, the Fred Abrahamse-directed production will feature a distinguished cast of South African musical theatre performers, bringing to life a story of love, longing, jealousy and second chances set against one of Broadway’s most celebrated musical scores.

The cast includes Marcel Meyer as the charismatic Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm, Kate Normington as Countess Charlotte Malcolm, Liné Jordaan as Anne Egerman, William Young as Henrik Egerman, Mia-Cecilia Kriel as Fredrika Armfeldt and CTO House Soloist Brittany Smith as Petra.

Smith, who won a Fleur du Cap Theatre Award in 2024 for her portrayal of Maria in The Sound of Music, is expected to bring her acclaimed vocal and dramatic talents to the production.

Musical director José Dias will conduct from the piano, while costumes have been designed by Marcel Meyer. Lighting design is by Nicolaas de Jongh and sound design by David Classen.

Abrahamse said the enduring appeal of the musical lies in its emotional depth.

“It is sophisticated and funny, but beneath the glitter there is enormous tenderness and vulnerability. Sondheim’s writing is unmatched in its intelligence and emotional truth,” he said.

First performed on Broadway in 1973, A Little Night Music won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and remains one of Sondheim’s most celebrated works. The production features the iconic song Send in the Clowns, alongside a score renowned for its lush waltzes, sharp lyrics and emotional complexity.

Tickets are available through Webtickets and the Theatre on the Bay box office on 021 438 3300. Advance booking is recommended.

ALSO READ: Disney On Ice returns to South Africa with Mickey’s Search Party