Monique Wilson News

MISS SAIGON alumni Leo Valdez and Monique Wilson were first seen as the King of Siam and British governess Anna Leonowens, respectively, at the press conference for Resorts World Manila's (RWM) grand production of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein's THE KING AND I held Saturday, July 28 at Newport Performing Arts Theater.

How does a neophyte at Repertory Philippines, one of the country's pioneering theater companies, which is known to have molded world-class talents such as Lea Salonga, Monique Wilson, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Michael Williams, and Audie Gemora, among others, under the infamously stringent rehearsal and performance policies of the late stage director Zenaida Amador, fit in?

Leo Valdez, Cameron Mackintosh's "favorite Engineer' in 'Miss Saigon," joins Monique Wilson, "Miss Saigon" alumna-turned-women's rights activist, in Resorts World Manila's (RWM) third major stage production, Rodgers and Hammerstein's beloved Broadway musical "The King and I," which premieres on September 15 at RWM's Newport Performing Arts Theatre on Newport Boulevard, Pasay City.

New Voice Company, whose founder, Monique Wilson ('My Name Is Rachel Corrie,' 'The Good Body'), is one of the most provocative voices in Philippine contemporary theater, brings back THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES, Eve Ensler's Obie Award-winning play, and V-Day 2012, a global movement that raises money for community organizations fighting violence against women, at Music Museum, Greenhills Shopping Center on Saturday, March 31 at 8 p.m.

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.

Shuttling between countries for 13-year old ingénue Julia Abueva ('Children's Letters to God,' 'The Fantasticks') is a normal commute for Pocketful of Kids' young creative consultant for their ENCORE! musical theater program.

Juno Henares, Lily Chu and Missy Maramara are featured in New Voice Company's (NVC) internationally acclaimed production of Eve Ensler's hit play THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES, with a special one-night-only performance on July 31, 2009, 7:30 p.m. at the Carlos P. Romulo Theater, RCBC Plaza, Makati.

Juno Henares, Lily Chu and Missy Maramara are featured in New Voice Company's (NVC) internationally acclaimed production of Eve Ensler's hit play THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES, with a special one-night-only performance on July 31, 2009, 7:30 p.m. at the Carlos P. Romulo Theater, RCBC Plaza, Makati.