Cover Base Entertainment Asia CEO Chantal Prudhomme (Photo: Imran Sulaiman)
Base Entertainment Asia CEO Chantal Prudhomme (Photo: Imran Sulaiman)
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With live entertainment making a strong comeback, Base Entertainment Asia is set to deliver yet another blockbuster line-up this year. CEO Chantal Prudhomme shares how it is forging ahead with a commitment to growth and innovation
As chief executive officer of Base Entertainment Asia, the leading presenter of live entertainment in the region, Chantal Prudhomme is often asked about her favourite musical. Her answer? “Wicked—I love the message of friendship and female empowerment, about embracing differences and finding acceptance and love.”
Known for its iconic songs such as Defying Gravity and Popular, the musical “also resonates with audiences here”, she shares. It was staged at the Sands Theatre at Marina Bay Sands in 2011 and 2016—and returned for an ongoing third run until April 27. Other musicals on the line-up this year: the Asia premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard starring singer Sarah Brightman in February; the return of Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera in May; the Asia premiere of The Lord of the Rings – A Musical Tale in August; as well as Steven Levenson's Dear Evan Hansen in October.
Prudhomme also counts Lin‑Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton, staged in Singapore last April, as a favourite. “I saw Hamilton many years ago and wondered if it’d draw audiences here,” she admits. The musical explores the life of American founding father Alexander Hamilton and his role in the American Revolution. “It’s a different genre—modern, youthful, with [elements of] hip-hop—[featuring slang] that’s distinctly American, which isn’t necessarily familiar in Asia.”
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Above Courtney Monsma as Glinda, from the 2023 Sydney season of 'Wicked' (Photo: Jeff Busby)
Above Zoe Coppinger as Elphaba, from the 2024-2025 Perth season of 'Wicked' (Photo: Justin Griffiths)
Courtney Monsma as Glinda, from the 2023 Sydney season of 'Wicked' (Photo: Jeff Busby)
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Her fears proved unfounded, as “Hamilton became our most successful musical of 2024—and it was so well-received”. This success can perhaps be attributed to the Singapore audience’s “appetite for a variety of experiences”, according to Prudhomme. “[Singaporeans] love to travel, and they enjoy new experiences. If I’m bringing them a musical, it won’t be a third‑rate version. I have to bring the kind of production you’d see on Broadway or the West End. Singaporeans are discerning in their choices and expect nothing less than the best.”
The live entertainment industry has experienced remarkable growth post-pandemic, particularly with the resurgence of large-scale productions. “When the pandemic hit, everyone was worried,” says Prudhomme. “We didn’t know how long it would go on for. But when it ended, we saw a surge in demand for live performances. The experience you get being in a room together and experiencing something live, it’ll never go away.”
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Above Lloyd Webber’s 'The Phantom of the Opera' returns to theatre in May
Lloyd Webber’s 'The Phantom of the Opera' returns to theatre in May
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Furthermore, the increased engagement on social media helped the company reach new audiences. “We have the more mature audience, the lovers of musicals who’ll always come back for the classics, while the younger audience come for new content such as & Juliet and Six the Musical, but they also like the classics,” notes Prudhomme. “We’re having fun programming the theatre, as we can also experiment with new productions such as The Mongol Khan.”
Mongolia’s first theatre production to go global made its Asia premiere in Singapore last October. “What I’d like to see [more of] are the beautiful stories coming from Asia being produced like they belong on Broadway and the West End,” says Prudhomme.
Above 'The Lord of the Rings – A Musical Tale' makes it Asia premiere in August (Photo: Liz Lauren)
'The Lord of the Rings – A Musical Tale' makes it Asia premiere in August (Photo: Liz Lauren)
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It is this spirit of innovation that Prudhomme fell in love with when she first came to Singapore in the mid-nineties. “There was much excitement in Asia then. You could tell that it was on the cusp of change in the entertainment world, with technology and everything else,” she says. With a career spanning more than 30 years in the entertainment industry, Prudhomme has vast experience in managing and leading large-scale entertainment projects globally.
Above Steven Levenson's 'Dear Evan Hansen' comes to Singapore in October
Steven Levenson's 'Dear Evan Hansen' comes to Singapore in October
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Base Entertainment Asia has the exclusive management rights of the Sands Theatre, where it presents a range of productions annually. Every July, it also collaborates with homegrown comedian Kumar. “When we first met about five years ago, the idea was to collaborate with local talent and give them the opportunity to perform on the big stage,” shares Prudhomme. The company also creates opportunities for young talents through casting calls for its musicals. It also started experimenting with more productions outside the theatre such as illumi, the world’s largest light, sound and multimedia presentation, previously held at the Bayfront Event Space. Visitors are invited to enter nine unique worlds brought to life with animatronics and 20 million LED lights.
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Above Every July, Base Entertainment collaborates with homegrown comedian Kumar
Every July, Base Entertainment collaborates with homegrown comedian Kumar
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Prudhomme also hopes to see more locally written and produced productions. “The local theatre [companies] do this very well, but we would like to be able to transform [them] into shows not only shown in Singapore but the world,” she enthuses. “The big international shows come our way, so I would love to see the local productions featured and represented abroad.”
As Senior Editor of Tatler Singapore, Hashirin champions and refines the storytelling across platforms—curating and crafting compelling profiles, cover stories and features that spotlight visionaries shaping culture, business and impact. Driven by curiosity, she draws inspiration from the artists, changemakers and trailblazers she encounters through her work. Beyond the pages of Tatler, she is an avid supporter of local theatre and delights in seeking out art in every city she visits.
