Home > Past Buzz > Maxis Brings FAME - The Musical To Kuala Lumpur
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Kuala Lumpur,15 January 2002: IMG and Jacobsen Entertainment today announced the Asia tour of FAME - The Musical which kicks off in Kuala Lumpur before moving on to Singapore and Hong Kong. The Kuala Lumpur season is produced with Istana Budaya (Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism Malaysia) and will premire on 9 May 2002 at Istana Budaya for a strictly limited season. The staging of this musical, which is sponsored by Maxis One Club, marks a special milestone for Malaysia as this is the first time that a full-scale West End production has been staged in the country.

FAME - The Musical is an exhilarating musical based on the American Academy Award winning film and the long-running TV series which ran for 6 years and was shown in Malaysia. The musical has played over 4,000 performances for more than 3 years throughout the UK and Europe. In the first year of its West End run, FAME - The Musical was nominated for two of London's Laurence Olivier Awards for Best New Musical and Best Choreography.

The production will be directed by David Atkins, who is one of Australia's leading directors and performers, as well as the Producer and Artistic Director for the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the Sydney Olympics 2000.

Said Mr. James Cundall, Director of IMG Arts and Entertainment for Asia, Australia and New Zealand and producer of the Asia tour of FAME - The Musical, "This is truly a historic moment. FAME - The Musical is the first ever full-scale West End musical to be staged in Malaysia and I believe the longest run of a musical in Malaysia. It has been a long journey to finally arrive at this moment where we can bring such exciting performances to Malaysian audiences. It has been proven in the last couple of years that there is a strong demand for musicals in Malaysia. Now that Malaysia has a suitably equipped theatre in Istana Budaya, you can be assured that we will do our best to stage more of these productions in the future."

IMG has been touring musicals in Asia and Australia for many years. In recent times this has included Miss Saigon (presented in August last year in Singapore and Hong Kong), Riverdance, The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Slava's Snowshow, Carmen, Buddy the Musical, Stomp, Tap Dogs, Chicago and many more. IMG has just launched Cameron Mackintosh's Oliver and Sam Mendes' Cabaret in Australia. Singin' in the Rain opens in Brisbane late this month following very successful seasons in Sydney and Melbourne where it has played to over 400,000 people. During the time that FAME - The Musical is running in Kuala Lumpur, IMG will also be opening The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) in Singapore.

The Story
FAME - The Musical is a roller coaster ride through the dreams and disappointments of the star-struck pupils at New York's legendary High School for the Performing Arts. As we follow the talented, highly diverse young people - and their devoted teachers - through four years of rigorous arts training in the heart of New York City, from freshman term through to graduation, we come to learn that the acquiring of fame takes more than a snazzy step or a pretty face; it's the culmination of intense study, a little growing up and a lot of hard work.

The Production
This production of FAME - The Musical played throughout Australia in 2001 entertaining over 750,000 people, who were swept away nightly by the high energy dancing of the cast as well as the great music. A brand new cast will be assembled at the end of February especially for this tour. FAME - The Musical will have a touring cast of 27 performers and a management and production team of 22. Seven musicians will provide the music live on stage. The set, featuring the immortal yellow Cadillac, will be shipped from Australia in 5 x 40 ' containers prior to being assembled over two weeks at Istana Budaya.

The Sponsors
FAME - The Musical is brought to you by Maxis and sponsored by Maxis One Club. Official sponsors are ASTRO, MIX FM, The Sun, Southern Bank Berhad, OOCL, The Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel, and Malaysia Airlines (who are sponsoring the entire Asia tour of FAME - The Musical).

Maxis Communications Berhad's Senior General Manager for Corporate Affairs & Public Relations, En Amdan Mat Din said, "This sponsorship epitomizes what our loyalty club, Maxis One Club is all about - the appreciation of the finer things in life. And here is where the fit with FAME -The Musical comes in as one of our many ways to thank our Maxis One Club members, and Maxis customers for their loyalty and support which has made Maxis, Malaysia's no 1 mobile operator."

Ticketing Information
FAME - The Musical will run for two to three weeks at Istana Budaya from 9 May 2002. Ticket prices range from RM 75 to RM 250. Family packages and student tickets are also available.

Maxis customers, MAS Enrich cardholders and Southern Bank credit cardholders are entitled to a 10% discount on the top two price categories during the Priority Booking period from 15 January to 31 March 2002.

Maxis One Club members will enjoy a 40% discount for a special Maxis One Club performance on 10 May 2002. In addition, all Maxis customers will be entitled to a 20% discount for a special Maxis performance on 12 May 2002. Offers are only valid until 31 March 2002.

Tickets go on general public sale from 18 February 2002. Tickets are available at all TicketCharge outlets and through the hotline 03-7726 2002 and the website www.ticketcharge.com.my

Official website : www.famethemusical.com.my

 

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