Previews: The Heartwarming Indonesian Classic 'Keluarga Cemara' Takes the Stage This School Holiday

Visinema Studios and www.indonesiakaya.com are collaborating with Teater Musikal Nusantara (TEMAN) to bring the beloved Indonesian family story, "Keluarga Cemara," to the stage as a musical. The musical promises to turn the heartwarming and laughter-filled story of Abah, Emak, Euis, and Ara into a spectacular stage show.

The original Keluarga Cemara (“Cemara Family”, with Cemara being the name of one of the characters while also meaning “pine tree”) was written by Arswendo Atmowiloto and started life as a serialized story in the teen magazine HAI in the 1970s. However, Keluarga Cemara rose to ubiquity through its television adaptation, which ran from 1996 to 2005, making it a staple for many Indonesian millennials. The series also had a lesser known sequel that ran for two years.

In its original serialized story and TV series, Keluarga Cemara tells the story of a wealthy family who lost their fortune after the father’s business went bust. The father, Abah, now works as a rickshaw driver, while the mother, Emak, sells the traditional snack of opak. Their children, Euis, Ara, and Agil, have to help their parents out while adjusting to their new life in the village.

Keluarga Cemara returned to prominence with the 2019 movie (also titled Keluarga Cemara) by Visinema Pictures. It was a commercial and critical success, earning more than 1.000.000 viewership and multiple award nominations. In 2022, the film got a sequel and a web series.

The musical version is led by Executive Producer Anggia Kharisma (Chief of Content Strategy of Visinema Studios) and producers Billy Gamaliel (Program Manager of www.indonesiakaya.com),⁠⁠ Chriskevin Adefrid (CEO of Teater Musikal Nusantara / TEMAN), and Cristian Imanuell (Head of Studios of Visinema Pictures).

Veteran theater director Pasha Prakasa will helm the creative team, with a script by Yemima Krisantina and ⁠⁠Widya Arifianti and music by ⁠Ifa Fachir and ⁠⁠Simhala Avadana. The cast includes Simhala Avadana, Galabby Thahira, Aisyah Fadhila, Fazka, Taufan Purbo, Andrea Miranda, Amira Karin, Quinn Salman, Sita Nursanti, Christoffer Nelwan, and dozens more.

"In this spectacular production, we are not looking to create an ordinary theater show; instead, we intend to provide an engaging entertainment experience that brings fresh and enjoyable vibes. We portray family stories in a colorful and energetic atmosphere while maintaining iconic characters, beautiful songs, and even the distinctive Sundanese dialect," said Chriskevin Adefrid.

Keluarga Cemara will run from June 21 to July 14, 2024, at Ciputra Artpreneur Jakarta. This production team is committed to providing an inclusive experience by offering affordable tickets, with the majority of tickets priced below Rp 500,000. However, for those seeking a special experience, the Musical Stage Performance of Keluarga Cemara will also offer VVIP packages.

The latest information on this production is available through their official social media account @musikalkeluargacemara.