Cornelis Johannes DuPreez Strauss (born 7 June 1978) is a multi-disciplinary artist originally from South Africa. He has lived and worked on 4 continents and is best known as director and producer of music, TV, theatre and radio, composer, lyricist, visual artist, writer, casting director, architectural designer,[1] orchestra conductor, TV personality and property investor.
He ranks within the top 1% wealthiest individuals in South Africa.[2][3]
He starred as a main character in 120 episodes of the TV series SugaRushed[4] (the real-life TV drama set inside his record label studios) and has conducted Disney's The Lion King Musical in 8 countries.[5][6][7] His TV show "My Vreemde Vriende / Strangers For Friends" was nominated for a South African Film and TV Award for Best Lifestyle Show in 2021.[8][9][10]
Strauss has musically directed many full-scale theatre productions, including Sweeney Todd (FrenchWoods, New York City), South African Best New Musical 2003 award winner Mercury Rising,[14][15]Big Top Burlesque,[16]Somebody To Love,[17]Jacques Brel Is Alive And Well And Living in Paris[18][19] and Divas of Music and Dance.[20]
Strauss conducted Disney's The Lion King (musical) in South Africa (2008), Taiwan (2009) and Singapore (2011)[21][22][23] and on the official international tour spanning 8 countries and 3 continents from 2018 to 2023. He also worked with Oscar-winning director Julie Taymor, Grammy Award winner Lebo M and Tony Award winner Garth Fagan on revising "The Lion King" for its 10th Anniversary production.
From 2012 - 2013, Strauss starred in SugaRushed,[24][25] a reality soap about him and his music producer partner, Bradley Africa, running a record label.[26][27][28] The series was aired on TopTV in South Africa[29][30].
Strauss co-produced "Jacobsbaai", the first ever English-and-multi-African-language play in New York City, at the Cherry Lane Theatre.[31] He co-produced and co-presented the "Outspoken" radio show, which aired across Sub-Saharan Africa.[32]
Strauss composed, performed and produced the song "Hidroponies" by his band "ZombieVampire", as well as directing the music video. The music video was in the official selection of the Out Twin Cities International Film Festival in Minneapolis in 2012.[33]
Strauss has starred as TV actor in the South African soaps "Scandal" and "Villa Rosa" (2011) and the drama series "Intersexions", as well as acting in Canadian film director Bruce LaBruce's "X-Homes".[34][35]
Strauss was one of the faces of Mustang Jeans and Underwear (2011 worldwide campaign) shot by Danish photographer Klaus Thymann.[36]
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