Jude Cartalaba News

Joel Trinidad, Upstart Productions' president, announced at a press conference on Tuesday that theater bigwigs Lea Salonga, Aiza Seguerra, Nyoy Volante, Jett Pangan, Iya Villania, Nikki Valdez, Markki Stroem, and Gabe Mercado will guest star in the theater company's summer production of Off-Broadway parody "Forbidden Broadway's Greatest Hits," written and originally directed by Gerard Alessandrini, and top-billed by Liesl Batucan, Caisa Borromeo, OJ Mariano, and Lorenz Martinez. The musical will run at Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza on Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenue from May 11 to 27.

Considered as pillars of Philippine Theater, Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) and Repertory Philippines (Rep) - coincidentally, both theater companies celebrate their 45th anniversary this year - are joining forces to bring one of PETA's highly successful original Filipino musicals, "Care Divas," to Rep's home at Greenbelt 1's OnStage Theatre on April 27 to 29.

Ateneo de Manila University alumnus-turned-stage actor, musical director Reb Atadero first appeared in Blue Repertory's 2006 production of 'Hope for Flowers,' a rock musical inspired by Trina Paulus' book of the same title. Apparently, Reb fell in love with the process of putting on a play, and since then has kept the ball rolling. By attending workshops handled by stage veteran Robbie Guevara, he studied musical theater, which he admitted was initially unknown to him. However, right after seeing the video version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's seminal rock musical "Jesus Christ Superstar," he said to himself, "Where have you been all my life, musical theater? Such a progressive art form is a fantastic medium for telling stories!"

The De La Salle Brothers, Roman Catholic religious brothers who dedicate their lives to educating young people, recently celebrated the centennial anniversary of De La Salle University (DLSU) in the Philippines, and commemorated their colleagues who were killed by Japanese soldiers in World War II via the restaging of the cantata (a vocal chamber work) A FIRE IN THE SOUL, which features libretto by Vicente Groyon III, music by Von de Guzman, and direction by Peque Gallaga.

For its first offering this year, 9 Works Theatrical presents the musical comedy YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN - based on the comic strip 'Peanuts' by Charles Schulz; featuring book by John Gordon; and music and lyrics by Clark Gesner. The show runs at Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City until Saturday, March 3.

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.

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.

Resorts World Manila's, BROADWAY SHOWSTOPPERS, which features three of the country's finest international artists: Leo Valdez (MISS SAIGON) with special guests, Joanna Ampil (MISS SAIGON, LES MISERABLES) and Ima Castro (MISS SAIGON, IN THE HEIGHTS) plays today at Newport Performing Arts Theater.

Resorts World Manila, a casino entertainment complex, held a press conference yesterday for its upcoming show titled BROADWAY SHOWSTOPPERS, which will feature three of the country's finest international artists: Leo Valdez (MISS SAIGON) with special guests, Joanna Ampil (MISS SAIGON, LES MISERABLES) and Ima Castro (MISS SAIGON, IN THE HEIGHTS).