They’re Playing Our Song returns

MANILA, Philippines - This is how the story goes: Well-known composer Vernon Gersch meets aspiring offbeat female lyricist, Sonia Walsk. It’s the token story of boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, girls falls head over heels for boy — only, the kookiness of Sonia interspersed with the wisecracks of Vernon leads to one hilarious scene after the other.

It’s the show that the New York Post dubs as “fun [as] it is funny, full of blithe good humor, hilarious jokes and witty, pointed characterizations” while the New York Daily News calls it “engaging, light entertainment.”

Based on the real-life relationship of the show’s Broadway creators, the late, great Tony Award-winning composer Marvin Hamlisch (A Chorus Line) and Grammy Award-winning songwriter Carole Bayer Sager (Michael Jackson, Celine Dion), They’re Playing Our Song takes a peek into the trials that both Sonia and Vernon undergo before finding true love.

Co-presented by The Rockwell Club and The Peninsula Manila, the romantically offbeat comedy musical, which features hit songs like Fallin’ and I Still Believe in Love, returns to Manila after more than a decade via one of the country’s leading theater groups, 9 Works Theatrical.

The musical also marks the return of Nikki Gil to the stage. Nikki, who regularly appears in the noontime variety show ASAP 2012, is one of the longest running VJs for MYX. She is also a trusted brand ambassador and spokesperson for various advocacies and a TV actress and a singer with several albums under her belt. She also played the role of Elle Woods in Legally Blonde the Musical and Charity Hope Valentine in 9 Works Theatrical’s critically-acclaimed dance musical, Sweet Charity.

“I’m actually excited to start rehearsing for the show but at the same time, very nervous,” intimates Nikki about having to play the role of Sonia. While this is her fourth theatrical production (Legally Blonde, Seussical the Musical), she says that performing onstage is always nerve-racking and it never gets any easier. Not to mention, the role of Sonia was once played by her idol, Tony Award-winner Lea Salonga.

“I love Lea and anything that has to do with her,” Nikki quips fondly, adding, “She really brought the role of Sonia to life in the previous staging. I’ll just have to bring something different to the table… my own version.”

Thankfully, Nikki finds herself in good company and is reunited with 9 Works Theatrical’s artistic director Robbie Guevara (Rent, The Wedding Singer) as her director for the show, as well as veteran actor Lorenz Martinez who plays Vernon, her romantic lead in the show.

Lorenz is one of the top theater actors in the country. His inherent gift of quick comic timing and tenor singing voice has enthralled audiences both locally and abroad and makes him the perfect candidate to play the role of Vernon. Currently appearing in Resorts World Manila’s The King and I as Lun Tha, he has also appeared in shows like Forbidden Broadway, 9 Works Theatrical’s The Wedding Singer, Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Asian Tour), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and the Netherlands production of Miss Saigon as the Engineer, among others.

“It’s weird but also very exciting that I’ll be sharing romantic scenes with Lorenz, who was my assistant director for Sweet Charity,” she says. “But I know that he’s also one of the most versatile characters in Philippine theater today. I will surely learn a lot from him.”

As to being directed again by Robbie, she lauds him for being such a cool director and allowing her to discover and grow alongside the character of Sonia. “I love that Robbie allows me to explore,” she says. “I’m looking forward to working with him again.”

Robbie is one of the most well-respected directors and actors in Philippine theater today. He has performed in numerous productions both here and abroad, most notably in the Manila production of Miss Saigon where he understudied the role of Engineer. It was a role that he would eventually play in the Asian and UK tours of the show.  He is also the visionary behind 9 Works Theatrical’s critically-acclaimed productions of Songs For a New World, Rent, The Wedding Singer and Sweet Charity where he first encountered Nikki.

For They’re Playing Our Song, Nikki and Lorenz will be joined by James Stacey, Reb Atadero and Noel Rayos who will play a bevy of roles in the show as the male ensemble, and Peachy Atilano, Anna Santamaria and Jill Pena in the female ensemble.

The artistic team is led by Robbie, Joseph Tolentino (musical director – instrumentation), Lionel Guico (musical director – vocals), Mio Infante (scenographer and costume designer), Martin Esteva (lighting designer), Gemini Quintos (choreographer), Chuck Ledesma (sound designer), Twinkle Zamora (costume execution), Kalila Aguilos (costume stylist), Joseph Pascual (photographer), Tin Samson (magazine editor) and Larry Palma (graphic designer).

The production team is led by Santi Santamaria (executive producer), Anna Santamaria (company manager), Toff de Venecia (PR director), Jonjon Martin (PR manager), GM Hernandez III (marketing manager), Carlos Canlas (HR manager), Sunshine Domine (production manager) and Aries Alcayaga (stage manager).

They’re Playing Our Song will run at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City from Fe. 8 to March 3, and is co-presented by The Rockwell Club and The Peninsula Manila, with special participation of SM Ladies Fashion, SM Accessories, Lynelle’s, Mary Grace, BPI Credit Cards, Trinoma Mall, Alabang Town Center, Modern China, and media partners, MYX, The Manila Bulletin, Business World and HerWord.Com.

For tickets, call 586-7105, 0917-5545560 or 891-9999. You may also visit www.9workstheatrical.com or follow 9 Works Theatrical on Facebook (9workstheatrical) or Twitter (@9WT).

They’re Playing Our Song is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.