Whitney Houston’s biggest hits, a legendary love story and plenty of suspense are heading for the South African stage when The Bodyguard: The Musical makes its local debut in March 2027.
If you remember singing along to I Will Always Love You, I Wanna Dance with Somebody and I Have Nothing, there is plenty to look forward to.
The Bodyguard: The Musical will make its South African premiere at Artscape in Cape Town on 12 March 2027, before transferring to the Teatro at Montecasino in Johannesburg on 23 April 2027.
Presented by Showtime Management, the production is based on the iconic 1992 film starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner and brings the story of superstar Rachel Marron and her bodyguard, Frank Farmer, to the stage.
And, of course, the music is a major part of the attraction.
The musical features some of Houston’s most recognisable hits, including I Will Always Love You, I Wanna Dance with Somebody, Queen of the Night, I Have Nothing, Run to You and So Emotional.
From Hollywood blockbuster to the South African stage
The original The Bodyguard became a global phenomenon following its release in 1992, with Houston making her acting debut as superstar singer Rachel Marron.
The film tells the story of Marron, who hires former Secret Service agent Frank Farmer to protect her and her family after she begins receiving threats from a mystery stalker.
What starts as a professional relationship becomes increasingly complicated as the two struggle to balance Farmer’s responsibility to protect his client with their growing feelings for one another.
It is a story that combines romance, danger, fame and music – a formula that has translated successfully from the screen to the stage.
The film’s soundtrack, performed by Houston, went on to become one of the best-selling soundtracks of all time, selling more than 45 million copies worldwide. It also won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
I Will Always Love You became one of the defining songs of Houston’s career, while I Have Nothing and Run to You were both nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
For fans of Houston, it is difficult to imagine a musical with a more recognisable soundtrack.
Who will play Rachel Marron and Frank Farmer?
One of the biggest questions surrounding the South African production is still to be answered: who will take on the roles made famous by Houston and Costner?
Showtime Management says the cast will be announced in early October, with audiences already anticipating the announcement of the two leads.
Hazel Feldman of Showtime Management says bringing another major film-based musical to South Africa is an exciting opportunity.
“Bringing another huge movie-based musical to South Africa for the first time is a thrill,” she says. “We can’t wait to announce our wonderful cast as we bring these famous screen characters to the stage. Our audiences loved PRETTY WOMAN, and we know that THE BODYGUARD will be just as popular.”
The production follows Showtime Management’s recent South African presentation of PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL and the current return season of MAMMA MIA!, which is playing in Cape Town before moving to Montecasino’s Teatro from 16 October.
The company has established a reputation for bringing large-scale musicals to South Africa with all-South African casts, crews and musicians.
Expect big songs, glamour and plenty of drama
At its heart, The Bodyguard is both a love story and a thriller.
Farmer is employed to protect Marron from an increasingly threatening stalker, but his strictly professional approach clashes with the lifestyle of a global superstar accustomed to being surrounded by fans, attention and constant demands.
As the danger escalates, so does the tension between the pair.
The stage production combines Houston’s music with choreography, costume changes, elaborate sets and the dramatic pace audiences would expect from a large-scale musical.
Reviews of international productions have highlighted the show’s high-energy staging, with audiences praising its sets, costumes and choreography.
As The Telegraph’s Tim Hatley described it, the production is “Spectacularly and ingeniously designed”, while The Independent summed up the experience with the line: “You go in humming the tunes, you come out whooping them!”
For South African audiences, however, the appeal may be even simpler: the chance to hear some of Whitney Houston’s greatest songs performed live in a theatrical setting.
When can you see The Bodyguard in South Africa?
The South African premiere takes place at Artscape in Cape Town from 12 March 2027, followed by the Johannesburg season at the Teatro at Montecasino from 23 April 2027.
Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, the production’s exclusive ticketing agent.
There are also Early Bird offers for both seasons, with a 20% discount available for selected performances.
In Cape Town, the offer applies to Wednesday 17 March and Thursday 18 March, while Johannesburg audiences can claim the discount for Wednesday 28 April and Thursday 29 April.
The offer is subject to availability, with a maximum of six discounted tickets per customer.
A 20% block-booking discount is also available for groups of 20 or more on selected performances and price categories.
There are also Terrific Tuesday discounts, subject to terms and conditions.
A musical for Whitney Houston fans – and theatre lovers
With its combination of romance, suspense, glamour and an extraordinary catalogue of songs, The Bodyguard: The Musical has plenty to offer both Whitney Houston fans and musical-theatre audiences.
The production is rated PG 12+ because of adult themes, language and content, with parental guidance advised.
Whether you remember the original film, grew up with Houston’s music or simply enjoy a big night of live theatre, The Bodyguard promises an evening built around some of the most recognisable songs in popular music.
And with the South African cast still under wraps, there is one more reason to keep an eye out for the announcement: who will step into the shoes of Rachel Marron and Frank Farmer?
The Bodyguard: The Musical opens at Artscape in Cape Town on 12 March 2027 before moving to the Teatro at Montecasino in Johannesburg on 23 April 2027.
Contact sales@showtime.co.za. Book today at www.ticketmaster.co.za
