[Press Release] Award-Winning Musical "Sing Out" to Premiere at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Grand Theatre in Two Weeks

Press Release: Immediate Release

Award-Winning Musical "Sing Out" to Premiere at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Grand Theatre in Two Weeks
An Arts x Character Education Journey for the Audience

More photos available at: https://bit.ly/4cS7xdf

[Hong Kong, August 10, 2024] The new version of the original musical "Sing Out," organized by the Extension and Continuing Education for Life (EXCEL) of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA), and sponsored by the Lee Hysan Foundation, will have its grand premiere at the Grand Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in two weeks (from August 23 to 25)! This year, students from Carmel Secondary School, Gertrude Simon Lutheran College, PAOC Ka Chi Secondary School, Ebenezer School - Home for the Visually Impaired, and the HKAPA Applied Learning Programmes will continue the spirit of "passionate youths" portrayed in the musical.

New Faces Inject Vitality
The original musical, which won six awards at the 27th Hong Kong Drama Awards, welcomes Becca Cheung and Florence Cheong as Co-Directors this year, along with EK Wong as Music Director, Ryan Lo as Set Designer, and Melissa Lai as Costume and Styling Designer. Composer Leon Ko highlighted the importance of the new team, saying, "It is crucial to have the new team join us in this performance, especially the actors. Hence, there are different actors participating each time. The young actors do not impose any preconceptions on themselves about the difficulty of a task. Even when I assign them tasks that I personally considered to be difficult, the young actors will nevertheless take them on without hesitation. Accordingly, not being constrained by any preconceived ideas is more beneficial to the young actors' future prospects."

Co-Director Florence Cheong mentioned that "Sing Out" 2024 may provide different experiences for the audience: "The students this year are different from previous years; they possess the innocence and enthusiasm of their age. When audiences watch it again at a different time, they may receive different messages and mentalities compared to a few years ago."

Promoting Positive Education
The musical "Sing Out" aims to cultivate students' teamwork and performance abilities through art education. Joint participation from students at different schools not only promotes exchange between schools but also enriches students' learning experiences. The program encourages young people to discover their talents and interests, allowing them to find more possibilities beyond the classroom, and laying a solid foundation for their future artistic journeys. Through this musical, students not only learn how to perform but also showcase and discover their talents, overcome challenges, and enhance their confidence and skills in the process.

Josephine Yim, the General Manager of the EXCEL and the Producer of the musical "Sing Out" 2024, is delighted to see the spirit of perseverance and full dedication among the young participants: "By participating in this musical production and through the training of performing arts, young people better understand how to strive for their goals, building greater resilience and team spirit." Ms. Cecilia Ho, President of the Lee Hysan Foundation, also hopes that students can raise their expectations of themselves: "With such an excellent team to elevate their standards, students will have higher self-expectations as they step into society in the future."

More than just artistic talent development, character education is at the core of this project, including cultivating teamwork, a sense of responsibility, communication skills, and problem-solving abilities. The musical teaches students how to cope with stress and manage their time, balancing study, rehearsal, and rest. They also learn to express their opinions and listen to others' suggestions, fostering mutual respect and effective communication skills. Co-Director Becca Cheung also praised the students for encouraging each other during rehearsals: "One student had a bad experience before, but with a positive mindset, he inspired his discouraged classmates, causing a 180-degree attitude change and bringing positive energy to the cast."

The first performance of the musical "Sing Out" 2024 will be performed to the public in two weeks. Months of hard rehearsals and relentless efforts are about to transform into an eagerly awaited result, presented to the audience. Tickets are now open for sale on the art-mate platform:

Performance Dates:
- August 23 to August 24, 2024 (7:30 PM)
- August 24 to August 25, 2024 (2:30 PM)
Venue: The Grand Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Ticket Prices: HKD 620, 480, 390, 280, 150
Website: https://www.excel.hkapa.edu/zh/singout2024
Ticket：https://www.art-mate.net/doc/74447

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Expanding the Development of Musical Theatre
EXCEL has been offering musical theatre training courses since 2002 and produces a significant summer musical for teenagers yearly. Through professional stage performance, dance, and vocal training, thousands of teenagers have been trained in musical theatre performances. This year, young artists and students from Carmel Secondary School, Gertrude Simon Lutheran College, PAOC Ka Chi Secondary School, Ebenezer School, Home for the Visually Impaired, and the HKAPA Applied Learning Programmes will embark on a journey filled with both artistic and character education.

Tickets for the premiere and subsequent performances of "Sing Out" were completely sold out, with over ten thousand audience members attending, making it a widely discussed topic. This year, the proceeds from ticket sales will be fully utilized to promote the development of youth musical theatre in Hong Kong and encourage positive growth to extend the "Artistic Inheritance, Journey of Growth. "

About HKAPA EXCEL
Established in 2001, EXCEL (Extension and Continuing Education for Life) is a non-profit subsidiary of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA). EXCEL is registered charitable organization (Ref:91/7878). Our aim is to provide innovative, multidisciplinary and globally focused performing arts education through short courses, full-time programmes, customized workshops, and performance-based productions. We strive to create positive social impact in the community and promote artistic excellence, while enhancing arts literacy, interest and appreciation among the general public. For more information, please visit: https://www.excel.hkapa.edu/.