Audie Gemora Broadway Album Now Available

Give the gift of beguiling and disarming theatre music this Christmas season.

Philippine musical theatre lead player Audie Gemora (Sweeney Todd, Man of La Mancha) releases his much-awaited Broadway album just in time for the holidays.  Entitled "Playlist," the album is independently produced and distributed by STAGES Production Specialists, Inc.

Gemora's "Playlist" contains 14 tracks of show tunes from Broadway, the West End and original Filipino musicals: (1)  "Try To Remember" from THE FANTASTICKS, (2)  "Alone In The Universe" from SEUSSICAL, (3) "Shall We Dance" from THE KING AND I, (4)  "I Loved You Once in Silence" from CAMELOT, (5)  "With You" from PIPPIN, (6)  "This Is The Moment" from JEKYLL AND HYDE, (7)  "Lawin" from EL FILIBUSTERISMO, (8) "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" from PAL JOEY, (9)  "For Good" (featuring Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo) from WICKED, (10) "Luck Be A Lady" (featuring vocal group The CompanY) from GUYS AND DOLLS, (11) "Love Look Away" from FLOWER DRUM SONG, (12) "If Ever I Would Leave You" from CAMELOT, (13) "Someone To Fall Back On" by Jason Robert Brown and (14) "I Was Here" from THE GLORIOUS ONES.

Stella Sison of STAGES Production Specialists, Inc. is executive producer.  Jeff Arcilla is album producer. Hong Kong-based musician Rony Fortich (Once On This Island, N.O.A.H.) has arranged most the songs.

In the realm of Philippine musical theatre no one can quite come close to Gemora. For over 30 years, he has been enrapturing and delighting theatre audiences with his memorable performances; from his moving Joseph in JOSEPH THE DREAMER to his more recent chilling portrayal of Benjamin Barker/Sweeney Todd in SWEENEY TODD. Gemora is not only the Philippine musical theatre "king" by sheer volume and prestige of work, but he is also a "king" that takes care of his people.  He is the president and co-founder of Trumpets, the first professional Christian theater company in the Philippines, and STAGES Production Specialists, Inc., one of the country's most sought after event and talent management companies.

Interestingly, Gemora considers Joseph to be his favorite role, not because it was commercially successful or it was the most popular. "It's a portrayal that changed people's lives. People would come up to me and say, 'My marriage was about to break up but when I saw the reconciliation scene (in JOSEPH THE DREAMER) I decided to give it another chance.' All of the other roles I portrayed have been great and artistically fulfilling."

Gemora takes on the most daunting of challenges with the greatest of ease.  Play an edgy and complicated role? Sure. Form and run a theater company, why not? In an industry as finicky as musical theatre, where the next big thing is just around the corner and a bad review can ruin a career, how does Gemora manage to stay on top? He does not mince words, "Passion for your craft. Acting, singing and performing came easy for me. When I put up Trumpets and STAGES, I got real passion. I understood that to get anything moving you need to have consummate love for what you do. I found out I had enough passion inside of me to make things happen for everybody. I discovered I had the ability to be a leader."

After conquering theatre, the recording industry, and even television (he is currently a resident judge on TV5's top rating talent show "Talentadong Pinoy"), what is next for the impresario?  Well into his twilight years, Gemora wants to put up another legacy. "I want to build a high school with a very strong arts program."

Gemora's new Broadway album will be first sold to the public on December 13, 2009 at the Onstage Theatre at Greenbelt 1, Ayala Center, Makati City where Repertory Philippines' SWEENEY TODD is playing its last weekend. 

The public can also buy the album at STAGES, call (632) 818-1111 loc. 225 or 209 (look for Tes Bolneo) or visit www.stages.com.ph. Price:  PhP450.

 

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