Magical Musicals Gala Premiere, June 10th 2011.

The Magical Musicals Gala Premiere was held recently at the Sunway Lagoon Amphitheater on June 10th, 2011 and yours truly managed to score some tickets to the show and brought the children along for this magical experience.

There were a couple of hiccups before the show, like only letting event-goers enter the Sunway Lagoon entrance at 7.30pm sharp, despite the line growing longer and longer and the fact that people have been queuing since 7pm. I can't see why they can't just let people in.

Once we entered Sunway Lagoon, there was another long cue for the "train ride" that brought us to the Magical Musicals entrance where MixFM DJ's JD and Dilly were interviewing people on the red carpet.

MixFM's Breakfast Show DJ's - JD and Dilly

All the while, Bella and I were entertained by some "interesting" conversation by two girls ahead of us. Oh wow.. the things you overhear in public.. LOL!

Sex talk. Believe it or not.

After buying our refreshments from the stall outside, we proceeded inside to find our seats. Once inside, the children and I took our seats and Bella proceeded with her aunt to a different section. Soon after, Caroline and Eric joined me once again and mingled with some other bloggers like Isaac Tan before the show started.

Caroline May Ling and Eric Leeh

Stage of Magical Musicals (locally designed)

Buddy and Allie enoying refreshments before the show! 

Finally, around 8.40pm, the show began with a welcome speech from Aaron Soo, the CEO of Sunway Lagoon which was kept short and sweet as I'm sure he could tell that many were getting excitedly impatient for the event to start.

Don't Stop Me Now was the opening number of the West End production of Magical Musicals and there really was no stopping them! Magical Musicals was definitely mesmerizing and magical! The cast did a wonderful wonderful performance, far better and improved since the last time I saw them at rehearsals.

Act 1 was peppered with songs from my favorite musicals.. they covered a Hairspray medley, West Side Story, Grease Medley and Footloose. 

Don't Stop Me Now

Grease medley - You're The One That I Want, Greased Lightning, Summer Nights

I'm Holding Out for a Hero (topless dancers amused both Caroline and I) Photo credits: Dustyhawk.

Act 1 ended with an energetic Jai Ho that really wowed the crowd and got them going with a show of Bhangra drummers and a couple of Fire-breathers. I must say, it was a spectacular end to Act 1.

Shakalaka Baby and Jai Ho (Photo credits: Dustyhawk)

Bhangra drummers ending the performance of Jai Ho before intermission (Photo credits: Dustyhawk)

Intermission was 15 minutes and Act 2 commenced with the storyline fast-forwarded to "5 years later" with the characters leading successful careers on Times Square. They started off with a fabulous show of Dreamgirls medley and proceeded on to give the audience Saturday Night Fever, an Elephant Love Medley (from Moulin Rouge) as well as great hits from award-winning TV musical, Glee!

Act 2. Dreamgirls medley (Photo credits: Dustyhawk)

They also did a great performance of Singing In The Rain/Umbrella mash up that was made popular by Glee. I was just a little bit bummed that the umbrellas didn't "work" like they did in rehearsal (which had blue fairly lights embedded in them), much to the chagrin of David Kort, the choreographer.

Singing In The Rain/Umbrella (Photo credits: Dustyhawk)

But not to fret, David Kort told me his plans to revamp the umbrellas to give it a more awesome effect.. so viewers, you won't want to miss this!! Two words: UV Paint!

Act 2 was shorter than Act 1 but no less magical. I was really impressed Stevie Tate Bauer (who plays Megan) and her rendition of Don't Rain on My Parade. It was wonderful. :) Magical Musicals ended with a culmination of wonderful medley of Mamma Mia songs -- Gimme Gimme Gimme, Mamma Mia, Money, Money Money.

Mamma Mia medley (Photo credits: Dustyhawk)

Check out one of the final performances of Act 2:





They closed the show with an energetic performance of Proud Mary and everyone was on their feet, hooting and dancing and just having a grand time! I know my kids and I had a wonderful time.

So to AMBP (AllMalaysia) and Feeq as well as Sunway Lagoon, thanks for the opportunity to catch the show and for the chance to interview the cast and crew behind the scenes. Oh and thanks for allowing us to meet up with Amanda Salmon, Chris Colby and David Kort back stage. Well, thanks to Amanda, who wanted to meet up with my kids! :) Also, thanks again to Serge, for letting me borrow his pics -- you can check out his Magical Musicals Gala premiere post which has more wonderful photos.

All in all, I had a wonderful night! :) There were some minor misgivings that I had here and there with the organization of it all at the beginning but the show itself left me with high spirits! :)

Thanks to this event, I managed to meet a lot of wonderful and interesting bloggers: Cik Lily, Sherlynn, Camie, Diese, Serge, Devi (although she couldn't make it that night) -- they rock! :)

For those of you who didn't manage to catch Magical Musicals during the gala premiere, not to fret because Magical Musicals will be in town from 10th June - 17th July! Tickets for Magical Musicals are priced at RM100, RM200, RM250 and RM300 (VIP). So get your tickets from AirAsiaRedTix.com now! :)