Marvin Ong News

9 Works Theatrical ('The Last 5 Years,' 'Sweet Charity') brings back one of its hit productions last year, GREASE, to relive the teenage '50s at Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, in Makati City until Sunday, December 7.

Although staying in the country, even more so staging a comeback to acting, wasn't in her original plans, Antoinette Taus found herself auditioning for GREASE; she now plays the feisty role of Betty Rizzo in 9 Works Theatrical's restaging of the smash Broadway musical, which runs at Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, until December 7.

9 Works Theatrical ('The Last 5 Years,' 'Sweet Charity') brings back one of its hit productions last year, GREASE, to relive the teenage '50s at Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, in Makati City from tonight, November 15, to Sunday, December 7.

9 Works Theatrical ('The Last 5 Years,' 'Sweet Charity') brings back one of its hit productions last year, GREASE, to relive the teenage '50s at Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, in Makati City from this Saturday, November 15, to Sunday, December 7.

Perceived as a boy-next-door type by many young theater habitues and TV 5 viewers, Fredison Lo (Fred Lo to his theater colleagues and former schoolmates at De La Salle University-Manila), has started out a career niche in the theater by essaying lead roles in major musical productions of RENT (Mark Cohen) and Trumpets' N.O.A.H (Narrator/God); and has recently been exploring acting on mainstream television too via TV 5's remake of the '70s-'80s popular sitcom ISKUL BUKOL, where he played the role of the young professor Rude Valentino. Lo's currently playing Rolf in Resorts World Manila's production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC.

London-based musical theater actress Joanna Ampil (MISS SAIGON, AVENUE Q), who's been playing the coveted role of postulant Maria Rainer (with Cris Villonco as alternate actress) in Resorts World Manila's local production of Oscar Hammerstein II and Richard Rodgers' beloved musical THE SOUND OF MUSIC(SOM) for over three months now, would need to postpone her planned visit to New York City this winter because Resorts World has just announced SOM's extended performances till February 12, 2012.

Rodgers and Hammerstein's Broadway musical THE SOUND OF MUSIC, which was adapted into a highly successful full-length film in 1965, and won five Academy Awards including Best Director; Best Sound; Best Musical Score, Best Film Editing, and Best Picture, is set to hit the center stage of Resorts World Manila's Newport Performing Arts Theater on October 15 'til December 11.

Repertory Philippines' acclaimed production of Stephen Sondheim's 'Sweeney Todd' earned five PHILSTAGE Awards Friday night (March 26, 2010) in Manila, Philippines taking home acting honors for its lead cast Audie Gemora (Best Male Lead Performance in a Musical), Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo (Best Female Lead Performance in a Musical), Liesl Batucan (Best Female Featured Performance in a Musical), and Marvin Ong (Best Male Featured Performance in a Musical). 'Sweeney Todd's' musical director Gerard Salonga also won the Best Musical Direction award.

Repertory Philippines, the country's premier professional theatre company, has garnered a total of 18 nominations at the 2009 'Gawad Buhay!' Philstage Awards for the Performing Arts. Now on its second year, The Philstage Awards is the first-ever industry awards given to outstanding individuals and groups, who have been part of Philstage.

Philippine Daily Inquirer writer and theater critic Gibbs Cadiz cites local productions of Friedrich von Schiller's 'Mary Stuart' and Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill's 'The Threepenny Opera' as best plays of 2009 in his annual 'Bravo! Best of Theater' roundup.

Philippine Daily Inquirer writer and theater critic Gibbs Cadiz has recently cited local productions of Friedrich von Schiller's 'Mary Stuart' and Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill's 'The Threepenny Opera' as best plays of 2009 in his annual 'Bravo! Best of Theater' roundup.

Repertory Philippines' (REP) incarnation of 1979 Tony-winning musical SWEENEY TODD, THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET officially opened its doors to Filipino audiences on November 14, 2009 at Onstage, Greenbelt 1, Ayala Center, Makati City. The production earned thunderous applause, standing ovations, and played to nearly sold-out crowds in its first performances.

Repertory Philippines opens its new production of the celebrated, Tony Award-winning musical thriller SWEENEY TODD on Saturday, November 14, 2009 at Onstage, Greenbelt 1.

Repertory Philippines opens its new production of the celebrated, Tony Award-winning musical thriller SWEENEY TODD on Saturday, November 14, 2009 at Onstage, Greenbelt 1.

REPERTORY PHILIPPINES' Associate Artistic Director Joy Virata, SWEENEY TODD director Michael Williams, and cast members Audie Gemora (Benjamin Barker/Sweeney Todd), Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo (Mrs. Lovett), Franco Laurel (Anthony), Lena Mckenzie (Johanna), Marvin Ong (Tobias), and Rem Zamora (press conference host/chorus) met the press, including BroadwayWorld.com Philippines, on October 28, 2009 at The Roxy along Tomas Morato in Quezon City.

REPERTORY PHILIPPINES' new production of SWEENEY TODD is in full swing. Audie Gemora (Benjamin Barker/Sweeney Todd), Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo (Mrs. Lovett), Liesl Batucan (beggar woman), Robbie Guevara (Beadle), Robbie Zialcita (Pirelli), Franco Laurel (Anthony), Lena Mckenzie (Johanna), Marvin Ong (Tobias), Roger Chua (Judge Turpin), Juno Henares (Mrs. Lovett understudy), and chorus members: James Stacey, Meynard Penalosa, Jejie Esguerra, Hans Eckstein, Red Concepcion, Raul Montesa, Rem Zamora, Oliver Usison, Collins Gutierrez, Jay Pangilinan, David Cruz, Gary Junsay, Cara Barredo, Jay Glorioso, Naths Everett, Joy Virata, Marisse Santos, Ring Antonio, Gloria Sicam, Teenee Chan, and Ronna Guba complete the cast.