OJ Mariano News

Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott's PRISCILLA , QUEEN OF THE DESERT, based on the 1994 sleeper hit 'The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert,' is Resorts World Manila's (RWM) fifth theatrical production right on the heels of Rodgers and Hammerstein's 'Cinderella.' The production, helmed by Jaime del Mundo ('The Producers'), opened Friday, May 9, at Newport Performing Arts Theatre.

Bit by Bit Company and BroadwayWorld.com (BWW) are giving away a pair of tickets to the former's last Friday night performance of 'Maxie, the Musical,' an acclaimed musical adaptation of Michiko Yamamoto's screenplay for ufo Picture's critically acclaimed independent film 'Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros' ('The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros'), on Friday, December 6 at 8 p.m. at PETA Theater Center (5 Eymard Drive, New Manila, Quezon City).

Together with the Cultural Center of the Philippines and PETA Theater Center, Bit by Bit Company's screen-to-stage adaptation of "Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros" ("The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros") held its world premiere November 9, and is running at PETA Theater Center (5 Eymard Drive, New Manila, Quezon City) until December 8.

Jayvhot Galang (Maximo Oliveros), Roeder Camañag and Nazer Salcedo (alternating as Paco Oliveros), Jojo Riguerra (Victor Perez), Al Gatmaitan and OJ Mariano (alternating as Boy Oliveros), and Jay Gonzaga (Bogs Oliveros) lead the cast of new original Filipino musical "Maxie: Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros," which is based on Michiko Yamamoto's screenplay for ufo Picture's critically acclaimed independent film "Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros" ("The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros").

Multi-awarded Filipino film actor Christopher de Leon, via Green Wings Entertainment Network Inc., is the executive producer of 'Lorenzo,' a new rock musical, which features music--a mix of rock and soaring ballads--by Maestro Ryan Cayabyab and book and lyrics by Juan Ekis, Paul Dumol and Joem Antonio. Its Philippine premiere closed earlier today at SDA Theater, 5/F College of Saint Benilde in Malate, Manila.

Multi-awarded Filipino film actor Christopher de Leon is the executive producer of 'Lorenzo,' a new rock musical, featuring music by Maestro Ryan Cayabyab and book and lyrics by Juan Ekis, Paul Dumol and Joem Antonio. It runs at SDA Theater, 5/F College of Saint Benilde in Malate, Manila until Saturday, September 14 with 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. performances.

Viva Artists Agency contract star Mark Bautista's character, Jerry Lukowski, in Viva Atlantis Theatrical's production of Terrence McNally and David Yazbek's Broadway musical 'The Full Monty,' which is a stage adaptation of the 1997 film of the same name, is a challenging role for Bautista.

BroadwayWorld.com caught the second Friday night, April 26, performance of Terrence McNally and David Yazbek's hit Broadway musical 'The Full Monty,' locally produced by Viva Atlantis Theatricals, an offshoot of prolific theater company Atlantis Productions.

The legendary Indian epic tale of "Ramayana" comes to life once again with Ballet Philippines' (BP) restaging of the hit pop ballet musical "Rama Hari," which opened last Friday, November 30, and will run until Sunday, December 9 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Main Theatre.

Two of the country's most talented and active thespians, OJ Mariano ("Rent," "Forbidden Broadway") and Kalila Aguilos ("Jekyll and Hyde," Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah") are chosen to play Rama and Sita respectively in the revival production of the hit pop ballet musical "Rama Hari," based on the Indian epic "Ramayana," and directed and choreographed by Ballet Philippines' founder Alice Reyes, which runs at the Cultural Center of the Philippines' (CCP) main theater from Friday, November 30 until Sunday, December 9.

Local Disney princesses Rachelle Ann Go, who played the title role in the Asian premiere of Disney's stage musical adaptation of "The Little Mermaid," and K-La Rivera, who is currently playing the role of Princess Jasmine in the Asian premiere of Disney's stage musical adaptation of "Aladdin," both made it to the final round of auditions, mainly dance auditions, for the much-talked-about "Miss Saigon" tryouts, which began last Monday, November 19, and will end tomorrow, Thursday, November 22 at the Opera Haus, Philippine Opera Company's newly opened headquarters in Makati City.

60 out of 420 auditionees got callbacks on the first day of the much-talked-about "Miss Saigon" auditions, spearheaded by British stage director Laurence Connor ("Miss Saigon," "Les Miserables") and Cameron Mackintosh's representative in the Philippines, Dong Alegre ("Miss Saigon"), held at the Philippine Opera Company's headquarters in Makati City early today. Experienced thespians Karylle Tatlonghari, Tippy dos Santos, Jake Macapagal, Julia Abueva, Lorenz Martinez, OJ Mariano, Noel Rayos, Cathy Azanza, Kyla Rivera, Cara Barredo, Topper Fabregas, and Jay Pangilinan were among the 60 who made the short list.

BroadwayWorld.com (Philippines) photographer JR Sala shares some his photos taken at the first registration day for the much-talked-about "Miss Saigon" auditions in Manila, which will be conducted from Monday, November 19 to Thursday, November 22 at the Philippine Opera Company's headquarters in Makati City.

Upstart Productions brings back Off-Broadway smash FORBIDDEN BROADWAY(Greatest Hits), a musical revue that parodies old and new Broadway musicals, at Carlos P. Romulo Theater, RCBC Plaza, Senator Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City tonight, August 24 and Saturday, August 25.

At BroadwayWorld we pride ourselves in showcasing theater content from all corners of the globe. Our regional contributors do an amazing job each day of bringing you the latest theater news in their cities and countries and to acknowledge this, we launched a new weekly column called 'Around BWW: Regional Highlights of the Week'. Read on for our most-read features, interviews, breaking news and more for the week of August 20!

When he was younger, 2011 BroadwayWorld Philippines Awards' Best Featured Actor in a Musical, Ramon Enrique Mariano aka OJ Mariano always had an interest in the theater arts. At 10 or 11 years old, he and his family would go to Rajah Sulayman Park in Malate, Manila and watch stage plays.

Upstart Productions brings back Off-Broadway smash FORBIDDEN BROADWAY(Greatest Hits), a musical revue that parodies old and new Broadway musicals, at Carlos P. Romulo Theater, RCBC Plaza, Senator Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City on Friday, August 24 and Saturday, August 25.

Upstart Productions brings back Off-Broadway smash FORBIDDEN BROADWAY(Greatest Hits), a musical revue that parodies old and new Broadway musicals, at Carlos P. Romulo Theater, RCBC Plaza, Senator Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City on Friday, August 24 and Saturday, August 25.

Theater actor, writer, and director Gerard Alessandrini's brainchild, the 30-year-old Off-Broadway hit parody series FORBIDDEN BROADWAY, finally premiered at Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza in Makati City last weekend. Joel Trinidad, Upstart Productions' president and the show's director, had picked FORBIDDEN BROADWAY'S GREATEST HITS, which has two volumes to date, and features some of the more popular spoofs of Broadway musicals and theater legends culled from more than a dozen FORBIDDEN BROADWAY editions.

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.