A kick in the right direction

Hot young man Japoy Lizardo is all set to conquer showtown (he is a Star Magic artist) with a deadly flying kick, a mean karate chop and a disarming smile.

He is the personification of "action speaks louder than words." Case in point: when you interview him, Japoy is very shy, almost reticent. His answers are short and curt. But when you ask him to demonstrate his taekwondo skills, he is quick and intense.

Japoy admits that between showbiz, studies and sports, he prioritizes taekwondo over the other two. "But it doesn’t mean that I don’t give importance to my studies or my career. If I can balance the three, then that would be cool," he quickly adds.

What Japoy also considers "cool" is spending time with his friends. But before you dismiss him as a party-hearty animal who is always out until the wee hours of the morning, Japoy says his "gimmick" is only a movie and then late dinner with friends. In fact, the last time he was reprimanded for staying out too late was last month because he had a hard time getting a ride home via the LRT because "ang daming tao at umuulan pa."

Japoy recently turned 19 and he spent this special day with his family and friends. He treated them out to dinner at Greenbelt. "It was fun," remembers Japoy. "Everyone was there and I’m sure everyone had a great time."

Japoy isn’t the only Star Magic artist who recently celebrated his birthday. Other celebrators are Baron Geisler (who is now part of Vietnam Rose), Gretchen Fullido (Trip Kita first runner-up), Hopia (Goin’ Bulilit cast member), Jodell Stasic (part of Kay Tagal Kitang Hinintay), Bebs and KC Hollman (Star Circle National Teen Quest finalists), Alfred Labatos (Goin’ Bulilit cast), Julio Pacheco (of Crying Ladies fame), Chokoleit (comedian and host of Kaya Mo Ba ‘To and The Buzz) and Mico Aytona (ASAP Fanatic regular).

A party like no other

"People would pay good money just to hear this and we’re getting it for free!" exclaimed one diner at Congo Grille recently.

He was describing his good fortune of stumbling upon the cast party of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast hosted by Congo Grille El Pueblo. In the party, this man was in the company of the talented cast of the hit musical which includes KC Concepcion and Karel Marquez (alternating as Belle), Jett Pangan (as the Beast), Calvin Millado (as Gaston and who’s one of the partners of Congo Grille), Pinky Marquez (Mrs. Potts) and many more.

Delicious food overflowed which included Congo Grille best-sellers Pancit, Kare-Kare, Sisig, Grilled Squid, Chicken Pops and Congo Mango. Fast-rising acoustic band Next Level provided the entertainment. They did a heart-wrenching version of Alicia Keys’ If I Ain’t Got You and Tracy Chapman’s Fast Car.

And the cast of Beauty and the Beast gamely jammed with Next Level. Karel sang Bulong while mom Pinky joined in the fun by singing Someday We’ll Know. Calvin performed Tuloy Pa Rin while Jett did an acoustic version of his anthemic song Salamat. KC Concepcion jammed to Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang?

Meanwhile, Atlantis Productions’ presentation of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast runs until July 17 at the Meralco Theater. Presenters are Globe Gizmo Prepaid and Eskinol.

Tickets continue to sell like hotcakes. Reviews are excellent. KC and Karel alternately play the lead role of Belle. They sing songs from the Broadway version of the Academy Award winning film including Belle, Something There and a brand new song recently included in the stage musical titled A Change In Me.

"We are really fortunate to have KC and Karel as Belle. They bring their own unique individuality to the role and they are the leading ladies of the future," says director Bobby Garcia.

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is an enchanting family musical that begins in a lovely French provincial town where the beautiful Belle lives with her father – a dotty inventor. When her father doesn’t return from a trip to the local fair, Belle rushes off to find him. To her dismay she discovers he is being held captive in an old castle by a horrible beast. She trades her freedom for his and the "tale as old as time" begins.

How Belle tames the unfortunate beast and the beast’s ultimate transformation into a handsome prince continue to enthrall audiences on Broadway nightly. Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is currently the second longest running show playing on Broadway, and the sixth longest running Broadway musical of all time.

(For tickets, call Atlantis Productions at 892-7078, 840-1187 or Ticketworld at 891-9999).