Thank you Short+Sweet Musical 2015

"Boy..."

That was how Joe described the results before he began the prize giving ceremony for Short+Sweet Musical 2015. Yes, it was that close and our group was fortunate to win 4 awards last night, of which 3 were won by 1 vote.

a cast member asked why I had that look when I went up to collect my prize. It's a rather surreal moment to hear my name announced as the winner of the best director because it's only my 2nd time directing a S+S musical, and I was working with mainly young and inexperienced actors. Also, it was also the first time I win something without wifey.


Anyhow, here are a few people I would like to thank:

God for the people who have guided & helped me for the last 6 years. Thank you for the cast and creative team who have worked very hard to make the musical work.

Alex Chua & Nicole-Ann Thomas for your training. Appreciate the time you have invested in teaching me. I do hope I will get to work with you again.

Wifey & Mei Wei for your valued feedback. It is always good to have a third eye and, in this case, I got 2 great third eyes.

Calvin Terence, Lydia & Kelvin, for your hard work behind the scene. Thank you for trusting me with your work.

Joe & Faridah for providing a playground for me to explore and try new things.

Phoebe & the stage crew, for your support and making S+S Musical a success. Best backstage team ever!

Boy, Amirul, MJ & other tech guys, for the lights, sound & music. Every night, I could sit back and know that I need not worry about anything technical matters at all.

Parents of my under-aged performers. Thank you for letting your daughters take part in this small musical. Thank you for driving them to rehearsals and supporting us during the performances. Your daughters are very talented and I believe you are very proud to see what they have accomplished over the last 2 months.

Grace for offering to be the makeup artist. You have made my job so much easier backstage. Thank you for coming everyday so early and help them get into their characters.

Finally, my wonderful cast. No matter how great a script, how nice a song, it is you who brought everything to life. You have all been amazing. Each one of you played a vital part in making UP ALL NIGHT what it is. I hope you have learnt that the success of a production depends on teamwork and your inputs are very important to the development of a character. I couldn't have asked for a better company.

Notes on Short+Sweet Musical 2014

 This years marks the 2nd time wifey &  I took part in Short+Sweet Musical as a team. Last year we decided to explore other areas of interest instead of collaborating. This year, instead of just writing together, I also pulled her in to help me direct a musical too.

 

 

I was given 5 scripts to choose and I am glad that I got my first choice "A WOMAN AT WAR" by Mark Sasse. As a first time director my immediate challenge was to get my cast. After finally sorted out the leads, I faced a bigger challenge of assembling a band to play the music. While Mark & Laura Danneker(co-composer) had provided me with a minus one, I didn't think the recorded music would fit into my vision for the musical. I am also a firm believer in live music for musicals. Thankfully, 2 weeks into my rehearsal with the actors I managed to get a pianist from church and slowly my band was formed - 2 teenagers from my current church and 2 guys from my Penang church. I also decided to cast an ensemble of 6 people to support the leads.

 

The idea of writing a sperm musical, believe it or not, came during Short+Sweet Musical 2013, in the green room. I wanted to see how many performers we can put on stage so I'd figured with a sperm musical, the possibilities would be endless. So I presented the idea to wifey and together we slowly developed the story. While we wanted to stretch the story as much as we could, we also wanted the story to be as scientifically accurate as possible. So after much research and discussion, we decided to settled for the contraceptives as antagonists.

 

We also approached our friends Ross & Shen to be the director and musical director respectively.

 

 

So we were slotted into S+S Musical Week 1 and thankfully, both musicals made it to Gala Night which just ended a few hours ago.

 

How did we fare?



 

Karynn & I won the Festival Director's Award while 300 Million: The Reconceptualization of a Conception won the Audience Choice & Best Overall Production Awards. As much as I am proud to win, I am even prouder of the team who performed on stage, both the cast of A Woman At War & 300 Million. I did not participate with the hope to win - I just want to showcase my work and explore what I can do in the arts.

 

Words cannot describe the joy I had when I first watch both musicals come to life during the full dress rehearsal last week. I was so satisfied with the work the teams have put in and I can still remember the pride I had after the rehearsal ended. For A Woman At War, the pride to see how the actors have grown over the last 2 months was enough for me. For 300 million, it was the pleasant surprise of how the puns and lines were delivered with great comedic timing.

 

As we leave S+S Musical with wonderful memories, here are a few people I want to thank:

 

1. First & foremost, God for sending me people along my path to help me learn and grow.

 

2. Wifey for always bringing the best out of me. Somehow whenever we collaborate, we've always managed to come up with some crazy fun stuff. Let's make more babies on stage!

 

3. Alex Chua & Nicole-Ann Thomas for the guidance you have given me as a performer. I try to apply what I have learned from you and I hope I have made you proud. Thank you for your feedback Alex, and Nicole, hope to get yours soon.

4. BB for your lighting suggestion. Looks good:) *correction: IT LOOKED GREAT!! 
 

5. Nick Choo, for being Nick Choo. I am not sure if people actually realize how generous you are. Thank you for taking your time to meet us & to offer your advice on 300 million. You are, in my opinion, the Godfather of S+S Musical. Wifey has learnt much from you at the 2011 S+S Musical workshop and I have learnt much through her as well. I do hope you will continue to take part in future S+S Musical and allow us the privilege of enjoying your wonderful work. Nick Choo doesn't need S+S Musical; S+S Musical needs Nick Choo.

 

6. Mark Sasse & Laura Danneker for trusting us with your work. I know it can be a scary thought to surrender your work to a complete stranger. You are braver than us because we approached our friend to direct. Thank you for your kind words of encouragement and it has been a pleasure directing A Woman At War.

 

7. Ross & Shen for the work you have put into 300 million. We love it the moment we saw it last week. You have made both wifey & me proud of our work.

 

8. Cast of A Woman At War & 300 Million. Every night you had me cheering for you and I couldn't be happier with your final performance.

 

9. Joe, Faridah, Soo, Lawrence, April, Boy, Ariff & other staff for your support and for giving us the platform to explore.

 

So what is next? 

 

I will be directing in S+S Theatre and I hope we'll do well. We have about 2 weeks to start blocking and get our act together. As for next year, wifey & I have decided that we will split again, before we reunite for Short+Sweet Musical 2016.

 

Why?

 

Because it's not about the competition. It's about the arts.

 

1 week to Short+Sweet Musical

Last night I had my rehearsal and it was our best rehearsal yet. I am delighted that our ensemble who only started rehearsing with us on 2 Sept are coping very well. But I am even prouder of my 2 leads Boon Kit & Vivian for the hard work they have put into this.

The more we practice, the more I realised how emotional this musical is. I am thankful that wifey is around to support me in this and I couldn't have asked for a better partner to do this project with me. Together we have managed to assemble a very talented group of musicians who are contributing a lot to the musical arrangement. If I could, I would include their names as co-musical directors.

So are we ready for next week? Based on what I saw last night, I believe we are ready to put on a good show. I am not too concern about the singing as I believe in telling a truthful story. I want my actors to go through the emotions as they perform so that the audience will go on the journey with them. We still have 4 more rehearsals before full dress and we'll be doing full runs after full runs.

Below are the pictures I took last night. I must also thank my boss Louis for allowing me to use the gym studio for our rehearsals. It wouldn't be possible to rehearse at our home with the band and the actors together. And to rent a space for rehearsals is just too costly for us.

Besides this, 300 Million: The Reconceptualization of a Conception are also moving ahead with their rehearsals. We are on involved in the rehearsal process but I believe that we will have a pleasant surprise next week when we watch it for the first time at the full dress rehearsal.  

Anyone reading this, please come support us next week.

Please click on the links below for both musical's event page.

A Woman At War Event Page

300 Million: The Reconceptualization of a Conception Event Page

Theatre, Musical & Ministry

Last Monday I just attended a meeting where the long term plan of the church's performing arts ministry was shared. Looks like one exciting year ahead!

If everything works out as planned, right after my performance in A Little Conviction, I will be jumping into it in January 2014, right before I start the rehearsals for klpac's Sinbad.

Looking back, everything sort of makes sense. If this was to happen 10 months ago, I think I won't have much confidence in contributing to this. So now, I eagerly wait for it to happen.

I remember in 2010, I had the idea of taking what I learned in performing arts and put it into church ministry. Somehow I didn't have the opportunity to do it then.  But now I believe my "kairos" moment has come.

Last day in Sydney: final note

I'm flying back to KL in 7 hours. I will have to wake up in about 4 hours, and here I am, wide awake.

I blame the weather. We arrive Tuesday morning and it was nice & cozy. However, last few days it's been a wee bit too warm for my liking.

Sydney has stayed pretty much the same since 1999, albeit some minor changes. I managed to to catch up with a few friends, two of whom got married in 2003 and are now blessed with 2 beautiful girls.

I also managed to go around Sydney as a tourist since I first came here in 1996. Wifey was right to point out that I hardly travelled around Sydney- guess I'm not that adventurous. I just like to stick around my uni, have my north indian butter chicken, pizza & ice cream, and occasionally visit Chinatown for Penang Sar Hor Fun.  Incidentally, the pizza joint in Newtown I used to patron for pizzas & chocolate ice cream and the Malaysian Chinese restaurant in Chinatown are no longer there. Even Sydney Christian Life Centre, my home church in Sydney, is now a part of Hillsongs Church.

I still love the busses & trains, and how friendly most Aussies are to tourists. If only we can have a bit of sensible infrastructure planning & courtesy.

Sydney is still my favourite place to migrate to, if given the opportunity. Funny thing is, I would have stayed back after my graduation if not for my rebound GF then. Imagine what kind of life it would have been; I reckon there would be no GX or performing arts for me here. Defintely I would not have met Wifey.

Still not sure what the point of this entry is. Perhaps I just want to put my thoughts down in words before I get lazy to write. 

I've had my fair bit of good & bad memories during my 2 1/2 year stay in Sydney. I'm glad that this time I'm bringing back just good memories shared with wifey.

Maybe I'll come back again one day:)

Déjà vu

A new year, a new resolution, a new beginning, a new hope...

Somehow every time we start the new year, there's always something to look forward to,... well, at least for me. For example in January 2008, I was in the midst of preparing my wedding proposal. 2009, I was busy preparing for a wedding. 2010, I was getting ready to start my rehearsals for Adam: The Musical. 2011, I was preparing for my audition for Bars & Bedrooms. 2012, I was optimistic with my new position at a gym.. You get the idea, right?

This year seems different. Today, as I type this entry, I am uncertain of what will be happening to me in the next few months. It seems that I have been cornered into making a decision: stay and live a mundane life, or launch out to the deep & live my passion.

You know what? This feels like 2005 all over again:)

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

10 years

10 years ago, I tendered my resignation letter to GSK and went to work in BBraun, that would forever change my life for good.

10 years ago, I experienced my major boo-boon on stage when I signalled to sing the chorus of "You Are My King" slowly, and the drummer thought I asked him to go straight into the marching beat of "Go Tell It On the Mountain". It didn't help when I ended the service singing "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" in the wrong key.

10 years ago, I was annoyed when my dad called me from his barber and asked me where I was. Later I fetched him there, I discovered that he had suffered a stroke.

10 years ago, I had to make the most difficult phone call  to my sister in Beijing, telling her to come back immediately as dad  was not going to make it.

10 years ago.

In Memory of Looi Hock Seng

21 Mar 1933 - 27 Dec 2002

2012: Year in review

Last year at around this time, I was halfway through the "Malaysian Girls" run in klpac and also cleaning up my table in FF Menara Manulife. This year, I am sort of in a similar situation, as I prepare for SIBKL's Christmas musical "EVERWORLD":)

However, looking back this year, I feel that this year I have done more than I did last year.

Last year, it was basically more about getting on stage. This year, while I still get to do that, I managed to find time to explore the other aspects of performing arts in song & script writing, and collaborating with the missus. I am extremely proud of "The Geongxi is a Vamp" cast & crew for the work they have put into making the musical a huge success.

Also, I get to do the very thing I wanted to do when I started doing shows in KL - taking what I have learned and use it in church ministry. Thanks to Tabitha, we went for the audition in Apr(or was it May?) and we were picked for the musical. Although I had to forgo the chance to audition for Christopher Ling's "Kiss of the Spider Woman", I still believe in my higher calling for this.

While it has been a long and occasionally frustrating journey, as I looked back, I am thankful for the friends I have made over the last few months in this production. And when we start our run on 19 Dec at Sunway Mas Community Centre, I am certain that everyone will put in their very best for God.

Something to be thankful for was I got to take part in Christopher Ling's "Dead Man's Cell Phone". It was a wonderful experience working with Alexis, Anrie & Sandee again while making new acquaintances in Payal & Amir. My only regret is that I only had 2 weeks to prepare for the show. Given 1 more week or so, I could be better at playing Gordon. Also I really hope to work with Christopher in a full production(as in with full preparation) one day.

I am glad to be performing in Dama Orchestra's "Empress Wu", another awesome experience. Kai Loon & Seng Chew have great vision for the musical and they have managed to pulled in all expertise they have and made the musical successful. Kai Loon's attention to details was something I salute and next year when they restage "Butterfly Lovers", I hope I get to be part of again.

So what do I hope to see in 2013?


1. When I tendered my resignation with Fitness First, I told my fellow GX managers that I would work toward finding a career that would allow me to do both GX & performing arts. So I hope that I will be able to do something like that in 2013.

2. After doing 2 musicals, I think it is time to go back to theatre and do a play. So, no musical for me in the first 6 months of 2013 - hopefully something will pop up for me:)

3. I am still thinking of whether to try writing a play for S+S 2013 instead of a musical. The musical I had wanted to write this year is beginning to feel more suitable as a play than a musical. However, with so much competition in S+S Theatre, I don't think my play would be selected. So it may be a safer bet to submit a musical still:)

4. I am contemplating if I should do stage managing in 2013. Though I prefer to be a performer than a SM, perhaps it is good to do it so that I don't lose what I have learned in 2011.

5. Yes, a musical with Christopher Ling please.(Chris, I hope you are reading this!)

Looking forward to a better year in 2013!

Another Yellow Brick Road

Last year 9 July I didn't take part in Bersih 2.0 because I was afraid. But this time Bersih 3.0, I wasn't anymore.

So yesterday morning wifey & I had our breakfast at Happy Garden and walked to the Sri Petaling Station to join in the Duduk Bantah. We were supposed to meet up with her colleagues but since they were late and we were concerned that the authorities might shut down the station, we boarded the train to KL ourselves at 10am. We saw more people in yellow boarding the train from Bukit Jalil, Bandar Tasik Selatan, Cheras, etc.

A nice 30-min-ride and we reached Plaza Rakyat and went straight to Petaling Street. The place looked kinda like a carnival, a street party, if you like. There were small groups of people holding up their banners and some people playing music & dancing around. No police man in sight but there was a helicopter flying around... checking on the situation, I think.

The REAL Petaling Street Warriors

While we were all there to demand a clean & fair election, I certainly did not feel like the atmosphere was as tensed as I had expected. Everyone was making themselves heard in their unique ways.

It's been a while since we wore the same colour

 Last night, there were unconfirmed news that our PDRM might be using some hi-tech sonic equipment on the protesters and so I brought my own protection, just in case.

Custom made earplugs

 Back in the uni days in Sydney, I used to work as an earplug tester for a company and they had to test this new product. So they made me these earplugs.

They fit only my ears

 As we were only supposed to start walking to Dataran Merdeka at 1.30pm, we walked about Petaling Street to see the whole area. While most shops were closed, there were still some activities with some of the vendors.

This group seemed to be getting a lot of attention

It felt like a street party

Not sure he was a vendor or he came with the sign

Petaling Street with no fake products? Sure...

Interesting to note that the mata kucing & soya bean stalls were very busy serving their drinks. The Chatime outlet in Petaling Street was closed though. Otherwise, I am very sure they will also have a long queue of Bersih supporters ordering their drinks.

Good business...

By 11am, the crowd grew bigger as more people began to  arrive.

Still, the general feeling is very calm and not agressive.We managed to meet up with wifey's colleagues and we walked together from McD to Nando's to wait for "further instructions". According to one of the collegues, when the time came, there would be someone who would tell us when to start moving to Dataran Merdeka. We saw Selangor Assembly speaker Datuk Teng Chang Khim ariving with an entourage.

Another photo op

He was playing Rasa Sayang

We decided to eat a bit before the walk began and since earlier, wifey had been eyeing this fried fish from this Restoran Hameed, we had a quick lunch there. She ordered the fish while I only had Milo Kosong Ais.

I kid you not. Business was very good

 By the time we came back from lunch, her colleagues appeared to have moved. Phone signals were very bad at that time and we were unable to contact anyone. And so, we were back alone.

He was the only one there where we last saw her colleagues

We assumed that they might have started walking towards Dataran Merdeka as we could see people moving already. So we just followed the crowd and walked towards Dataran Merdeka.

Showing their "love" for our leaders

Some chanting happening here

Today's rally was sponsored by Maybank

 All the way along Jalan Tun Perak, we could hear Bersih and Anti-Lynas chants. Of course there were also reformasi & anti-BN chants but they were not as strong as the Bersih & Anti-Lynas chants. I also mentioned to wifey that this rally cannot be political and I refused  to chant anything but Bersih chants, maybe Anti-Lynas  too.

More people marching behind us

Then I heard one very loud chant led by a guy. I turned to look and commented to wifey that the guy looked like the char koay teow guy in the food court near our home. She exclaimed, "It's him-la!' I didn't think it was him at first because he always appeared very slumber and relaxed at his stall and not as energetic as he was here.

I said hi to him and asked in cantonese, "so, no need to open your stall?" His reply was, "Today I am not opening  my stall, today I want to BERSIH!"

Trust a penangite when he says the FKT is good

We kept walking as wifey wanted to be in the frontline. And we could feel that the excitement level growing as we moved closer to the Jalan Raja-Jalan Tun Perak junction. There were a couple of police vehicles and some policemen stationed along Jalan Tun Perak but they only observed everything. Occassionally they were directing traffic.

PAS' Unit Amal Malaysia were very disciplined

More love for our leader

We managed to squeeze our way through the crowd and were about 100 metres away from the barricades. At that point, it was around 1.30pm.

The barricades

Huge group from Parliment I think

 As we could not proceed further, some people sat on the road and we decided to sit for a while too. Then we got up to give way to the police we walked passed earlier. They were moving to be behind the barricades. There were so many with their own chants & shouts but they were chanting Bersih slogans and some pro-opposition or anti-BN stuff. We tried to sit down again but there were so many of us that it was really difficult getting everyone to sit down. Then some political leaders were being led to the barricades and we had to get up because we could be stepped on. Also, there was a guy who asked us to be careful of "instigators" and we were afraid there could be a stampede should things turned ugly.

Chants of "We Want Dataran!", "Buka!" could be heard throughout and there was a moment that we all stood to sing "Negaraku". There were a couple of occasions, in the midst of all the chanting,  I was almost moved to tears because I saw a Malaysia, regardless of race or religion, coming together for a common cause. I finally understood some of the feelings those who went on 9 July felt.

Around 240pm, the crowd got excited as Datuk Ambiga, Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah, Lim Kit Siang & Nurul Izzah made their way to the front. We all cheered for them.

It appeared to me that Datuk Ambiga was gesturing to us to disperse but I couldn't be sure as we all could not hear anything.(Note: from news report, she had earlier made her speech at the Masjid Jamek Station telling everyone that the objective had been achieved and everyone should go home). Shouts of "Buka!" "Duduk!" became even stronger as at the point no one knew what was going on.

Then, I saw some people rushing to the barricade and the policemen behind the barricade moved away. People began to cheer and most were getting ready to occupy Dataran Merdeka. I stood and observed what Datuk Ambiga was doing and she was trying to tell the people to retreat. Too late, as the police fired their water cannons. Wifey I quickly put on our goggles and took out our towels to cover our faces. Then we saw cannisters were fired. That was when everyone got panicky and began to rush back to Jalan Pudu junction.

Situation got chaotic as we were trying to run away from the tear gas(the riot police vehicle with the water cannon were still behind the barricades). However, in the chaos, I saw something else. We were sharing salt & water and young men helping old people to move away from the tear gas. In front of me I saw a Unit Amal Malaysia man protecting an old chinese uncle shouting "Ada orang tua!" to make sure that nobody pushed him.

Thanks to our goggles, our eyes were spared from the tear gas, though we felt it on our skin, nose lips. At first I thought our lips and nose were going to burn but after a while, the discomfort was gone.

We ran back to the front of Menara Maybank and set by the pavement. The phone signal was back and I called OCD to let him know I was ok, while wifey texted her sister. I thought it was over but later people were running again as the police decide move in with their riot vehicle & more cannisters were fired.

We had to decide where to go- Pudu or Petaling Street. We retreated to Petaling Street as we had planned to eat there anyway.

Back to Petaling Street

The police continued to fire their tear gas outside Petaling Steet while we walked about looking for food. We were planning to eat the baked fish but the stall tak buka. We ended up sitting at this bahkua shop while I ate a bahkua bun. Made 2 new friends who shared our table- it was their first time too. We found out from them that the Plaza Rakyat station has been closed by the police. I called Andy from church to check with him- earlier over the phone he said that he was going home. He confirmed the situation and the stupid thing was, he was already inside the station but the train wouldn't stop to pick up passengers.

Wifey was still hungry and there were still tear gas around and we couldn't just hog the table after I finished. Finally we decided to take our chances by going out to Nando's which we saw was open in the morning. Thankfully, it was still open and we went in for our dinner before we walked to Hang Tuah Station(advised by wifey's resourceful colleague) to take our train back to Sri Petaling.

With that, our involvement in Bersih 3.0 came to an end.

It has been an eye-opener being part of Bersih 3.0. I managed to catch a glimpse of how Malaysia can be in the chaotic moment- Someone share his salt with us, I gave my water to the people around me to wash their eyes, all done without looking at the colour of our skins. But why only have this when we are put into a situation? Shouldn't this be a natural thing to do as we watch one another's back as Malaysians?

SALAM BERSIH!