South African theatre audiences will soon have a chance to step into one of Hollywood’s most memorable love stories when The Bodyguard: The Musical makes its local debut in Cape Town in March 2027, Cape {town} Etc reports.
Based on the 1992 blockbuster starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, the stage production will open at the Artscape Opera House on 12 March before moving to Montecasino’s Teatro in Johannesburg from 23 April. For fans of Houston, however, the appeal goes well beyond the story.
The musical features a string of songs closely associated with the late superstar, including I Will Always Love You, I Wanna Dance with Somebody, I Have Nothing, Run to You, Queen of the Night and So Emotional.
The story centres on Rachel Marron, a hugely successful singer whose life becomes increasingly dangerous after she is targeted by a mysterious stalker.
Frank Farmer, a former Secret Service agent, is brought in to protect her and her family. What begins as a professional relationship becomes complicated as the pair struggle with an attraction that threatens to blur the boundaries between client and bodyguard.
The South African production is being presented by Showtime Management and will feature an all-local cast, crew and musicians. The performers taking on the much-anticipated roles of Rachel and Frank will be revealed in October. Showtime Management’s Hazel Feldman said the production follows the success of the company’s South African staging of Pretty Woman: The Musical.
‘Bringing another huge movie-based musical to South Africa for the first time is a thrill.’
– Hazel Feldman, Showtime Management.
She added that the company was looking forward to revealing the cast and bringing the well-known film characters to the stage.
Few film soundtracks have had the cultural impact of The Bodyguard. Released in 1992, the film became a major box-office success, while Houston’s soundtrack went on to sell more than 45 million copies worldwide. It also won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
At the centre of it all was I Will Always Love You. Houston’s version became a defining recording of her career and one of the most recognisable songs of the era. The soundtrack’s success also reached the Oscars, with both I Have Nothing and Run to You receiving nominations for Best Original Song.
That musical legacy gives the stage production a particularly strong hook for South African audiences. Rather than relying solely on nostalgia, the show brings some of Houston’s most recognisable performances into a live theatrical setting.
Cape Town gets the first run
The Cape Town season begins on 12 March 2027 at Artscape, with the Johannesburg run starting at the Teatro at Montecasino on 23 April.
Weekday shows are scheduled for 19:30 from Tuesday to Friday, while Saturday performances are at 15:00 and 19:30, and Sunday shows are at 14:00 and 18:00. There will be no Monday performances.
Early Bird specials will offer 20% off selected March performances in Cape Town and April performances in Johannesburg. Terrific Tuesday discounts and selected group discounts will also be available, subject to the applicable terms and conditions.
The production carries a PG 12+ rating because of adult themes, language and content.
Tickets and further information are available here through Ticketmaster, which is the production’s exclusive ticketing agent.
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Picture: Supplied
