On stage

Animated action

By Suwitcha Chaiyong

Ben comes to life

It's always exciting to see your favourite animated characters come to life. Fans of American animated TV series Ben 10 will soon have a chance to see Ben and the gang in the flesh at the Ben 10 Live!: Power of the Omnitrix show. The 90-minute performance will be full of dazzling, death-defying skateboard stunts, abseiling acrobatics and multimedia effects.

The live show is about 10-year-old Ben Tennyson discovering the power of Omnitrix and learning how to transform himself into an alien superhero. Fast forward five years, and Ben finds himself using Omnitrix to fight evil villains, with a little help from his friends Gwen and Kevin.

• Did you know •

The first Ben 10 video game was released in 2007.

Ben 10 Live!: Power of the Omnitrix will hit Bangkok from November 19 to 22, so Student Weekly recently asked Cartoon Network Enterprises spokeswoman Archana Keskar to tell us about the show.

STUDENT WEEKLY: How did you come to create the new Ben 10 live show?

Archana: Ben 10 is a global phenomenon, and it's especially popular throughout Asia. Our first live show, Ben 10 Omnitrix Overload, was very successful when we toured Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines. We knew that kids would be excited to see a new show that offers even more action and adventure.

STUDENT WEEKLY: Can you still enjoy the live show if you've never seen the Ben 10 TV series?

Archana: Absolutely! Power of the Omnitrix is an action-packed theatrical extravaganza. Action enthusiasts and avid fans of the show will enter the electrifying world of Ben 10. The show combines jaw-dropping action scenes with amazing multimedia effects to take the audience on an incredible adventure.

STUDENT WEEKLY: Will the live show also satisfy fans of the animated series?

Archana: Yes. Ben 10 fans always love seeing Ben and the other characters, whether it's on television, online or onstage.

STUDENT WEEKLY: Why did you select Thailand to be the first country to see Power of the Omnitrix?

Archana: Thailand is a very important market for CNE, and Ben 10 has a huge fan base there. It's our biggest market in South East Asia for merchandise, so it's natural that we kick off one of our best shows in Thailand.

STUDENT WEEKLY: How did you find the actor to play Ben?

Archana: We auditioned many potential actors for Ben. We chose David Harrison because he can convincingly portray Ben as a 10-year-old and as a 15-year-old. David also looks like Ben Tennyson from the TV series.

STUDENT WEEKLY: What's the most difficult thing about producing the live show?

Archana: Every aspect of the show needs to be orchestrated with precision. We have to make sure that all parts of the show are synchronised perfectly so that every show is awesome.

STUDENT WEEKLY: Do you have any special message for your Thai audience?

Archana: Power of the Omnitrix is a must-see event for Ben 10 fans and kids of all ages. It will be an unforgettable experience!

Note:

Student Weekly and BEC-TERO Entertainment are giving away 12 tickets to see Ben 10 Live!: Power of the Omnitrix in Bangkok on November 19. For your chance to win tickets, just send us an email or fax with "Ben 10" in the subject line. Email to [email protected] or fax your entry to 02 240 3792. Please include your name, age and phone number. Entries must be received by 5pm on November 16. Winners will be notified by phone.

	dazzling (adj): extremely impressive abseil (v): to go down a steep cliff or rock while attached to a rope, pushing against the slope or rock with your feet transform (v): to completely change the appearance or character of something, especially so that it is better villain (n): the main bad character in a story, play, etc. phenomenon (n): a person or thing that is very successful or impressive extravaganza (n): a large, expensive and impressive entertainment avid (adj): very enthusiastic about something jaw-dropping (v): very surprising and impressive, especially in a way that is very entertaining merchandise (n): things that you can buy that are connected with a particular event or organisation portray (v): to act a particular role in a movie or play aspect (n): a particular part or feature of a situation orchestrate (v): to organise a complicated plan or event very carefully precision (n): the quality of being exact, accurate and careful synchronise (v): to happen at the same time or move at the same speed as something awesome (adj): very impressive, enjoyable, etc.

Idiom
in the flesh: to be in the same place as somebody and actually see them, rather than just seeing a picture of them