Kugy and Keenan Set Sail for the Stage in Musikal Perahu Kertas

The story of Kugy and Keenan, two iconic characters from Dee Lestari’s legendary novel Perahu Kertas, will soon come to life in the form of a musical theater production. Presented by Indonesia Kaya and Trinity Entertainment Network in collaboration with the Trinity Youth Symphony Orchestra (TRUST), Musikal Perahu Kertas will be staged from January 30 to February 15, 2026, at Ciputra Artpreneur, Jakarta, with a total of 21 performances. 

Musikal Perahu Kertas invites audiences to revisit the journey of Kugy and Keenan, two young souls born with artistic blood. Kugy, fully aware that reality is not always beautiful, chooses to create fairy tales as her comfort zone. Meanwhile, Keenan, a gifted young painter, lives under the shadow of his father’s expectations, searching for a way to freely express himself even as the world demands he become someone else. When the two meet among billions of people, it is as if the universe presses pause. Their paths cross in a life journey filled with choices, dreams, and emotions that are not always easy to express. Yet deep in their hearts, they believe that one day their stories and creations will find each other, like hearts and dreams destined to meet.

Bringing a fresh new theme, “Hidupkan Lagi Mimpi-Mimpi”, that translated as Reviving Dreams, this musical marks the debut of Trinity Entertainment Network on the musical theater stage, as well as a manifestation of Indonesia Kaya’s long-term commitment to nurturing Indonesia’s performing arts ecosystem. This adaptation offers a stage experience that blends music, literature, and theater into a warm emotional journey that resonates with many.

Alya Syahrani, who plays Kugy, shared that Musikal Perahu Kertas has been a deeply personal artistic journey for her. “Musikal Perahu Kertas is my seventh musical stage production since I entered the musical industry in 2012. My first stage experience was incredibly magical, and since then, every production has left an impression that strengthened my love for musical theater. Perahu Kertas holds a special emotional closeness for me because it speaks about dreams and the search for identity. Through this process, I am reminded once again of the reason I first fell in love with the performing arts,” Alya said.

Meanwhile, Dewara Zaqqi, who portrays Keenan, revealed, “My interest in auditioning for Musikal Perahu Kertas stems from my love for both the film and the novel Perahu Kertas. This story feels very close to my daily life, and I can see many of my own life experiences reflected in Keenan’s character. I hope Musikal Perahu Kertas, as the fifth musical stage in my career journey, will bring me one step closer to my dream of becoming an actor.”

In addition to the two main characters, Musikal Perahu Kertas involves 38 cast members and 20 creative team members who enliven the stage and strengthen the story and message conveyed. Christoffer Nelwan, who plays Remi, shared, “For me, Remi is a symbol of sincerity and a different form of love for Kugy. His presence becomes a path for Kugy to truly understand her own feelings.” Having been involved in various long-running musical productions since 2010, Christoffer described his participation in Musikal Perahu Kertas as an expression of gratitude and his belief that the musical theater industry will continue to grow and bring smiles, laughter, and blessings to many.

From an artistic perspective, Musikal Perahu Kertas presents a rotating stage concept with layered elements and dynamic visual transitions. Eunike Elisaveta explained, “The process of adapting the story into a musical stage involved deep creative exploration. We prepared all cast members and the creative team through a long and structured rehearsal process, with a stage concept designed to keep the audience engaged and following the storyline from beginning to end.” 

A total of 21 performances of Musikal Perahu Kertas will be watched by more than 23,000 audience members. Tickets are still available and can be purchased via loket.com/musikalperahukertas. As a special highlight, audiences will also be treated to special appearances by Dee Lestari at the performances on January 30 and 31, 2026.

With cross-disciplinary collaboration, thoughtful artistic exploration, and a shared spirit of reviving dreams, Musikal Perahu Kertas is expected to become an important milestone in Indonesia’s musical theater journey, sailing a course of hope and reminding us that even through rough waters and long voyages, dreams can still reach their destined shores.