Jude Cartalaba News

Resorts World Manila's (RWM) upcoming concert staging of Rodgers and Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC cast members Joanna Ampil (Nellie Forbush), Jon Meer Vera Perez (Emile de Becque), Ana Andres (Liat), and Mark Bautista (Lieutenant Joseph Cable) recently met the press.

Mio Infante, the scenographer and costume designer of this production, talks about the herculean tasks he had to go through along with his team to put on a show that will not only be remembered because of its great lead actors--Michael De Mesa and Audie Gemora as Georges and Albin/Zaza, respectively--but also because of its production values.

Repertory Philippines (Rep) stages Michael Valenti and Elsa Rael's musical theater version of 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' from August 15 to December 10 at Greenbelt 1 Onstage Theatre in Makati City.

9 Works Theatrical's production of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, based on the 1973 French play by Jean Poiret, also the inspiration behind the film 'Birdcage,' will have a return engagement at Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium (RCBC Plaza in Makati City) from August 15 to September 6 with TV star Steven Silva as Jean-Michel, the son of gay couple, Georges (Michael De Mesa) and Albin (Audie Gemora).

Broadway and London's West End star Lea Salonga recently led Filipino opera, ballet, and theater performers at the grand launch of The Theatre at Solaire Resort and Casino, the current home of the international touring company of the hit Broadway musical 'Chicago.'

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.

In its fifth year, 9 Works Theatrical brings together the first-time tandem of Nikki Gil ('Sweet Charity,' 'They're Playing Our Song') and Joaquin Valdes ('Red,' 'Into the Woods'), playing the beloved couple featured in Jason Robert Brown's ('The Bridges of Madison County,' 'Parade') cult musical THE LAST FIVE YEARS. The production, directed by Robbie Guevara ('Grease,' 'They're Playing Our Song'), runs from Saturday, August 9, until Sunday, August 31, at Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza in Makati City.

DANI GIRL, a musical about a nine-year-old cancer-stricken girl Dani Lyons, created by the writing team of Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond, is not to be missed.

Philippine Educational Theater Association's (PETA) new hit musical, RAK OF AEGIS, returns to PETA Theater Center (5 Eymard Drive, New Manila) with 67 more performances lined up! New additions to the cast are OJ Mariano (Kiel), Arnel Ignacio (Fernan), Jimmy Marquez (Jewel), Gio Gahol (ensemble), Abigail Sulit (ensemble), and Kimverlie Molina (Aileen).

Dulaang UP, together with UP Dulaang Laboratoryo, brings to the stage HARING UBU, a Filipino adaptation of French symbolist writer Alfred Jarry's 'Ubu Roi,' a precursor to the Theater of the Absurd and surrealism, at Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater, University of the Philippines (UP).

Seldom do you see a play mounted on an almost bare stage, but delivers big impact to its audience--that's what GAMES PEOPLE PLAY does, written by Glenn Sevilla Mas, a Ford Foundation International fellow who earned his MFA in Playwriting from the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.

Resorts World Manila (RWM) begins its live shows for the summer this month, and will premiere the Broadway musical PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT, on Friday, May 9, at Newport Performing Arts Theatre (NPAT).

Despite fear and stress that Philippine cinema icon Cherie Gil had to go through producing and starring in FULL GALLOP, a play based on the life of Diana Vreeland (1903-1989), noted fashion columnist and editor of Harper's Bazaar and Vogue, Gil manages to depict Vreeland as a funny, rapid-fired talker as opposed to being languid and bitchy ala Miranda Priestly in the novel-turned-movie 'The Devil Wears Prada.'

9 Works Theatrical ('Grease,' 'You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown') held its first batch of auditions for its upcoming production of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES at Opera Haus in Makati City last week. 42 dancers and 16 theater actors--who can dance--showed up at the auditions.

To talk on the big white phone (to vomit into the toilet), a slang term, has inspired composer and lyricist Ejay Yatco ('Sa Wakas,' World Championships of Performing Arts) to create the new musical titled TOILET. If young audiences enjoyed 'Grease,' Disney's 'High School Musical,' Disney's 'Camp Rock,' and FOX TV's 'Glee,' Blue Repertory's TOILET, would most likely to succeed, too, given further tweaking. If improved, TOILET could attract more young audiences to come to the theater since the musical aims to address the everyday struggles of young adults.

Rachelle Ann Go, 27-year-old concert and stage artist, is staging a concert titled 'Miss Rachelle: The Send-off Concert' on Saturday, February 22, 8 p.m. at Meralco Theatre in Manila before she flies to London to revive the role of Gigi in the 25th anniversary production of Cameron Mackintosh's 'Miss Saigon.'

Reuben Uy ("The King and I," "Altar Boyz"), who is originally from Manila, Philippines, plays the role of Laertes in TE San Pedro Rep's production of William Shakespeare's "Hamlet," which runs until December 21, directed by Martin Jago.

9 Works Theatrical is staging the 1971 musical "Grease," one of the world's most popular and beloved musicals, at Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza in Makati City from Saturday, November 9 until Sunday, December 1.

'To be an effective villain, you have to get the audience to love you.' - Joel Trinidad