The life and mind of Adeline Ong

I still have not gotten my own camera. I know, I know. That should not be an excuse anymore but it is true. So once again, my postings are delayed. Here are shots from Short+Sweet which happened in mid August.

Mamaking after the matinee show.

Back from the mamak… Ready for the last show

Intermission card game

Cikgu Qahar’s warm up activities

Half of the week2 Cast

Full cast before the final show.

Cast party. God knows why all of us look like we were about to break into song.

Penang Players will be at

LITTLE PENANG STREET MARKET

31 August 2008

at the usual venue of Upper Penang Road, 10am - 5pm

Merdeka Magic

Come and celebrate National Day with us - with a fantastic array of magical performances, presentations, stalls, and people!

Check out the amazing magic of Jeffrey the Magician, be entertained by the Balloon Clown and witness the extraordinary feats of ‘Plastic Man’ Master Seng.

Plus lots more wonderful performances - including the G-Spot Resident Jazz Band, Wishing Treez, the Dance Factory, and a children’s theatre workshop (open to all kids: call us) organised by Penang Players Music and Drama Society.

2.30-3.00pm Movement in drama by Joelle St Arnoult

Children will have FUN while developing their physical and emotional expression as they participate in a variety of movements accompanied by sounds of music.

3.00-3.30pm Rhyme-Time! By Lucille Dass

Children will have FUN participating in a variety of expressions that will develop their skills in the “sound of English” as they learn to rhyme and keep time!

Stalls including some 70 producers selling everything from clothing through jewelry, handicrafts, antiques, food and including hands-on demonstrations of various skills.

We will also have our usual showcase of three Penang artists in our Visual Arts section

So, bring your family and friends and colleagues and…….. spread the word. Be part of the celebrations. Revel in Penang’s creativity and heritage! Celebrate National Day with us!

Penang Players Music and Drama Society,

please contact Joelle on 012-5512616 or Mano on 012-4318330

The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPac) is delighted to present a showcase of
THE CuriOuS ReSIdEnCY

Amusing, ironic and affectionate, these three plays showcase KLPac’s Curious Residency, three of the most talented directors of today, while displaying the vitality of a new generation of young performers. With tales of school, love and adolescent drama, they are cool, honest snapshots of life in the transition to adulthood.

Pentas 2, KLPac (click here for map)
RM25 or RM10 (students only)
Get a 10% discount when you buy tickets to all 3 CuriOuS shows or 5% for any two CuriOuS shows*

After Our’s
*** This play deals with adult subject matter ***

21 - 23 Aug, 26 - 30 Aug @ 8.30pm; 24 & 31 Aug @ 3pm
Directed by Helena Foo
Adapted from the Eric Amadio movie
Featuring Nick Davis, George Bull, Alia Nabil, Claudia Low, Lesedi Halahala and Joylynn Teh

An edgy relationship comedy about several couples from all walks of life having troubled conversations. After Our’s is a humorous yet honest look at the complexity of modern day relationships, through witty dialogue and compromising situations, the play takes us from the beginning of a relationship to the aftermath of one, examining every stage in between the drama, heartache and confusion.

8 Ways to Lighten the School Bag

4 - 6 Sept @ 8.30pm; 7 Sept @ 3pm
Directed by Mark Beau de Silva
Featuring Juria Toramae, Pammi Sidhu, Kelvin Wong, Bella Rahim, Nita Isma, Sani Zainal Abidin, Shirin Jauhari, Gregory Sze and Branavan Aruljothi

They carry their bags to school, back home, and then to school again. Heavier and heavier, until it becomes too heavy to move.

There is a fight in the school between Brana, Shirin and Kelvin. The parents are called in to investigate as the teachers have no clue on who to punish. Join the teachers, students, and parents as they uncover details of that fateful day when they fight happened, as they travel through Moral lesson, history lesson, PE and other periods to discover the truth, and ultimately find out what made the students break out! 8 Ways to Lighten the School Bag is a humourous look at our country, its systems, and our education. What’s your education?

The play was written through KLPac’s inaugural Community Writing Project - an attempt to involve the community in theatre making. Through a 3-month workshop, the participants played, wrote and are now acting in a play they wrote together.

Love & Beauty - The Sonnets of William Shakespeare

18 - 20 Sept @ 8.30pm; 20 - 21 Sept @ 3pm
Directed by Chris Ling
Featuring The T4YP Ensemble - Alfred Loh, Juliana Ibrahim, Arthur Chia Tek, Farah Rani, Gadiy Lim, Gowri Paary, Hana Mazlan, Iedil Putra Alaudin, Ivan Chan, Johann Oh, Kimberly Mehta, Marvin Wong, Oliver Peters, Sharon Lam and Ujval Singh Sidhu-Brar

One man considers the merits of love and beauty in the course of one night. Sometimes whimsical and funny, at other times poignant and sad, Love & Beauty presents the timeless sonnets of William Shakespeare in a heady mix of musings, music and multimedia.

Get your tickets to the CuriOuS shows by calling
(KLPac) 03-4047 9000 or (The Actors Studio @ BSC) 03-2094 9400!

Watch the trailer here or visit www.klpac.com for more info…

* Discount applicable for purchase(s) of adult-priced tickets in a single transaction / receipt only.

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curious /’kjuəriəs/ adj
1 eager to know or learn: They are a curious lot, always asking questions.

2 having or showing too much interest in the affairs of others: They are always curious about each other’s work.

3 strange; unusual: What a curious-looking threesome.

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The Instant Cafe Theatre Company
FIRSTWoRKS
presents

HERO
Family. Death. Politics

WRITTEN BY
Arun Subramaniam

DIRECTED BY
Jo Kukathas & Zalfian Fuzi

STARRING
Indi Nadarajah & Anne James
INTRODUCING
Ley Shahrwind

Following the success of the play Air Con by Shanon Shah
Instant Cafe is happy to present the second play in the FIRSTWoRKS 2008 season of New Malaysian Plays.

Hero tell us the story of the mysterious assassination of a Indian politician in Malaysia. The dead man however refuses to be quiet - despite,or perhaps because of, his murder. He is haunted by his own life and continues to haunt the life of his wife and son just as they are haunted by memories of him.
Who has assassinated him? And why?

For Mature Audiences

27-31 August 2008
830pm (Wed-Sun)
3pm (Sat-Sun)
RM 27 (students, seniors), RM 42, RM 62
***Preview: 27 August 830pm (ALL TICKETS RM 27 only)***

Actors Studio Bangsar Shopping Centre

To find out more about The Instant Café Theatre Company as well as its FIRSTWoRKS Playwriting Program you can visit our website at http://www.instantcafetheatre.com

* 10% discount for ASTRO subscribers*
To purchase your tickets call box office at 03 2094 0400

www.instantcafetheatre.com

It’s back!!! With the same fun filled song & dance numbers, all new cast, and an all new venue, The Actors Studio in association with KLPAC brings you Broadway Parodies Lagi Lah!
Since everyone had so much fun with the show last year, we’re bringing it back just for you. And this time round we’re taking it on a nation wide tour as well!
Ipoh, Penang, Melaka, JB, Kuching, KK…here we come!

With sikit pinjam konsep from the Western “Forbidden Broadway” spoof show, “Broadway Parodies Lagi Lah!” is a rich rojak of slices of Malaysian life garnished with a big splash of humour and served up on a platter of great songs. A Malaysian feast of spoofs that is sure to fill your stomachs with laughter! Some new songs oso got!

Written & Facilitated by : Brian McIntyre
Choregraphed by : Farah Dato’ Sulaiman
Production Designer: Edna Tan
Artistic Director : Joe Hasham
Executive Producer : Dato’ Faridah Merican

Featuring :
Mia Palencia (songwriter with fabulous jazz feel – M The Opera)
Tria (the new Judy Garland of Malaysia! M The Opera, Audition reality TV)
Zeqhty Nattrah (dancer and stage performer – PGL, P Ramlee the Musical)
Tabitha Kong (Sparkling voice! Tunku, Drunk Before Dawn, Pygmalion the Musical)
Janet Lee (theatre veteran, classically trained - Magic Flute, Merry Widow, Tosca)
Sarah Low (new talent singer and dancer – Rose Rose I Love You)
Shahila Johan (terrific young talent - major in classical voice ASWARA, KL Young Singers)
Glamorique Arshad (veteran performer - Mikado, Stand and Deliver, Jalan Impian, Tunku)
Ho Soon Yoon (actor, singer in Broken Bridges, Tunku, conductor [In The Mood] )
Sham Sunder Binwani (veteran stage and comedy actor - Aladdin)
Keith Yew (dancer, singer – La Cinturita, Sing Sing Sing!)

18 -28 September 2008
18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 September @ 8:30pm
21, 28 September matinee @ 3pm
No shows on Monday
Venue: Pentas One, KL Performing Arts Centre, Jalan Strachan, Kuala Lumpur

Ticket Prices: RM60, RM40 & RM20 (students)
EARLY BIRD DISCOUNTS (2 weeks before the show)
Adults - RM40 & Students - RM10

FAMILY WEEKEND PACKAGE
Family of 4 pax - RM100
Any additional member - RM20

CORPORATE NIGHTS
Tue - Thu (500 tix) RM25,000.00 per show
Fri - Sun (500 tix) RM30,000.00 per show

The Actors Studio Bangsar : 03-2093 0400, 03-2094 0400/1400
call Shalu for further enquiries/bulk bookings
or
KLPac Boxoffice : 03-40479000

Masuklah you!!!

Want some more? Check out the webpage on last year’s show at

http://www.six2eight.com/bplwebsite/bplhome.html

The Actors Studio Presents:

BROADWAY PARODIES LAGI LAH! Malaysian Spoofs of Songs from the Musicals

With sikit pinjam konsep from the Western “Forbidden Broadway” spoof show, The Actors Studio proudly presents “Broadway Parodies Lagi Lah!”, a rich rojak of slices of Malaysian life garnished with a big splash of humour and served up on a platter of great songs. A Malaysian feast of spoofs that is sure to fill your stomachs with laughter!

BROADWAY PARODIES LAGI LAH! Malaysian Spoofs of Songs from the Musicals

What Is It?

A fun filled revue of well known song and dance numbers in which the lyrics have been spoofed to showcase and celebrate a range of uniquely Malaysian culture, characters and icons. Chicken Rice, the Good Morning Towel, the Bomoh of the Bursa - kind of like Reggie Lee and C W Kee’s World cartoon characters in lyrical form. And with a hugely talented cast, fantastic Broadway style choreography and both live and computer sequenced musical backing, BPLL promises to repeat its runaway success of last year and again be the show that everyone will want to see!

Why Lagi?

BPLL is a reprise of “Broadway Parodies Lah!” which The Actors Studio presented in May 2007. All ten performances were completely sold out, which generated tremendous calls to restage the show.

Is it the same cast?

The original cast members were asked if they would be available to perform in BPLL, and Sabrina, Glamorique and Soon Yoon were able to say yes. Choreographer Farah Dato Sulaiman also agreed to come back on board, as did Edna Tan for Production Design and Dominique Devorsine for costumes. Of the others, it is understood that Cheryl is studying, Doreen is starting a family, and Kyra and Ivan are overseas. Douglas and Joanne have famously tight schedules and various projects needing their attention! Auditions for new cast members attracted a wide range of both existing and exciting new talent that we anticipate will bring a more musical and visual dimension to the show – more Broadway but still very much LAH!!

Will the show have the same songs as last time?

Predominantly yes, though some new ones have been added. New ones include Under The Tree, The Roti Man, and Tai Tai Spenders.

BROADWAY PARODIES LAGI LAH! Malaysian Spoofs of Songs from the Musicals

Conceived by: Jason Cheong and Edna Tan

Written by: Brian McIntyre

Cast:

Ladies

Mia Palencia (songwriter with fabulous jazz feel – M The Opera)

Tria (the new Judy Garland of Malaysia! M The Opera, Audition reality TV)

Zeqhty Nattrah (dancer and stage performer – PGL, P Ramlee the Musical)

Tabitha Kong (Sparkling voice! Tunku, Drunk Before Dawn, Pygmalion the Musical)

Janet Lee (theatre veteran, classically trained - Magic Flute, Merry Widow, Tosca)

Sarah Low (new talent singer and dancer – Rose Rose I Love You)

Shahila Johan (terrific young talent - major in classical voice ASWARA, KL Young Singers)

Men

Glamorique Arshad (veteran performer - Mikado, Stand and Deliver, Jalan Impian, Tunku)
Ho Soon Yoon (actor, singer [Broken Bridges, Tunku], conductor [In The Mood] )

Sham Sunder Binwani (veteran stage and comedy actor - Aladdin)

Keith Yew (dancer, singer – La Cinturita, Sing Sing Sing!)

Music sequenced and orchestrated by: Brian McIntyre

BROADWAY PARODIES LAH! Malaysian Spoofs of Songs from the Musicals

Executive Producer: Datuk Faridah Merican

Artistic Director: Joe Hasham

Production Designer: Edna Tan

Choreography: Farah Sulaiman

Stage Design, Lighting Design, Props and Continuity Director: Edna Tan

Costume Design: Dominique Devorsine

Publicity: Brian McIntyre, Glamorique Arshad and Shalu

ACT I

At The End of the Play (”At The End Of The Day” from “Les Miserables”)

Food Glorious Food (from “Oliver!”)

Under The Tree

Chicken with the Chili on Top (”Surrey with the Fringe” from “Oklahoma”)

The Roti Man (”The Candy Man” from “Willy Wonka”)

Good Morning Towels (”Good Morning Starshine” from “Hair”)

Marina (”Maria” from “West Side Story”)

Seventeen Going on Eighteen (from “The Sound of Music”)

Punch A Docket Or Two (”Pick A Pocket Or Two” from “Oliver!)

Aiyo (”Heigh Ho” from “Snow White”)

I Like to Stay in Malaysia (”America” from West Side Story)

I Just Want To Be A Dame (”There is Nothing Like a Dame” from “South Pacific”)

Karaoke (”Cabaret”)

ACT II

We’re Halfway Through The Play (”At The End Of The Day” from “Les Miserables”)

Damansara (”Oklahoma!”)

Shop Shop Shop (”The Student Prince”)

Hello Datin (”Hello Dolly”)

Tai Tai Spenders (”Sweet Charity”)

Diamonds In Your Ears My Friend ( from “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”)

We Must Play Golf All Day (”I Could Have Danced All Night” from “My Fair Lady”)

The Bomoh of the Bursa (”The Phantom of the Opera”)

Tomorrow (”Tomorrow” from “Annie”)

We’re DeListed (”It’s DeLovely” from “Red Hot and Blue”)

The Best Thing in this Show is Me (”The Best Things in Life are Free” from “Good News”)

I’m Off to Genting in the Morning! (”I’m Getting Married” from “My Fair Lady”)

Bodoh Lah (”Do Re Mi” from “The Sound of Music”)

Do You Hear the Peacocks Sing (”Do You Hear the People Sing” from “Les Miserables”)

At The End of the Play reprise (”At The End Of The Day” from “Les Miserables”)

BROADWAY PARODIES LAH! Malaysian Spoofs of Songs from the Musicals

Performance Dates: 18 - 28 September @ 8.30pm (Tuesdays - Saturdays) / 3pm (Sundays)

NO SHOWS ON MONDAY

Venue: Pentas One, KL Performing Arts Centre, Jalan Strachan

Ticket Prices: RM60, RM40 & RM20 (students). Family

Packages: Family of 4 = RM100 (any additional member = RM20)

Early Bird discounts available 2 weeks before opening night show at RM40 (adults) and RM10 (students). For bulk ticket booking call Shalini at 03 2093 0400 - You might just get a discount…

Please call The Actors Studio (03) 2094 9400 or email tickets@theactorsstudio.com.my

For more detail check out the Broadway Parodies blog http://broadwayparodieslah.blogspot.com/

http://www.theactorsstudio.com.my

http://www.klpac.com.my

2008 Call for Applications (Deadline 31 Aug 2008)

The Krishen Jit ASTRO Fund has been created by ASTRO to encourage and support creative work in Malaysia. One of the main objectives of Krishen’s pioneering work was celebrating original Malaysian creativity in as varied and alternative ways as possible in all the areas of the arts. His groundbreaking theatre practice straddled and brought together a wide range of contrasting spheres, producing projects that were inter-disciplinary, multi-cultural, multi-lingual and experimental. Negotiating between academia and practice, tradition and contemporary pop culture, Hollywood and Bollywood, the mainstream and the marginalized, Krishen’s work articulated a Malaysian identity that was ever evolving and encouraged practitioners and audiences to reflect on their lives and societies. This is the spirit of the Krishen Jit ASTRO Fund.

In 2006, the Fund received 80 applications. The final 3 grantees were:

o Au Sow Yee – for a film installation and performance.
o Sharon Chin – for research and an interactive installation and exhibition of new work concerning libraries and banned books.
o Dr. Ray Langenbach – for his Malaysian Performance Video Archives Project, a project to preserve Malaysian performance documentation.

In 2007, the Fund received 27 applications. The final 4 grantees were:

o Amir Muhammad – towards a film Punggok Rindukan Bulan.
o Hardesh Singh and CH Loh – towards the first Malaysian CD anthology.
o Lim Kok Yoong – towards LAMU-Let Arts Move You, visual arts in commuter trains and train stations.
o Shahili Abdan (aka Nam Ron) – for research in Southern Thailand for theatre script.

Once again, in 2008, the fund will give out grants ranging from RM5,000 to RM20,000 for :

Training
Workshops
Attachments/residencies
Experimental productions
Research and documentation
Writing
Creating new work in music, dance, theatre, writing, film, visual/performance art
Others

Examples include, but are not limited to:

- Artist A might want to study under well known Indonesian theatre director Putu Wijaya. Artist A could apply to be attached to a production directed by Putu Wijaya for a 4-6 week period. This would give artist A insights and learning on methods of this director.
- Artist B might want to do research on a subject for purposes of writing a new script. Artist B could apply to do this research and write the script.
- Artist C could apply to direct and mount an experimental workshop or production.
- Artist D could apply to attend a training workshop within or outside of Malaysia.
- Attachments and internships.

The Krishen Jit ASTRO Fund will try to be inclusive, but work sited in Malaysia will be given preference. All arts practitioners in Malaysia are eligible to apply. The fund will be managed by Five Arts Centre and ASTRO.

The selection panel for awarding the grants shall comprise :

Dato’ Norliza Rofli – Director, Department of Culture and Arts, Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage, Malaysia
Har Kok Kit – Head of Production Services, ASTRO
Leow Puay Tin – Co-head, Department of Media and Performance, Sunway University College.
Ravi Navaratnam – Five Arts Centre
Mac Chan – Five Arts Centre

=====

Application Deadline: 31 August 2008.

www.fiveartscentre.org

I love Japanese performing arts. So I am asking you to support this one.
Simple request, that’s all.

As promised, enjoy pictures from Noah and my performance of Alex’s Older at the Platform in KLPAC.

I love this shot of me. Halim says it is a femme fatale shot.

Coffee stains…

Killing dormice

I can’t remember what happened here… Whoops!!!

Those were the days

Reminiscing (Eee, I have slits for eyes!!!)

One of my fave shots.

Look at my shoes… Bought them after a sucky audition. Hahaha!! Now they are put to good use.

A rare tender moment

Close but still distant…

You did what??

Grrr…

Finally the day has come. We are performing OLDER at the Platform in KLPAC.

2 weeks of intense internalizing and practices at Noah’s led up to this.

I am scared. I am excited. I am confused.

It has been a while since I played a character this intense

On Wednesday, after practise at Rorschach’s, I went to watch a play Air Con with Glam. Now the reason I went to watch it was to support my friend Zalfian. But I really enjoyed myself there.

Would I recommend it? OF COURSE!!!!!

Here are the pictures I promised.
Well, mainly FLO because Sparky is the one taking pictures.
But we got appearances from Just-Marv.

Technically, the marketplace was a disappointment, arrangement wise. Stalls were too close together. The market was broken up in three places. Air flow was…. What freaking air flow…

For those who have been following my misadventures, I used to run an arts market. So I guess that kind of gives me the license to criticize what was offered. The stalls were cool. Met Choon Wai from Urban Creatures here. Talk about big surprise. Have not seen him since I visited LPSM last. There are really awesome items for sale there.

Guess, how much damage I caused to my wallet. RM 300!!!!

Mostly spent on local artiste CDs, locally directed movies and unique silk screened T-shirts.

We managed to catch a couple of theater performances. Sparky won’t take pictures out of respect for the performers. Which I think is pretty cool. Never gave that much thought before. Will be more mindful next time.

Sparky, Just-Marv and myself broke out singing songs from Avenue Q.

After that incident, Sparky decided that everyone from LIVEWIRE is banned from singing Avenue Q in public. Whoops!!!

Yes, the crazy/scary, energy bursting are out terrorizing unsuspecting people at Urbanscapes today in KLPAC.

Pictures will be posted up soon.

Hello there readers,

I am busy lately helping out my friends, juggling work and performances.
Now I need another favour from those who can and are interested.

The Oral Stage is looking for some people who’d like to help out for KLue Urbanscapes at KLPac on the 28th, this Saturday. The event runs from 12pm - 12am, but those helping us out won’t need to be there or doing stuff all the time. We can take shifts, and we’ll work something out to everyone’s schedule. We need people for:

- impromptu performances around KLPac, more specifically, around the entire space of the bazaar to pull people to our booth at the marketplace (it can range from tableaux, physical stuff, open “rehearsals”, duo dramas, trio dramas, etc); and

- people to help man the booth, explain our upcoming workshops, sell CDs, etc

We will need to have a rehearsal and a briefing before Saturday.

Who’s up for it?

If interested, please contact:-
Johann

HR Director

for The Oral Stage

E: people@theoralstage.com

W: http://theoralstage.com

The first time I was introduced to Avenue Q was when I watched the 58th Tony Awards, I fell in love with the song and the show.

This Chinese New Year, Ash sent me the soundtrack. Ooo… I have listened to it. Laughed but that was it.

Recently, I found out the cast and crew of COOTC were also fans. Thus, I am back at listening to the CD and bursting into song randomly when I am around these people. I love these lot.

If you get the soundtrack, my fave songs are numbers 2, 5, 6 and 7.

Before joining the Coming Out of the Closet (COOTC) team, I have never heard of the Laramie Project. It sounded interesting to me though. Glam initially sent me a trailer. I watched it with much interest. A few days ago, he was kind enough to loan me a DVD of the movie. The emotions that the movie evoked in me, was something that I have not felt in years. I cried. I have not cried watching movies for a while now.

After hearing about the essence of the story, I really want to be a part of The Laramie Project as an actor. I have never felt so strongly of a project since my graduation directorial of Red Carnations in 2006. Watching the movie only enforced how I have felt when I first heard the story. It has to be retold so others might learn.

Earlier there were talks of The Laramie Project being staged in Malaysia. However, I have just received news that the project has been scrapped.

Here is a short trailer of the Laramie Project.

Too bad that the stage production of it will not come about anytime soon. The role that I really wanted is Christina Ricci’s. I guess, this might just mean I will have bigger project coming my way.

Knowingly sooner or later, I will have to eventually move on from COOTC. Just like how I moved on from RC. I just hope that the closeness is still there like I have with my RC monkeys.

Short update on the monkeys. Chris and Michy are still in Penang. Pris is somewhere in the jungle hanging off some tree in Borneo. I am not sure where Astra is though. All will be graduating in August.  Sam, Halim, Anne, Joi and I are all in KL doing different stuff.

Pics from our last show…

Our ever so helpful techies. I love these guys…

Jumping for joy!!!

Strike a pose…

One for the family album… Chak… I am so going to miss this montley crew….

During the shows, we have the reporter (Coffee addict Osman) played by Sani, with a functioning camera taking random scandalous shots.

Here are the results.

Blurry and weird, I will admit. But nonetheless, very cool.

Just for the fun of it, I have placed lines from my character, Ling Ling and the others as well.

For Ling Ling Boss!!!

Where lights coming from?

Honestly, I can’t remember what moment this is. So there is no quirky Ling Ling lines for this one.

That time of the month is it?

Don’t shoot Boss!!! Don’t shoot Boss!!!

Ling Ling don’t care. Ling Ling die for Boss!!!

Hmmph….

Ming Ming don’t hurt Ling Ling boss.

We brought costume, we brought make up, we posed, whined and then posed some more.
Here are the results.

Boss and Boss wife

Cast minus 2

The affair

It’s hard to choose when one ‘ORDERS YOU’, another ‘ADORES YOU’

Angel vs Devil Showdown

Faces behind the Magic… minus Tuan Director