SWEENEY TODD Manila Announces Complete Cast

Co-written with Pinky Farolan

REPERTORY PHILIPPINES' new production of SWEENEY TODD is in full swing.  Audie Gemora (Benjamin Barker/Sweeney Todd), Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo (Mrs. Lovett), Liesl Batucan (beggar woman), Robbie Guevara (Beadle), Robbie Zialcita (Pirelli), Franco Laurel (Anthony), Lena McKenzie (Johanna), Marvin Ong (Tobias), Roger Chua (Judge Turpin), Juno Henares (Mrs. Lovett understudy), and chorus members: James Stacey, Meynard Penalosa, Jejie Esguerra, Hans Eckstein, Red Concepcion, Raul Montesa, Rem Zamora, Oliver Usison, Collins Gutierrez, Jay Pangilinan, David Cruz, Gary Junsay, Cara Barredo, Jay Glorioso, Naths Everett, Joy Virata, Marisse Santos, Ring Antonio, Gloria Sicam, Teenee Chan, and Ronna Guba complete the cast.

Yulo has had 25 years of theatre behind her, and has starred in WEST SIDE STORY, CAMELOT, THE KING AND I, EVITA – to name a few.  And as for Gemora, he has had so many theatre-related functions that one is simply in awe of his accomplishments.  But it is in his dedication as a prime actor that marks his career. 

So when one asks these two accomplished artists why they have agreed to come out in SWEENEY TODD, the responses are quite remarkable.  For all the varied productions and roles they have been through, they both agree on one thing as far as SWEENEY TODD is concerned:  It is a dream come true. 

For Gemora, SWEENEY TODD has always been THE classic masterpiece of Sondheim.  He jokingly remarks that if Repertory Philippines did not choose to produce it, he would.  With a wry smile, he says – for athletes, it's the Olympics; for actors, it's SWEENEY TODD.  He adds that the musical is an art piece that has to be performed with precision, because the ear has to be trained for this particular type of music.  The challenge is to bring the listener to that space where the dissonance is actually harmony – as so it is! 

Yulo was in the 1982 Repertory Philippines' production of  SWEENEY TODD as the young girl, Johanna.  Today, she takes on the rather weird Mrs. Lovett.  She finds SWEENEY TODD a major challenge for the serious actor.  She observes that it can be frustrating when you "come in from the cold" and get exposed to Sondheim's music.  It is his dissonance that makes it all unfamiliar territory.  She laughingly adds, when you think you're singing it right, that's when you're off.  And when you think you're off, that's when it's right! 

Baby Barredo (The Fantasticks, The Sound of Music) co-directs with Michael Williams, MISS SAIGON London alumnus. Other members of the artistic and production staff include Gino Gonzales (Golden Child, Mulan Jr.) for costume design, John Batalla (West Side Story, Once On This Island) for lighting design, and Mio Infante (West Side Story, N.O.A.H.) for set design.  Gerard Salonga (West Side Story) conducts the FILharmoniKA orchestra.

SWEENEY TODD is a 1979 Tony-winning musical featuring the music and lyrics by musical theatre legend Stephen Sondheim, and book by Hugh Wheeler.  It is based on the 1973 play SWEENEY TODD, THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET by Christopher Bond.

SWEENEY TODD opened on Broadway at the Uris Theatre on March 1, 1979.  It ran for 557 performances. 

A scale-down production on Broadway featuring Michael Cerveris (Benjamin Barker/Sweeney Todd) and Patti LuPone (Mrs. Lovett) opened at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre on November 3, 2005.  The show ran for 384 performances.

SWEENEY TODD Manila runs from November 14 to December 13, 2009 with additional matinees on Saturdays and Sundays at Onstage, 2/F Greenbelt 1, Ayala Center Makati City.  For ticket inquiries and other information, call Repertory Philippines at (632) 8870710, 8880887 or Ticket  World at (632) 8919999 or www.ticketworld.com.ph 

 

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