Repertory Philippines announces 2012 season line-up

Photos belong to Repertory Philippines

The cast is revealed for 9Works' You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown

Here's their promotional video:

Rivalry: Ateneo - La Salle The Musical on January 2012

ARE YOU READY?

REVIEW: The Sound of Music Manila

"This better be worth it!", I told myself as I travel my way to the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Resorts World Manila last Saturday, Oct 15. I've been a theater enthusiast for years now, and I'll really spend some time and money just to see a certain show. Aside from the entertainment that I'm getting from these shows, I get a chance to meet a lot of people, fellow theater geeks and the people behind the production. Plus, if you're an artist or trying to break into the industry, such as myself, you'll really learn a lot from these thespians. I hunger for knowledge.

It's the opening night for Sound of Music Manila. Honestly, I've never been a fan of this musical. I don't like 'musicals for kids'. It's not that I hate them. It's just that I don't see myself enjoying such a show.


But you know what, I actually did enjoy Sound of Music!


It was my first time to be at the huge world-class Newport Performing Arts Theater. I was just in time as the curtains rose up, a few seconds before the show starts. And my mind was blown literally.


The lights, the moving set and the giant LED screen. A total eye-candy!

Joanna Ampil is just breathtaking as Maria! Her voice and own rendition to the famous songs of this musical reminds me of Julie Andrews. When you get to watch the show, try closing your eyes and listen to find out what I'm talking about.

The King of Philippine Theater Audie Gemora reprises his role as Captain Georg Von Trapp. It seems like this man found the fountain of youth for his look and talent never grew old.

The kids are just too adorable to watch. I can't help but to sing along as they 'Do-Re-Mi'd with Maria, especially Alexa Villaroel (Gretl Von Trapp). This pig-tailed child wonder can go places! Her charm is the icing on top of everything.

The set is the majestic thing I've ever seen! Combined with the mesmerizing LED screen, it's like being on Austria while watching the Von Trapps sing all day and all night. Yes, Sound of Music Manila is just like watching a Broadway show!

One thing concerns me though. Because of the moving set and stage props, the props men is taking much time in taking them in and out of the stage. Instead of looking forward to what the next scene will look like, the audience anticipates much longer than expected. Thus, bored them for some time and bringing the momentum down. (The mini light show didn't help that much.) I really hope they will have that fixed. And if they do, this'll be the perfect staging the Philippines has ever done.

~

Rodgers and Hammerstein's beloved musical, “The Sound of Music,” makes its much-anticipated return to Philippine theater at Resorts World Manila’s world-class stage--The Newport Performing Arts Theater. 

Directing this new production is Roxanne Lapus. Leading the star-studded cast are theater superstars Joanna Ampil and Cris Villonco as Maria. Audie Gemora takes on the role of Austrian Navy Captain Georg von Trapp, with Ed Feist and Jon Joven as alternates. 

Adding glitz to the line-up are Pinky Marquez and Shiela Franciso as the Mother Abbess, Pinky Amador and Lynn Sherman as the Baroness Elsa Schraeder, and Marvin Ong as Rolf. Other cast members include Robbie Guevara, Miguel Faustmann and Tanya Manalang. 

Live orchestration will be provided by the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra, to be conducted by musical director Rodel Colmenar. 

For tickets, call Resorts World Manila 8363333 or 9088833; TicketWorld at 811-9999 for more information.

Upstart Productions' Forbidden Broadway on May 2012

As Joel Trinidad, the brainchild of Upstart Productions, joins Twitter he tweets:

I think it's gonna be an excited 2012 season for the theater industry in Manila! Leading theater companies are now starting to release their line-ups to tease theater goers. Now, to wait for the announcement on what shows Forbidden Broadway in Manila will mock.

For more information about Forbidden Broadway, click here.

9 Works Theatrical's upcoming musical [teaser video]

Take a guess folks! Who's the good man? Coming this February 2012.

REVIEW: Next to Normal re-run

"The memories will wane ,the aftershocks remain.

You wonder which is worse, the symptom or the cure." - Aftershocks, Next to Normal

It was yet another emotional roller coaster ride for the people who were able to catch Atlantis Productions' Next to Normal re-run last October 7 to 16. For limited 10 shows, the cast managed to once again, make the audience weep and sob as they leave the theater.

Next to Normal is a rock musical with book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt. Its story concerns a mother who struggles with worsening bipolar disorder and the effect that her illness has on her family. The musical also addresses such issues as grieving a loss, suicide, drug abuse, ethics in modern psychiatry, and suburban life.

As I entered the theater and saw the set (the house of the Goodmans), the experience I had before, watching the show 3 times during its first run, kept playing on my mind. I've been hooked to Next to Normal ever since. It really is a powerful piece of a material. It's the 'feel-everything' musical, as some may say. The musical brought me the same impact as to what Rent did to my core. Not to be exaggerated.

A couple of minutes after 8, the band took their places, conducted by their uber talented musical director Ceejay Javier, the house lights went off, and the ride has started.

The ever most gorgeous and talented first lady of the Philippine Theater Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo really did an awesome darn job on her take as Diana Goodman. During their first run, Menchu showed that she can be compared to Alice Ripley and Marin Mazzie (the Dianas on Broadway), both vocally and acting-wise. Now, she has proven that she shouldn't be compared to them or to any other actresses, for Menchu is Menchu. Deal with it. (Her version of I Miss The Mountains is a tear jerker.)

Playing Diana's husband Dan is rockstar Jett Pangan, who's always laying all his cards on the table. He makes sure that he'll bring the house down. He has this voice, along with his superb acting, that'll send chills down your spine. It'll really blow your mind to see Jett perform, on a theater stage that is. Jett the performer is miles away behind Jett the theater actor. 

Felix Rivera's take as Gabe improved, compared to his take during the first run. There is no doubt when it comes to his vocal range. He's not called the Golden Boy of Philippine Theater for nothing. But I don't know, the showstopper 'I'm Alive' he somehow struggled with. Though he was able to hit the notes perfectly, there's something missing. Maybe some spice that is needed to strengthen his attack on the song. I just don't know what. But on the other scenes/songs, he did them all like breeze.

Off to the most adorable actress ever, the Golden Girl of Philippine Theater - Bea Garcia. My, what talent this girl has! She played Natalie Goodman, the girl who's one fuck up from disaster. Tears just won't stop flowing from Bea's eyes. It's like she has a reservoir of tears somewhere! For the re-run, she somehow had a hard time hitting those notes. Her voice was a little bit hoarse. Of course, why wouldn't it be? She's doing The Little Mermaid rehearsals (Atlantis Productions' next show offering) in the morning, and Next to Normal shows right after. So stop wondering why she's called the Golden Girl. She deserves it.

Markki Stroem is a big revelation to everybody. He plays Henry, the ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) stoner boyfriend of Natalie. Who would've thought this Pilipinas Got Talent contestant has another trick up his sleeves? There is a big difference with musical theater acting with just plain acting. And Markki can go a long way in the theater industry.

If you're watching the show for the first time, you'll be surprised with the talent Markki has. But if you've seen it during it's first run and watching it again for the re-run, you'll be disappointed. He's a good choice for Henry, and the fact that he himself has ADD is a plus. Though,  as I've noticed, Markki didn't come as strong as he was before. I can't help but to think that he's slacking off because it'll not be a long run. I'm hoping that if he's gonna get booked for another musical, he'll do better. There's always room for improvement.

Jake Macapagal's take on Dr. Madden amazed me. He's way better than he was before. A rockstar indeed! He may have messed up a few lines in some instances, but he managed to cope up with it and he has delivered them with clarity.

Phenomenal set designing by Lex Marcos and the lights were just fantastic. It added a few pints of drama on this moving piece of material.

To sum everything up, I can say Bobby Garcia really made a perfect casting for Next to Normal Manila. I don't think there's gonna be another re-run (or re-re-run) but if there's gonna be one, I hope the same casting will reprise their roles. 

I have watched the show 3 times during its first run and 2 times on the recent re-run. And the show has really moved me in a way. Now that it's all over, I guess the OBCR will be playing on loop from now on.


So thank you Next to Normal Manila, for giving us light. Goodbye N2N!

Photos from Playbill.com

Atlantis Productions announces the first two shows in their 2012 line-up.

As the 2011 season of Atlantis Productions come to an end, they've managed to have everyone thrilled as they tweet on Wednesday: 

Prior to this tweet, they have already announced that for 2012, they have 4 musicals and 1 play. Theater enthusiasts started buzzing and guessing on what shows Atlantis Productions have in stored for them the next season. Tony Award winning musicals like Wicked and Book of Mormon are on top of the list. Several other Broadway musicals are on the line, a proof that a lot of people are impatiently (in a good way) waiting for the news.

A few hours later, their twitter account tweets:

This is the sixth time that Atlantis Productions will be having a repeat limited engagement of a show. (Rent, Avenue Q Manila, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Xanadu Manila; Next to Normal Manila is having theirs and closes this coming weekend.) In The Heights had its first run last September 2 and ended on September 18. It is confirmed that the Manila cast of ITH will be reprising their roles, starring Nyoy Volante as Usnavi.

IN THE HEIGHTS is the new Tony Award winning musical about three days in the life of Washington Heights, a vibrant and tight knit community at the top of the island of Manhattan. It’s a place where the coffee from the corner bodega is light and sweet, the windows are always open, and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music. Created by a team of New York’s freshest young talents, In the Heights is the tale of a community at a crossroads.

And for the next 12 hours, they tweet:

Rock of Ages is a rock/jukebox musical, with a book by Chris D'Arienzo, built around classic rock hits from the 1980s, especially from the famous glam metal bands of the decade. The musical features songs from Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Steve Perry,Poison and Asia, among other well-known rock bands. It is directed by Kristin Hanggi and choreographed by Kelly Devine with music supervision, arrangements, and orchestrations by Ethan Popp. The show is noted for being more lighthearted and comedic than other shows on Broadway. During performance, the performers frequently break the "fourth wall", directly addressing the audience and seemingly forgetting (or perhaps reminding the audience) that they are actors in a musical.

Succeeding this tweet is the confirmation of the actor set to play the lead role Stacee Jaxx. And it's none other than Filipino-Australian MiG Ayesa. He will be rocking it out again on stage as he reprises the same role he played on Broadway.

Now, the whole community awaits. 2 more musicals and 1 play are yet to be announced by the end of the month. What could they possibly be? One thing's for sure: the 2012 season of Atlantis Productions will be more exciting than the previous ones.

Prologue.

A few months ago, the idea of creating a blog hit me. I was inspired by the people who also run blogs themselves. Theater related, that is. These blogs contain everything about theater - from scoops about new productions, reviews for plays and musicals they've seen, photos of the show and the actors and the fun of stagedooring. I, too, am an actor in a community theater and a fanboy at the same time. I do believe that these people, from actors and the people behind the curtain, should be praised and to be look up to. The craft and the verb of acting isn't an easy darn job, you know. By then, the idea of sharing my personal opinion through blogging came to my senses.


Also, I was seemingly moved by the fact that these people is able to express their thoughts regarding the world we want to live in - a world where your neighbors are actors, places are movable sets, houses are auditoriums. A world where your alarm and lullaby are the applause of the people around you, where belting a high note wouldn't be a shame, where the spotlight is your sun. A world where everybody loves everybody for expressing themselves. A world where Broadway is just on the next block. Yes, this is the world of Theater.

 And so now, here I am, letting my fingertips do the talking.