Maybank to sponsor PAN Productions for its 2015 season

Maybank announced that it has signed an agreement with local production company, PAN Productions (PAN) to be its 2015 season sponsor for the staging of three major productions in Kuala Lumpur this year.

According to the Head of Cards, Group Community Financial Services/Funding, Deposit & Bancassurance, B. Ravintharan, the renowned banking corporation decided to collaborate with Pan based on the production company’s accomplishments in the industry.

“This is not the first musical theatre that Maybank has been a part of. We have done it many times before, but this time around, we are doing an all-year-round programme where it is more structured, and we made it accessible for customers in Singapore, Philippines, Cambodia and Indonesia.

“Maybank has always been a strong supporter of the Malaysian creative industry in its different forms and after observing the evolution of the performing arts in the country, we believe that our support can help catapult local talents and productions to the international stage," B. Ravintharan said.

B. Ravintharan believes that larger corporation organisations should give a chance to local production houses for the arts scene to grow.

Being a fan of arts himself, B. Ravintharan added that what got him interested to support Pan was its rapid development from a local operation to a respected, award-winning musical theatre company within the short space of 5 years.

“I have been following them since around 2011, and we have seen them grow from strength to strength in that time,” he added.

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Ashraf Sinclair (right), to play the role of British writer, Cliff Bradshaw and Peter Ong to play the Emcee in the international broadway title, Cabaret.

PAN Productions is a Malaysian production company that was established in April 2010, having produced a succession of critically-acclaimed and audience favourites such as “Always in Wonderland” (2010), “Cabaret” (2011), “The Wizard of Oz” (2012), “The Producers” (2013) and many others.

It has won four BOH Cameronian Awards for Best Ensemble, Best Choreographer, Best Technical Team, as well as Best Director for “The Producers” in 2013.

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The whole ensemble of "Cabaret" that will be staged for the second time in Kuala Lumpur this coming May.

The three productions that will be staged for the 2015 season, includes the re-staging of the iconic musical “Cabaret” by Kander and Ebb, a concert celebrating songs from some of the musicals composed by the great Stephen Sondheim, “Moments of Sondheim”, and the re-staging of the original pantomime, “Always in Wonderland”.

The first of the three to be staged, “Cabaret”, has played on stage worldwide since 1966 on Broadway and the West End. For the second time, but with a new take, “Cabaret” will be staged here in Kuala Lumpur from 8-17 May 2015, at Pentas 2 Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC).

The star-studded musical includes regionally renowned actor, Ashraf Sinclair, vocal powerhouse, Nikki Palikat, Razif Hashim, and Carmen Soo. It will be directed by Nell Ng with music by Nish Tham and choreography by Suhaili Micheline.

Perpaduan rakyat prasyarat ekonomi mampan

Tidak semua negara Islam mempunyai ruang dan kesempatan untuk terus aman dan damai, dan mempunyai peluang untuk menikmati ekonomi yang kukuh dan berkembang seperti Malaysia, tegas Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Beliau berkata, rakyat Malaysia perlu mempunyai tekad untuk memahami maksud dan keperluan perpaduan di kalangan mereka, serta kekuatan dalaman yang seterusnya dapat dijadikan tonggak untuk negara membuat langkah seterusnya.

Warga emas maut ditikam anak kandung yang berhalusinasi

Seorang pesara guru maut ditikam anak kandungnya sendiri di sebuah rumah dekat Kampung Senaling, di sini, petang Sabtu.

Menurut Ketua Polis Daerah Kuala Pilah, Superintendan Amran Mohd Ghani, siasatan awal mendapati warga emas berusia 65 tahun itu cuba memujuk anak lelakinya yang juga pemegang kad orang kurang upaya (OKU) mental yang dikatakan mahu membunuh diri.