LONDON Actress Sheila Francisco Gets Her Voice Back

Carlo Orosa, Sheila Francisco, The Sison Brothers in NOAH1.jpg" border="0" alt="LONDON Actress Sheila Francisco Gets Her Voice Back Image" title="LONDON Actress Sheila Francisco Gets Her Voice Back " hspace="10" width="200" align="left" />

Royal National Theatre’s “Bloody Mary” Sheila Francisco’s newest musical role is the culinary challenged Mrs. Noah in a comedic adaptation of the biblical tale about Noah’s Ark running at the Meralco Theater in Manila through September 27, 2009.  During the previews held last week, Francisco lost her voice and struggled with her speaking and singing lines. Sweet Plantado, a colleague and voice coach, had to sing Francisco’s singing parts at the theater wing. 

Fortunately enough, Francisco got her voice back in time for the opening weekend on September 4 to 6, 2009.  Mrs. Noah is now in full swing!

Her newest project is called N.O.A.H. or No Ordinary Aquatic Habitat, the musical.  It is produced by family-oriented, gospel theatre group Trumpets, which has been producing world-class musicals for Filipino audiences for over 20 years now.  Trumpets production credits include the uplifting and lavish productions of “Joseph the Dreamer,” “Little Mermaid,” “First Name,”  “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” “Honk,”  “Mr. Noah’s Big Boat” (N.O.A.H.’s earlier form with puppets), among others.

In N.O.A.H., Francisco is joined by young TV and recording artist Sam Concepcion (High School Musical On Stage, Kung Fu Panda), alternating with theater newcomer Fred Lo, as the Narrator who also doubles as a very hip God.  In the title role is stage veteran Carlo Orosa (Honk, Grease). Playing Noah and Mrs. Noah’s kids Japeth, Shem, and Ham are real life brothers Marek, Enzo and Ruiz Sison (Children’s Letters to God).  An ensemble of skilled theater performers breathes life into the different animals in the Ark.

Besides the powerhouse cast, there is the heartwarming book and lyrics of stage director Jaime del Mundo (Little Mermaid, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe), the catchy tunes of first-time composer Rony Fortich, who presently works as musical director of Hong Kong Disneyland, and The Combined choreography of musical theater stalwart Audie Gemora (Man of Lan Mancha, Footloose), modern ballet danseur Gerald Mercado, tap expert Patricia Borromeo, and hip hop dancer Alfred Luason (High School Musical On Stage).  Scenographer and costume designer Mio Infante (Little Mermaid, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) combines puppetry and elaborate costumes.  Light designer John Batalla (Once On This Island, West Side Story) brings to life the rainbow’s spectrum of colors in N.O.A.H.

In 2001, Francisco was handpicked by no less than Sir Trevor Nunn (Cats, Sunset Boulevard) to play Bloody Mary in the Royal National Theatre’s revival of “South Pacific.”  She was the first Filipino stage actress to have performed in the Olivier Theatre to rave reviews.  The EVENING NEWS wrote, “If I were voting for charisma and stage presence, I would choose Sheila Francisco as Bloody Mary.  Her timing and projection are second to none and her angry reaction when Jo refuses to marry her daughter is totally uninhibited."  On the other hand, VARIETY referred to Francisco as “one of the two gifted ladies whose performances let-rip” – the other lady being Dame Judy Dench!

Francisco and the rest of N.O.A.H.’s cast have been receiving warm standing ovation after every performance since the opening weekend.

Right after N.O.A.H., Francisco will join a cruise production of Trumpets’ “Little Mermaid” in November to December 2009.  She will also play a part in the Broadway musical “Full Monty” in Singapore in 2010.

Trumpets’ N.O.A.H. or No Ordinary Aquatic Habitat will run till September 27, 2009 at the Meralco Theater. For tickets and/or more information call Trumpets at (632) 6317252 or email trumpetsinc@gmail.com.  Tickets also available at Ticketworld (632) 8919999 or www.ticketworld.com.ph.

To post a comment, you must register and login.