Award winning Actress Gina Shmukler has most recently played Eliza Doolittle in MY FAIR LADY and directed and co-written BRER RABBIT for the Market Theatre. For her role as Florence Vassy in CHESS, she received both a Naledi Award and a Fleur Du Cap nomination.

Internationally, Gina has toured both the USA and ASIA in Oscar Winner Sam Mendes’ revival of CABARET.

She played the role of Mary Magdalene on the World Tour of Paul Warrick Griffin’s JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR performing in both South Korea and Athens, Greece and Julie with Cape Town Opera’s SHOWBOAT in Malmo, Sweden. In New York, she has worked extensively with Tony Award nominee, Elizabeth Swados, on JUDITH, MISSIONARIES, YERMA, JOURNEY TO BENARES and THE VIOLENCE PROJECT.

Other USA highlights include: SALT CHOCOLATE (the Duke on 42nd), MURDER (PS 122), HIDDEN VOICES (Minetta Lane) directed by Tony Award winner Terence Mann, ANYONE CAN WHISTLE (Fay Apple), SECRET GARDEN (Martha), MAME (Sally Cato) and ON THE TOWN (Madam Dilly).

In New York, Gina played the role of Amina in the Award winning independent film, ARRANGED.

IN SOUTH AFRICA, Gina was awarded the national theatre award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in MASTER CLASS (Sophie de Palma), Best Performance in a Musical for BLUES BROTHERS and a nomination for LOVE, CRIME, JOHANNESBURG in which she created the role of Lulu.

She also received the award for Best newcomer for her role as Sinbad in SINBADS AFRICAN ADVENTURES.

Her one-woman show ‘SILK TIES’ was performed throughout South Africa as well as Namibia and Toronto earning nominations for Best Script and Best Director. Prior to her departure to the USA, Gina was privileged to share the stage with Elaine Paige in her concert in Sun City singing the duet "I Know Him So Well'.

Gina currently runs the Musical Theatre course at The University of The Witwatersrand and recently directed Kurt Weill’s LOST IN THE STARS, as well as creating iNje, CALLBACK and STAND-BY with and for the Wits students. Recent corporate events include: Domestos (Unilever), SAB, Hollard, Vodacom, Standard Bank, Siemens and Microsoft.

Want to know a little more about Gina?

CITY WHERE YOU WERE BORN: JHB
HOME TOWN (where you grew up): JHB
SUBURB AND PROVINCE WHERE YOU NOW LIVE: Milpark, JHB
LAST SCHOOL ATTENDED: University of Witwatersrand
HOBBIES/SPORTS: Gym
HOW DO YOU SPEND YOUR LEISURE TIME? I enjoy eating good food, especially Thai, Wine and Friends, Religiously watch Carte Blanche
IF YOU COULD CHANGE THE WORLD, WHAT WOULD YOU DO? Remind people of their humanity
FAVOURITE BOOK: Currently The Art of Possibility
FAVOURITE BIG SCREEN MOVIE: Live and Become, Finding Neverland
FAVOURITE RESTAURANT: Trattoria Renata's, Emmarentia
FAVOURITE HOLIDAY DESTINATION: Xai Xai Mozambique
DO YOU HAVE A WEBSITE: www.ginashmukler.com

AWARDS:
2010 Naledi Nomination Best Childrens Theatre, BRER RABBIT
2009 Naledi Award Best Performance in a Musical, CHESS
2009 Fleur du Cap Nomination: Best Performance in a Musical, CHESS
2005 USA Nomination TIME OUT DANCE AWARD , SALT CHOCOLATE, USA
2003/4 USA Nomination AWARD OF ACHIEVEMENT – Northern Ohio Live’s MISSIONARIES, USA
1997 VITA AWARD Featured Performance TRIBUTE TO BLUES BROTHERS
1997 VITA AWARD Best Supporting Actress MASTER CLASS
1993 VITA AWARD Promising New Actress SINBAD’S AFRICAN ADVENTURES