ArtSwara Returns to Present a More Magnificent and Exploratory MAR Musical at Ciputra Artpreneur, May 15-17

JAKARTA - Musical theater production in Indonesia is once again showing its existence by bringing a historical narrative wrapped in modern arrangements. ArtSwara, as one of the consistent production houses in the performing arts, announced the re-staging of their masterpiece titled "MAR".

After the success of the previous event, "MAR" which featured legendary songs by Ismail Marzuki is scheduled to greet the public again at Ciputra Artpreneur, South Jakarta, on May 15-17.

ArtSwara's move to re-stage "MAR" is not without strong reasons. In addition to the success of the premiere staging in 2025, which managed to bring home the Best Musical Album and Best Vocal Arrangement awards at the AMI Awards, the high demand from the audience was a key factor.

Maera as the executive producer and director, revealed that this time the performance will be presented with a much more magnificent and exploratory scale.

"'MAR' is staged again because I personally feel that I am not satisfied with the previous performance, so I want to present it again with a number of improvements in various aspects of the performance," Maera said in a statement, Monday, May 4.

"In addition, it is answering the public's desire for 'MAR' to be staged again. This performance adds six additional castings," he added.

Narratively, "MAR" takes the audience on a journey through the memories of a character named Nin. The story focuses on the emotional relationship between Mar, a tough soldier played by Gabriel Harvianto, and Aryati, a medical sukarelawati played by Galabby.

The two are caught up in the maelstrom of the Bandung Lautan Api event - a fragment of history where love must collide with the obligation to defend the country and heartbreaking sacrifices.

The musical side is the main strength in this 13th ArtSwara production. Under the direction of music director Dian HP, the timeless songs by Ismail Marzuki are not just re-sung, but interpreted with a dynamic jazz touch.

The arrangement was designed to evoke the atmosphere of the Glen Miller era which was popular during the independence struggle. In this edition, Ava Victoria was appointed to lead the orchestration that would accompany the drama.

This exploration is an effort by ArtSwara to keep cultural heritage relevant for the younger generation. Maera emphasized that Ismail Marzuki's work is a cross-generational bridge that has a very high artistic value.

"ArtSwara presents 'MAR' not only as a tribute to the genius Ismail Marzuki but also as a groundbreaking exploration in the world of musical theater," said Maera. "By reintroducing Marzuki's works through a fresh and innovative new narrative, this production ensures that his legacy remains relevant to a wider audience."

The presence of big names such as Tanta Ginting, Teza Sumendra, Sita Nursanti, to Chandra Satria is sure to add depth to the characters in this staging.

From a technical perspective, the production team promises a better sound system and a special stage design that will bring the atmosphere of Bandung in 1946 more vividly.

In line with Maera, MAR Rr. Producer Firsty Dewi emphasized the importance of building a healthy performing arts ecosystem in Indonesia. According to him, musical theater has great potential to become an educational mainstream entertainment.

"ArtSwara has a vision and mission that is quite far and big, namely building a large musical ecosystem in Indonesia, in order to be able to attract young people to be able to get to know and love the art of musical performance," concluded Firsty.