Sam Concepcion flies as Peter Pan

This September 29 to October 30 at the Meralco Theater, teen star Sam Concepcion will once again showcase his artistry as a performer as he takes on the title role of STAGES and Repertory Philippines’ Peter Pan.

Among his contemporaries, teen star Sam Concepcion may be the only one who can be considered a “triple threat,” someone who can sing, act, and dance exceptionally. This made him early favorite and eventual winner in the ABS-CBN talent search Little Big Star, the show that launched his career.
 
“Aside from singing, dancing, and acting onstage, which I have been doing eversince I was young, I am excited that I get to fly in this musical,” says Sam. “It will be a fun, full of flying show and I assure everyone that this production will be the ultimate family show.”

Sam adds that this musical also boasts of beautifully-written tunes for the stage.
 
Peter Pan marks Sam’s theater comeback after starring in highly-successful shows like NOAH, High School Musical, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.

This is the Asian premiere of this version of Peter Pan, the spectacular musical by Stiles and Drewe and the late Willis Hall. It relives Sir James Barrie’s timeless tale of the boy who never grew up.

“People tell me I am like Peter Pan because even if I am already 18, people perceive me still as that young boy who starred in that sinigang mix commercial,” adds Sam. “I am thankful that I have been given this big opportunity to star in a grand production like Peter Pan.”

Aside from Sam, Peter Pan also stars Michael Williams as Hook, and ABS-CBN’s rising star Tippy Dos Santos (Idol, Shoutout) as Wendy with Cara Barredo as alternate.

“I am excited to work with everyone,” shares Sam. “It has been a while, since I performed for a musical. I have been raring to do this.”

Peter Pan also marks a milestone because it is the first time that STAGES and Repertory Philippines are co-producing a show.

To be directed by Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo and Jaime Del Mundo, Peter Pan promises to be one of the biggest musical productions in recent years.

For interested blockbuyers and sponsors, please contact STAGES at (02) 818-1111 loc. 225.

Being Alive

This year's summer has sucked compared to last year's. Last year, I've enrolled myself into a musical theater workshop in Repertory Philippines; looking back, it was the best summer of my entire life--no beach, no staying under the hot sun, no long travels, just doing what I love doing. It was then that I've learned a whole lot more about theater. We did "The Nicest Kids in Town" (a.k.a., Hairspray) for our culminating showcase and it's a very fun and enjoyable show. We got the whole OnStage full and overflowing. And I've met the best people who had the same interest as I do. It's as if you've known them your entire life. So, if you're planning to take a musical theater workshop, do so--not a single penny will go to waste (well, with Repertory Philippines that is).

But this year's summer had been sucky. No Rep workshop this year--I have to face college. Sigh.I would've joined this years workshop if I knew they're gonna do "Legally Blonde the Musical", which is the first musical I've been hooked on; where I'd spend my whole day memorizing songs and lines from the musical. And I've been on regret this whole summer.

So, my summer has not been very musical-- except for Atlantis Productions' Next to Normal, which until now, I still have withdrawals. So, I explored many, many musicals this summer via its OBCR (Original Broadway Cast Recording; or OLCR for London). Actually, when you listen to its OBCR, you'll already get an idea of the show's plot. Here are the list of the OBCRs I've downloaded:

• Sweet Charity (2005 Broadway Revival) I've decided to listen to the whole album already and not just "Big Spender". And since 9 Works Theatrical is doing the show, I'd better get ahead of the music.

• Sweeney Todd (2005 Broadway Revival) Because I just love Patti LuPone so much. I loved her Mrs. Lovett rather than Angela Lansbury's or Helena Bonham Carter. Only let down is--Signor Pirelli is a woman. 

• Shrek the Musical Because one time, I watched a bootleg of "I Know It's Today" in Youtube and reckoned it was brilliant--and it is indeed. And add my everlasting love for Sutton Foster.

• Gypsy (2003 Broadway Revival)  Bernadette Peters. 'Yun lang.

• The Addams Family It's a great set of music, to be honest. And I just love, love "Pulled".

• [Title of Show] Susan Blackwell, sigh. It's like a musical-reality show + SNL. Favorite song: Die Vampire, Die!  

That's pretty much all of them, although I think I've missed some. Besides listening to OBCRs, I also watch musicals (not bootlegs) which I've no knowledge on. I had the chance to watch these musicals because of Oliver Oliveros's pamana (DVDs, Playbills, Guides, Books, Souvenirs) to us theater fans. I had to share and divide them with the others, but because I got to pick them up, I had the advantage to explore them.

• Into the Woods This is the Bernadette Peters recording. I love, love the musical. It's very funny, witty and ironic. The songs are great as well. One favorite is "Children will Listen"; it's kind of an odd favorite but I loved it when I heard Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo sing the song (with Loving You as mash-up) in her CD lite. 

• Phantom of the Opera (2004 Movie) I don't know why I haven't watched this musical yet but maybe because I despise any Andrew Lloyd Webber (Although, I loved Cats). And I wasn't sure of Gerard Butler as a singer. But unexpectedly, I loved the musical, I love the songs, I love the characters and the story. Favorite song: Think of me, think of me fondly...

•  Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat This is the filmed version with Donny Osmond. I didn't love it, nor like it. Uhmm.

•  Victor/Victoria Although not the musical, this is the film where the musical (which starred Julie Andrews as well) was based on. It's a great, great movie. And Le Jazz Hot? Nobody sang it better than Julie Andrews. I recommend watching this movie. I just love watching movies where musicals are based on. I've watched the original Hairspray movie, Legally Blonde (of course), Little Women (with Winona Ryder) and many others I can't remember. I'll try watching Catch Me If You Can next.

• Bernadette Peters in Concert Not a musical, but a musical theater great-- Bernadette Peters. I just love, love her voice. And I loved "Being Alive" because of her version, although it's not intended to be sung by a woman, and also "Johanna" with the same case as well. 

• Hey, Mr. Producer This is a concert composed of snippets from Cameron Mackintosh's produced musicals. It's like a bursting volcano of musicals. 

Yeah, that's pretty much most of them. If missed mentioning some of them, it either meant that I didn't like them, or it was okay. Which also pretty sums up this year's line of shows in the Philippines. It's not very exciting nor I'm looking forward to (except for the Next to Normal re-run) watching them. Each of these musicals have mainstream actors as lead which is very sad. Last year's Little Women, for example--none of the leads are mainstream actors. Which only shows that they got the best of the best actors and they didn't need any stunt casting. Let's imagine if, let's say, Nikki Gil was cast as Jo March, Iya Villania as Amy, A sober singing-actress as Beth and another one for Meg--it would just be a Party Pilipinas or ASAP the Musical. If they cast mainstream actors for the sake of the show's popularity and advertisement, it wouldn't do justice for the characters, the writers and the whole show; and it would not be nominated and praised like it got today. And another example is Next to Normal.

Aaron Tveit for example; he wasn't a small screen star before he stood-by for Rent, or when he got the role of Link in Hairspray or Gabe in Next to Normal. He started in theater before he was known on T.V. or Marissa Jaret Winokur, likewise, originated the role of Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray before she was a movie star. And in America, when theater actors made it to the small/big screen, they are introduced as Movie star Marissa Jaret Winokur who starred in the musical Hairspray on Broadway; But in the Philippines, Bituin Escalante, singer of the hit "Kung Ako Na Lang Sana", that's it, not even mentioning her theater background. My point is, we think of theater as a small medium for the performing arts and television/movies as a bigger one--which is true. Why not let the TV get actors from the theater instead of theater getting actors from the "Showbiz" industry? Stunt casting is getting common among Philippine theater companies, and I do believe there are more deserving seasoned theater actors who deserved getting those leads.


Anyway, too much for that. I'd like to invite you to my friend, Michelle's showcase for her Masterclass with Pinky Amador and Bill Atwood at OnStage Greenbelt, on May 21, 2011; 8PM. You can get tickets at the gate. It's Scene Night (according to Michelle, it's like Into the Woods where children's story are connected by a musical, but instead, it's Shakespeare plays in a play) and there'll also be performance of snippets from various musicals. Click this link for the event page on Facebook.




Guys, don't forget to catch the upcoming shows this year! And if you can, watch all of them, alright? Always support the theater!

Nikki Gil is Sweet Charity

Photo from Joriben.com

It was sometime in February when I found out that 9 Works Theatrical is going to do a production of Sweet Charity. Going back in time--December, I watched Rent's Powerplant Mall run, and they kept playing songs from Sweet Charity before the show and during the intermission. So, I thought, maybe they are going to do Sweet Charity, but I had small doubts-- they had Rent which is a rock musical and The Wedding Singer, which is upbeat (they also did Songs for a New World before Rent), and Sweet Charity was another genre. After I watched Rent's third run in February, my friends and I had a talk with some of the cast. And they revealed (they didn't mean to, someone slipped) that Sweet Charity is going to be 9 Works' next production.

Nikki Gil is playing the title role in the musical. Contrast to Christina Applegate's Charity, Nikki is not sporting a blonde wig like she did in Legally Blonde but, a short boycut wig. She looks cute in the wig, although she looks kind of masculine and not sweet at all. They could've given her the Applegate's look, but brunette. And this promotional photo reminds me of Kristin Chenoweth's promo for Pushing Daisies (Click to see Kristin's promo).

Playing opposite to Nikki Gil is Kris Lawrence as Oscar Lindquist. I am tired of stunt casting--must be very popular these days.

Sheila Valderama Martinez, Ciara Sotto, Sheree Bautista, Miguel Faustman, Oj Mariano, Tasy Garrucha, Caisa Borromeo, Chinie Nepomuceno,Vinia Pamplona, Carmelle Ross, Topper Fabregas, Job Bautista, Anthony Ong, Francis Matheu, Peter Alcedo, and Chai Relucio complete the cast of Sweet Charity.

Open from August 5 to 28, 2011. For more info, visit http://www.9workstheatrical.com.

Sam Concepcion topbills Peter Pan

Singer-actor-TV host Sam Concepcion is ready to fly as he is set to star in STAGES and Repertory Philippines’ production of Peter Pan, which goes onstage this September 29 to October 30 at the Meralco Theater.

Peter Pan serves as Sam’s musical theater comeback after headlining the successful run of High School Musical, where he played the role of Troy Bolton.

“I am excited to perform in a musical once again. After all, it has been around three years,” ecstatically shared Sam. “I am looking forward to all the flying scenes and performing all the wonderful songs from the musical.”

Peter Pan, the spectacular musical by Stiles and Drewe and the late Willis Hall, relives Sir James Barrie’s timeless tale of the boy who never grew up.

Sam adds that this production, to be directed by Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo and Jaime Del Mundo, will not just be an enjoyable experience, but also an inspiring one.
 
Peter Pan also marks a milestone because it is the first time that STAGES and Repertory Philippines are co-producing a show.
 
For interested blockbuyers and sponsors, please contact STAGES at (02) 818-1111 loc. 225.

Atlantis reveals their Ariel and Prince Eric

Photo from @mermaidinmanila

So the rumors are true! Singing-contest products Rachelle Ann Go and Erik Santos are playing Ariel and Prince Eric, respectively. I was terrified when I first heard the rumor from one of the readers of this blog, but let's hope the terror doesn't last. I personally love Erik Santos as a singer, but not as an actor. Rachelle Ann Go, however is great as well, and she can belt really high soprano notes when I saw one episode of her noon time show, Party Pilipinas.

The promotional photo shoot looks great although Rachelle's wig is a disaster once again (ref. to Nikki Gil's blonde wig in Legally Blonde) and they tried to make her look like Sierra Boggess to much, or was that just me? Erik Santos, on the other hand, should sport a longer hair so he would look appropriate for the role.
Anyway, this will be directed by Bobby Garcia and Chari Arespacochaga, so no questions asked. Although I felt like this when I found out Nikki Gil is going to be in Legally Blonde the Musical--and she proved me wrong, she turned out to be a likeable Elle Woods.


Well. then, snaps to Atlantis!