Aida in Manila June 24-July 10

Fresh from presenting the hit musical Next To Normal, Atlantis Productions now brings the Tony Award winning Broadway musical Aida to Manila! Featuring an exciting pop-rock score by Elton John and Tim Rice, Aida is a timeless story of forbidden love that blooms and endures despite overwhelming, dangerous odds.

Aida, played by Ima Castro, is an enslaved Nubian princess who falls in love with her captor, Radames a captain in the Egyptian army and the betrothed lover of Princess Amneris, played by Rachel Alejandro. The young lovers are forced to face death or part forever. Together, they set a shining example of true devotion that ultimately brings peace between their warring nations.

The young man caught in the middle of this love triangle is Myke Salomon who plays Radames, leader of the Egyptian army who in his quest for adventure and finds true love instead.

Myke says, “It is an honor to finally be part of an Atlantis show. I am very thankful that they entrusted me with this role. I am looking forward to becoming Radames. Aida is a very simple, moving love story with gorgeous songs. It is very musically challenging and I am looking forward to the challenge.”

Myke rose to prominence as the human beatbox of the Akafellas. While the rest of the boys sang in harmony sans musical accompaniment, Myke provided every other imaginable percussive sound and accent for the group. These skills quickly overshadowed the singer in Myke until recently. He has gone solo and has released an album titled Homework. He is also part of the Sabado Boys. He has dabbled in theater of late as part of Magsimula Ka and Care Divas. With Aida, he takes on his biggest challenge to date.

“Myke wowed us at our auditions with his effortless singing and musicality,” says Aida director, Chari Arespacochaga. “He will be a great foil to Ima, Rachel, Hajji Alejandro and the rest of the cast.”

Disney Theatricals premiered Aida on Broadway on March 23, 2000, running for 1,852 performances until Sept. 5, 2004. It was nominated for five Tony Awards and won four Tony Awards, including Best Musical Score. The musical ran from 2001-2003 and 2006-2007 in two US national tours, performed on international productions in 20 countries, and continues to be produced all over the world.

(Atlantis Productions’ Aida runs at the Carlos P. Romulo Theater, RCBC Plaza, Makati from June 24 to July 10. For tickets, call 892-7078 and 840-1187. For Aida updates, follow AidaofManila on Twitter.)

Music of Master of Musicals coming to Manila

He’s been described as the Master of Musical Theatre, the Maestro of Musicals, and a theatrical force to be reckoned with. His musicals have been seen by hundreds of millions around the world, translated into dozens of languages and won every major entertainment award.

Now, Manila is set to fall in love once more with The Music Of Andrew Lloyd Webber in a stunning international concert spectacular featuring hit after hit from 14 of the world’s best –loved musicals.

After more than 40 years, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s music continues to have the extraordinary ability to touch an audience, lifting them to new heights of exhilaration and emotion after just a few bars of music. Presented by Citibank, The Music Of Andrew Lloyd Webber, which will feature a cast of international musical theater talents, celebrates the master composer with a 13 show run in Manila beginning on June 24 at Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo, CCP.

Directed by one of Australia’s leading directors, Stuart Maunder, this theatrical event will feature some of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s timeless songs from Eva Peron’s passionate Don’t Cry For Me Argentina, to the classical masterpiece Pie Jesu, from the rock favorite Superstar to the breathtaking new Love Never Dies.

Internationally-respected musical supervisor Guy Noble will lead musicians and internationally-acclaimed performers — including Blake Bowden, Alinta Chidzey, Andrew Conaghan, Michael Cormick, Trisha Crowe, Delia Hannah, Kirsten Hobbs and Shaun Rennie — in taking the audience on an unforgettable journey through the vast array of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s memorable repertoire. Having starred in recent productions of Cats, West Side Story and Mamma Mia!, the multi-talented cast will perform numerous Lloyd Webber classics.

Incidentally, Citi cardholders have until May 15 to get an exclusive 10 percent discount on tickets to The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, another Broadway spectacle from Citi. Citi cardholders may avail of the exclusive 10 percent discount on tickets when they pay with their Citibank credit cards or with their Citibank or Citibank Savings ATM cards. Book your tickets to this exclusive Broadway event by calling Ticketworld at 891-9999 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph.