Season two has thus far truly delivered double the drama and twice the thrills, and is set to wow audiences even more once the Prime-Time live shows air on SABC 1 from 28 May. Proving its popularity, the Johannesburg auditions episode, which was broadcast on 14 May, reflected an increase of over one-million viewers, compared to the same episode last season. The inclusion of ladies in the competition has been extremely well received by audiences and has, as expected, driven far more interest in the show. Class Act has already made a difference in the lives of many in its first season, and possibilities for young South African actors are reopened in season two.

Amstel, alongside Curious Pictures and SABC1, have ensured that audiences will be exposed to the best new talent and entertainment that the country has to offer paired off against the judges, some of the best current talent that the industry has to offer.

Class Act is an Amstel Lager initiative, and the platform has once more provided an opportunity for aspiring actors to expose their talent to South African audiences. “The show was created to expose acting talent, and season one winner Sdumo Mtshali proved that Class Act enables true quality to shine through. This season’s finalists are all stars on the rise, and we look forward to their true quality shining through in the weekly movies as we uncover SA’s next leading man and lady,” says Nomonde Donsa, marketing manager for Amstel.

Judges, Rapulana Seiphemo and Moonyeenn Lee, were joined by Donovan Marsh, Leleti Khumalo, Moshidi Motshegwa and James Ngcobo on the iconic Class Act golden couch at the national auditions in Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria and Johannesburg respectively. The judges furthermore actively participated in selecting finalists from the first ever Facebook Auditions for a reality show in South Africa.

Seiphemo holds the top 10 in high regard, and believes that “audiences can expect fireworks from the ten.” He goes on to say that the inclusion of girls “has brought a different dimension to the show and the talent is much better than last season. Everyone will enjoy it.’’

The top ten finalists:

Ladies: Nina Hlalo (25) Durban, Mandisa Nduna (20) Durban, Tumie Ngumla (24) Cape Town, Petronella Tshuma (21) Johannesburg, Rosa Whitcher (23) Johannesburg.

Men: Marlo Minnaar (22) Cape Town, Ephraim Gordon (22) Cape Town, Vuks Ngcingwana (23) Cape Town, Abdul Khoza (23) Durban, Pallance Dladla (18) Johannesburg.

Every week, with the focus alternating between ladies and men, the top ten will be tasked with portraying a variety of characters in a series of mini-movies or screen tests to use the show term, directed by award –winning director, Tim Greene. This year there are two live shows every week – a performance shpw on Saturdays at 18:00 and a live elimination show on Monday nights that will start on 30 May, at 19:00 all on SABC1.

The winning couple will be attached to an action thriller to be directed by show creator Donovan Marsh. Furthermore, the couple will appear in a new Amstel Lager television commercial, jet off to New York for an eight week course to study film at the New York Film Academy and receive representation with South Africa’s leading talent agency, MLA.

Even the voting system has been overhauled to allow for easier access. In Season 2 voting channels include SMS (R1.50 this year), free votes on the Class Act mobi site, www.classactsa.mobi (excl. Data cost) and on the Class Act portal on MXit (20 Moola per vote).

There is also a large push to make the show as interactive as possible through facebook and on the mobi site. Follow the show and the ten finalists on twitter @ClassActSA and facebook at www.facebook.com/ClassActSA.