30th Post: Rhythmic Roots

Just a small update to promote my upcoming performance:

Great Eastern

presents

The Young KL Singers

in

Rhythmic Roots

celebrating the cultural and musical heritage that is Malaysia.

Last year, we explored the development of jazz. This year, we are exploring our cultural roots.

As in years past, The Young KL Singers (YKLS) will once more be staging another exciting upcoming production entitled “Rhythmic Roots”, from 12th to 15th November 2009, in the Actors Studio, LOT 10.

Our group of 30 passionate, music-loving performers enters its 11th production since its inception in 2002, after achieving outstanding success in previous shows including the sold-out performances of “Simply Andrew Lloyd Webber” and “Breaking It Down!”. Two of our performances, “Through the Barricades” and “Move It!”, have won the Kakiseni Audience Choice Award in the Boh Cameronian Arts Awards in 2003 and 2007 respectively. In all 10 productions, the choir has performed a wide repertoire of music, ranging from Broadway musical pieces by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Rogers and Hammerstein, to the colourful rhythms and rhymes of jazz. After many years of primarily Western repertoire however, The YKLS were inspired to discover our own roots by looking to the music originating within the multiracial cultures of Malaysia and other Asian countries. This became the impetus for this year’s production, aptly entitled “Rhythmic Roots”.

“Rhythmic Roots” is a journey through the various ethnicities and cultures of Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, China and India, and our indispensable contributions to our own cultural heritage. Baba and Nyonya folk songs, Malay and Indian traditional pieces, and songs tracing the development of Chinese culture in Malaysia from its mainland China origins are some of the highlights that will definitely be heard in this upcoming production. It will be directed by Joe Hasham, a multi-award winning director, actor and writer and his involvement in “Rhythmic Roots” is something that the YKLS is very excited about!

One thing that makes this production unique amongst all other past YKLS productions is that for the first time, all four co-founders of the choir are working together. “Rhythmic Roots” is truly a very special show which emphasizes the importance of origins – where we come from, who we are, and the many, many influences and cultures which have shaped Malaysia’s musical heritage into what it is today. This is definitely something not to be missed.

Songs that would be sung during the show:

Aeyaya Balano Sakh-Kah-D (Konkani/Indian)

Yuet Kwong Kwong (Chinese Cantonese)

Gai Bintang (Indonesian Madurese)

Pok Pok Alimpako (Philipino Maranao)

Janger (Indonesian)

Modern Youngters (Chinese Hokkien)

Soleram (Indonesian)

Lolo Re Babu (Konkani/Indian)

Loy Kra Tong (Thai)

Wau Bulan (Malaysian)

Kami (Malaysian)

Bua Kaaw (Thai)

Sin Sin Si Batu Manikam (Indonesian Tapanuli)

happening at:

The Actors Studio@Lot 10

12 - 14 Nov@9pm

Charity Matinée: 14 Nov@3pm

15 Nov@3pm

tickets:

rm43 (centre seat) | rm 33 (side seat)

call/walk in: TAS@Lot 10 box office - 03 2142 2009 | 03 22143 2009

walk in only: klpac box office@Sentul Park, Axcess@Head Office(Jln Semangat), 1 Utama, Alamanda Putrajaya

artistic and music director - Susanna Saw San San

choreographer - Lakshman Balakrishnan

assistant music director - Tracy Wong Wei Wen

producer - Denise Kong Hsu-Pei

director - Joe Hasham

LUCKY DRAW:

4 prizes to be won at every show*

(Victoria Station dining vouchers and Nescafé Gold hampers)

*excluding charity matinee

title sponsor

Great Eastern

supported by

Zanders, Creative Clicks, Victoria Station, Nescafé Gold, HSBC in the Arts and The Actors Studio Teater Rakyat.

www.theactorsstudio.com.my

Well, I know that this wouldn't do much to push the tickets, but I guess it's better than doing nothing.