mastercard theatre Archives

WICKED The Musical Is Coming To Singapore @ Marina Bay Sands

By delta September 2, 2016

As a kid, I have always been a fan of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, a children’s novel written by L. Frank Baum and I was really intrigued when I stumbled upon Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, the alternative novel by Gregory Maguire which is also set in the Land of Oz.
Having read both novels, it was a pity that I didn’t have the chance to watch WICKED The Musical when they came to Singapore 5 years ago as I was serving my National Service. Fast forward to today, I am really glad that WICKED is back and the award-winning Broadway and West End Musical will be coming to perform live in Singapore at the Marina Bay Sands from 29 September 2016 to 16 October 2016.

Will there any difference between this coming stage show and the last one that was here 5 years ago?

Yes, there will be and I found out about it when I had a one-to-one interview with Elphaba, the green-skinned witch (played by Jacqueline Hughes).

Me: What Inspired You To Take On The Role of Elphaba?

Jacqueline Hughes: Elphaba is hopeful and she’s a dreamer and she’s young and she’s got all these hopes and dreams; which I suppose is quite like myself, you know we are all dreamers; and essentially being Pisces; it’s sort of like my traits. But she’s misunderstood by everyone because of her green skin. She’s fiery, she’s feisty, she’s powerful, and she’s an incredible character to play and she’s also incredibly complex; which is why I love playing the part so much because there’s so many layers to it.

Me: Would You Think That It Is Extremely Hard For You To Get Into The Character As Opposed To You Being Yourself?

Jacqueline Hughes: You almost bring a part of yourself to the character and it has definitely helped me to portray the role. I’m originally from Scotland so I have a bit of fire in my blood and the determination like how Elphaba does. She’s incredibly tough and she’s thick-skinned; she has to be, and I really admire her for that.

Me: Is There Anything That You Hate About This Character At All?

Jacqueline Hughes: No, I just love playing the character. She has such an incredible journey from being a young hopeful university student to being this powerful woman who’s constantly faced with battles and she tries to overcome them and do good. She never wants to do wrong, she always want to do right but unfortunately, the propaganda around her has made her wicked; so by the end of the show with “No Good Deed”, which is actually my favourite song to perform; she said she’s had enough and she said ok, this is it, you want me to be wicked then so be it, I’m going to be wicked.

Me: Do You See Any Challenges Taking On This Role?

Jacqueline Hughes: Oh yeah. Lots of challenges. The role itself is so demanding; vocally, physically and mentally. I really have to look after myself. I need to make sure that I get enough sleep, enough rest, lots of water, and lots of vocal maintenance just to make sure that I can portray this role at every show. It is highly demanding but it is also rewarding as well; it’s sort of a love hate relationship.

Me: What’s Your Perfect Sunday Afternoon Like?

Jacqueline Hughes: My perfect Sunday afternoon is to be at home with my husband. We live out in the country so we take our jog, lots of walks. A walk in the park with my husband and my dog, sitting in the park, having a lovely Sunday lunch.

Me: What is one thing that fans of the WICKED can look forward to in this coming show? Is there something that will catch them by surprise?

Jacqueline Hughes: Yeah, firstly, it is an entirely British cast and we have never been to this part of the world before. There’s 72 of us that are bringing the show over. Fortunately, we have the American creative team to come and work with us and they have actually added some magical bits to freshen up the show. There’s more magic and more flying, and lots more to catch the audiences’ eyes.

Me: What is one fact about WICKED that fans may not probably know about?

Jacqueline Hughes: The Wicked Witch is not named in the original L. Frank Baum novel. Gregory Maguire invented the name for her using Baum’s initial; L.F.B. (Elphaba), that’s where the name Elphaba comes from.

Having concluded the interview with Jacqueline Hughes; I am definitely excited about watching WICKED The Musical and I really can’t wait to watch their coming performance here in Singapore.

If you’re keen, tickets to the musical can be booked via Marina Bay Sands Online or via SISTIC Online.

Ticket prices start from SGD$55 to SGD$230.

Don’t miss this chance to catch WICKED The Musical live at the Marina Bay Sands!

[Musical Review]- MAMMA MIA! The Worldwide Smash Hit Live In Singapore!

By delta December 5, 2014

A mother. A daughter. 3 possible dads. And a trip down the aisle you’ll never forget!
MAMMA MIA!, the highly-anticipated musical inspired by the classic songs of ABBA, has been showing in Singapore since 13 November 2014 and they will be here till 14 December 2014! The show was last performed in Singapore in 2004 and following its huge success, MAMMA MIA! makes a welcome return after a decade.

MAMMA MIA! is Judy Craymer’s ingenious vision of staging the story-telling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs with an enchanting tale of family and friendship unfolding on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the identity of her father, brings three men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago.

[Image Credits to MAMMA MIA!]

The narrative power of ABBA’s greatest hits including ‘Dancing Queen’, ‘Take A Chance On Me,’ and ‘The Winner Takes It All’ propels this charming story of love, laughter and friendship and 2014 marks the 40th Anniversary of ABBA’s Eurovision Song Contest win.

[Image Credits to MAMMA MIA!]

With music & lyrics by Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus, MAMMA MIA! is written by Catherine Johnson, directed by Phyllida Lloyd, and choreographed by Anthony Van Laast. The production is designed by Mark Thompson, with lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce & Bobby Aitken and musical supervision, additional material & arrangements by Martin Koch.

The International Tour is produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East, and Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal, Stage Entertainment, and NGM. It is presented in Singapore by BASE Entertainment Asia, Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, and David Atkins Enterprises.

Our Personal Review/Opinion of MAMMA MIA!

MAMMA MIA! is definitely a musical that you must not miss! Throughout the entire musical, we were so absorbed that we just forgot about everything else and allowed ourselves to be enchanted by the story-telling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs.

We were also very privileged to have been given the opportunity for a backstage tour and we had an insightful time learning how the whole musical is put together every single show.

The Media also had an opportunity to learn some dance moves for the finale act from Jamie Wilkin, [Assistant Choreographer and Dance Captain for the MAMMA MIA! International Tour] during the backstage tour.

The props used in the musical are meticulously designed and bringing them to Singapore is a massive logistical task!

Not many people know that the audio and songs in the show are mixed live and there is a live band that plays the music.

From the backstage tour, we learnt that MAMMA MIA! is a musical that requires a lot of teamwork, coordination, and preparation by both the casts and crew members! Although the ticket prices may seem exorbitant, don’t be put off by it because MAMMA MIA! is definitely worth it! For the massive shipping of props, sweat, tears, energy and effort to put together this wonderful production, watching MAMMA MIA! should be in your bucket list of things-to-do in your lifetime!

We highly recommend you to catch MAMMA MIA! before the tickets run out and in our opinion, you should bring your parents or grandparents along too!

For more information about the show, do visit the Official MAMMA MIA! Website!

In Summary

WHO
The International Tour features a cast from the UK

WHAT
MAMMA MIA! International Tour

WHEN
From now till 14 December 2014 |Tuesdays – Fridays 8:00pm, Saturday 2pm and 8pm, and Sunday 1pm and 6.00pm

WHERE
MasterCard Theatres, Marina Bay Sands

HOW
Booking Through Internet:
www.BASEentertainmentasia.com, www.MarinaBaySands.com/Ticketing OR www.sistic.com.sg

Booking By Phone:
+65 6688 8826

Purchase Tickets In Person At:
Marina Bay Sands Box Offices
[Museum, Theatres, SkyPark, Retail Mall and Hotel Tower 1 Lobby]

-Ticket Price Starts From SGD$95 Onwards-

[2 more days only!]- Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express @ Marina Bay Sands MasterCard Theatre

By delta November 22, 2013

If you haven’t caught Starlight Express at the Marina Bay Sands MasterCard Theatre, don’t miss this chance because the last run for it is on 24 November 2013 [Sunday]!
One of the best-loved, longest-running, and most unique musicals in theatrical history, Starlight Express has delighted audiences from its sell-out tour around the UK.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rock ‘n’ roller-skates sensation is one of his most successful musicals. Light years ahead of the rest, Starlight Express is a futuristic tale about love, rivalry, and hope in the face of adversity. The show delivers two hours of speed, energy, 3 dimensional spectacle, daredevil stunts and turbo-charged excitement.

Originally conceived as a cartoon story for his own children, Lloyd Webber’s masterpiece tells the story of a child’s dream, in which toy trains come to life and compete to become the fastest engine in the world, while also competing for the affections of the glamorous coaches with whom they must ‘team-up’ with.

With the entire cast of 28 on roller skates, Starlight Express will amaze audiences with its speed and skill, showcasing extraordinary roller-choreography from the renowned West End choreographer Arlene Phillips. The story hurtles along against a backdrop of high-tech staging, 3 dimensional projection, special effects and a pulsating score. The soundtrack by high-voltage team of Lloyd Webber/David Yazbek draws inspiration from numerous music styles, from rhythm and blues, rock ‘n’ roll, jazz, rap, country and western, and contemporary pop acts.

The challenge of designing and creating costumes that resemble different types of trains, while providing full movement and a degree of protection for the actor, resulted in ground-breaking designs. The show’s dazzling costumes and sets, by the legendary West End designer John Napier, have won numerous awards.

The original West End production of Starlight Express electrified the theatre world in 1984, running for almost 18 years. Since then, there have been a further seven major productions, including Broadway, USA/Canada Tour, Las Vegas, Japan, Australia/Japan Tour, Mexico and Germany, where the show is still running after 25 years. So far more than 25 million people worldwide have enjoyed a thrilling ride aboard Starlight Express.

Don’t miss this opportunity to catch this ground-breaking show that burst onto the theatre scene in the 80s! Not only is the show unique, being performed entirely on roller skates, but the story is a powerful lesson about the triumph of the human spirit. It’s truly an ultimate feel-good show!

The shows for tomorrow and the day after will be held at 2pm and 7:30pm and tickets prices are from $65 onwards [excluding the booking fee of SGD$3 per ticket].

To book your tickets, you can either book online via the following websites: www.BASEentertainmentasia.com or www.MarinaBaySands.com/Ticketing

Alternatively, you can book by phone via the number 6688-8826 or book in person at Marina Bay Sands Box Offices [Museum, Theaters, SkyPark, Retail Mall and Hotel Tower 1 and 3 Lobby]

For VIP, Hotel and Dining Packages, please visit www.showbizasia.com

Corporate and Group Bookings are available via Showbiz so for corporate and group bookings, you can email to the following address at corporate@showbizasia.com or call 6688-1029

The Phantom of the Opera Gala Night @ Marina Bay Sands [Mastercard Theatre]

By delta July 21, 2013

Two days ago, we were extremely privileged and honoured to have been invited to the Gala Night of The Phantom of the Opera at the Marina Bay Sands [Mastercard Theatre] and we really enjoyed ourselves thoroughly.

We felt like superstars! 😛

In case you’re wondering, The Phantom of the Opera is a musical that tells a heart-wrenching story of the mysterious, hideously disfigured Phantom who lives beneath the Paris Opera House, and his obsession with the young singer Christine. Disguised as the ‘Angel of Music’ he devotes himself to creating a new opera star, and winning her love from his rival, Raoul, while exercising a reign of terror over the Opera House.

The theatre was packed with people even before the performance commence.

The really beautiful and stunning stage decoration.

The team from The Phantom of the Opera has performed in Singapore at the Kallang Theatre in 1995 and at the Esplanade Theatre in 2007. This year, The Phantom of the Opera will be showing at the Marina Bay Sands, Mastercard Theatre and they will performing here in Singapore till 25 August 2013!

Now, if you haven’t watch The Phantom of the Opera before, you absolutely have to catch it! Even as we’re typing this blog post, recalling our experience certainly gives us the goosebumps because it was our first time watching The Phantom of the Opera and it has left quite a lasting impression on us. In fact, we felt our emotions running high when we were in the theatre watching the splendid performance.

A photo with the suave Anthony Downing whom acted as Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera.

With 130 cast, crew and orchestra members, jaw-dropping scenery, breathtaking special effects, and more than 230 stunning costumes, The Phantom of the Opera contains some of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s most famous and stirring music.

Music of the Night is our all-time favourite music in The Phantom of the Opera.

To be honest, The Phantom of the Opera is a show that you must catch at least once in your lifetime. As for us, we will definitely be catching it the next time it returns to Singapore or if we’re travelling overseas to London/New York.

The Phantom of the Opera is the world’s most successful and popular musical, and the longest-running show on Broadway. It celebrated its 27th anniversary on the West End stage last year, and continues to play to full houses nightly in London, New York and around the world. The Phantom of the Opera has been seen by over 130 million people worldwide, has been performed in more than 27 countries, has won over 50 major theatre awards, and has grossed more than US$5.6 billion.

The Phantom of the Opera is truly God’s gift to musical theatre.

Don’t miss this rare chance to catch such an awesome production right here in Singapore because nobody knows when The Phantom of the Opera would return to haunt Singapore again. So hurry along and book your tickets fast because it will definitely be a sell-out event!

Here are some details that you might like to take note of.

Showtimes:
16 Jul – 25 Aug 2013
Tuesday – Friday: 8pm
Saturday & Sunday: 2pm & 8pm

Duration:
Approx 2 hours and 30 minutes [including 15 minutes interval]

Interval:
Approx 15 minutes

Ticket Price [Exclude Booking Fee]:

[Image Credits to Sistic]

VIP [includes drink + programme] – S$230
A Reserve – S$165
B Reserve – S$145
C Reserve – S$125
D Reserve – S$95
E Reserve – S$55
VIP Box (4 Seats) – S$920 [includes drink + programme]
Box Seats (2 Seats) – $250

Restricted Views
F Reserve – S$165
G Reserve – S$145

Tickets can be purchased from the ticketing counters at Marina Bay Sands or via the hotline phone number, 6688-8826. For greater convenience and accessibility, you can also purchase the tickets through Base Entertainment Asia’s Website.

The Phantom awaits your presence..

STOMP’s Performing In Singapore From Now Till 23 June 2013 @ The Marina Bay Sands Mastercard Theatre!

By delta June 19, 2013

Thanks to Base Entertainment Asia, we were extremely privileged to receive the invitation to catch STOMP at the Marina Bay Sands Mastercard Theatre and we have to say this, it was a really stomping good time!

The last time I caught STOMP in Singapore was 4 years ago [2009] at the Esplanade Theatre and when I received news that they were going to come to Singapore and perform, I was really so excited. Never had I ever imagined that I would receive invites to catch them at their opening night!

As a former percussionist/drummer of The Strikeforce [now known as Urban Drum Crew], STOMP is not foreign to me and in fact, most of the performances that were put up by my former percussions street-band had an element of STOMP in it. To get an idea of what STOMP is like, check out a video of the Chingay Performance that my former percussions street-band put up.

Of course, we can’t compare ourselves to STOMP because STOMP is way much better and cooler!

If you’re wondering whether the STOMP performance that I caught in 2009 is the same as this year’s, the answer is no. When we caught STOMP yesterday, they performed new routines with new choreography and new music/rhythm.

From supermarket trolleys to Zippo lighters, plastic bags to bin lids, the team of 8 performers from STOMP even use the kitchen sink to hammer out an explosive head-banging rhythm.

As photography and video-recording were not allowed in the theatre, we only managed to get photos of STOMP when we attended their Sneak Peek Performance that took place just this afternoon at the Marina Bay Sands Ice-Skating Rink.

Here are some snippets that we managed to capture while at STOMP’s sneak peek performance at the Marina Bay Sands Ice-Skating Rink.

STOMP’s universal language of rhythm, theatre, comedy, and dance resonates well with the audience and we believe that it would set your feet stamping and fingers drumming. Truly, STOMP’s tight coordination and strong teamwork is rather evident by the splendid performance that they put up and if you haven’t watch STOMP in action before, it is probably something you ought to do once in your lifetime.

To catch STOMP live in action, you can book your tickets via marinabaysands.com/ticketing. Otherwise you can dial 6688-8826 or head down to the nearest SISTIC Counter near you.

STOMP will be here in Singapore till 23 June 2013 [this Sunday] at the Marina Bay Sands Mastercard Theatre and the showtimes are as follows:

Tuesday-Friday: 7.30PM
Saturday: 2PM and 7.30PM
Sunday: 1PM and 5PM

Ticket price ranges from SGD$65 to SGD$150 and the price listed exclude booking fees.

Don’t miss this opportunity to catch STOMP because they will only be here till 23 June 2013 [this Sunday]!