Bie, 'Behind the Painting' are Broadway-bound

WHEN SINGER-ACTOR Sukrit “Bie” Wisetkaew went to New York for over a month recently, rumours flew that the former talent from “The Star” was taking break from showbiz.
In fact, Bie was working to boost his career with voice training and land a deal to bring him and a classic Thai story to Broadway.
Bie’s debut on the Big White Way is a co-production of Scenario boss Takolkiat “Boy” Viravan and Broadway’s Jack M Dalgleish, whose most recent work was the Tony-nominated play “Time Stands Still” starring Laura Linney, Eric Bogosian and Alicia Silverstone.
Dalgleish excitedly broke the news in a Twitter response to a friend who asked about the new project: “It’s called ‘Behind the Painting’ by Maltby/Shire! Can’t wait for you to see it.” He also posted a photo of the cast and crew.
As hinted in that tweet, the famed team of lyricist Richard Maltby and composer David Shire will put a new twist on the old melodramatic tale.
It’s a story Bie knows well, having played the lead character Noppon in a stage production Boy produced and directed five years ago. Thais know it well too, with “Behind the Painting” being made into a movie twice.
Other stars joining the Broadway adaptation will include Hannah Florence, Jill Paice, Thom Sesma and Karl Josef Co.
There’s still supporting roles to cast, with the curtain going up on January 27.
We hope they’ll break a leg, as they say in showbiz, and that “Behind the Painting” will open a new era for other Thais to bring their work to Broadway.

Spikers in the sky
Winning Asia’s volleyball championship has its perks.
AirAsia, the official sponsor of the Volleyball Association of Thailand, announced it will provide the women’s team with free flights for one year.
“The gift applies to the team members, their coach and their assistant coach,” said Thai Air Asia commercial director Santisuk Klogchaiya.
The airline will celebrate further by painting up one of its planes.
“As an extra special touch, we will be painting one of our aircraft with the whole Thai women’s team,” Santisuk said.
So not only will our spikers be flying free on AirAsia for the next year, AirAsia passengers have a chance to feel special by travelling with them.