Robert Vicencio who was originally onstage in the smash hit musical “Miss Saigon” at London’s West End and around the world together with Ms. Wang Hongming recently formed W Squared Live Entertainment Ltd. Based in Shanghai, the company is managed by international & local industry experts, focusing on both musical productions and entertainment solutions in the Asean region.
At a recent press launch held in Singapore, the company has formally announced its major production for 2014 – the world premiere of “ Ip Man The Musical. ” The musical is based on the globally successful movie trilogy “Ip Man.” (The first time an international major musical will chose to premiere its show in Singapore.)
“ Ip Man The Musical ” (based on the globally successful movie trilogy Ip Man) is the world’s first Chinese concept-based musical with martial art elements strategically designed to target both the overseas and China Mainland markets. It also aims to perfect the combination of artistic and commercial elements into one theatrical production created for a global release.
Robert Vicencio who holds strongly his enthusiasm for Chinese culture and passion of musicals and martial arts told the Asian press that “there is a great similarity between singing and martial arts, from the slow perfection of each move, to the breathing which is required to sustain long notes or powerful blows. Creating “Ip Man the Musical” finally brings to life this philosophy of mine and materializes it into a musical stage to be shared with the world. I truly believe it’s the right concept, right team, right story and more importantly the right time!”
Grandmaster Ip Ching has joined the creative team of “Ip Man The Musical ” in order to bring more significance to the musical’s production team as a whole, injecting a pure perspective of the Wing Chun martial arts philosophy straight from the son of the ‘The Father of Wing Chun’ into the musical’s development.
According to Grandmaster Ip Ching, ” It will be the first time to promote Wing Chun using the medium of a musical. And we hope that the production can attract a wider range of audiences so they will become more knowledgeable about Wing Chun through this innovative production! I wish “ Ip Man the Musical ” great success in the future! ”
Grandmaster Ip Ching continues to advise on “Ip Man 3D,” the 3rd installment of the successful movie series produced by veteran Hong Kong movie producer, Raymond Wong and written by Edmond Wong. Incidentally, the Wong’s have also been invited to join the creative team of “Ip Man The Musical”.
“I am very pleased that Ip Man the movie has helped influence the creation of Ip Man the Musical. This will transcend to international theatrical stages, and create higher levels of awareness, appreciation and audience appeal of the national treasure Wing Chun. I am confident that the musical will be more popular due to the fact that Kenji Kawai, who is Ip Man the Musical’s co-composer, is also the musical director of all the Ip Man movies,” Raymond added.
Robert’s co-producer Ms. Wang Hongming who helped and participated in introducing original musicals into China thinks the development of Chinese concept musicals is very promising. She further explained that “ the efforts of the team are bound to give an unforgettable experience to the audiences who like both musicals and martial arts globally. ”
Auditions will be conducted by middle of 2013 and will travel through China, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Philippines and other parts of Asia with the aims of identifying and discovering new musical talents.
“Ip Man The Musical” is also supported by the FLY Sound Company from Taiwan which serves as the production’s audio equipment strategic partner and Lateensail from Japan, who will provide all multimedia technologies and content, as the production’s multimedia strategic partner.
In addition, “Ip Man the Musical ” and its producers are strongly being looked at for support from the Singaporean government with its aim to create Singapore as a “ West End ” of Asia, with the producers finally deciding to premiere their show in Singapore, a first for that territory.
