If you haven’t watched “The Secret Life of Nora”, this might just get you scrambling to purchase tickets for the amazingly impressive, star-spangled musical production! We got to personally meet and talk to Canadian-born Ryan Silverman for a bit after the show last Sunday. And just so you know what he looks like:
Cue swoon!
Best known for his role as Raoul in Broadway’s “Phantom of the Opera” and having spent many years as a performer, the extremely talented actor-singer travels to Asia for the first time ever to take on the lead role in the acclaimed Malaysian musical, “The Secret Life of Nora”. He plays Roger Foss, alongside the darling Nora (played by Tiara Jacquelina).
Taking a stroll backstage with the man himself, we dug deep into the person beyond Roger Foss.
Did you always want to become a performer?
“No. I grew up in Canada and it is a land that’s filled with exhilarating hockey games. It’s what Canada is most well-known for! But I realized I wasn’t quite cut out to be a hockey player so that was out of the question. And apparently I have this talent so I moved to New York, starred in a few Broadway productions such as “Phantom of the Opera” and “West Side Story”, and now here I am!”
What made you take up this role?
“To be honest, this is my first time in Malaysia, and my first time in Asia. I didn’t know what to expect when I took up the offer to play Roger Foss. But perhaps what really enticed me was the fact that it was an all-new storyline with original music – something I’ve never done before. I wouldn’t say that it wasn’t a challenge because it was! But at the end of the day I’m like, yea why not?”
How long did you take to prepare for your role?
“I started preparing for the role in August and ‘The Secret Life of Nora’ opened at the end of September, on the 29th. So I had, oh, about a month to prepare for this. It was a lot of rehearsals and getting to know the script as well as the cast. And everyone has been amazing so it really helped with the preparation.”
What do you love most about Malaysia?
“I’m not even making this up – I love the people. Everyone has been really nice and they really know how to make a person feel as comfortable as possible. I mean, I come from a completely different background but people here are really warm. And nice! Also, I must say that I love the food. My personal favourites are laksa and beef rendang. I love it! The people and the food!”
Yay! He loves us. We mean, uh, Malaysia. Here, we’ll let you in on a little secret; it was really hard to not be completely mesmerized by his good looks and piercing gaze during the interview! What more spending a few hours watching him act, dance, and belt out his wonderful vocals on stage:
But don’t just take our word for it. Ryan Silverman (a.k.a Roger Foss) will be performing for “The Secret Life of Nora” for additional nights on the 20th, 21st, and 22nd October 2011. Go catch it before it’s over! You have exactly one week.
Tickets are priced at:
1. RM30 and RM50 for “Upper Circle” seats
2. RM110 and RM220 for “Grand Circle” seats
3. RM120, RM230, and RM350 for seats at the “Stalls”
To purchase tickets, log on to AirAsia RedTix, call 03-8775 4666, or visit the Istana Budaya Box Office.
