Dawn's Singapore stage debut in Nov.

Curtain-raisers:

• The suave singer continues to be a lady-killer. A few years ago, he went “missing” during the presscon at a New York hotel for his US concert. He had excused himself, saying he was going to the CR but he was gone for more than 40 minutes delaying the start of the presscon. What those around didn’t know was that the singer slipped into a room upstairs and did a “quickie” with his lady producer (who also went “missing”). The lady-killer’s new (willing) victim is another lady (a widow) producer who very gladly financed his latest album. That’s the mark of a seasoned artist, isn’t it?

• Only a few years ago, Jolina Magdangal and her boyfriend (now her “ex”) Bebong Muñoz were talking about getting married. And then something suddenly went wrong and they split up. Did Jolina discover “something” about Bebong? Now, Jolina is again talking about getting married to her new boyfriend, Rivermaya drummer Mark Escueta, former boyfriend of two other actresses. Could it be true, if ever the sweethearts do get married, Jolina’s parents will request Mark to sign a pre-nuptial agreement?

• There’s a very valid reason why a young actor is bitter toward his actor-father who left him and his mother for a younger woman. That would have been an easier pill to swallow until the father said something like, “I regret having you as my family!” Huwag naman po; masakit ‘yon, a. Di ba, Kuya Eddie?

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I’m happy for Dawn Zulueta who is celebrating her return to the Philippine legitimate stage later this year in Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music, directed by Bobby Garcia. After its Manila stint, the show will open at the Esplanade Theater in The Lion City in November, marking Dawn’s debut on the Singapore stage.

Original Media Singapore Ltd., headed by Michael Lim, is behind the Atlantis Productions’ one-week staging of the classic musical to celebrate Sondheim’s 80th birthday. A Little Night Music is a whimsical musical comedy set in a weekend country house in turn-of-the-century Sweden, bringing together surprising liaisons, long simmering passions and a taste of love’s endless possibilities. Hailed as witty and wildly romantic, the story centers on the elegant actress Desiree Armfeldt and the spider’s web of sensuality, intrigue and desire that surrounds her. It features   Sondheim’s most popular song to date, Send in the Clowns.

Dawn will be playing the iconic role of Desiree Armfeldt, currently played by Catherine Zeta-Jones in the Broadway revival of the Tony award-winner.

Said Dawn, “I had a glorious experience in the musical Larawan, and I’ve wondered if I would ever do another one again until I met with Bobby, who asked me if I would like to play the part of Desiree. He sent me the music and excerpts of the Broadway production and I decided that I felt confident enough to take on the part.”

Said direk Bobby, “I am thrilled that, once again, we will be bringing one of our productions to Singapore. Michael Lim and Original Media have been very enthusiastic about this Sondheim masterpiece. We look forward to bringing the show to Singapore and we are excited to be working together to bring more of our shows to Singapore and, later, Hong Kong.”

A Little Night Music is Atlantis’ fourth production to travel to the Lion City, after Rent in 2001, Avenue Q in 2008 and Spelling Bee in 2009. On the Broadway production, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Angela will soon be replaced by Broadway legends Bernadette Peters and Elaine Stritch.

(Note: Shows are currently available for the Manila run for fund-raising and blockbuying opportunities. It runs in October at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati. For more information and inquiries, call Atlantis Productions at 892-7078 or 840-1187.)

Miss USA eager to meet Venus Raj

Did you know that 2010 Miss USA Rima Fakih (of Michigan) said she’s “eager to meet” our very own controversial 2010 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Maria Venus Raj? The two are competing in the 2010 Miss Universe Pageant to be held at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on Aug. 23.

This piece of good news was relayed to me by Felix Manuel (one of Funfare’s four “beauty experts”) who saw Fakih recently.

“I met her by chance,” Felix said. “I was on a reunion tour with my Lourdes School (Quezon City) Grade School batchmates, and we were walking along Fifth Avenue when we met Miss USA. It’s not unusual to spot celebrities here in New York but it’s not every day that you get to see a Miss USA casually strolling in public, without her entourage.”

Fakih, 24, is from Dearborn, Michigan where she was raised with her younger brother. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics, minor in Business Administration. After completing her reign as Miss USA, she plans to attend law school. She enjoys traveling, running, dancing, kickboxing and especially likes playing football and watching the NFL. She is the first Arab-American woman to be crowned Miss USA. 

Felix did a brief interview with Fakih.

“I am excited to meet all the ladies during the Miss U pageant, especially Miss Philippines,” Felix quoted Fakih as saying. “I love Filipinos because I have met several people from the Philippines. I am sure Venus will be a great competitor. I have heard a lot of wonderful stories about her. During the Miss USA contest, I was close to Miss Hawaii-USA who’s part Filipino, I guess Venus and I will be very good friends during the pageant.”

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