Calvin: Theater is my life now

When young artists ask me for pointers about making it in the business, my mind often goes back to something I told actor-singer Calvin Millado back in the ’80s when he was just a fledgling singer. I told him that while not every singer can become a Gary Valenciano or a Martin Nievera, there is always room in this industry for someone who’s willing to work hard and go the distance. “Longevity is the name of the game,” I said to him.

Now, years later, Calvin — while he admittedly did not become a Gary or a Martin — is still very much around. This year, Calvin is marking his 10th year as a theater actor with Atlantis Productions, which gave him his first major break in theater with the local production of Rent in the late ’90s. In 10 years, Calvin has done nine plays with Atlantis: Rent, Dreamgirls, Jesus Christ Superstar, Avenue Q, Legally Blonde, Little Mermaid, Rocky Horror Show, Beauty and the Beast and In The Heights.

His latest stage musical, Rock of Ages, is his 10th with Atlantis. Through the years, and just as his mainstream career was starting to cool, Calvin found his niche in musical theater. He loves it because it allows him to combine his passion for singing with his love of acting.

Calvin is not sore or disappointed that his mainstream career didn’t reach Bieber-mania. “Our medium now is TV,” he says. “If you don’t have anything to promote, you don’t have to be on television. Besides, even then, I didn’t have any illusions of being a superstar. Showbiz made me what I am today, and I’m grateful. I’m happy about where it took me. I had a good run, so no regrets.”

As a singer, Calvin released two studio albums with a major record label. He also did several concerts and corporate shows. He continued to do this for a few years, but now, he says, it’s theater that is keeping him afloat artistically. “That’s my life now,” he says, although he also has business interests outside of performing. Calvin, who married in 2003 and has two children, is engaged in the buying and selling of vehicles. At one point in his life, he had an events company, was a partner in a restaurant, and even owned a store in Trinoma that sold shoes.

His love affair with musical theater officially began when he took on the role in Rent. “Dahan-dahan na akong ume-exit n’on,” says Calvin. “I was doing a lot of corporate stuff, things outside the medium (of television). Then I discovered theater.”

Right now, adds Calvin, he is “over and done with the mainstream thing. I’m a family man now, I have two kids, and artistically, I’m happy where I am.”

In Rock of Ages, Calvin plays an important role as the tightly-wound tycoon Hertz who threatens to close down the Bourbon Room and turn Sunset Strip into a “model of clean and efficient living.” Playing his son Franz is Bibo Reyes, who was also with Calvin in In The Heights. Franz is a tycoon-in-training who is caught between pleasing his father and following his heart.

The musical is built around songs of the ’80s, particularly of the glam rock era. So in Rock of Ages, audiences will hear the songs as popularized by bands like Styx, Journey, Bon Jovi, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Steve Perry, Poison and Europe, among other well-known rock groups.

But Calvin says the story of Rock of Ages (which will run from June 15 to July 8 with performances on Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., at the Carlos P. Romulo Theater, RCBC, Makati), is as arresting as the music. “It’s a gag show, basically,” he laughs. “Our director (Chari Arespacochaga) likes to call it ‘controlled chaos.’ It’s a fun show, and the songs are intertwined with the story.”

Calvin, now 43, does not know where his life or performing career is going to take him next. All he knows is that he loves doing musical theater, and would like to keep on. Future plans can wait. To him right now, it’s more important to seize the opportunities as they come.

That is his philosophy now. “You just ride the wave. You can’t always know where it will bring you, but you just have to trust your instincts.” For Calvin, mainstream stardom may have proven elusive, but that doesn’t mean he is any less of a star. In his corner of the world, on the stage, in a play, he is the best performer he can possibly be.

And most important of all, Calvin Millado is happy.