NOMINATIONS in 35 competitive categories for The 7th Annual BOH Cameronian Arts Awards were announced yesterday exclusively on www.kakiseni.com.

With more than 90 actors, directors, playwrights, dancers, choreographers, singers, songwriters, musicians, stage and lighting designers, costume and makeup designers, these nominees represent the best of the 2008 performing arts season in Malaysia.

In theatre, the Bahasa Malaysia drama “Air Con”, presented by The Instant Café Theatre Company, racked up eight nominations including Best Original Script for Shanon Shah, Best Director for Jo Kukathas and Zalfian Fuzi, and Best Actor In A Leading Role for Amerul Affendi.

Meanwhile, the Chinese remake of George Orwell’s “Animal Farm”, presented by Pentas Project Theatre Production, picked up six nominations including Best Director for Loh Kok Man and Best Actor In A Supporting Role for Moo Siew Keh.

Loh Kok Man was also nominated twice for Best Lighting Design (“Air Con”, “Animal Farm”) while Jo Kukathas and Zalfian Fuzi share another Best Director nomination for “Hero”. Other double nominees include Melissa Teoh for Best Set Design (“Air Con”, “Hero”), Dominique Devorsine for Best Costume Design (“Animal Farm”, “A Christmas Carol”), and Mark Beau de Silva for Best Original Script (“Bottom Top”, “Oh My God”).

In dance, the performing arts academy ASWARA was nominated in all eight categories.

Their annual mixed bill presentation “Jamu 2008” scored seven nominations including Best Featured Performer for Suhaili Ahmad Kamil and Best Choreographer for Umesh Shetty and Vincent Tan, while “Huminodun – The Nabahu Princess” collected two design nominations.

Also nominated for Best Choreographer In A Feature Bill was Judimar Hernandez, a judge on the reality TV show “So You Think You Can Dance”.

In music, jazz concert “Let’s Go Mamak” topped the field with seven nominations, sweeping the Best Group Performance and Best Original Composition categories, and also earning saxophonist Julian Chan and composer Ken Hor another nomination for Best Musical Direction.

Meanwhile, the newest field introduced in the awards this year also had the most number of categories, and the production with biggest nomination haul. In musical theatre, “Jewel Of Tibet – A Musical” was announced in all 12 categories with a record 14 nominations, including Ho Lin Huay for Best Director and Best Original Book Or Lyrics, Imee Ooi for Best Original Music and Best Musical Direction, and four nominations for the leading and supporting role performances. It was presented by Musical On Stage Productions.

The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre production “Ismail, The Last Days” had 10 nominations including Best Director for Joe Hasham, Best Choreographer for A Aris Kadir, and Best Performance In A Leading Role for Malik Taufiq.

Marking seven years of excellence in the performing arts, The 7th Annual BOH Cameronian Arts Awards will be presented at the Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, 3rd May 2009.

The BOH Cameronian Arts Awards (BCAA) was launched in 2002 and bears the name of BOH Cameronian Tea, the flagship brand of the Title Sponsor, BOH Plantations.

The awards are bestowed annually to dance, music and theatre professionals for outstanding achievement in the performing arts. One of the most coveted awards in the entertainment industry, the ceremony is also one of the most prestigious events of the year.

The BCAA is organised by Kakiseni, Malaysia’s premier online magazine for the arts. (Kakiseni was founded in 2001 by Jenny Daneels and Kathy Rowland.)

“Last year saw another round of artistically creative and entertaining productions and performances,” says Caroline Russell, CEO of BOH Plantations. “We are delighted to once again honour the artistes whose talents have entertained us, challenged and provoked us; engaged and touched us; enlightened and amused us.”

“This year is even more meaningful for BOH as we celebrate our 80th anniversary, while adding ‘Ummph!’ to the performing arts through our continuous support. Sincere congratulations to the nominees, and we look forward to celebrating their achievements with double ‘Ummph!’.” Productions opening in the 2008 season, which began 1st January and ended 31st December, were considered for nominations. The BCAA Judging Committee deliberated over 60 dance, music and theatre productions that met the eligibility guidelines. Productions that were not nominated are still eligible for the Kakiseni Audience Choice Award online poll.

In addition, there are seven special categories including the BOH Cameronian Lifetime Achievement Award, the Artseefartsee Cross-Cultural Champion Of The Arts Award, and the Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur Fan Of The Arts Award for Most Promising Artiste. The BOH Cameronian Lifetime Achievement Award is given to individuals who have displayed a continuous level of artistic achievement contributing to the growth of the performing arts.

The Artseefartsee Cross-Cultural Champion Of The Arts Award recognises non-performing individuals who have campaigned for outreach initiatives to enrich the cultural landscape.

The Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur Fan Of The Arts Award for Most Promising Artiste goes to young individuals who have displayed a creative sensibility and a continued involvement in the arts. The shortlist this time includes dance nominee Suhaili Ahmad Kamil (“Jamu 2008”) and theatre nominee Amerul Affendi (“Air Con”).

“We’re here again to celebrate the works of these talented performing artistes,” says Viji Nair, BCAA Producer at Kakiseni. “Our theme this year is ‘Love’, which reflects our continued appreciation and support of home-grown talent.”

“In that spirit, we’re organising a study grant for the top first-year students in the departments of dance, music, theatre and writing at ASWARA. We’re asking that all nominees and guests at the awards contribute just RM10 to the grant, and the total will be matched by BOH Plantations. We’re hoping to raise RM10,000 in support of arts education, because the arts must play a crucial role in revitalising the country. We cannot underestimate the benefits of arts education.”

Kakiseni will host the official BCAA Nominees Celebration Party on Tuesday, 10th February, 7:00–9:00 pm, at Sino The Bar Upstairs at 29A Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar Baru, Kuala Lumpur. For press invitations and all media enquiries, please contact Lennard Gui at (012) 315-7571 or Amber Wong at (012) 334-5630.