Musical in aid of special kids (The Star)

Saturday June 14, 2008

Musical in aid of special kids

By TAN KARR WEI



IT was a touching and delightful sight to see eight-year-old Tan Kok Siong holding the hand of a cast member of DanSing Thru Broadway and dancing and singing.

Tan, who has Down Syndrome, goes to Persatuan Kanak-Kanak Istimewa Hulu Langat (PKKI) three times a week.

Altogether now: The children from Persatuan Kanak-Kanak Istimewa Hulu Langat (in

purple T-shirts) with the cast of DanSing Thru Broadway. With them are Siti Nooriah

(right), Farah ulaiman (front row, left) and PKKI president Shirley Tan (second row,

second from left)

He was one of the children who attended the preview of the charity musical DanSing Thru Broadway at the Duta Nusantara clubhouse in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Nur Ain Abdul Malik, 11, who has cerebral palsy and attends physiotherapy session twice a week at the centre, also swayed to the music.

Produced by Farah Sulaiman and directed by Sabrina Hassan, the show features songs from Broadway productions like Hello Dolly, Oliver, Miss Saigon, My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins and Grease.

A cast of 20 children and 19 adults will be performing at Panggung Bandaraya DBKL from June 25 to June 29.

Datin Seri Siti Nooriah Ana Razak, wife of Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Zulhasnan Rafique, is proud to be back as a patron for the charity show, after a successful run of another charity musical Jalan Impian three years ago.

Farah, a renowned dancer and choreographer, said it was not easy getting children who could sing and dance but most of the children were involved in Jalan Impian and some of them had asked her to start a dance class after that.

Sabrina said she loved working with the children.

“I have to be a bit tactful with the adults but I can scream and shout at the children and they won't take offence,” she said.

The event is sponsored and supported by Sunrise Berhad, ONEKL, and Tradewinds Corpo-ration Bhd.

Proceeds from the musical goes to PKKI. Tickets priced at RM83.50 and RM53.50. Tickets for gala night on June 28 are priced at RM103.50 and RM83.50. Matinee shows on June 28 and 29 are priced at RM43.50. For tickets, call 03-4149 8600 (Mondays to Fridays, 9am to 5pm) or log on to http://ticket2u.biz.