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TV actor Andie Chen takes to the stage

SINGAPORE – The fact that TV actor Andie Chen can sing has been a well-kept secret – up until now. “I haven’t sung in 10 years”, he said, not since his National Service days when he was in the Music And Drama Company. Well, come August, he will be making the leap from screen to stage as he takes up a lead role in the third staging of the popular Mandarin musical, December Rains, by Toy Factory Productions.

TV actor Andie Chen makes his musical debut in the latest staging of December Rains. Photo: May Seah

TV actor Andie Chen makes his musical debut in the latest staging of December Rains. Photo: May Seah

SINGAPORE – The fact that TV actor Andie Chen can sing has been a well-kept secret – up until now. “I haven’t sung in 10 years”, he said, not since his National Service days when he was in the Music And Drama Company. Well, come August, he will be making the leap from screen to stage as he takes up a lead role in the third staging of the popular Mandarin musical, December Rains, by Toy Factory Productions.

The musical, directed by Goh Boon Teck and written by renowned local songwriter Liang Wern Fook, also stars Chriz Tong and Sugie Phua, with songs co-written by Liang and composer-singer Jimmy Ye. For this staging, an original new song, What Am I Waiting For, will be debuted.

Video: May Seah/TODAY

Chen was upfront about how he felt about his theatre debut: “I think when I step onto the Esplanade stage and I open my eyes and there are like 2,000 people in front of me – that’s when I’ll start to pee in my pants,” he laughed.

But can he sing? “I think I can emote. I think I have the basics. And, with enough conditioning – which will begin soon – I have no question that I will be able to deliver,” he said.

“I mean, if I didn’t, I wouldn’t have taken it up. You know me – if I choose to do something, I will do it, and I will do whatever it takes to get there,” he added.

And, as for his dancing skills, Chen said that he was looking forward to “moving” on stage. “I don’t think there will be pirouettes, but I’m pretty sure there will be a certain amount of movement,” he quipped. “It’s a big stage. And I look forward to that. I will try to control myself and not start my unsightly dance moves!”

Trying out a different medium, Chen said, is something he believes one has to do as an actor “to keep your spirit alive”. And while it poses a challenge, it’s also a learning opportunity.

“I would like to think that I’m kind of a subtle actor, in a way. I mean, I use my eyes; I know the technicalities and I know what to use when. And I think some of those technicalities don’t translate well on stage, so I need to find the stage equivalent of that (to) convey the emotions in the right way to the audience,” he said.

“I look forward to it. I’m already learning things, such as how to use my voice. All this overlapping training, I think, will also help me for my future TV and film roles.”

What does his wife, actress Kate Pang, think of him taking to the stage for this sentimental story about star-crossed lovers? “Initially, she teased me about it. She said, ‘They want to hire someone who cannot sing on pitch?’” he said. “She always laughs at me and teases me on the surface, but I know that she is deeply supportive of whatever I do. I think if there’s anyone who really believes I have the talent, it’s her. And I will make her very proud.”

December Rains runs from Aug 28 to Sep 6 (except Mondays) at The Esplanade Theatre. Tickets from S$49 to S$129 from Sistic.

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