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I Love Musicals and I'm Going Abroad to Study
As I've mentioned in my previous blog posts, I am a huge fan of musicals and stage performances. Going abroad for my studies is something I'm really looking forward to, but I can't help feeling sad about missing out on the musicals in the latter half of this year. Especially since my all-time favorite "Wicked" by the Gekidan shiki is coming back after about ten years, and I won't be able to watch it.
However, I've decided to turn this into an opportunity to watch English-language musicals while I'm abroad. I find my motivation for language learning comes from wanting to communicate with friends and also from my desire to enjoy musicals and Disney productions in English, as well as stay updated with the latest news using my English skills.
Researching Musical Information in Malaysia
So, what kind of musicals can I expect to find in Malaysia, my study destination? The simplest way to start my search is through Google. I stumbled upon a website called "Broadway World," which seems to be a news aggregator for musicals from around the world.
Upon checking the site, it became apparent that while Asian countries like Japan and Korea may have musicals being performed regularly, the situation is slightly different in Malaysia. It seems that international musical tours come to Malaysia's national theater, "The Istana Budaya" (which translates to "The Palace of Culture"), providing opportunities to watch some well-known productions. I found news and blog posts from a few years back about the staging of "The Sound of Music" in Malaysia.
Though there might be a limitation on the availability of musicals, it's a relief to know that I can watch reasonably well-known productions while gradually improving my understanding of English through these performances.
It's worth mentioning that the broader term "stage entertainment" rather than "musicals" may yield more search results for ongoing performances throughout Malaysia. Unfortunately, this aspect might not be well-known to many, including myself.
Additionally, I came across examples of dance schools attempting to stage musical performances, indicating that the stage scene is somewhat active and open to different forms of entertainment.
Exploring Musical Information in Singapore
On a personal note, I've always felt that Singapore is one of the Asian tour stops for major musical productions, akin to the Shibuya Theatre Orb in Japan. I decided to research musical information in Singapore as well.
It turns out that the Marina Bay Sands theater, a well-known venue featured in TV shows and travel magazines, hosts musical performances. Earlier this year, they staged "Frozen," and during my stay, productions like "& Juliet" and "Mamma Mia!" are scheduled.
Although my study destination will be Kuala Lumpur, which seems a bit distant from Singapore, I stumbled upon a blog post by someone who used to live in Malaysia, sharing their experience of traveling to Singapore for a haircut at a Japanese hair salon. This gives me hope that if our schedules align, I might explore watching musicals in Singapore as well.
Difference in Information Availability Compared to Japan
In Japan, information about upcoming stage performances is often available well in advance. For example, as early as summer, you can already secure the earliest pre-sale tickets for a musical scheduled for the following January. I'd also have information about musicals planned for around the same time next year.
However, during my recent research, I discovered that in Singapore and Malaysia, musical information might become available closer to the performance dates. This means I may need to stay updated more frequently and regularly to ensure I don't miss out on any exciting musicals.
Since it's unlikely that I'll go an entire year without experiencing any stage performances, I'm looking forward to sharing my theater experiences once I'm settled abroad.
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