National Broadway Company (2012)

12 October 2012 – 14 October 2012 @ Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

Synopsis

It is sometime in the near future of Singapore. The National Broadway Company (NBC) has been established, and the search for the Artistic Director is on. Amongst those vying for the position is the ‘who’s who’ of Singapore’s theatre industry. From hairdresser to entertainment icon to deputy public prosecutor to politician, the story of the pioneering musical theatre in Singapore unfolds as they sing their hearts to the top.

Based on specially conducted interviews with Dick Lee, Pamela Oei, Michael Chiang, Jacintha Abisheganaden, Ivan Heng, Koh Chieng Mun, Najip Ali, Eleanor Wong and Hossan Leong, this production features characters inspired by these artists‚ personal stories and recollections, performed by a cast of both young emerging talents as well as established artists.

With celebrated songs from Singapore’s favourite musicals (Beauty World, Fried Rice Paradise, Chang and Eng, Haunted, Mortal Sins, Forbidden City) composed by Dick Lee, Ken Low and Mark Chan, laughter and tears are never far away. Personal tragedy, individual strife, comic turns and artistic triumph are the stuff of dreams. National Broadway Company reflects on the search for Singapore identity that was prevalent in the first musicals and gives us a glimpse into the future.

Directors: Lok Meng Chue, Ong Keng Sen

Set Design: Myung Hee Cho
Light Design: Scott Zielinski
Sound Design: Shah Tahir 
Costume Design: Kaye Voyce
Hair & Wig Design: Ashley Lim
Makeup Design: The Make Up Room

Musical Director: Iskandar Ismail
Assistant Music Director: Joel Nah
Conductor: Iskandar Ismail
Repetiteur: Joel Nah 
Choral Mistress: Babes Conde
Choreographer: Zaini Mohd Tahir
Composers: Dick Lee, Ken Low, Mark Chan 

Performers:
Amanda Tee
Aw Yeong Peng Mun
Benjamin Kheng
Chua Enlai
Denise Tan
Dick Lee
Dwayne Tan
Erwin Shah Ismail
Gani Abdul Karim
Glory Ngim
Jacintha Abisheganaden
John Lee
Jonathan Lum
Julia Abueva
Karen Tan
Leena Salim
Lim Yu Beng
Rayve Tay
Tabitha Nauser

Dancers:
Chang Yao Chung
Elle May Patterson
Farah Dawood
Francesca Harriman
Gino Babagay
Hafeez Hassan
Jackie Ong
Jennifer Pau
Lei Hoi
Liz Fong
Lu Wit Chin
Marie Shirl
Natalyn Goh
Samantha Kan
Tay Wei Liang
Trev Neo
Zhang Minggao

Executive Producer: Tay Tong 

(Source: T:>Works Archive)


credits

Ong Keng Sen
Director
Myung Hee Cho
Set Designer
Scott Zielinkski
Lighting Designer
Shah Tahir
Sound Designer
Kaye Voyce
Costume Designer
Ashley Lim
Hair Designer, Wig Designer
Iskandar Ismail
Musical Director, Conductor

artefacts

National Broadway Company (2012), Review
Let's Put On A Show! The production was a nice summary-of-sorts of Singapore musical theatre. The premise: an audition/reality show held to select the artistic director of a (fictional) newly formed "National Broadway Company", where the audience actually gets to vote on the winner, seemed intriguing. Additionally, I felt compelled to see what director Ong Keng Sen had to say more than 20 years after he directed the first production of Beauty World, one of Singapore's most well-loved musicals
Jocelyn Chng
Reviewed: 12 October 2012