Ulysses Manuel News

The hills are truly alive with the arrival of London's West End production's The Sound of Music. On the gala night (September 29), audiences across generations came running to the Theatre at Solaire just to see the show for the first time and for some, many times over a beloved musical that became part of their childhood. The Sound of Music is a nostalgic theatrical experience that brings candid memories of yore and a myriad of familiar tunes that would prompt any viewer to go home humming if not singing.

From England to New Zealand to Hong Kong, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber-produced 2006 lavish revival of The Sound of Music finally made it to Manila, which officially held its gala performance last Friday, September 29, at The Theatre at Solaire and an after party at the Diamond Hotel. (Thanks to Globe Live, Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, Concertus Manila, and David Atkins Enterprises--yes, it takes a village to import a first-rate international theatrical production!)

Less of the acrobatics, more of the storytelling is what the renowned circus troupe Cirque Du Soleil decided to offer in its 37th production, 'Toruk: The First Flight,' where about 15,000 audience members at the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena attended the show's opening night last Friday, June 23.

Part of its 25th-anniversary world tour, BLUE MAN GROUP, the world famous trio of bald, blue-skinned, and tight-lipped performing artists, brings on the fun at the Theater at Solaire now through Sunday, September 25. The tour premiered in Singapore last March and has already made stops in New Zealand and Macau.

Made possible by the producers of the high-octane rock musical AMERICAN IDIOT, Globe Telecom and 9 Works Theatrical, BroadwayWorld.com (BWW) readers Maxine Dimaano, Aundrea Bunyi, Jerico Ranin, and Lemuel Villanueva, together with their guests, scored tickets to the show via a digital lottery. At last night's performance at the sprawling amphitheater within the new Globe Iconic Store at Bonifacio High Street, these lucky lottery winners also had the chance to hang out a bit with the show's producers, cast, and crew.

Nikki Gil plays a dancer for hire, Charity Hope Valentine; Ciara Sotto plays one of Charity's best friends, Helene; OJ Mariano dabbles in double roles as an Italian film star, Vittorio Vidal, and as a charismatic religious leader of the Rhythm of Life Church, Daddy Johann Sebastian Brubeck; and Sheree Bautista plays one of Charity's co-dancers, Carmen; when SWEET CHARITY opens on Friday, August 5 at the Carlos P. Romulo Theater, RCBC Plaza Makati City.

The Philippine Opera Company held a press preview of its acclaimed production of Terrence McNally's 'Master Class' Wednesday night, July 28, 2010, one day prior to the reopening of the show, which ran for a limited engagement a few years ago. This group of opera and classical music advocates has been so thrilled to bring back Philippine cinema icon Ms. Cherie Gil in her much-talked about indelible portrayal of opera diva Maria Callas in the Tony award-winning play.

On its tenth anniversary, the Philippine Opera Company ('La Boheme', 'Harana') brings back its critically acclaimed production of Terrence McNally's 1996 Tony award-winning play 'Master Class', starring Philippine cinema icon Ms. Gil in the role of the opera world's grand dame Maria Callas (1923-1977). Presented in a master class format, the straight play explores what could have transpired inside the opera's classroom with Callas at the Juilliard 1971-72, at the time when the dramatic soprano had already lost her voice.

'Gleeks' of the Philippines trooped into the Centerstage Theatre at SM Mall of Asia (SM-MOA) Tuesday night, June 8, 2010 to cheer for their favored Metro Manila-based show choirs competing in television networks ETC and Jack TV's 'The Great Glee Sing Off' finals (three contending show choirs with 8-12 members perform a ballad, and a musical number from Fox TV's hit show 'Glee').

There is no stopping 'caveman' Joel Trinidad ('Avenue Q', 'Spelling Bee') from hunting for more men and women audiences as Rob Becker's smash solo comedy 'Defending the Caveman' moves from the Insular Life Theatre in Alabang, South of Manila to the Carlos P. Romulo RCBC Theatre in Makati City on May 14 to 16, 2010.

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' critically acclaimed production of Mark Saltzman's comedy musical ROMEO & BERNADETTE will have its last performances at the OnStage Theatre, Greenbelt 1, Makati City on February 26 to 28, 2010.

Peter Quilter's (End Of The Rainbow, Glorious!) DUETS premiered in Atlanta, U.S. last year. DUETS has since had successful productions in New Zealand, Lithuania, Croatia, Australia and Poland. Repertory Philippines' version of DUETS, which opened on the weekend of January 15-17, 2010, marks the play's Asian premiere, and Repertory's first offering for its 73rd Season.

The Tony-winning star of MISS SAIGON, Lea Salonga, will play the role of the Glamour Cat Grizabella in the international touring production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's popular musical CATS NOW AND FOREVER running on a limited engagement at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo, Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) starting July 24, 2010.

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' 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.

Stephanie Reese successfully held her Pre-Carnegie Hall concert at Music Museum in San Juan, Manila on October 12, 2009, which was delayed for a week due to typhoons Ketsana and Parma. Repertory Philippines' "Sweeney Todd" Audie Gemora, and the Euphony Male Ensemble were her special guest performers.

BROADWAYWORLD Philippines attended the opening night of Tanghalang Pilipino's newest production of Tennessee Williams' 1947 Pulitzer Prize-winning play A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE on October 9, 2009. Veteran stage actress ANA ABAD SANTOS played the iconic role of Blanche Dubois opposite singer/actor REUBEN UY essayed the brooding, bestial Stanley Kowalski.