MiG & Tanya: Theater stars in concert

Theater actors make every performance look so easy. Acting though is not a job one can do to make ends meet or just for the heck of it. It requires endless training, risk-taking with every show and total, uncompromising love for the medium. An actor has to do a role as perfectly as possible, sometimes night after night, in all sorts of conditions, and often before an unpredictable audience. The cheers may be less but the effort is certainly no less heroic than Lebron James’ leading the Cavs to the NBA championship.

Theater in the Philippines was for many years an undertaking for the privileged few. You know those who could afford the lessons, the rehearsal trips, the pricey tickets and who could speak English with the right accent, etc. Lea Salonga changed that. Her award-winning performance in Miss Saigon opened the doors abroad for Filipinos in theater. This is why we now have a steady stream of local performers taking on the difficult but they say, also so rewarding life of a stage actor in other countries. And we all rejoice and feel justly proud when they come home proudly toting their Broadway and West End credentials.

The latest to do so is the young and talented Tanya Manalang, who recently ended a two-year stint as alternate Kim in the revival of Miss Saigon at the Prince Edward Theater in London. Tanya has been acting since she was only six years old. She made her professional debut at eight as Lucy Pevensie in the Trumpets production of an adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. She has also appeared in In The Heights, KAOS, The Sound of Music, The King And I and others. Tanya, who acquired added training in musical theater at the Arts Educational School in London, now plays Aileen in the return of the blockbuster musical Rak of Aegis 5.0! at the PETA Theater in Quezon City.

But that is not all that Tanya is up to these days. She is home from London and a homecoming concert to celebrate that, is, of course, in order. Hers will be a very special one. Conceptualized and directed by Freddie Santos, it is titled Curtains Up!, a nod to those two words that traditionally signal the start of a theatrical performance. Accompanied by the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Rodel Colmenar, Tanya will perform well-loved songs from the great musicals of Broadway and the West End together with co-star MiG Ayesa.

You heard right. It is not only Tanya who will be performing but also rocker MiG in his own homecoming bit. Now MiG has been in and out of the country since local theater found out that he was willing to leave his usual performing haunts in London or Broadway, Australia or those long tours, to do shows in the Philippines if the right project presents itself. Talented, hardworking and incredibly versatile, MiG is always a welcome sight and sound hereabouts. And how nice of him to join Tanya in Curtains Up! 

MiG is best known for the roles of Galileo Figaro in Queen’s We Will Rock You and that of the fading rock idol Stacee Jaxx in Rock of Ages, which he also did most successfully here in Manila. He also appeared in Messiah Rocks, Burn The Floor, Thriller Live and other musicals. He was last seen on the local stage in the Atlantis Production of the romantic Bridges of Madison County opposite Miss Saigon and Les Miz alumni Joanna Ampil.

Curtains Up!, starring MiG and Tanya, will be held at the Newport Performing Arts Theater of Resorts World Manila on July 14 at 8 p.m. The audience can look forward to one truly enjoyable show. More so when they find out that joining MiG and Tanya as their special guest will be our very own Broadway Diva herself, Lea. Prepare to be stunned with powerhouse performances by this trio, three Filipino stars of international theater we can really be proud of.  I am already starting to wonder what songs they will sing.

Tickets to Curtains Up! are available at the RWM Box Office and at Ticket World outlets. Call 908-8833, 836-6338, 908-8000 local 7700 and 891-9999.