Hungry

Whenever my husband and I collaborate, amazing things happen. True story. "The Geongxi Is A Vamp", "300 million: The Reconceptualization of a Conception" and now, "Hungry".

We've always been regulars in the Short + Sweet Musical Category. But this year, we teamed up again in Short + Sweet Song instead. We wrote somewhat of a one-song-musical about 2 ghosts, disgruntled about the food they are being served during the hungry ghost festival that did not match their tastes when they were alive. After all, the Short + Sweet Song festival coincide with the actual Hungry Ghost Festival month!

We never thought we'd win anything in a singer-songwriter competition because let's face it, we're not actually singer-songwriters. We are musical actors, who happens to be very experimental. We love the Short + Sweet Festival as it is our playground platform to experiment. We wanted a very traditional Chinese feel for the song but we both don't play a single Chinese instrument, nor could we find a Chinese instrument band in time. Instead we got help from a super talented musician singer friend, Jee Yan to arrange the backing track for us, which he did beautifully with the full glory of guzheng, pipa, dizi and all!!!

As typical actors, we were super excited about creating our characters Hu Ah Yew and Soo Fah Nee. We really went all out to look like actual Chinese ghosts for the performance and stayed in character during prize-giving and even backstage once our full costumes were on.

From left: Soo Fah Nee and Hu Ah Yew

As it turned out, we won 1st Runner's Up in the Short + Sweet Song competition this year. On top of that, we won the Glitz & Glamour Award too (that one was a no brainer, just look at our costume!).

A double award!

Other than the performance itself, we met many awesome people back-stage... newbies and oldies, comedians and other singer-songwriters. Oooooh, just think of all the possible collaborations!!! We also accidentally scared the shit out of an intern who thought she really had a paranormal encounter backstage. Sorry!

For all of you who missed the show, here's a video of Hu Ah Yew and Soo Fah Nee's performance!

Hungry (2015)

Lyricist: Alvin Looi

Composer: Karynn Tan

Musical Arranger: Choong Jee Yan

Catch us in The Dollmaker's Daughter

We open tomorrow!!!!

Other than supporting a friend who's involved, why should you come and watch this show??

1. It is a great STORY; a perfect mix of love, hope, tragedy, mystery and plot-twists.
2. The MUSIC is pure genius, how all the melodies can standalone or be intertwined to weave the story forward. Nick Choo is an amazing composer, and Mervyn L. Peters, our musical director has really helped us bring the songs to life.
3. Stunning VISUALS, with 1910 period costumes, props and sets, and of course, the real carved wooden puppets! Puppets have had their reputation ruined due to the many horror movies... here, they can finally get the place they deserve as toys or works of art that bring people joy. 
4. It is for the whole FAMILY, with clean language and scenes, and it even involves children in the ensemble. People of any age can enjoy this together!

Do get your tickets from Ticketpro online, from any of their outlets or even at the entrance of the theatre itself. See you and your family there!!!

Back on stage!

Finally, one fruitful audition!! I will be back on stage come May after more than a year's break from performing. For the whole of 2014, been backstage instead; as writer, composer and producer. It was fun but my first love will always be a musical theatre performer.

I cannot wait!!! :D

Reliving the glory

Every time I re-watch this, I still laugh ... hehehe. I suppose it's normal to appreciate your own art. Enjoy! I do. ;-)

Short + Sweet Musical 2014 Thank You's

No words can describe how happy I was last night at the Short + Sweet Musical Gala Night 2014. The musical hubby and I collaborated to write and compose won 2 awards as a team! And while we were already over the moon about that, we received the Festival Director's Award. It was all so unexpected as we had decided to take risks this year by recruiting many S+S newbies in both our teams. Praise God!!! Thank You Lord for making all of this possible..

A big fat CONGRATULATIONS to all the winners this year!!!

I am so thankful for so many things and so many people that has made this journey even possible. 

First and foremost, to hubby who always pushes and encourages me to continue to be creative and explore new things no matter how tired, lazy or uninspired I feel due to the stresses at work. Contrary to popular belief, spending the effort, time, energy and resources to write, compose or direct a musical is more refreshing, energizing and inspiring than physical rest could ever do. And it is hubby who is always behind me, making me a better person than I could ever be on my own.

Secondly, I would like to thank Ross and Shen for agreeing to take on our baby, 300 Million: The Reconceptualization of a Conception to life. I knew both of you are extremely busy and juggling a gazillion things on your plates at the moment, yet you put your hearts and souls into this. I am so proud of you Ross, your directorial debut really brought to life what had only existed in Alvin and my heads. I LOVE IT!!!!

Thirdly, to Mark and Laura. Thanks for trusting Alvin and me with your baby, A Woman At War. You have no idea how much we appreciate your empowerment in trying to bring to life what was in your heads. I hope we stayed true to your vision and made you proud. 

Thanks also to Mr & Mrs Wong and Mr & Mrs Ho, for allowing Sean and Wilfred to be a part of the team at A Woman At War. Thanks for trusting us enough to bring your sons through this musical journey despite the late nights and breaking their curfews time and again.

Thanks to Sean, Wilfred, Daniel and Thern for agreeing to play for A Woman At War. Thanks for your discipline and commitment to the rehearsals. Thanks for all your creative contribution to make the music event better than I could ever imagine on my own. 

Thanks to all the cast of A Woman At War: Boon Kit, Sara Vivian, Hilda, Teresa, Riena, Jee Yan, Kevin and Desmond for always seeking feedback and forever eager to improve. You guys have so much chemistry together and you sound wonderful together. I couldn't have asked for a better cast.

Thanks to Alfred, Nabilah and Fara for accepting the roles in 300 Million after the S+S Musical auditions. I know all of you had multiple offers and could have chosen many other musicals but I am so thankful that you accepted to be in team 300 million. And of course thanks to Calvin and the rest of the spermies who also joined the team later and brought the story to life!! You guys were perfect for your roles!!!

Thanks to Joe, Faridah, Soo, Boy, Lawrence, Arif and the entire crew of S+S Musical for the opportunity and the platform for us to explore our passion in the arts. 

Last but not least, thanks and the heartiest congratulations to the one and only musical sifu Nick Choo ... who inspired me to start writing 3 years ago after attending your S+S workshop. And thanks for continuously helping us grow by generously sharing your feedback and suggestions whenever we ask you. Really appreciate your time and your input! There is no one else more deserving of the Creative Excellence Award!! Congrats again!!

♥♥ Proud of both team "300 million" and team "AWAW"! ♥♥

 

Hubs and me getting the Festival Director's Award from the Festival Director herself! (photo courtesy of Short +  Sweet Malaysia) 

300 million winning Audience Choice Award (photo courtesy of Short +  Sweet Malaysia)

300 million winning Best Overall Production (photo courtesy of Short +  Sweet Malaysia)

We are back!! Short + Sweet Musical 2014

And we are back in action!! This year hubby and I have teamed up once again in not just 1 but 2 pieces for the Short + Sweet Musical Festival:
300 million: The Reconceptualization of a Conception is a punny piece, written and composed by both of us.
A Woman at War is an emotional piece of love and war, director and musical directed by hubby and me respectively.

Get your tickets here!! See you there!

♩ ♫ ♬ ♩ My epic Valentine ♩ ♫ ♬ ♩

In January, hubby had a eureka moment and decided to plan this year's Valentine's Day for us eventhough it's not his turn. We have this arrangement where we take turns every year to plan Valentine's Day so that not only is it fair, but we have an unspoken competition to outdo or out-love each other. ;-)

He created the event page and left me clues every week, sometimes more than 1 clue per week.

First clue were the colourful refreshing fruits.

 Then, in no particular order there were Wong Ah Fook, Parameswara, Ash Burn and Chilli Crab

 Then came the hardest clue of them all, a love poem.

And a platipus

It seemed like a bunch of random stuff that didn't make any sense to me. Except I connected the Wong Ah Fook, Parameswara and Sultan Abu Bakar (Ash Burn) to going southbound but I had thought we were going on a cuti-cuti Malaysia journey southbound and make our way back up to KL.

V-day came, and we carried our bagpacks and started walking from home ala Amazing Race. The weeks of anticipation had already made it epic before it began. It was so exciting. We then boarded a cab, he told me to tell the cabby where we were going... I looked back at him and told the cab driver "er, KL Sentral" and looked back at him. He asked if I was sure it was KL Sentral, I said 70% sure. Since he made me pack my TouchnGo card, I deduced a train-ride involved. It turned out he said we didn't use the TouchnGo anyway. From KL Sentral, again he asked where should we go next? I was only 50% sure this time, it could be a KTM train outstation or it could be LCCT. 

As we made our way down to the airport shuttle busses, I found out we were going to LCCT.

At the airport, he was too relaxed and we took our time with lunch and 2nd round lunch for him. I knew our flight was not so early, so I guess, not the Penang or KK flight which was too early. And we cannot be leaving the country because he did not specify to pack my passport. It must be a domestic flight.

So many flights, yang mana satu??? With the earlier clues connecting Johor and Melaka, I deduced that it had to be Johor since Melaka had no flights.

As we made our way inside the boarding area, he still hadn't shown me the ticket. He asked how sure I was about Johor, I said, 60% due to the clues. I deduced that we will not fly back but take a bus northbound after Johor so that we can go to Melaka, our favourite foodspot on the way back, hence the Parameswara. Ok, my history really really sucks back in school. I wasn't sure about any of my hypothesis but I sure was excited no matter what it was.

Finally I managed to peek at the ticket and saw the number... Indeed Johor was the right answer!!!
Our flight called for boarding anyway, so I would've known sooner or later.

Arrived in Senai!! What the hell will we do in Johor?? Or is it just the starting point of the journey? he said the he will give me a note to let me know what else is in store once we reach the hotel.

The first few clues started to unravel and make sense, we went to Jalan Wong Ah Fook, and checked into Citrus Hotel!!! Hmm, checking in to Johor does not sound like it's a starting point of a journey northbound.

Lo and behold, he showed me a Singapore Dollar "note". Then I asked how??? I didn't bring my passport. Guess who stole it?? I didn't even know he knew where I kept it. Moreover, I don't always keep my passport in the same place due to convnience, laziness or procrastination. Even I have to hunt for it when I need it usually.

We walked over to the CIQ and were on our way! The immigration officer asked for my address in Singapore eventhough it was a day-trip. Errr... I bet if he was one of those guys in "Lie to Me" he would've caught me. I said "Marina Bay Sands" with so little conviction that my acting teacher would cringe. I suspected we'd be watching a show. Why else would we go to Singapore... takkan la food?? he let me pass anyway. Phew!

 

I am ready to go over the causeway!

Past the causeway, a couple of MRT rides and voila... we were in Bugis Junction. As we walked around, he said that I had to find our dinner spot as he is not going to lead me there. Let me see... Chilli Crabs?? That would be in Clark Quay. Not right. So I went through the shop directory and saw... jeng jeng jeng!!! 

So, that's why the random platipus swimming photo was about. The place was lovely and quiet. Our table was ready for us as he had already made reservations.

The smug planner and the happy traveller. :) The pasta was great... there were many many choices and I had this truffle carbonara thingy that was yumz!

He gave one last clue about what we will be watching... something to do with rain. I said "Singing In the Rain?" I didn't want to use roaming data so I can't google what was on in Singapore at the time. He didn't seem convinced and it suddenly hit me..."the rain in Spain stays mainly on the plane". We are watch my childhood favourite "My Fair Lady"!!!!
My Fair Lady! Wouldn't it be lov-vely... lov-vely?? Turns out the love poem was Audrey Hepburn's favourite. It was even read at the funeral. Lovely.

Everything revealed itself... not all at once, but layer by layer, like an onion. Making that reeling feeling last longer. And you just want to savour every waking moment.

I love you Alvin... more and more each year. Only you know me like the way you know me, only you can love me the way you love me. ❤ I LOVE YOU!!! ❤

OMGEEEEEEE... next year is my turn to plan. How to out-do this??? @_@ But I think it's uber cool that we compete to love each other better, that way... we keep getting better at it. Right? ❤

What If: The Journey

What began with a blip of a thought in my head has bloomed into a living breathing thing on stage. Isn't that amazing? I'm sad that the journey has come to and end... as usual, it's post production syndrome.

I remember looking desperately for a director and musical director as I always believe it is better to have others execute your vision to help suss out the blind spots. Thankfully, I have an uber talented family... hehehe. My sis-in-law, Hilda agreed to direct it!!!

Then came the audition. We spotted a few talents that we liked and approached them. Vanessa was recruited immediately. But our other chosen actors did not accept. As luck would have it, we bumped into a last minute auditionee on the way out of klpac and saw one last auditionee perform. And that was how we got our leading lady, Vivian. Our leading guy pulled out, and in the end we got Vanessa's boyfriend Nick to join us. It's the second time I'm working together with Nick. That, was how our cast came together in the end. What an awesome group it was... 3 triple-threats.

I still could not find a musical director and had to step in as the last resort. Thank God I found an awesome pianist to co-musical direct with me, Elaine. I wanted a cellist but the first 2 I approached couldn't or wouldn't do it. My bff Hazel suggested her fellow sunday school teacher, Siaw Wei and she agreed!! Along with Elaine's bf Francis on bass, we had a full band!!

(picture courtesy of shortandsweetmalaysia.blogspot.com)

(picture courtesy of shortandsweetmalaysia.blogspot.com)

Although we didn't win any awards this year, I was still darn proud of what the team did... music or acting. Seeing how wonderful and moving Nick Choo's piece was (winner of 8 awards!), it has inspired us to want to work harder and want to be better. He was the one who taught me about rhythm, inflection and all that jazz 3 years ago at the Short and Sweet Workshop. I wouldn't have started writing or composing if not for him in the first place.

Everytime I watched it, I had a whole community of butterflies in my stomach... Have always loved that feeling when I was performing. Never thought I'd get that from writing... I love it too. I guess this is only the beginning of more awesome things to come!!! Enjoy!!

What if?

What if years ago you had chosen a different path in life? How would things turn out? Better? Worse? Who knows?

I remember the line from a song in Pocahontas' Just Around The River Bend

"But people, I guess, can't live like that

We all must pay a price

To be safe, we lose our chance of ever knowing

What's around the riverbend?"

I wrote this musical based on that thought, not realizing that the timing is spot on for my very own life. Now, my fictitious story is ever closer to my heart.

This September 25th - 28th, come and watch it at the Short + Sweet Musical Festival 2013 in klpac.

"What If?"

Writer & Composer: Karynn Tan

Director: Hilda Looi

Musical Director: Karynn Tan & Elaine Toon

Cast: Vivian Chan, Vanessa Wu, Kevin Chong

On Air

Tune in to Capital FM 88.9 from 7.45am onwards on Monday, 11th March 2013:

I will be On Air, for the very first time. Exciting stuff, hehehe. Will be promoting our super awesome fundraising event: The Unexpected Guest. Get to meet celebrity DJ Xandria Ooi. And see the super awesome girl power radio station, where ma favourite colour pink is in, out and all around!! LIKE!!!

Tune in ya? Jangan tak tune in ;-)

The Unexpected Guest

I'm super duper uber excited about my upcoming project, and it's all for a good cause too! Do it for the less fortunate children, or just do it to be entertained... but do come join us! =)

Presenting!!! *drumrolls*

The Unexpected Guest

Welcome to a night of enthralling mystery, scandals, and eureka moments. Welcome to a place where fiction and reality has little separation. Welcome to a theatrical performance where YOU unwittingly become part of the cast.

Special Appearance:
Marina Mahathir (Guest of Honour)
Carey Ng (Miss Universe Malaysia 2012)
Asha Gill
Emily Lim
Liang

Date: 20 – 21st April 2013, Saturday and Sunday
Time: 7pm – 11pm
Venue: Hilton Petaling Jaya, Kristal Ballroom 1 & 2, 1st Floor, West Wing

Tickets: RM200 per pax or RM2,000 per table

For more information please contact StART Society at: 03 7954 5423 | 016 336 8185 | startsociety.info@gmail.com

Venue Sponsor: Hilton Petaling Jaya
A Fundraising Project for StART Society, where talent is unearthed and nurtured. 

Directed by: Freddy Tan
Winner of Best Director for The Geongxi Is A Vamp (winner of Best Overall Production) in Short & Sweet Musical 2012. Director for Corporal PUNishment in 2012 (klpac). Winner of Festival Director’s Award in Short & Sweet Theatre 2011. Writer/Lyricist for Oriental Takeout (winner of Best Overall Production) in Short & Sweet Musical 2011. Performed in INDICINELIVE! in KL, Penang, Kuching and Singapore.

Written by: Karynn Tan
Composer/Lyricist for The Geongxi Is a Vamp (winner of Best Overall Production) in Short & Sweet Musical 2012, Winner of Best Lead Actress in Oriental Takeout (winner of Best Overall Production) in Short & Sweet Musical 2011, Performed in Dama Orchestra’s Empress Wu and klpac’s Malaysian Girls.

Executive Producer: StART Society

Sweet Success!!

Outdated post: Had absolutely no time for the past 3 weeks but better late than never. After being rivals or competitors wt hubby as performers in last year's Short + Sweet Musical Festival, this year we decided to collaborate and write a musical together after attending the superb Short + Sweet Musical Workshop several months ago by Llew Marsh and Onn San.

The verdict of our collaboration???

A record-breaking 7 awards!!!

- Best Overall Production

- Best Director: Freddy Tan & Siti Farrah Abdullah

- Best Musical Director: Clarence Chua

- Best Lead Actor: Malik Taufiq

- Best Lead Actress: Anrie Too

- Best Supporting Actress: Lynn Goh

- Glitz and Glamour Award for Costumes & Make-up (by Zef)

A big big CONGRATULATIONS to the entire team of The Geongxi Is A Vamp!! Geongxi Geongxi!

If you've missed it, (like us :( as we were performing for Empress Wu next door in Pentas 1)... here is the video of the show! Knock yourselves out!!

Malaysian Girls Penang Tour

Today is the beginning of a new era, the end of the Malaysian Girls pageant. :( Our beautiful journey of friendship, learning, creating something beautiful together has come to an end. We hope our audiences have enjoyed it as much as we have. So sad... I have never met a big team like this before; no drama, divas, bitching, back-stabbing or bad-mouthing. This kind of camaraderie is usually only achieved in smaller teams. So, "How ugly can it get?" Not ugly at all.... AT ALL. How rare is that?? This team is truly a gem... never will I forget this beautiful journey that I have walked with the Malaysian Girls. ♥ ♥ ♥

Our final run was in none other than my birthplace, Penang. And boy, was it a wonderful run! The 1 week of run in Penang, we had full-houses almost every night. And the audience really had no inhibition, they laughed and cried and gave us their all... and as all live performers, we feed on their responses. So, we too gave them one helluva show! We love the Penang peeps... so sincere, so appreciative. We all wanna do more shows in Penang now!! ;)

Girls Backstage

Our friends frm PCC there to support us!! Yeayy!

Will miss Pooja heaps... the sweetest person I know, so thoughtful & sincere

Bootilicious!

Our wonderful musical director & his awesome team of musicians

The man who made it all possible, Joe, our director

"Seksi bukan seksa ya girls!!" Cikgu Lex, our choreographer

Packing up after a big glam show like this is no small job... 

Kee How from Penangpac

More penangpac peeps, the "V" guy did a fantabulous job selling our program books & CDs, & even sang Sydney Belle's Aria during the intermission!!! :) We didn't get that kind of promotion in KL :p

Glorious Penang food for the Cast Parteh

Yummy in my tummy

We also took a morning out to go for a nice Heritage Walk, courtesy of my hubs... proudly showing off his hometown. We started at the Esplanade area... food first, then Fort Cornwallis.

The myth is that the Sri Rambai Cannon can improve a woman's fertility if she hands a flower around it. You know who will definitely NOT be hanging any flowers there! ;-)

England dia banyak powderful... the bungalow is around the fort???? 

like this??? =.="

We then went to the state museum, which was surprisingly... well  maintained & curated.

An old gerabak of the train up to Penang Hill / Bukit Bendera

Hubs telling people about his hometown, dengan bangganya!

Banana leaf rice!!!

Peeps with a full tummy of banana leaf rice are happy peeps!!

So happy to be sharing this journey with him, our first production together was so wonderful... we hope for more to come in the future!!! :) :)

Mervyn sorting out they payment... too much? too little?

This is what the Penangites call "kelena seow"

I will most certainly have terrible post-production withdrawal symptoms for Malaysian Girls... I will miss everyone dearly!! Sobs sobs :( :(