Bobby is thrilled with his new assignment. He has seen the play in London (with Yul in the lead) as a young boy of 10. "This is why it is such a personal thrill and triumph for me to direct the upcoming international tour of The King and I," he says.
Bobby’s new assignment as director of the Asian tour of The King and I and Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella which is set for staging in 2008, comes after his work as show director of Disneyland Hong Kong. Bobby creatively supervised all the live entertainment at Hong Kong Disney for two years.
In King and I, Bobby will work closely with costume designer Tim Yip, who has won an Oscar for Best Production Design in Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Tim also designed Ziyi Zhang’s latest movie, The Banquet. "Tim is an amazing visual artist. It’s a thrill to work with him. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is one of the most visually sumptuous films ever produced. He is also a wonderful person with an infectious laugh," says Bobby.
But how will his King and I be different from the other King and I musicals? "I’m really focusing on this as a tale of modernization. I think it’s going to be a visually exciting production. We have an amazing creative team and we have assembled an outstanding cast. The story and music are so timeless that I think audiences will still be moved by its power. I am so excited to begin the rehearsals of this show."
Broadway Asia which is producing The King and I is a management, production, licensing and consultation company focusing on performing arts projects between the US, Europe and the Asia-Pacific Region. It was established by the Viertel/Routh/Baruch/Frankel Group, the Broadway Tony Award winning production and management team behind the hit shows Producers, Hairspray, Sweeney Todd, among others. They have received a total of 33 Tony Awards.
Bobby has been enamored with the stage since seeing his first musical play when he was a little boy. "Theater is the love of my life ever since I was a kid. It is an artistic, spiritual medium. I love it with passion. I know how to express myself through theater. You don’t choose a life in theater. Theater chooses you."
His theater inclination has been greatly influenced by his mother who introduced him to the art, and watching plays and musicals. "The choice to make it my life and my profession was mine," he explains.
He has watched tons of musicals that he can no longer keep tab. Having lived in New York for many years, Bobby became a theater habitué watching every musical there was. "When I was in New York for the casting of The King and I, I caught Jersey Boys on Broadway and it’s phenomenal. Des McAnuff, the director is a genius. But I still think Les Miz is one of the best musicals ever written."
Always a fan of Broadway, Bobby says, "there really is nothing like a good Broadway show. The energy is indescribable. A good Broadway show is my idea of what heaven is like."
As a director Bobby has tried (and successfully staged Broadway shows) through his own theater company Atlantis Production. In 2005, he staged Beauty and the Beast which was a big success. Atlantis will soon unveil its 2007 season of shows.
"I don’t classify my work into best or worst. As long as you do the best you can at the time you are directing, then you have succeeded. Best and worst are really just words other people tag onto your work."
Bobby has his first stage directorial job with Patient A by Lee Blessing in Canada in 1993. He studied film at the Vancouver Film School and took up additional film courses at New York University. He has a bachelor’s degree from Fordham University and a Masters of Fine Arts in directing from the University of British Columbia.
Does he have a dream Broadway musical play? "I guess my biggest dream would be to create an original musical. That would be total fulfillment. As for my dream shows, I have said so many times that I need to direct Sweeney Todd before I die – perhaps as my retirement show. I’d also love to do a Tennessee Williams play." Bobby will shuttle between New York, Manila and China in the next few years.
Bravo, Bobby!