13 September 2000Apart from aspiring to be the hub of the Asian film industry with the recent opening of the Entertainment Village in Dengkil (travelweeklyeast.com September 4), Malaysia also strives to be a centre for world-class musicals.
National carrier, Malaysia Airlines, together with cellular phone operator, Celcom, has taken the first step to make this possible.
They will be co-presenters of the 18-member ensemble Stars of Musicals which will be staged from January 12 to 17 next year.
MAS and Celcom have signed title sponsorship agreements with SW Show Production, which is bringing in the show.
The show will comprise a medley of celebrated musicals from London·’·s West End, such as Cats, Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Grease, Miss Saigon, The Lion King and Chicago.
The main stars of the musical will be well-known actors from West End and Broadway such as Simon Bowman, Katrina Murphy, Andrew Halliday and Joanna Ampil.
The choreographer for the dance pieces will be Frank Thompson, one of London’s leading theatre choreographers. He has worked in the productions of Cats and Sunset Boulevard.
Celcom and MAS chairman Tan Sri Tajudin Ramli said this was the company’s contribution to the community "by increasing the exposure and appreciation of performing arts among locals, particularly, the younger generation".
The staging of this world-class West End production would also prove Malaysia’s capability to stage any world class event, he added.
Stars of Musicals has engaged the Kuala Lumpur Symphony Orchestra for the production. It will be conducted by Martin Yeats, "widely acknowledged to be one of the best music directors in the history of West End".
SW Show Production is currently looking at venues big enough to accommodate a huge capacity so as to make the tickets affordable to all, said its managing director, Shireen Woon.
Venue and ticket prices will be announced at a later date.