Oliver Oliveros - Page 37

Fresh off their successful auditions for the still unclear London revival production of Cameron Mackintosh's mega-musical "Miss Saigon," Rachelle Ann Go (Disney's "The Little Mermaid"), Frencheska Farr ("Emir"), and Aicelle Santos, who made it to the very final audition phase, conducted by Mackintosh's creative team - Trevor Jackson, Laurence Connor, Stephen Brooker, Geoffrey Garratt - that travelled to Manila last week, performed a medley of songs from 'Miss Saigon' in GMA's noontime musical variety show "Party Pilipinas" early today.

Although it is still unclear when the much-awaited London revival of Cameron Mackintosh's mega-musical "Miss Saigon" would get a green light from the big boss, Mackintosh's trusted creative team, made up of executive producer Trevor Jackson, stage director Laurence Connor, musical supervisor Stephen Brooker, and choreographer Geoffrey Garratt, had opted to visit the country to hold the first-ever international auditions for "Miss Saigon" after several years.

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.

Resorts World Manila (RWM) launched its annual "Grand Fiesta" and hosted a media appreciation night at Genting Club, Maxims Hotel Wednesday night. This year's "Grand Fiesta" highlights Las Vegas-based singer Lani Misalucha's pre-Christmas concert on Wednesday, November 28; and Rodgers and Hammerstein's beloved Broadway musical "The King and I's" extended run until May 2013 - Philippine Musical Theater's favorite leading lady Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo was announced as replacement for Monique Wilson in the role of Anna Leonowens.

Repertory Philippines' latest offering, Disney's "Camp Rock," is a stage adaptation of the popular Disney TV movie, which starred The Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato. As expected, "Camp Rock" is a lightweight romantic comedy targeted at teens and those that want to relive the happiness of their innocent youth.

Dulaang UP brings to the Cultural Center of the Philippines (via the Fourth National Theater Festival) "Orosman at Zafira," one of the theater company's breakthrough productions, today, November 18 at 3 p.m.

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.

Cameron Mackintosh's creative team for the rumoured 2013 West End revival of MISS SAIGON, which includes executive producer Trevor Jackson, director Laurence Connor, musical supervisor Stephen Brooker, choreographer Geoffrey Garrett, and Mackintosh's Philippine representative Dong Alegre, is looking for three "Kims" and at least seven Asian ensemble performers (male and female) for the auditions that will be held in Manila on Monday, November 19 to Thursday, November 22 at the Opera Haus at 3657 Bautista St. (near the corner of Buendia Avenue), Makati City.

Hot Off the Press: BroadwayWorld.com (Philippines) photographer Dale Bacar releases his photos taken at the press preview of Repertory Philippines' production of Disney's "Camp Rock" held Thursday night.

Young Filipino pianists recently performed live on ABS CBN News Channel's "Mornings@ANC" to promote their concert at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) on Sunday, November 18 dubbed "Forte@40," the Piano Teachers' Guild of the Philippines' (PTGP) 40th anniversary fundraiser concert.

Asia's romantic balladeer Christian Bautista does his heartfelt vocal interpretation of "Tagistis ng Ulan," one of the most haunting ballads written by Maestro Ryan Cayabyab for the hit pop ballet "Rama Hari," inspired by the Indian epic Ramayana, which returns to the Cultural Center of the Philippines' main stage from Friday, November 30 to Sunday, December 9, 2012.

Repertory Philippines' newest musical production, Disney's "Camp Rock," starring two of today's most promising talents, Markki Stroem and Morissette Amon, opens today, November 16 at Onstage Greenbelt One, Ayala Malls, Makati City.

Manhattan Shakespeare Project, an all-female Shakespeare theater company, will send members to The Drama Academy in Ramallah, Palestine from Sunday, November 25 to Friday, December 7, 2012 to teach 14 Palestinian drama students on William Shakespeare text & performance, movement, and viewpoints.

After a successful premiere at this year's Chicago Fringe Festival, actress and playwright Qurrat Ann Kadwani will perform her one-woman show "They Call Me Q!" at Variations Theatre Group: Harvest Theatre Festival in Long Island City tonight, November 15 at 9:00 p.m.

Repertory Philippines' newest musical production, Disney's "Camp Rock," starring two of today's most promising talents, Markki Stroem and Morissette Amon, opens on Friday, November 16 at Onstage Greenbelt One, Ayala Malls, Makati City.

After a successful premiere at this year's Chicago Fringe Festival, actress and playwright Qurrat Ann Kadwani will perform her one-woman show "They Call Me Q!" at Variations Theatre Group: Harvest Theatre Festival in Long Island City on Thursday, November 15 at 9:00 p.m.

Many media outlets in the Philippines have already published series of auditions tips, which primarily came from Tony winner Lea Salonga and London-based actress Monique Wilson, Filipino actresses that both starred in the original production of MISS SAIGON in London 22 years ago. BroadwayWorld took a different turn, and asked some advices from our other favorite Filipino actresses that also played Kim: Joanna Ampil (Sydney and London), Ima Castro (Manila and London), Ivy Rose Padilla (Wellington, New Zealand), and Jennifer Paz (U.S. National Tour).

STAGESHOW, the last masterpiece of the late television, film, and theater icon Mario O'Hara, has managed to present a poignant and emotionally-charged story that focuses on the twilight years of a small group of dedicated Filipino artists - "Tres Dahlias," and "Tirso and the Bandits," among others - during the vaudeville era in the late 1940s. These artists, torn between their love for the arts and economic survival, unfortunately represent parallel realities that performing artists still face today.

C. Virata Advisory and Gillian Joyce Virata, in cooperation with Repertory Philippines, ARTS in the City, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation, Jinggo Montejo, and TeamAsia, present American author Paul Fleischman's MIND'S EYE, starring Joy Virata and Jenny Jamora, at Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza tonight, November 9 and Saturday, November 10. Jaime del Mundo directs.