An Enchanting Evening at 'DanSing Thru Broadway'

Musical fans in Kuala Lumpur were treated to an exciting revue of songs and scenes from well-loved Broadway musicals when 'DanSing Thru Broadway' raised its curtains at Auditorium Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur last week.

The two-hour long charity musical, organised by the Association of Wives and Female Staff of PETRONAS (PETRONITA), captivated its audience with its selection of familiar hits from such well-recognised musicals such as Miss Saigon, Aida, Oklahoma and Phantom of the Opera.

Performed by a cast of seasoned performers such as Radhi Khalid, Reefa, Sabrina Hassan and Tria Aziz, as well as new, up and coming faces such as Johan Yusof, Carmen Choo and the very talented Junior Sayang Dancers, the show kept the audience's feet tapping to tunes such as Kansas City, Welcome to the 60s, Sandy and Jolly Holiday.

Woven around the protagonist Karim's encounter with Grey, a theatre producer, the musical is essentially a nostalgic journey into familiar, sometimes light-hearted and sometimes passionate scenes from Broadway productions that can be considered the hallmark of the musical genre, combining the elements of theatre, dance and music.

The powerful vocals and seamless choreography exhibited by the cast truly impressed the audience, who especially applauded the efforts of the younger talents from the Junior Sayang Dancers, comprising primary and secondary school students. The colonnaded colonial architecture of the Auditorium DBKL proved to be a fitting venue for the musical showcase as it evoked the nostalgia of an elegant, bygone age, as expressed in some of the musical excerpts.

Proceeds from the three-day run of 'DanSing Thru Broadway' were initially intended to benefit three charity initiatives, namely The Children Dialysis Fund of the National Kidney Foundation, the Children's Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Corrective Surgery Community Project and the Musculo-Skeletal Cancer Treatment Regional Centre.

However, due to the overwhelming response from donors, PETRONITA has also decided to contribute to Mercy Malaysia's medical relief programme in Gaza and the 'Sayang Matamu' project, a collaboration it initiated with the Prince Court Medical Centre's Eye Centre.

The donations to the five charity initiatives, along with the musical charity performances are fitting gifts to the needy as PETRONITA celebrated its 30th anniversary this year.

Puan Sri Noraini Mohd Yusoff, President of PETRONITA, who is also the wife of PETRONAS President and Chief Executive, Tan Sri Mohd Hassan Marican said the charities provide financial help to families with affected children, allowing them a chance to lead normal lives.

"By contributing in this manner, PETRONITA hopes to help improve the quality and reach of the treatments offered to the affected children and raise public awareness on charities and funds designed to assist children and people that need help the most," she added.

'DanSing Thru Broadway' was choreographed by Farah Dato' Seri Sulaiman of the famed Sayang Dancers and directed by actress Sabrina Hassan.