07 September 2015 – “Saturday Night Fever: The Musical”, featuring a predominantly Filipino cast and crew, wowed Malaysian audiences in their premiere in Kuala Lumpur on September 04 at the Istana Budaya (Malaysia National Theatre).
Philippine Embassy personnel led by Deputy Chief of Mission and Philippine Consul General Medardo G. Macaraig joined the audience in the opening night, composed of Malaysian officials, theatregoers, artists and members of the media.
“We are extremely proud of these artists, who once again proved to the Malaysians that Filipinos are competent and skillful in the arts and have elevated the profile of the Philippines and the Filipino community here. The musical also showcased the fact that Filipinos can mount and execute a world-class theatre production,” Consul General Macaraig said.
Based on the 1977 movie of the same title starring John Travolta, Saturday Night Fever tells of the coming of age of Tony Manero, a young man who dreams of life beyond his Brooklyn neighborhood, and spends his weekends being the “disco king”. Dancing helps him to temporarily forget the realities of a dead-end job, family troubles, racial tensions in the local community, and his associations with a gang of macho friends. The musical features the music of The BeeGees and incorporated dance moves reminiscent of the disco era.
Filipino company Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group and Ten Bridges Media Corp brought in the production to Malaysia, and supported by Malaysia Major Events, the Malaysian Ministry of Tourism and Culture and Istana Budaya. The production had a month-long successful run in Manila and will proceed to Singapore after the Kuala Lumpur leg.
Americans Brandon Rubendall and Jenna Rubali played leads Tony Manero and Stephanie Mangano, respectively.
The show continues its run at the Istana Budaya until September 13. Showtime is at 8:30 p.m., with an additional 3:00 p.m. show every Saturday and Sunday. For tickets, visit http://www.milestone-entertainment.com/current_shows.php. END