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Sambutan PGLM 111 Luar Dugaan

7 Feb

Oleh Nor Akmar Samudin
akmar@hmetro.com.my

Rap
MENERBITKAN sekuel drama atau filem adakala tidak menjadi seperti yang diharapkan kerana sudah semestinya penonton mengharapkan sesuatu yang lebih baik daripada hasil sebelumnya. Cabaran besar kepada penerbit, pengarah dan pelakon untuk menghasilkan karya kedua supaya menjadi bertambah gah dan gempak.

Begitulah juga cabaran dipikul Penerbit Eksekutif Muzikal Puteri Gunung Ledang 111 (PGLM 111), Datin Sri Tiara Jacquelina yang mementaskan muzikal itu buat kali ketiga di Panggung Sari, Istana Budaya (IB).

Selain mengharapkan kehadiran penonton baru, pastinya beliau dan tenaga produksi bertungkus-lumus memastikan pementasan ketiga ini mencipta satu lagi sejarah baru dalam dunia pementasan teater tanah air, mahu penonton ‘lama’ menjengah semula IB.

PGLM 111 mula membuka panggungnya kepada orang ramai kelmarin dan akan berakhir 22 Februari ini. Lalu apa yang sudah dianggap molek dan terbaik sebelum ini perlu diperindah dan diperhebatkan lagi. Tambahan menonton teater belum menjadi budaya masyarakat negara ini yang lebih akrab berkunjung ke pawagam untuk berhibur.

Justeru, untuk pementasan kali ini pengarah muzikalnya, Datuk Zahim Albakri, komposer, Dick Lee, penulis skrip dan lirik, Adlin Aman Ramlie, penulis naskah PGLM, Saw Teong Hin, pengarah muzik, Roslan Aziz dan kreografer, Pat Ibrahim bekerja keras mencari ramuan baru untuk PGLM 111.

Antara elemen baru disisipkan kali ini ialah unsur ilusi di mana Gusti Putri Retno Dumilah (Tiara) hilang di sebalik kain batik panjang pengasuhnya, Bayan. Ilusi lain dipaparkan termasuk helah nenek kebayan yang cuba menghalang Hang Tuah (Stephen Rahman) bertemu Puteri Gunung Ledang.

Penonton juga bagai teruja apabila Hang Tuah dapat merasakan kehadiran kekasihnya, Gusti Putri Retno Dumilah di Gunung Ledang di mana Putri dijelmakan di hadapan penonton berada di puncak gunung itu sedang merindukan si Tuah dengan cara yang cukup berkesan.

Pementasan PGLM 1 dan 11 hanya ada lapan set yang dipergunakan dengan sebaiknya untuk kesesuaian setiap babak. Ketika itu, penonton amat tertarik melihat ‘stupa’ yang kadangkala diubah menjadi gunung dan pada masa lain digambarkan kota pemerintahan kerajaan Majapahit.

Stupa itu memainkan peranan cukup besar kepada pementasan PGLM kerana set itu berjaya mengubah ‘mood’ pentas berdasarkan keperluan setiap babak. Untuk pementasan terbaru, peralatan set ditambah menjadi 20 semestinya menjanjikan sesuatu yang lebih menarik.

Menerusi PGLM 1 dan 11, sewaktu Putri digambarkan belayar ke Melaka, hanya layarnya dipaparkan kepada penonton. Waktu itu pun penonton sudah dapat membayangkan pelayaran yang terpaksa direntasi Putri untuk bertemu sang rajuna hatinya.

Dalam PGLM 111 ini, kapal layar dibawa masuk sekali ke pentas. Babak pelayaran itu dihadirkan lebih dekat kepada penonton. Suasana hutan di Gunung Ledang juga ditampilkan lebih ‘hidup’.

Dengan menggunakan teknik kesan khas, nenek kebayan menghilangkan diri dan muncul semula di tempat lain. Jelmaan nenek kebayan kepada Putri juga dipersembahkan dalam bentuk amat menarik.

Penghasilan pementasan bertaraf mega itu juga tidak boleh menidakkan kepentingan kostum. Pemilihan kostum bertepatan dengan jalan cerita dapat menyuntik kepuasan penonton.

Setiap apa yang ditampilkan dalam pementasan itu mesti dititikberatkan. Tiada cacat celanya. Lantaran itu, pasti Tiara berbesar hati sekali apabila pihak Royal Terengganu Songket sanggup menaja songket yang dipakai Putri, Hang Tuah, penari dan watak pembantu lain untuk babak di Negeri Melaka. Segalanya baru dan serba indah belaka.

Menaikkan lagi semangat muzikal itu, penari juga terdiri daripada orang baru. Ia bertujuan memberi peluang kepada bakat baru untuk merasai sama kehebatan PGLM yang berjaya mengubah persepsi masyarakat terhadap dunia teater.

Ukuran tubuh dan ketinggian penari juga hampir sama semuanya. Susunan muzik yang lebih besar membuatkan penonton dapat merasai suasana tegang di Majapahit apabila kekanda Putri, Gusti Adipati Handaya Ningrat (AC Mizal) marah dengan tingkah adindanya itu.

Dengan keberanian Tiara membawa PGLM ke pentas teater, ia bukan saja mengundang khalayak penggemar teater yang baru malah turut dipuji penonton luar negara.

Memetik sebahagian kata-kata Tiara dalam buku cendera mata PGLM 111, “Tiga tahun lalu teater muzikal hampir tak wujud di negara ini. Mungkin kerana ia belum menjadi sebahagian daripada budaya kita, tidak seperti menonton wayang atau konsert.

“Waktu kami pentaskan PGLM buat kali pertama pada 2006 saya ingat lagi bagaimana kami berhadapan dengan tanggapan skeptikal. Namun kami di Enfiniti nekad dan berpegang kepada impian untuk melahirkan pementasan yang boleh dianggap sehebat dan setaraf di London atau New York, hasil kebolehan anak Malaysia.

“Sejauh ini, lebih 100,000 penonton yang kebanyakannya sebelum ini tidak tergerak menonton teater Malaysia datang menyokong kepada PGLM dan Muzikal P Ramlee. Perjalanan kami memang penuh cabaran dan liku, maklumlah kali pertama menginjakkan kaki ke dunia yang belum pernah diterokai.

“Namun apabila menerima maklum balas dari penonton yang mengatakan mereka teruja melihat tahap pencapaian rakyat Malaysia, itu saja cukup memadai sebagai membayar penat lelah sepanjang perjalanan ini.

“Musim ketiga ini juga sangat besar ertinya kepada saya kerana ini kemungkinan kali terakhir beraksis sebagai Putri. Teater tidak mungkin wujud tanpa cinta dan sokongan anda. Mudah-mudahan teatar akan menjadi sebahagian daripada budaya hidup anak kita supaya mereka akan menjadi penonton yang terus membakar semangat penggiat teater kita untuk esok hari,” katanya.

Impian murni Tiara itu hampir tercapai apabila pementasan PGLM 111 menerima ramai penonton kanak-kanak dan remaja yang rata-rata mengakui itulah kali pertama mereka menonton teater anak tempatan. Dek kerana sambutan di luar dugaan itu juga, tiket PGLM 111 habis ditempah sejak Aidilfitri lalu.

Pun begitu, apa yang diperlakukan manusia jarang sempurna. Walaupun sudah tiga kali dipentaskan masih ada kelemahan teknikal apabila mikrofon Tiara dan AC Mizal gagal berfungsi dengan baik menyebabkan pementasan terhenti hampir 20 minit.

Stephen Rahman pula yang sepatutnya semakin segak dan bergaya membawakan watak Hang Tuah kerana ia adalah pementasan ketiganya, beberapa kali tersasul. Kesilapan sekecil itu tidak sepatutnya berlaku atau barangkali Stephen terlalu yakin diri yang akhirnya membahayakan diri sendiri.

Namun AC dan Adlin Aman Ramli (Sultan Melaka) terus cemerlang dengan watak masing-masing. Aksi Sultan Melaka menari di istana masih mampu menggeletek hati penonton meskipun ada yang sudah tiga kali menontonnya.

Harian Metro

Kembara PGL Berterusan

9 Dec

Oleh AQMAR ALLADAD
aqmar.alladad@kosmo.com.my


TIARA bersama barisan penaja dan media rasmi yang bakal menjayakan PGLTM musim ketiga.

SELEPAS meraih pelbagai kejayaan diluar jangkaan, Puteri Gunung Ledang The Muzikal (PGLTM) meneruskan kembaranya sekali lagi di Istana Budaya (IB), 6 Februari tahun depan selama 16 hari.

Pementasan teater muzikal yang tidak jemu meraih perhatian penonton ini, membuat keputusan untuk mengabdikan kejayaan lalu dengan kembali ke pentas berprestij IB setelah mendapat permintaan tinggi daripada peminat setia.

PGLTM yang mencipta rekod sebagai teater Melayu pertama yang dipentaskan hampir sebulan di IB, kini meneruskan hayatnya di IB untuk musim ketiga.

Lebih membanggakan lagi, walaupun ia bukannya pertama kali dipentaskan tetapi jualan tiket sudahpun mencecah 10,000 keping setelah sebulan dijual di pasaran. Ini bermakna PGLTM sememangnya masih kuat di hati peminatnya.

“Ini berita yang saya juga baru terima. Memang diluar jangkaan kerana jualan tiket kita begitu laju iaitu 10,000. Ini bermakna hanya 35 peratus tiket belum habis dijual,” jelas Datin Seri Tiara Jacquelina dengan penuh gembira pada sidang media di Borneo Rainforest baru-baru ini.

Berdasarkan kutipan tiket yang begitu memberangsangkan itu, Tiara lebih yakin untuk menyajikan persembahan terbaik kepada penonton setia PGLTM kerana ia merupakan harapan tinggi daripada peminat.

Dalam menyajikan persembahan bukan sahaja menarik tetapi segar di mata peminat, Tiara seringkali mengingatkan tenaga kerja bahawa anggapan penonton perlu dititikberatkan kerana mereka akan membezakan persembahan-persembahan yang lepas.

Sementara itu, Tiara yang tidak pernah patah semangat untuk memperjuangkan seni teater menjelaskan segala persiapan awal dari segi produksi sudahpun bermula pada bulan September lalu.


TIARA dan Stephen sekali lagi bergandingan dalam PGLTM.

“Skrip kita tak banyak ubah kerana skrip lama masih bagus cuma lirik lagu mungkin akan mempunyai sedikit perubahan sahaja,” katanya yang juga merupakan Penerbit Eksekutif sekaligus sebagai bintang utama pementasan tersebut.

Dalam pada itu, perubahan ataupun penambahan yang bakal dilaksanakan adalah hasil daripada pemerhatiannya setelah menyaksikan sendiri beberapa buah teater muzikal antaranya Wicked ketika berada di Australia lima bulan lalu.

PGLTM dibarisi tenaga kreatif yang terkenal dan berpengalaman dalam bidang teater seperti Datuk Zahim Al-Bakri selaku pengarah, Dick Lee (komposer), Adlin Aman Ramlie (penulis lirik, penulis skrip, pembantu pengarah dan pemegang watak Sultan Mahmud Shah), Roslan Aziz (pengarah muzikal), Adeline Tan (penerbit), Saw Teong Hin (penulis naskhah), Raja Malek (pereka set) dan Pat Ibrahim (koreografer).

Ia juga menggandingkan lakonan Tiara sebagai Puteri Gunung Ledang atau Gusti Puteri , Stephen Rahman-Hughes (Laksamana Hang Tuah), Adlin aman Ramlie (Sultan Mahmud), AC Mizal (Gusti Adipati) dan Ida Mariana (Bayan)

Menceritakan segala persiapan lain seperti mungkin ada perubahan watak, Tiara memberitahu watak utama dalam teater lagenda ini masih dikekalkan dengan pelakon asal.

“Watak utama seperti Adlin, AC Mizal memang kita tak tukar tetapi pelakon tambahan ada perubahan,” jelas Tiara yang akan memulakan latihan lakonan tidak lama lagi.

Diterbitkan oleh Enfiniti Productions Sdn. Bhd. dengan kerjasama Kementerian Kebudayaan, Kesenian dan Warisan, teater muzikal itu merupakan satu cabaran yang besar buat seluruh warga kerja selepas beberapa bulan berbincang dan bekerja keras.

Keterujaan penonton sekali lagi bakal bergema disanubari mereka dengan sebuah hasil produksi anak seni tempatan yang sungguh membanggakan.

Pementasan PGLTM musim ketiga telah mendapat sokongan dan penajaan daripada sektor korporat terkemuka iaitu Kumpulan Perbankan RHB, Public Bank Berhad dan kumpulan UEM Berhad.

Malah, ntv7 juga dilantik sebagai media rasmi selain penajaan daripada jenama alat solek terkemuka, M.A.C Cosmetics.

Sehubungan itu, kepada yang berminat menonton PGLM, tiket-tiket berharga RM30 hingga RM230 sudah boleh ditempah sekarang.

Tempahan boleh dibuat melalui laman web http://www.axcess.com.my atau hubungi talian 03-77115000.

Anda juga berpeluang untuk mengetahui perkembangan terkini mengenai PGLTM dengan mengunjungi laman web http://www.pglthemusical.com.my.

Kosmo

STB Supports S$1m Party To Attract More Rich Malaysian Tourists

10 Sep

SINGAPORE : The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) hopes to draw in more Malaysian tourists for the upcoming Formula One Grand Prix in Singapore.

It is endorsing a S$1 million fashion party by a Malaysian outfit to attract the rich and famous to Singapore.

The “STYLO Fashion Grand Prix” is a spin-off from a 9-day fashion festival held earlier this year in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to celebrate the 10th anniversary of F1 Sepang.

The Singapore version will turn a luxury car showroom – the Mercedes Benz Centre – into a decadent scarlet boudoir to stand out from the other F1 nightlife events.

Dick Lee, creative director of the STYLO Fashion Grand Prix, said: “We’re going back to the days of drama and theatre. There are a lot of very slick, very modern, very contemporary, whatever you want to call it, very simple and elegant, but we’re going completely the other way.”

The STB hopes the fashion show-cum-party on September 26 will entice the who’s who in Malaysia to show up.

“It has drawn in a lot of people – the rich, the famous, and the man in the street as well. It’s a melting pot of lifestyles,” said Kueh Sze Yian, area director of North & East Malaysia, STB.

At least 600 Malaysian celebrities and politicians are expected to attend the event, which will also feature clothes by local and Malaysian designers.

“We will be having lots of friends and members of other teams, apart from that from Vodafone McClaren Mercedes… They come from rival teams, and they come to party because their girlfriends want to come and watch fashion,” said Nancy Yeoh, CEO of STYLO International.

Organisers said the inaugural event in Kuala Lumpur attracted tens of thousands of people over the 9-day period. If those numbers are anything to go by, the Singapore version looks set to be an unforgettable night. – CNA /ls

Channel News Asia

Local Celebrities, Ex-Offenders To Perform In Yellow Ribbon Concert

4 Sep

SINGAPORE: Prison inmates and ex-offenders will take to the stage this Saturday, alongside local celebrities like Dick Lee, Tan Kheng Hua and Mark Lee for the annual Yellow Ribbon Concert.

Taiwanese singer Emil Chau will also be joining them.

The event’s message to the public is to give prisoners and ex-convicts a second chance.

Besides showcasing their talents, the performers will also share their life testimonies.

Some 6,000 people are expected to attend the concert.

Members of the public can get tickets for the concert from AXS booths or log onto the Yellow Ribbon website at

Channel News Asia

Singapore Day 2008 To Be Held In Melbourne On October 4

26 Aug

SINGAPORE: Overseas Singaporeans will get to enjoy some authentic Singaporean food and culture when the second annual Singapore Day is held in Melbourne on October 4. The theme will be Rekindle and Rediscover.

Some 6,000 people attended the event at the Big Apple last year. And the Singapore Day organisers, who will be spending S$3 million this year, are expecting a bigger crowd.

After the first Singapore Day was held in New York, organisers received numerous e-mails from overseas Singaporeans living in other cities asking for the event to be held in their neck of the woods.

Although Australia was chosen this year, it was a still a tough fight between Melbourne and Sydney.

Roy Quek, director, Overseas Singaporean Unit, Prime Minister’s Office, said: “What stood out for Melbourne is that the community there appeared a bit hungrier. They appeared to want it more. They were able to put up proposals and a number of ideas and suggestions and also produce more volunteers.”

Overseas Singaporeans in Melbourne will also get a first-hand glimpse of the evolving cityscape at the Marina Bay and new downtown, the transformation of familiar areas like the Jurong Lake district and the new lifestyle and recreation options in Punggol and Kallang Basin.

Besides a National Service showcase, organisers have planned a job recruitment fair plus a live demonstration of a Singapore primary school classroom.

Besides the highly sought after local cuisine, there will also be a different creative concept.

Dick Lee, creative director, Singapore Day 2008, said: “I picked traditional shop house facades as a theme. And the colours of these old streets of shop houses will all be pastel colours. We’ve applied it to all the marquees. We’re also using it as the backdrop of the stage and we’ve got them on all the collaterals as well.”

Asia’s leading broadcaster, MediaCorp will be providing the entertainment.

Kenneth Liang, executive vice president, Programming & Production, Channel 5, MediaCorp TV, said: “We’re bringing the entire Phua Chu Kang family, together with well known singers and performers to Australia.”

And many are already looking forward to Singapore Day 2009, with London expected to be the host city. – CNA/vm

Channel News Asia

30 Days To Learn 7 Dances For "12 To 12"

20 Jun

SINGAPORE: Ask any professional dancers and they’d tell you it takes years to perfect any form of dance. Ask the leading cast of Soundwaves ’12 to 12′, however, and they’d tell you it only takes a month.

Not to perfect a form of dance, but to perfect more than seven dances – ballet, hip hop, ballroom, contemporary, tap – just to name a few.

But fortunately for performers George Chan and Elena Wang, they only need to perfect one short segment of each dance in the approximately 90-minute dance musical by the People’s Association (PA).

Directed by award winning choreographer Fan Dong Kai and music by ‘Singapore Idol’ judge Dick Lee, ‘Soundwaves 2008′ is the PA’s annual and flagship concert which showcases and promotes Singapore’s multiculturalism, and celebrates racial harmony in cultural diversity through music, song and dance.

Into its fifth year, its latest item ’12 to 12’ will be a “highly dramatic and truly Singaporean musical” which will dance through Singapore’s streets and depict the island city’s rich and intriguing cultures, landscapes and people.

Using laser projection for the backdrop, the musical promises to bring the audience through a nostalgic virtual tour of Singapore’s familiar districts including Chinatown, Botanical Garden, Shenton Way, Serangoon Road, Orchard Road, Geylang Serai, Bras Basah Road and Clarke Quay.

Featuring an over 100 members in its all song-and-dance troupe, the musical spins the story of a songwriter (George Chan) who returns to his homeland, Singapore, after many years abroad.

He encounters a beautiful muse (Elena Wang) who is trapped by a powerful spell, and can only break free if she regains three songs (which were stolen from her) within a 24-hour period – from midnight to midnight.

The spirit seeks the stranger’s help and together, the pair of music lovers must race against time to recover the songs of Singapore.

While rushing through the island, the pair will also stumble upon different ethnic groups living in Singapore and experience how their dance culture has changed over time and through influences from other cultures.

Both lead characters found it draining psychically and mentally to undertake the challenge of learning so many forms of dances in under a month, to say nothing of getting into character and memorising the script.

“It’s challenging, we have to practice about eight to 14 hours a day, just for the dancing segments,” said Elena.

“But the good thing is, we already know the basic dance form, so we just need to learn the choreography,” continued George, who is best known locally for his judging stint on MediaCorp Channel 5’s reality talent programme ‘The Dance Floor’.

The veteran dancer has found international fame in performances such as ‘Miss Saigon’, ‘Saturday Night Fever’ and ‘There’s No Business Like Show Business’. But even so, George found certain dance scenes in the performance complicated to execute.

“Nothing is easy because I haven’t danced for such a long time,” he explained. “So it takes time for the body to get used to dancing again.

“Ballroom dancing is probably the hardest for me because it’s not something I’m familiar with, and it’s all about technique and placement. It differs from the other dance forms in the sense that you have to work (and coordinate with a partner).”

“I think the individual dances are less difficult because you can handle it yourself,” Elena continued. “But it’s the partner work that’s tricky. We had so little time to get to know each other and to get familiar with each other’s dancing styles.”

Apart from Ballroom dancing, solos such as the ballet also proved to be tricky due to the mechanics of its moves, such as dancing on ‘pointe’.

“You know the thing about ‘pointe’ is that you have to train from young,” said George. “So this Elena, I don’t know if she is crazy or courageous, but she just jumped straight into it and started doing all the ‘pointe’ work!”

“We did a lot of workshop before we did the actual dances and the instructors reckoned my ankles are strong enough,” explained Elena. “But I take very great care while dancing ‘pointe’ as once you fall you may just break your ankles.”

For the artistes, who also adore dancing in real life, the host of different dances in the show was the first of two factors that drew them to take on the musical.

“The show has got a very different style and I don’t think you can get a show nowadays that you can see ballroom, tap and ballet, and traditional dances like Malay, Chinese and Indian, incorporated into a single show,” said Elena. “So for me it’s a great thing and a great feeling because I do this one production and I learn so much.”

Another factor that appealed to the cast was the opportunity for them to experience the different cultures in Singapore.

“I’m even learning about the different cultures in Singapore right now,” said the actress, who is Singaporeans but grew up in Australia.

Co-star George, who lived in Europe for a while, agreed, saying: “It’s all about racial harmony – you see all the different groups coming together and doing all these things, merging into one big vibrant and colourful culture and that’s why it’s really exciting because it has been a while since I have done something like that.”

With a little bit of every race and culture throw into the mix “like rojak”, Director Fan said that this musical would appeal to people from all walks of life in Singapore.

“It’s really a show for everyone; we have all sorts of dances from traditional dances to modern jazz and hip hop, as well as classical ballet.

“It’s played by different races in Singapore with different jobs… even the high flying white collared workers will have a dance item to themselves! So I believe our audience will also be all sorts of Singaporeans because we represent everybody.”

Soundwaves 2008 ’12 to 12′ will be performed at the Esplanade Theatre on July 4 & 5; tickets are selling at S$45, S$30 and S$15. For more information, visit

Channel News Asia

Bouts Of Oomph On Stage

15 May

P. Ramlee, The Musical directors (from left) Adlin Aman Ramlie and Zahim Albakri with choreographer Pat Ibrahim accepting their award.
P. Ramlee, The Musical directors (from left) Adlin Aman Ramlie and Zahim Albakri with choreographer Pat Ibrahim accepting their award.

There was no surprise as regards the performance which garnered the most number of trophies at the Boh Cameronian Arts Awards 2007 held recently. KHAIRUL ANWAR MOHAMED, however, feels grateful to the lively folk on stage that night for making the long ceremony seem less tedious.

The Musical
Maria Yasmin won Best Solo Performance (Voice) for her role in Tunku: The Musical

LAST Sunday night was filled with glitz, glamour and excitement as local theatre superstars, wannabees and everybody in between descended upon the Mandarin Oriental for the 6th Annual Boh Cameronian Arts Awards in Kuala Lumpur.

Almost everyone there was in exquisite suits, dresses or costumes. Catwoman paraded on the arm of a smartly dressed gentleman, one woman was in a flowing white gown suggesting a bridal gown were it not for the plastic katana (Japanese sword) on her back.

The main thing is, I was underdressed. I was advised to maintain “journalistic integrity” by not conforming to the party theme.

To break the ice, I chatted with theatre director Zalfian Fuzi, who introduced me to industry veterans such as Chacko Vadaketh and also to relatively new talents such as Soefira Jaafar, already a three-time winner of the awards.

Susie Kukathas, executive producer of Instant Cafe Theatre, also a judge in the Theatre Category, explained the judging process “done by computer ballot”.

“We watch the shows, then individually, we put in our personal scores. The data is collated by PriceWaterhouse Coopers and we’ll only find out who wins tonight.”

Pang Khee Teik, director of The Annexe Arts Centre, who was dressed in a faded Aquaman T-shirt, I felt better about my simple garb was one of the original masterminds of the Arts Awards. In Susie’s words: “He is the source”.

So what are the awards about? Seeing how small the local arts scene is, what’s the purpose of an awards show?

“It’s very simple, I always believe that awards make it possible to acknowledge people whose works have not been acknowledged in Malaysia. But I’m also aware that awards are not the be-all and end-all of any art.

Pang continued: “It’s only been five years, but I can tell you, in five years’ time, those people who started out reacting negatively towards the awards will end up winning some because they have successfully evolved within the industry.”

At the start of the show, the audience was treated to a rendition of Gelora, taken from P. Ramlee the Musical, sung by Sean Ghazi and Liza Hanim.

Hosts Shanon Shah and Angel Wong got the crowd laughing with an intelligent script in English, Malay, Tamil, Cantonese and Hokkien. They poked fun at Malaysian politics and pop cultural icons.

If it were not for the combined effects of the witty prize-givers, technical complications (with humorous results) and the lovely trophy bearer (Jessica Ho) who catwalked on and off stage with the crystal award trophies, the event might have made even a guy like me want to leave early.

Towards the end the show, momentum picked up – choreographer Pat Ibrahim danced across the stage to present an award. The show ended with the announcement of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Professor Ghulam Sarwar Yousof for his contributions to Malaysian art and literature.

Over the course of the night, many productions won awards in the categories of Dance, Music and Theatre.

What was predictable was P. Ramlee the Musical’s big win. It bagged five awards, including Best Director, Best Set Design, Best Music & Sound Design, and, the Kakiseni Audience choice awards.

The other big winners that night were Alih PungGONG, which won four awards in the Music category, and Hiding Love with three wins in the Dance category.

Dance

1. Best Featured Performer: Steve Goh for Hiding Love (presented by Kwang Tung Dance Troupe)

2. Best Choreographer in a Mixed Bill: Steve Goh for Falling Angel in 30.40 (MMY Production)

3. Best Choreographer in a Feature-length Work: Steve Goh for Hiding Love

4. Best Group Performance: Hiding Love

5. Best Lighting Design: Sivarajah Natarajan for Storming Destiny (Sutra Dance Theatre)

6. Best Design: Loi Chin Yu for In The Mist of Love (Charlie Tan Dance Theatre)

7. Best Music & Sound Design: Syarizan Sahamat for Asyik (ASWARA)

8. Best Costume Design: Tanjai Kamala Indira Dance School for Kalki’s Spectacular Sivagamiyin Sabatham (Tanjai Kamala Indira Dance School)

Music

1. Best Group Performance (Instrumental): Alih PungGONG by Rhythm in Bronze

2. Best Group Performance (Voice): Frogway by Surprise Voice

3. Best Musical Direction: Jillian Ooi and Susan Sarah John for Alih PungGONG

4. Best Original Composition: Jillian Ooi for Runtuh in Alih PungGONG

5. Best Production Values: Alih PungGONG by Rhythm in Bronze

6. Best Solo Performance (Instrumental): Prakash Kandasamy for Jumpstart (musical direction by Jyotsna Nithyanandan, presented by Inner Space Performing Arts Company)

7. Best Solo Performance (Voice): Maria Yasmin for Tunku The Musical (The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre)

Theatre

1. Best Group Performance: Dua, Tiga Dalang Berlari (Five Arts Centre)

2. Best Director: Adlin Aman Ramlie and Zahim Albakri for P. Ramlee, The Musical (Enfiniti Productions)

3. Best Lighting Design: Loh Kok Man for The Lost & The Ecliptic (Pentas Project & The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre)

4. Best Set Design: Raja Maliq for P. Ramlee, The Musical

5. Best Music and Sound Design: Dick Lee, Erwin Gutawa and Larry Mignogna for P. Ramlee, The Musical

6. Best Costume Design: Berg Lee for Little Mission Impossible (Integrated Expressions)

7. Best Actor in a Leading Role: Joe Hasham for Eh Joe in Electric Beckett (presented by The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre)

8. Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Melissa Saila for P. Ramlee, The Musical

9. Best Original Script (Bahasa Malaysia): Adlin Aman Ramlie and Al-Jafree Md. Yusop for P. Ramlee, The Musical

10. Best Original Script (English): Ann Lee for Tarap Man (Kuali Works & Dramalab)

11. Best Original Script (Chinese): no nominees for this award this year

Special awards:

*Most Promising Artiste: Brian Tan (musician)

*Champion of the Arts Award: Joseph Gonzales (educationist, dancer, choreographer)

*Audience Choice Award (Dance): Asyik (Aswara)

*Audience Choice Award (Music): Move It! YKLS Celebrates 5 Years of Music (The Young KL Singers)

*Audience Choice Award (Theatre): P. Ramlee, The Musical

*Lifetime Achievement Award: Prof Dr Ghulam Sarwar Yousof (scholar)

 

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Muzikal P.Ramlee Menang Besar!

12 May

[
Tonton video ]

Teks oleh Ellyna Ali

KUALA LUMPUR, 12 MEI 2008: “Minggu ini, seluruh tenaga produksi Muzikal P. Ramlee akan berada di Tanah Jalan Ampas (Singapura) untuk membawa Jalur Gemilang dengan megahnya di sana.

“Doakanlah kejayaan kami di sana dan kami berharap Muzikal P. Ramlee musim kedua juga akan diterima dengan baik sebagaimana Muzikal Puteri Gunung Ledang dulu,” kata Datin Seri Tiara Jacquelina.

Tiara berkata demikian selepas produksi teater Muzikal P. Ramlee musim pertama meraih kejayaan besar dalam Anugerah BOH Cameronian 2007 yang berlangsung di Hotel Mandarin Oriental, di sini semalam.

Dalam majlis anugerah tahunan berprestij itu, teater Muzikal P. Ramlee memenangi 6 anugerah iaitu Pengarah Terbaik (Adlin Aman Ramlie & Zahim Albakri) Aktor Terbaik Bagi Watak Pembantu (Melissa Saila), Rekaan Set Terbaik (Raja Maliq), Rekaan Bunyi Serta Muzik Terbaik (Dick Lee) serta Skrip Original Terbaik Bahasa Malaysia.

Selain itu, ia juga membolot kategori Anugerah Pilihan Pembaca KakiSeni bagi kategori Teater.

“Kejayaan ini membakar semangat kami untuk mementaskan semula Muzikal P.Ramlee musim kedua yang akan berlangsung di Istana Budaya (IB) hujung bulan ini selepas Esplanade, Singapura, hujung minggu ini,” kata Tiara dengan bangga kepada murai.com.my.

Bagi Melissa pula, kejayaan beliau adalah hasil usaha keras dan sokongan mereka dalam industri khususnya teater.

“Bukan mudah membawa watak Seniwati Norizan dalam Muzikal P.Ramlee kerana mempunyai aura yang kuat dalam hidup P. Ramlee. Inilah kejayaan manis saya dalam dunia pementasan,” kata Melissa yang juga anak saudara Biduanita Saloma.

Senarai Pemenang Anugerah Seni BOH Cameronian 2007

Kategori TARIAN

1. PERFORMER TERBAIK (FEATURE) – Steve Goh (Hiding Love) – Koreografi (Steve Goh)/ Persembahan Kwang Tung Dance Troupe

2. KOREOGRAFER TERBAIK (IN A MIXED BILL)- Steve Goh (Falling Angel dalam 30.40) – Persembahan MMY Productions

3. KOREOGRAFER TERBAIK (FEATURE-LENGTH WORK) – Steve Goh (Hiding Love) – Persembahan Kwang Tung Dance Troupe

4. PERSEMBAHAN BERKUMPULAN TERBAIK – Hiding Love (Kwang Tung Dance Troupe) – Persembahan Kwang Tung Dance Troupe

5. REKAAN TATACAHAYA TERBAIK – Sivarajah Natarajan (Storming Destiny) – Koreografi (Ramli Ibrahim)/ Persembahan Sutra Dance Theatre

6. REKAAN SET TERBAIK – Loi Chin Yu (In The Mist of Love) – Koreografi (Charlie Tan Cheng Swee)/ Persembahan Charlie Tan Dance Theatre

7. REKAAN BUNYI & MUZIK TERBAIK – Syarizan Sahamat (ASYIK) – Koreografi ( Wan Salmah Sulaiman, Hajijah Yaacob, Wong Kit Yaw, Umesh Shetty, Shafirul Azmi Suhaimi, Sharip Zainal Sagkif Shek, Firdaus Mustapha Kamal & Joseph Gonzales)/ Persembahan ASWARA

8. REKAAN KOSTUM TERBAIK – Tanjai Kamala Indira Dance School (Kalki’s Spectacular Sivagamiyin Sabathan) – Koreografi (Indira Manikam)/ Persembahan Tanjai Kamala Indira Dance School

Kategori MUZIK

1. PERSEMBAHAN BERKUMPULAN TERBAIK (INSTRUMENTAL) – Alih PungGONG (Rhythm in Bronze) – Muzikal arahan (Jillian Ooi & Susan Sarah John)/ Persembahan Five Arts Centre & The Actors Studio

2. PERSEMBAHAN BERKUMPULAN TERBAIK (VOKAL)- Frogway (Surprise Voice) – Arahan ( Harith Iskander)/Tulisan (Michael Veerapen & Marcel Nunis)/ Muzikal Arahan Arahan (Saidah Rastam)/ Persembahan Petra Foundation

3. MUZIKAL ARAHAN TERBAIK – Jillian Ooi & Susan Sarah John ( Alih PungGONG) – Persembahan Five Arts Centre & The Actors Studio

4. KOMPOSISI ORIGINAL TERBAIK – Jillian Ooi (Runtuh dalam Alih PungGON) – Arahan Muzikal (Jillian Ooi Lean Sim/ Persembahan Five Arts Centre & The Actors Studio

5. NILAI PRODUKSI TERBAIK – Alih PungGONG (Rhythm in Bronze) – Arahan Muzikal (Jillian Ooi & Susan Sarah John)/ Persembahan Five Arts Centre & The Actors Studio

6. PERSEMBAHAN SOLO TERBAIK (INSTRUMENTAL) – Prakash Kandasamy (JUMPSTART) – Arahan Muzikal Jyotsna Nithyanandan / Persembahan Inner Space Performing Arts Company

7. PERSEMBAHAN SOLO TERBAIK (VOKAL) – Maria Yasmin (Tunku The Musical) – Arahan Muzikal Joe Hasham/ Tulisan Lim Chuang Yik & Teng Ky-Gan/ Persembahan The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre

Kategori TEATER

1. PERSEMBAHAN BERKUMPULAN TERBAIK – Dua, Tiga Dalang Berlari – Skrip Fahmi Fadzil, Lim Chung Wei, Wong Tay-Sy & Mark The/ Arahan (Mark The)/ Persembahan Five Arts Centre

2. PENGARAH TERBAIK – Adlin Aman Ramlie & Zahim Albakri (P. Ramlee The Musical) – Skrip Adlin Aman Ramlie & Al-Jafree Md. Yusop/ Persembahan Enfiniti Productions

3. REKAAN TATACAHAYA – Loh Kok Man (The Lost & The Ecliptic) – Skrip Tan Yan Yee/ rahan Loh Kok Man/ ersembahan Pentas Project & The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre

4. REKAAN SET TERBAIK – Raja Maliq (P. Ramlee, The Musical) – Skrip Adlin Aman Ramlie & Al-Jafree Md. Yusop/ Arahan Adlin Aman Ramlie & Zahim Albakri/ Persembahan Enfiniti Productions

5. REKAAN BUNYI & MUZIK TERBAIK – Dick Lee, Erwin Gutawa & Larry Mignogna (P. Ramlee, The Musical) – Skrip Adlin Aman Ramlie & Al-Jafree Md. Yusop/ Arahan Adlin Aman Ramlie & Zahim Albakri/ Persembahan Enfiniti Productions.

6. REKAAN KOSTUM TERBAIK – Berg Lee (Little Mission Impossibl) – Skrip Dennis Lai/ Arahan Lim Yeow Haw/ Persembahan Integrated Expressions

7. AKTOR TERBAIK BAGI TERAJU UTAMA – Joe Hasham (Eh Joe dalam Electric Beckett) – Skrip Samuel Beckett/ Arahan Paul Loosley/ Persembahan The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre

8. AKTOR TERBAIK BAGI WATAK PEMBANTU – Melissa Saila (P. Ramlee, The Musical) – Skrip Adlin Aman Ramlie & Al-Jafree Md. Yusop /Arahan Adlin Aman Ramlie & Zahim Albakri/ Persembahan Enfiniti Productions

9. SKRIP ORIGINAL TERBAIK – BAHASA MALAYSIA – Adlin Aman Ramlie & Al-Jafree Md. Yusop for P. Ramlee, The Musical/ Arahan Adlin Aman Ramlie & Zahim Albakri/ Persembahan Enfiniti Productions

10. SKRIP ORIGINAL TERBAIK – BAHASA INGGERIS – Ann Lee (Tarap Man) – Arahan Zahim Albakri/ Persembahan Kuali Works & DramaLab

ANUGERAH ISTIMEWA

1. MANDARIN ORIENTAL, KUALA LUMPUR FAN OF THE ARTS FOR MOST PROMISING ARTIST AWARD – Brian Tan

2. ARTSEEFARTSEE CROSS-CULTURAL CHAMPION OF THE ARTS AWARD – Joseph Gonzales

3. ANUGERAH PILIHAN PEMBACA KAKISENI – TARIAN / MUZIK/ TEATER

a. Tarian – ASYIK (ASWARA)
b. Muzik – Move It! (Young KL Singers)
c. Teater – P. Ramlee The Musical (Enfiniti Productions)

4. ANUGERAH PENCAPAIAN SEUMUR HIDUP BOH CAMERONIAN – Profesor Dr Ghulam Sarwar Yousof


Murai

Portal To Antarctica

5 May

A scene from National Geographic Channel's The Path To Manhood.
A scene from National Geographic Channel’s The Path To Manhood.

In conjunction with its 10th anniversary, National Geographic Channel is giving its viewers a chance to win a trip to Antarctica by voting for their favourite documentaries.

NATIONAL Geographic Channel (NGC) celebrates its 10th anniversary in Asia with a dynamic, high-profile campaign.

For the first-time, viewers from Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia are invited to vote for their favourite documentary programmes. To top it off, a lucky viewer will win a trip to the pristine and amazing Antarctica.

Viewers will be given a unique opportunity to vote for their favourite 30 programmes which will be aired on NGC for 30 consecutive nights.

More than 20 international and Asian celebrities will host and share their insights on their favourite programmes. Joining this star-studded celebration are Ida Nerina (Malaysia), Sarimah Ibrahim (Malaysia), Azharina Azhar (Malaysia), Atilia (Malaysia), Michael Wong (Malaysia), Jim Chim (Hong Kong), Paul Wong (Hong Kong), Jaycee Fong (Hong Kong) and Lisa S (Hong Kong).

Others are Christian Bautista (Philippines), Donita Rose (Philippines), Dick Lee (Singapore), Eunice Olsen (Singapore), Allan Wu (Singapore), Tay Ping Hui (Singapore) and Tata Young (Thailand).

Since its launch in 1997, NGC’s distribution has sky-rocketed and today it is available in over 120 million homes and commercial establishments across Asia Pacific. It has also received numerous prestigious industry awards.

To provide viewers with different thematic choices, the channel has launched four complementary 24-hour pay TV channels – NGC HD, NGC VOD, Nat Geo Adventure and Nat Geo Wild.

The channel is amongst the first international broadcasters to set up a production unit in Asia to groom budding documentary filmmakers in Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan and Korea.

Shot and produced in Asia for global audiences, some of these highly-rated, cutting-edge documentary programmes include Becoming A King, Kung Fu Killers, Hiss of Death, Marco Polo: The China Mystery Revealed and Inside The Forbidden City.

Marco Polo: The China Mystery Revealed won both Best Cinematography and Best Original Score at the 2004 Asian TV Awards, while Hiss of Death won the Silver Medal at the 2006 New York Festivals.

Zubin Gandevia, managing director and executive vice-president of National Geographic Channel Asia, says: “In the last 10 years, NGC has become the world’s most recognised brand; synonymous with unsurpassed quality in documentary filmmaking. We thank our affiliates for bringing NGC and its associate channels into more than 120 million homes and establishments across Asia.”

“We look forward to continually engaging our audiences with bold visions of groundbreaking scientific explorations and stories that inspire,” he adds.

Basil Chua, marketing director, NGC Asia says: “Our viewers are thinking audiences who constantly push the boundary of our understanding.

“In celebration of our 10th year in Asia, we are excited to work with Asia’s superstars who will tell us of their favourite programmes.”

Chua explains: “Through this first-ever initiative, we hope to engage as many viewers as possible and give them the opportunity to decide what they would like to watch on National Geographic Channel.”

To vote for the favourite programme, a special video portal has been created, where viewers are able to watch 50 video clips of the most highly-rated NGC documentary programmes.

Grouped in six sub-genres, the top 30 programmes with the most votes will go on-air next month. Viewers have till May 20, to cast their votes.

Log on to http://www.ngcasia.com/top30 to vote.

 

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One Is Never To Old To "Live The Dream"

16 May

Singapore Idol it sure isn’t, but a new singing competition will give closet singers a shot at fame, and a $40,000 cash prize to boot.

In a format reminiscent of past Talentime contests, Live The Dream aims to encourage the singing aspirations of warblers and crooners who might have shelved their singing aspirations for other careers.

And unlike Idol, which had a maximum age limit of 30, Live The Dream has no age limit. Its message is: You can never be too old to pick up that mic again.
It has a minimum age limit of 25, though.

Explaining, local pop icon Dick Lee, who will be a judge on the show said: “In Asia, the concept of an idol is someone who is young and cute, but not necessarily talented. Now we’re just looking for someone who’s always wanted that chance to be a great singer.”

Lee, 50, said the older crooners will be judged less on looks and styling than on their vocal quality. Besides Lee, the other judge will be Hype Records executive director Ken Lim, 42. Both were also judges on Singapore Idol.

MediaCorp TV Channel 5 vice president Selena Ho said: “A lot of professionals who didn’t fall into a certain age range (for the channel’s other contests), who’ve harboured dreams of singing but had to go and become a financial analyst or teacher (perhaps) – these are the people we want to come forward and audition.” The show will also have a separate category for groups, who stand to win $60,000.

Potential contestants may also be nominated by friends or family, or send a clip of themselves singing via 3G video call. A mobile crew will also be staking out shopping malls to identify possible participants.

“Logically speaking, the contestants should be more talented, because they’ll be more matured, more practical in their choices of songs,” said Lim.

Lee said it will be a “very Singaporean” show.

“It will be fun in a good oldfashioned way. We’ve forgotten about this kind of dream. Our only dream now is to live in an apartment that will go en bloc,” he added, laughing.

The hosts of the show will be Deal Or No Deal’s Andrea Fonseka, briefcase girl number 10 on the game show, actress Michelle Chia and former MTV VJ Utt.

Said Fonseka, 22: “I really want to see an uncle or auntie come on to the show and sing Chinese opera. Wouldn’t that be great?”

Auditions will be held June 2 and 3 at the Toa Payoh HDB Hub. Visit http://www.livethedream.com.sg for more information. –

Channel News Asia