ASIAN YOUTHS BLAZE AHEAD WITH THEIR MUSICAL TALENT IN SUPPORT OF ANXIETY DISORDER SUFFERERS

Amid the stunted state of a society’s norm for apathy, a group of youths have banded together in a bid to give back to the wider community.

Over 50 youths and young adults from the Mount Eden based Performing Arts Workshop (PAW) will be presenting the musical, V.I.P. (Vanity Isn’t Permanent), to raise money for the Phobic Trust of New Zealand.

The trust’s CEO, Marcia Read, was delighted to hear of a group of youths promoting awareness of society’s issues and wanting to contribute.

“We rely on the time of our volunteers, charitable donations and creative fundraising events to allow our work to continue,” she says.

Adding that it’s wonderful “... to have a passionate team of talented youths who look outside of their own wants and are aware of the needs in the community.”

The musical debut will be a first for budding playwright 23-year-old Joselyn Khor who majored in journalism at AUT University.

Riding on the ludicrous situation of people worshipping celebrities famous for being beautiful, Khor says the show is a little side note about society.

“The musical slowly reveals how easy it is to be roped into a cultural belief system you may not actually agree with, say, materialism and the pursuit of money, power and status.”

“The crux of this situation is what we see may not be what we get and all we are left with is people who continue to feel lost.”

Twenty-five-year-old director Jun Bin Lee was instrumental in composing original music for the show and strongly believes anyone with passion should get the chance to showcase their talent.

“We’re not professionals. We can be a journalist, a doctor, a carpenter, a teacher … but for the love of art/music/story-telling, we all gather together to give birth to an original piece of art.”

He says in terms of the story, previous years have veered toward fairytales. This year, however, will be different.

“This year the setting is, now, and the script writer and her team are trying their very best to present an emotional, heart-felt yet entertaining production.”

When asked about the core message of the musical and how it is uniquely different, Khor says,
“The focus on how we appear to others means we forget what we’re all about, the beauty of our imperfections and the joy we get from accepting ourselves.”

“The simple message is, vanity isn’t permanent. Sometimes it takes an unexpected jolt to remind us of what’s important. Other times it’s the humanity of others which remind us to look within for the real treasures.”

Tickets for the V.I.P musical can be purchased online from Eventfinder or book 022 BFM 4 PAW (022 236 4 729)

ENDS

For more information, interview and photo opportunity or media images please contact:

Brighter Future Musical:

Rachel Chin Phone 09 309 0390 x 273 or 021 257 8913 / Email: brighterfuturemusical@gmail.com

Production Information:

Title: Brighter Future Musical presents V.I.P. (Vanity Isn’t Permanent)
Date: 2 & 3 September, 7.30pm
Venue: Dorothy Winstone Centre, Auckland Girls Grammar School
Starring: Over 50 performers from the Performing Arts Workshop
Playwright: Joselyn Khor
Director & Musical arrangements: Jun Bin Lee
Choreographers: Kazu Okuda, Matthew Yee
Martial Arts Co-ordinator: Kevin Yong

Supporting:

The Phobic Trust is a charitable trust that was established more than 30 years ago to help those who have a debilitating anxiety, phobic or obsessive compulsive disorder.
24-Hour Phobic Helpline:
0800 14 Anxiety (0800 14 2694389) or
09 846 9776 (Auckland)
For more information:
www.phobic.org.nz