RETRO musical The Fortunettes is being restaged with a new crop of talents from 15 schools and colleges. The musical won four Junior Cammies at the Boh Cameronian Arts Awards in 2015, including Best Direction for Zachary Wong.
Wong, with a degree in biotechnology from Australia, says he has always been singing, dancing and acting since the age 5.
“When I started teaching in 2002 (after graduation), I was assigned to direct the school’s annual musical. A few years later, I had the opportunity to be involved in Tunku The Musical and Princess Wen Cheng The Musical in 2007 and 2008 respectively. (He acted in the latter performances.)
“In 2009, with some experience and some savings, I started my own production company and that’s when I produced my first musical called Prom The Musical that same year,” says Wong.
Prom The Musical, held at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre, garnered Wong his first taste of the Cammies at the 8th Boh Cameronian Arts Awards where it received several nominations.
RISE AND FALL
The Fortunettes is about four chorus girls who shoot to instant stardom in an unexpected performance to replace their “missing” diva.
With the support of TV station talent scouts, the girl band, The Fortunettes, is formed. After several top-of-the-chart albums, the band dominates the entertainment scene.
But their success is not destined to last and the band disbands. Twenty years later, loyal fans of The Fortunettes eagerly await the arrival of their idols at the Reunion Concert.
Will they meet the original members of the band?
A DEFT JUGGLE
According to Wong,songs from the 1960s led him to the storyline. “Jersey Boys, I Have A Date With Spring and Hairspray inspired me along the way.”
The show offers 20 songs from that era including Stupid Cupid, I Will Follow Him and Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.
The restaged show, with an additional three new songs, will feature 27 young performers.
“A few of them are from my previous musicals in schools but most of them are new. They were scouted from the Berjaya TeenStar Challenge,” he says.
Wong had organised the Berjaya interschool competition, which received overwhelming participation from more than 50 secondary schools.
This time round sees Wong juggling rehearsal schedules with everyone’s personal timetables, as the performers are from different schools, with different school calendars, as well as doing the costume designing.
THE RIGHT FORMULA
But the hardest part of doing musicals, says Wong, as a director, is always to come up with a good plot.
“A good story is all it takes to win half the battle. Great songs will clinch it.
“To assemble the creative team is also challenging. Without a decent budget, one can hardly get good people for the team,” he adds.
Musicals seem to draw a larger audience than, say, theatre. However, says Wong, during bad times like now, neither theatre nor musicals will attract the public.
“So, it’s very important for producers and directors to know that only shows with the right formula will hit the box office.”
Well, The Fortunettes seem to have all the elements for good entertainment, especially if you like songs from the 1960s.
The Fortunettes
When March 17, 8.30pm, March 18-19, 3pm and 8.30pm
Where Damansara Performing Arts Centre (DPAC), Empire Damansara, PJ
Admission RM58 & RM50
Details at www.dpac.com.my or call 03-4065 0001/0002.