A night at the theater is a good way to entertain a group after a meeting or conference. Live stage performances across Asia are alive with a selection of plays and musicals to satisfy your group's cultural leaning.
Below are a couple of currently running shows and three upcoming ones:
AVENUE Q
Singapore
Venue: Grand Theater, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
Running dates: September 27 to October 7, 2012; Tuesdays to Sundays at 2000 with weekend matinees at 1400
Description: Avenue Q tells the story of a fresh college grad named Princeton who moves into a shabby New York apartment and meets a broad sampling of the city's outer burough denizens from a girl next door named Kate and nearly a dozen of puppets with human problems. Created by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, the musical opened on Broadway in 2003. It was first performed at the Marina Bay Sands in 2008 after a successful run in Manila. This year's production is directed by Bobby Garcia and Chari Arespacochaga.
Price: Corporate packages are offered on almost all shows at Marina Bay Sands. Packages include premium ticets bundled with special merchandise and hospitality offers. Group bookings are available for 10 to 100 people with discounts of up to 20 per cent. Companies can book the entire theatre for an exclusive performance but it must be done within the show's scheduled season. Also, special preview events can be arranged before opening night.
Website: http://www.marinabaysands.com/Singapore-Entertainment/Shows/Avenue-Q
GULLIVER’S TRAVELS
Hong Kong
Venue: Leo Lee Arts Center, 36 Nam Long Shan Road, Aberdeen Hong Kong
Running date: October 12 to 15, 2012
Description: Based on one of the world's beloved books, Gulliver's Travels follows the protagonist's journey into Liliput. The book examines the human condition with such clarity and morality, that it is hard to think of a more profound use of satire. Presented by the American Drama Group Europe under artistic director Paul Stebbings, the play is performed in an almost musical fashion. It is a wonderful way to experience this great work of literature.
Price: Regular tickets cost HK$280 (US$36) per person. Discounts for group bookings are available: 10 to 15 per cent for 20 people or more, and 20 per cent for groups of more than 50 people.
Website: www.amiando.com/Gullivers-Travels-Tour
NANTA
Seoul
Venue: Myeong Dong Nanta Theater, Unesco Building 3F, 50-14, Myeong Dong 2 Ga, Jung Gu, Seoul
Running date: Three shows daily at 1400, 1700 and 2000. The show has been running for 15 years since 1997. Besides the Myeong Dong Nanta Theatre, Nanta is being staged in two other theatres in the South Korean capital. It also has its own dedicated theater on Jeju Island. The show had been performed on Broadway and there is now a travelling cast for limited perfomance overseas.
Description: Nanta is a non-verbal show that combines traditional Korean drumbeats with a Western-style comedic stage show. The plot follows a day in a life of three chefs preparing for the evening's wedding banquet. Set in the kitchen, the cooking crew must teach a new colleague, their manager’s nephew, to find his way among the pots and pans.
Price: Tickets range between KRW40,000 (US$35) for regular seats and KRW70,000 (US$62) for premium seats. Special discounts are given to groups of 10 people and above. Companies can book the whole theatre for an exclusive performance, with perks such as special message for the group before the curtain rises and customised corporate banners for the event.
Website: www.nanta.co.kr
NEW SHANGHAI CIRCUS
Shanghai
Venue: Shanghai Baiyulan (Magnolia) Theater, Number 308, South Chongqing Road, Shanghai
Running date: Daily at 1930
Description: The acrobatics show is presented by the Shanghai Magic Troupe and the New Shanghai Circus Group. It displays the performers incredible flexibility through various routines from hoop diving, plate spinning to chair balancing. The acrobats in this show are part of the first team to perform their routines on Broadway in New York.
Price: Tickets cost between RMB150 (US$24) to RMB280 (US$44). Discounts are available when book online at ShanghaiAcrobaticShow.com.
Website: www.shanghaiacrobaticshow.com/baiyulan-theater.htm
THE KING AND I
Manila
Venue: Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World Manila
Running date: September 15, 2012 to December 30, 2012. It will be staged every Friday (2000), Saturday (1400 and 1900) and Sunday (1400).
Description: Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I is a story of a widowed English school teacher Anna Leonowens who came to Siam to serve as a governess to King Mongut's children. The musical, which had also been adapted into a Hollywood film, is a based on a book by Margaret Landon. This production at Resorts World Manila is directed by Freddie Santos and is topbilled by seasoned thespians Leo Valdez as the King and Monique Wilson as Anna. Both actors have appeared on Broadway and London's West End on shows such as Miss Saigon.
Price: Tickets range between Php1,000 (US$24) for balcony seats and Php2,400 (US$57) for VIP seats. A 15 per cent corporate discount is available for a minimum booking of 30 tickets. Companies booking half or all theatre seats for a performance can receive up to 20 per cent discount. Prices are quoted in the local currency and the US dollar equivalent depends on the exchange rate at the time of purchase.
Website: www.rwmanila.com
Gigi Onag
