SPRING AWAKENING Manila opens 9/25
By: Oliver Oliveros Sep. 20, 2009
Atlantis Productions, the Manila-based theater company that recently staged Broadway musicals THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE and HAIRSPRAY, celebrates its 10th anniversary and the voice of the youth as it opens its own production of Tony, Grammy, and Drama Desk award-winning musical SPRING AWAKENING at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City on Friday, September 25, 2009.
In SPRING AWAKENING, a young man (Melchior Gabor, played by Joaqui Valdes) rebels against the status quo, knowing there is more to life than what we understand. Elsewhere, a girl (Wendla Bergman, played by Kelly Frances Lati) explores the mysteries of adulthood. Boy meets girl, desires awaken, and the world blazes afire with the circumstances.
Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater’s Tony Best Musical is a period piece filled with contemporary drama, provocation of the senses, and rock music. Set in the 19th century Germany where rules are too strict and children are not spared the rod, SPRING AWAKENING explores how brave young people rise to the challenge of self-discovery. As each character climbs his way up to maturity, audiences will share in the triumph with our young bloods’ coming of age.
Similar to local gospel theatre group Trumpets’ musical N.O.A.H. (No Ordinary Aquatic Habitat) at the Meralco Theater, some audience members will get the be in the thick of the action in SPRING AWAKENING as it allows access to a seating gallery surrounding the acting area.
After months of rigorous auditions and callbacks, Atlantis Productions has finally completed its cast. Like in its past productions, callback videos were sent to New York for final casting approval. Valdes, Lati, ABS CBN’s PINOY DREAM ACADEMY’s Miguel Mendoza, the Philippines’ premier rock band THE DAWN vocalist Jett Pangan, and bossa nova/pop singer Sitti Navarro, among others made it to the final cut.
“The auditions were nerve-wracking,” shared Valdes. A veteran himself (Valdes started acting and singing in Trumpets productions at a very young age.), one would have thought that he was immune to the nerves that got the best of him during callbacks. SPRING AWAKENING Manila director Chari Arespacochaga (Altar Boyz, Avenue Q) even had to tell him to “stop, breathe and sing again without the nerves.”
This production of SPRING AWAKENING features the set design of Tuxqs Rutaquio, choreography of Dexter Santos, costume design of Rajo Laurel, lighting design of Voltaire de Jesus, musical direction of Jojo Malferari.
For tickets and more information about SPRING AWAKENING MANILA, call Atlantis Productions at (632) 892-7078 or 840-1187. You may also visit www.atlantisproductionsinc.com or follow SPRING AWAKENING MANILA on Twitter at http://twitter.com/SPRINGAWAKESMNL.
Due to explicit content, parental discretion is advised.
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