For immediate release Lavish Bollywood show dances into Hong Kong tonight Star-studded gala premiere (Hong Kong, 2 February 2010) The theatrical dance spectacular The Merchants of Bollywood opens in Hong Kong tonight with a galaxy of stars attending the gala premiere, including Mr Cecil Chao (趙世曾先生), Ms Kathy Chiu (趙金卿小姐), Ms Rosemary Vandenbroucke, Ms Marie Zhuge (諸葛梓岐小姐), and Ms Jolie Chan (陳苑淇小姐). The international smash hit musical ushers Bollywood mania – with all its dance, glamour, glitter and music – into Hong Kong with 16 shows in the Lyric Theatre from February 2 to 14, 2010, just in time for a special Valentine’s treat. As the first authentic musical to emerge from Mumbai’s “Film City”, the show has been wildly successful around the world with more than 850 performances to more than 2 million people. Sold-out crowds have been stamping their feet and dancing in the aisles in Australia, London, the USA, China, New Zealand, Switzerland, Berlin, Vienna, Amsterdam, Germany, Rome and Paris. The Merchants of Bollywood charts the enchanting journey of the world’s largest and most prolific film industry, which today produces a staggering 800 films a year, with 15 million tickets sold each day! Giving authenticity and heart to the musical, the storyline is based on the conflicts and passions of the real-life Merchant family: the highly acclaimed and much awarded Mumbai-based choreographer Vaibhavi Merchant, called Ayesha in the musical, and her late grandfather Hiralal Merchant, a well-known choreographer in the 1950s. Pursuing her dream, young Ayesha leaves the traditional dances of Rajasthan for the bright lights and modern dances of Bollywood, to the dismay of her grandfather Shantilal. Formerly a choreographer in the golden era of Bollywood, Shantilal left when the industry grew commercial and lawless, to set up his own traditional dance school in the desert of Page 2 of 4 Rajasthan. Eventually Ayesha returns home to make peace with her dying grandfather, and decides to take over his dance school, blending the traditional and modern in her own unique style, and marrying her childhood sweetheart Uday. With choreography by the renowned Vaibhavi Merchant herself, an A-list creative team from the very heart of Bollywood, and a youthful cast of more than 40 from Mumbai’s stage and screen hits, the musical showcases the best of contemporary Bollywood talent. Featuring all the extravagance, escapism and romance that we call ‘Bollywood’, The Merchants of Bollywood is a high-octane fusion of East and West, of classical Indian dance steps and modern funky moves; of traditional colourful silks and dazzling Indian jewellery contrasting with Western influences of leather and denim; while the music pulsates with a modern rhythm played on classical Indian instruments. Their energy is electrifying, their movements suffused with a rush of joy and yet ruthlessly precise, and the frenetic flow of onstage activity is almost non-stop. It’s a hot, high octane pleasure… - The Times, London - The US$2 million production positively glitters with bangles and beads, swirls with sequins and saris and dazzles with colourful costumes and sets. Featuring 2,500 pieces of Indian jewellery, almost 2,000 glorious costumes and electrifying music, this lavish new production The Merchants of Bollywood will excite the senses. “The show captures the craze for all things Bollywood in a powerful journey from one generation’s era to another, told through dance. It explores the conflict between family ties and following your dreams, with plenty of romance added to the mix,” explains Producer James Cundall, Chief Executive of Lunchbox Theatrical Productions Limited. “Hong Kong audiences loved the recent film ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ and will be thrilled by The Merchants of Bollywood’s sheer extravagance of Bollywood style, the spectacular high-energy dancing and the hit songs from the biggest Bollywood blockbusters. This show is a feast for the eyes, and I would challenge anyone to try and remain glued to their seat!” he adds. The Merchants of Bollywood brings the magic of Bollywood to Hong Kong in a blaze of technicolour brilliance. Catch it while you can – 16 performances only! The Merchants of Bollywood is produced by Lunchbox Theatrical Productions and David Atkins Enterprises (DAE). Page 3 of 4 Ticketing Information The Merchants of Bollywood will be staged at the Lyric Theatre, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts on 2 - 14 February 2010, for a strictly limited season. Tickets are priced from HK$395 to HK$795, with VIP tickets at HK$695/HK$795. A limited number of Student Tickets at 40% off are available in A and B Reserve, for all performances (excluding Friday and Saturday evening shows.) These discounts are applicable for local full-time students aged 25 or under, holding a valid student card. To book, call the ticketing hotline on 31 288 288, or visit HK Ticketing’s website www.hkticketing.com. Tickets are also available at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Asia World Expo, Hong Kong Fringe Club, The Academy’s Landmark Heritage Campus – Bethanie, Hong Kong International Trade & Exhibition Centre and all Tom Lee Music outlets. Behind the Scenes The Merchants of Bollywood is the brainchild of Sydney-based producer Mark Brady and British writer-director Toby Gough, who, inspired while eating in a Bollywood-themed restaurant in New Zealand, went on to meet Vaibhavi Merchant and adapt her fascinating life story for the stage. The show premiered in Sydney in 2005 and has since travelled to more than 30 cities in 20 countries as it continues to spread Bollywood fever across the world. With choreography by the renowned Vaibhavi Merchant herself, who comes from a Bollywood dynasty of choreographers and with many blockbuster movies and awards to her credit, the A-list creative team hails from the very heart of Bollywood, lending authenticity to the production. The brilliant musical score is composed by brothers Salim and Sulaiman Merchant, two of the most sought-after film composers in Bollywood, with a long award-studded history of composing music for films, stage shows, pop stars and commercials. The shimmering array of costumes are designed by Falguni Thakore, one of the hottest designers on the Bollywood scene, with more than a decade of hit movies to her credit and an extensive client list of Bollywood stars. The hair and make-up artists have been hand-picked to recreate gorgeous visions of Bollywood on stage. The actors are all major players from stage and screen. In the lead role of Ayesha is Carol Furtado, who for more than 13 years has performed as a dancer with major Indian and international artists around the world, both on stage and in music videos. Dipender Singh, who plays her childhood sweetheart Uday, trained as a dancer in Los Angeles, and has since worked in numerous Bollywood films, international stage shows and live events with stars of the Hindi film industry. Playing the roles of Narrator and Tony Bakshi is Arif Zakaria, a star of Indian TV and film for more than two decades with numerous credits to his name. The dancers have performed in the best of recent Bollywood movies: Dhoom, Paheli, Bunty aur Babli, Rang De Basanty, Krrish and Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna. Page 4 of 4 The Producers One of Australasia’s leading producers, James Cundall heads Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, which has been bringing top quality international productions to Hong Kong since 1992, including CATS, We Will Rock You, Les Miserables, Chicago, Miss Saigon, Saturday Night Fever, Cirque du Soleil’s Alegria, Riverdance, STOMP, The Woman in Black, Circus Oz, ABBA Mania, The 39 Steps, Thomas the Tank Engine and Barney & Friends as well as The Imperial Ice Stars’ productions of The Sleeping Beauty on Ice, Swan Lake on Ice and Cinderella on Ice. David Atkins Enterprises (DAE) is one of the world's leading event and production companies. Headed by David Atkins OAM, DAE has been producing international ceremonies, musicals, arena events and live productions across Australia, Asia, America, Europe and the Middle East for over 25 years. These include the Opening & Closing Ceremonies of the Doha 2006 Asian Games; the Opening & Closing Ceremonies of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games; the Closing Ceremony Harbour Spectacular of the Sydney 2000 Olympics; and the Melbourne Handover Ceremony of the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games. Most recently DAE is proud to have been awarded the contract to produce the Opening, Closing & Victory Ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games. The Merchants of Bollywood is produced by Lunchbox Theatrical Productions and David Atkins Enterprises To download images, press materials and information, please visit http://www.propublicity.com/News.asp Official Website: www.lunchbox-productions.com The above press release is issued by Lunchbox Theatrical Productions through PRO Marketing Services Company Limited FOR INTERVIEWS AND FURTHER INFORMATION: PRO Marketing Services Company Limited Catherine Cheung & Esther Chan Tel: (852) 2851 1482 M: (852) 9466 4743 .