Menchu goes Light in first CD

MANILA, Philippines - Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo has released her first CD titled Light through Sony Music.

Menchu is one of the country’s most accomplished musical theater actresses. Her career has seen her perform Eva Peron in Evita, Maria in West Side Story, Guinevere in Camelot, Cathy in The Last Five Years, Velma in Hairspray, Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd, Fosca in Passion, Louisa in The Fantasticks, the Witch in Into the Woods, Aldonza in Man of La Mancha, Maria in The Sound of Music, Nancy in Oliver, Ellen in Miss Saigon and Fantine in Les Miserables.

She most recently earned critical praise for her gut-wrenching portrayal of Diana in the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Next to Normal, which was directed by Bobby Garcia. Next to Normal has been said to be one of the best musicals to have ever been staged in the Philippines and plans are underway for a rerun later in the year.

Produced by Atlantis Productions, the CD consists of seven tracks from shows from Menchu’s musical theater past and present. Featured in the CD are Buenos Aires from Evita; Loving You and Children will Listen from Passion and Into the Woods; Meadowlark from The Baker’s Wife; Come To Me from Les Miserables; Something Good from The Sound of Music; and I Miss the Mountains and Light from Next to Normal. The original Manila cast of Next to Normal (which includes Jett Pangan, Felix Rivera, Bea Garcia, Markki Stroem and Jake Macapagal) is featured alongside Menchu in Light.