When Cheryl Teh first encountered Guys & Dolls in 1987, she was a 15-year-old violinist tucked away in the orchestra pit.
Onstage, Suzan Manen played the earnest missionary Sarah Brown in The Philharmonic Society of Selangor’s Malaysian production of the Broadway classic.
Neither imagined that nearly four decades later, they would return to the very same musical, not as young performers chasing stage dreams, but as part of a groundbreaking production celebrating creativity, courage and active ageing.
This month, Teh will step into the spotlight as executive producer of Guys & Dolls Sr, Malaysia’s first Broadway Senior production, while Manen reprises the very role she played 39 years ago.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that one day I would get a chance to produce Guys & Dolls,” Teh says.
“When I close my eyes, I can still see that 1987 production in my head. I can still see the younger Suzan. It brings back the memories, the excitement, the nerves.”
For Teh, the experience feels deeply nostalgic and personal.
“When I heard that Music Theatre International had started licensing abridged senior versions of Broadway musicals, and one of them was Guys & Dolls Sr, I knew we had to do it,” she says.
“Especially because it was the first musical I was ever involved in.”
Making the production even more special, the upcoming senior production will also be the first musical she has produced.
“But it’s nice not to be in the pit this time!” she laughs.
Produced by KLSings and Alegria Creativity, both of which Teh founded, the production is more than a musical staging.
For her, it is a celebration of ageing with purpose, creativity and community, challenging long-held assumptions that artistic performance belongs mainly to the young.
Guys & Dolls Sr features more than 60 performers aged 55 and above, with the oldest cast member aged 82.
Some are experienced singers. Others are first-time actors stepping onto a theatrical stage for the very first time in their lives.
“Too often, growing older is associated with slowing down, becoming invisible or stepping away from creative expression,” Teh says.
“This production challenges that idea completely.”
A lifelong companion
For Manen, returning to the role of Sarah Brown at 74 feels less like revisiting the past and more like reconnecting with a lifelong companion.
“I really don’t feel much difference because the songs and music from this musical have been with me even before I first played Sarah Brown,” she says.
“If anything, it’s very nostalgic and singing these songs again on stage brings me back to 1987.”
She pauses, smiling.
“Such a privilege to be able to do this again after all this time.”
Manen’s connection to performing stretches back decades. After graduating with a Licentiateship from the College of the Royal Academy of Dance in London in 1974, she returned to Kuala Lumpur to teach dance while continuing to perform in musicals, choral productions and television programmes.
One memorable performance saw her dancing on a platform in the middle of Stadium Merdeka during the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s birthday celebration in 1966.
Over the years, she also co-founded a production company producing advertising commercials and performed with vocal group Scotch ‘n Soda at jazz festivals and television specials.
Today, she still sings regularly with the Christian Fellowship Choir at Broadway Academy while continuing classical vocal training.
Music, she says, has remained constant throughout her life.
“I would tell our younger selves that it’s always worthwhile to experience being part of a stage production, especially a musical, because music is so beneficial for the brain and body as a whole.”
For Manen, Guys & Dolls Sr carries added meaning because it shines a spotlight on seniors in a way rarely seen in mainstream theatre.
“This show is extra special because it is giving seniors encouragement and the opportunity to show that retirement can still be active, fun and fulfilling,” she says.
“The enthusiasm from the cast is simply amazing.”
Dreams are free
Music, too, has quietly shaped every chapter of Teh’s life.
After entering the theatre world in the late 1980s, she continued being involved in musical productions while building a 24-year corporate career in knowledge management and project management.
Even during her busiest years of corporate life, music remained close.
“I’m glad I didn’t give up on my music lessons because even while working in the fast-paced corporate environment, music was always there to keep my life in balance,” she says.
Now retired, Teh describes music as her “encore career”.
“It feels like life has come full circle,” she says.
At KLSings, where she has spent years building community through music and choir programmes, Teh says that she can finally realise her long-held belief that seniors deserve opportunities to challenge themselves creatively.
“Doing a musical seemed like the next step toward pushing boundaries and giving seniors the opportunity or perhaps a strong push to step out of their comfort zones,” she says.
“I’ve always dreamed that some day I would like to produce a musical,” she admits.
“Dreams are free and if you wish hard enough, life has a way of making them come true – even if it’s nearly 40 years later.”
Beyond the chorus
While the principal roles carry the plot, the true emotional heartbeat of Guys & Dolls Sr resides in the general chorus.
For most of them, the stage is not a familiar old friend, but an entirely uncharted territory.
According to Teh, the ensemble draws heavily from KLSings’ own VoxPop Choir, a group accustomed to singing in harmony but entirely new to the theatrical demands of a Broadway musical.
Among the chorus members are Daisy Ling, 82, and Ng Moh Ley, 79, both are members of the VoxPop Choir.
For Ling, the production has unexpectedly awakened a part of herself she thought had faded long ago.
“The singing part of me is coming back,” she says softly.
A retired music teacher, Ling once performed in an operetta during her teacher-training days. That was decades ago, she says.
Now, despite challenges with failing eyesight, she practises daily using audio recordings provided during rehearsals.
Trying to remember lyrics and musical cues without a conductor in front, she admits, has not been easy. Yet the process has brought newfound confidence.
“The training process has helped and my voice is coming out clear,” says the grandmother of five. “Normally I just mumble.”
Her family has been one of her biggest supporters.
“My daughter told me, ‘Mum, it’s very good for you to get involved and do this activity’,” she says, smiling at the thought of her loved ones wo will be sitting in the audience.
“They are all looking forward to coming to watch me sing.”
For Ng, who had previously sung mainly in choirs, Guys & Dolls Sr marks her first musical theatre experience.
“To tell the truth, I was
doubtful about Teh wanting KLSings to do this musical,” she says candidly.
“We are all into our 60s, 70s and some 80s. Some members are first-timers. I thought – ‘wow, this is going to be tough!’”
But after the first combined rehearsal involving principals and cast members, her doubts slowly disappeared.
“I began to believe her,” Ng says with a laugh.
Staging safety and prestige
While audiences will see singing, dancing and comedy on stage, Teh says the production’s true purpose goes far beyond entertainment.
“Seniors are often in the shadows as they get older,” she says.
“I’m really happy that I can play my part in shining a spotlight on them, to show future generations that ageing is not all bad, and that it’s never too late to try something new.”
That philosophy shapes every part of the production.
Rehearsals began in March 2026, with staging director Marina Tan shaping the acting, choreographer Callista Chuah guiding the movements and Teh handling the vocals.
The rehearsals, Teh says, have been carefully adapted to suit performers of varying experience levels and physical abilities.
Songs are supported with audio recordings for performers to practise with at home, while choreography rehearsals are video-recorded for revision.
Safety is also prioritised through thoughtful stage and lighting design.
“Our stage design will be single level to minimise the risk of falls, while the furniture chosen is light but structurally sturdy, and the lighting design ensures certain parts of the space will always have some light,” she explains.
“When working with seniors, patience is everything,” says Teh. “We have to manage our expectations and find creative ways to help them remember their words, notes and movements. Something taught last week often has to be repeated, and that’s perfectly okay.”
However, she is quick to credit them.
“As long as communication is clear and expectations are managed, seniors can do remarkable things.”
She also insisted on staging the production at Nero Event Space
in Petaling Jaya Performing Arts Centre (PJPac), despite the higher cost.
“I wanted the seniors to really have the experience of performing on one of the best stages in Petaling Jaya,” she says. “I want this experience to be something they remember for the rest of their lives.”
Beyond performing, the production also supports Perak Women for Women Society (PWW), a non-profit organisation helping vulnerable women and children in Perak.
For Teh, combining performance with community service gives the cast an even deeper sense of purpose.
“Singing is something we do
for ourselves. But fundraising allows us to use our voices to
benefit others.
“Not everyone can afford to make monetary donations but
by grouping together and joining our voices, we can put on performances and events so that we can collectively make a difference,” she adds.
The overture begins
As the June opening dates draw closer, the initial terror that once rippled through the cast has slowly transformed into a strong sense of camaraderie and team spirit.
“It’s been wonderful to see the light of excitement in their eyes at being part of something new and interesting,” Teh says. “Some are still probably terrified and not sure what to expect, but we can see the team spirit happening.”
For audiences filing into PJPAC this June, Teh says Guys & Dolls SR promises a joyful, nostalgic and heartwarming afternoon of theatre.
“But for us, the 60 performers and production team, it celebrates the idea that talent, charisma, humour and stage magic do not fade with age. They deepen,” she says.
For Ling, the memories of this production will remain long after the sets are struck, supported by a proud family of children and grandchildren. For Ng, it is a milestone she never imagined possible.
And for Manen, the production remains a beautiful reminder to keep embracing new experiences at every stage of life.
“Never limit yourself,” she says firmly. “Just try something new.”
For more information on the Guys & Dolls Sr shows, email: KLSings2011@gmail.com
