Less than a month after the $2.72 million Singapura: The Musical extended its run till July 19, the production has abruptly folded.
A staff member at the Capitol Theatre’s ticketing counter informed The Straits Times on Sunday that the musical had closed last week. Attempts to book tickets online at the musical’s website were also unsuccessful.
A Singaporean member of the crew who was involved with the production and asked not to be named said that his contract had been delayed and that he has not been paid.
Attempts to reach the musical’s press relations team for comment over the weekend were unsuccessful.
The story is developing and The Straits Times is contacting people involved in the production.
Rumours of financial trouble and dissent among the crew had plagued the blockbuster production,which features a predominantly Filipino cast, in the weeks leading up to its opening on May 19.
But in an e-mail sent in May to The Straits Times, composer and musical director Ed Gatchalian had dismissed these and said: “The musical is ready to go. There are nasty people spreading so many inaccuracies and even lies about us.”
Directed by American Greg Ganakas and written by Filipino playwright Joel Trinidad, the production debuted at the newly refurbished Capitol Theatre to mixed reviews. The Straits Times’ theatre reviewer Corrie Tan said that the play felt unfocused, lacked nuance and suffered from technical problems.
It was originally slated to run till June 7, but Gatchalian had announced an extension a fortnight ago, and said that there are discussions for Singapura to travel to other parts of the world such as Australia and the United States.
Source: www.straitstimes.com
