THE FANTASTICKS Comes to Manila Anew

Repertory Philippines celebrates the golden anniversary of the world’s longest running musical “The Fantasticks” by mounting its own production at the Onstage Theater, Greenbelt 1, Makati City July 3-16, 2009. 

“The Fantasticks,” with book and lyrics by Tom Jones and music by Harvey Schmidt based on Edmond Rostand's "Les Romanesques," opened in 1960 in a little theater called the Sullivan Street Playhouse in Greenwich Village, New York.  It went on to captivate generations of theatergoers for a record-breaking 17,162 performances. 

Repertory Philippines has staged “The Fastansticks” three times already – the first in 1974 with artistic director Baby Barredo as Luisa and the “Miss Saigon” alumnus Cocoy Laurel as Matt.

Subsequent productions boasted a roster of respected Filipino stage veterans like Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Gia Macuja, Liesl Batucan, Jaime Blanch, and Raymond Lauchengco.

Repertory Philippines’ newest production features two young theater stars, PJ Valerio (Matt) and Julia Abueva (Luisa).

PJ made his debut on the Repertory Philippines’ stage playing the role of Matthew in the satirical musical "Altar Boyz". His other theater credits include original musicals "First Name, " and "Joseph the Dreamer,” and Disney’s "High School Musical On Stage", where he played the scene stealing role of Ryan Evans.

Julia, on the other hand, first enthralled audiences at the age of seven with performances at the Esplanade Theaters by the Bay in Singapore. 

Since then, Julia has taken on lead roles in various musicals - “Into The Woods”, and “Children’s Letters to God,” to name a few.

She was featured on “Oprah” as one of the “World's Most Talented Kids.” She also recently shared the stage with Broadway actress Deborah Gibson in "The Superhero Diaries" in Singapore. 

The other members of the cast are Jake Macapagal (Narrator/El Gallo), Jaime Del Mundo (The Boy’s Father/Hucklebee), Dido de la Paz (The Girl’s Father/Bellomy), Miguel Faustmann (The Old Actor/Henry), Red Concepcion (The Man Who Dies/Mortimer) and PJ Rebullida (The Mute). 

For tickets, call the Repertory Philippines at (632) 8870710 or visit Ticketworld at www.ticketworld.com.ph.

 

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