A young woman’s long-shot journey to Broadway, marked by ambition, sacrifice, and self-discovery, forms the heart of a new musical inspired by singer-actor Elaine Lee’s showbiz career. This story unveils the challenges and emotional costs of stardom, bringing Lee’s triumphs and setbacks to life in a world that demands all and guarantees nothing.
Dreams The Musical, starring Lee - known as Elaine in the pop scene - also marks her debut as a theatre show producer.
The musical is set to run at the Damansara Performing Arts Centre (DPAC) in Petaling Jaya from Nov 7-10.
With a creative team including director Nell Ng, scriptwriter Terence Toh, music director Tan Chong Yew, and composer Adam Sang, Lee retells her musical journey, aiming to inspire others to chase their dreams.
"I'm incredibly grateful for the chance to produce this musical with such a talented team. They’ve taken my experiences and ideas and transformed them into something truly special. I can’t wait to share the magic of this show with audiences and to show what’s possible when you keep pursuing your dreams," said Lee, 34, in a recent interview.
Dreams The Musical, a bilingual show - English and Mandarin - runs for one hour without intermission. The cast also features Roax Tan, Chew Paul Wah, and Angela Goh, who portrays Lee in her childhood years.
“My earliest inspiration from musicals came from classic Disney movies like Aladdin and The Lion King with their amazing soundtracks. Then my father bought me DVDs of Les Misérables, and The Sound Of Music, and I was immediately hooked,” she added.
Lee's upcoming show will showcase new tunes and a touch of drama, highlighting her early memories of musicals and the support of her family as she navigates the music scene.
With over 10 years in the entertainment industry, Lee has starred in productions such as Paper Crane The Musical, Above Full Moon The Musical, Tales Of Four Dialects The Musical and Singing Market The Musical. She has also participated in numerous local singing competitions, earning several awards for her songs in the Mandarin music scene.
“I began singing at the age of three, participating in recitals, joining the school choir, entering competitions, and even playing in music bands. I feel very fortunate to pursue my passion for musical theatre, but Broadway remains my ultimate dream - and I believe it is for many others as well,” said Lee, who is based in the Kuala Lumpur.
The Dreams The Musical musical coincides with the release of Lee’s album, also titled Dreams, for which she wrote the lyrics and composed the music herself. Two songs from the album, Standing On The Edge Of Forever and With Courage, will be featured in the production.
