Dick Lee's new musical inspired by Avatar

Resorts World Sentosa has roped in popular singer-songwriter Dick Lee to pen songs for its first musical.

The fantasy-themed production titled Lightseeker will debut at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) in November.

The celebrated composer has 15 musicals under his belt, including the well-loved Beauty World and Snow.Wolf.Lake, although fantasy is unfamiliar territory. He did not, however, write the songs in Lightseeker to make them sound futuristic.

Lee, 57, who last wrote songs for a musical, P. Ramlee The Musical, in 2007, says: "The production relies on the songs to get the emotions across and you can't play around with those... That is my special thing, writing melodies that touch you. I decided to just go for that," he says.

RWS vice-president of entertainment Andrea Teo, 47, says: "When I heard Dick's music, there was this thrill that ran through me. It was a hair-raising moment that made me go, 'wow'."

It is also the first time the integrated resort is staging a musical as its resident show.

Its two previous productions were Voyage de la Vie, a theatrical show anchored by acrobatic acts, and Incanto, a performance headlined by magic acts.

Both played to mixed reviews and failed to spark a rush for tickets.

Ms Teo declines to give box-office figures for the two shows, but says they did "okay".

As for the switch to a musical, the entertainment veteran in Singapore and an old hand at staging shows here says: "Singaporeans love musicals because they are accessible."

Lightseeker tells the story of a warrior on a quest to secure a precious power that will make his emperor mighty. It tackles themes including fear and freedom, and carries empowering messages, says Ms Teo at the press announcement of the show on Wednesday.

She conceptualised and wrote the musical while Lee penned nine songs for the 90-minute performance.

As part of its operating licence, RWS is required to produce original shows rather than re-stage Broadway or West End productions, which the Marina Bay Sands integrated resort offers.

The scale and spectacle of the new musical will be consistent with those of its previous resident shows, but the vignette-like format of past productions will give way to a cohesive, developed storyline. There will also be nifty effects such as computer-generated imagery.

Hollywood sci-fi blockbuster Avatar (2009) was a source of inspiration for Ms Teo. She picked fantasy as the genre because she "wanted freedom to create a different universe", albeit one "rooted in something recognisable".

The former TV producer, who was behind hit sitcoms such as Under One Roof, adds that the flight of imagination which the musical will take audiences on fits RWS' "larger-than-life" standing.

Asked for their expectations of the musical, Ms Teo and Lee say unanimously: "Sold out."

lijie@sph.com.sg

Book It

LIGHTSEEKER

Where: Resorts World Sentosa Theatre

When: Nov 24 to March 23, 8pm daily except Wednesdays; 3pm (weekends)

Admission: $48, $78, $88, $98 and $148 from Sistic (go to www.sistic.com.sg or call 6348-5555) or show website (go to www.lightseeker. com.sg or call 6577-888 8).

Tickets go on sale from Monday

Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.