The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac) wraps up 2024 with a two-day only special entitled “Laugh, Love, Give with Harith & Friends” from 14 to 15 December 2024 in Pentas 1 of klpac.
No doubt the year end is the season to be jolly but it is also the season of giving and sharing.
Arts lovers have the chance to do both as klpac ushers in its 20th anniversary celebrations with a benefit performance in aid of Malaysia’s home for performing arts.
The line-up
With comedy legend, Harith Iskander, headlining the fundraiser, you know you are in for a good time. The Godfather of Stand-up Comedy in Malaysia is also gearing up to celebrate his 35th year next year. This world-class comedian with a heart of gold is also known for his humanitarian work and continues to give back to the arts.
Iskander remarked, “I got my start doing stand-up comedy every single month for about five years at The Actors Studio’s first theatre underneath Dataran Merdeka. My hats off to Joe and Faridah for walking the talk and sustaining multiple spaces almost single-handedly for the past 30 years. The country needs an institution and hub like klpac and they should not have to do it alone. I’m excited about my big return to klpac’s Pentas 1 after 10 years.”
The YCA Chorus, conducted by Susanna Saw, will add much merriment and is set to get the audience in a festive mood with a selection of well-loved Christmas carols. Audiences will also be treated to a spellbinding Balinese dance, Janger, featuring Zhafir Muzani with the Young KL Singers (YKLS) under the baton of Mak Chi Hoe.
“Many may not know but YKLS was co-founded by The Actors Studio Academy, helmed by Joe and Faridah with myself and Chow Wei Heng. klpac has been like a second home where we have performed many times and held our annual Malaysian Choral Eisteddfod – International Choir Festival. It has been and continues to be a great launchpad for many young Malaysian talents.”
The benefit also features singer Clinton Jerome Chua, whose astounding vocal range has gained him a growing fan base and who is due to release an EP soon. Not only was the versatile singer and fashion icon earmarked as AUGUSTMAN’s 2020 A-Lister, he had the opportunity to sing to Ariana Grande, be mentored by Yuna, share the stage with Shila Amzah in “I Can See Your Voice Malaysia” and appear in “All Together Now Malaysia”.
Completing the line-up are rising stars from TUTAS Conservatory with a surprise musical feature under the direction of Christopher Ling as well as an entertaining dance number by Dancesteps Studio helmed by Shirena Hamzah and Clara Lim.
Co-Founder and Executive Producer of klpac, Dato’ Dr. Faridah Merican, said, “It is heart-warming to see almost 80 artistes and arts workers coming together for this fundraiser. It will be an absolute blast as we have assembled an excellent programme that has a bit of comedy, music and even dance. Looking at recent world events, it is not enough to voice your support but people need to turn it into positive action. We hope that arts lovers, especially those that have been a part of klpac’s story, will come and show your support.”
Laugh, Love, Give with Harith & Friends
100% of proceeds of “Laugh, Love, Give with Harith & Friends” go to klpac as part of its 20th anniversary fundraising. Sponsorship for the non-profit arts centre dropped 40% after the pandemic and with no funding available for it as funders favouring short-term programmes and productions.
Finance aside, the centre has regained its pre-pandemic visitorship when it hit 80,000 visitors in 2023 over 130 shows with an average occupancy of 80%. Since the pandemic, it has created 4,986 job opportunities and welcomed over 250 schools and 4,000 students from all over Malaysia. Just this year, it stepped up its effort to make arts more accessible than ever with klpac Connect through various programmes for families with young children, school children and other communities.
Tickets for “Laugh, Love, Give with Harith & Friends” in aid of klpac’s 20th Anniversary Fundraising range from RM80 to RM500 and can be purchased online via CloudJoi.
klpac is also running another fundraising initiative called Save Your Seat where the public can adopt a seat in exchange for recognition.
For enquiries, please WhatsApp klpac at +6018 227 7212.
Advisory: Stand-up comedy may contain mature content.
