Bobby Garcia marks ‘20’

In 1993, Bobby Garcia directed Lee Blessing’s Patient A, his first professional stage production in Vancouver, Canada. Equipped with an undergraduate degree from Fordham University in New York and a Masters of Fine Arts Degree in Directing for Theatre from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, he would go on to direct productions such as Another Part Of The House, The Baltimore Waltz and Cabaret in Canada. In 1999, he started what has become one of Asia’s most prolific theater companies, Atlantis Productions.

Although he has staged some of the biggest and most elaborate musicals across Asia, a staple to his career has always been taking risks. He took a big risk with Rent in 1999 and followed suit with How I Learned To Drive, Hedwig & The Angry Inch, Urinetown, Tick,Tick…Boom, Next To Normal and God Of Carnage among many others. His productions have been staged throughout the Asian region including mainland China (Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Xian), Hong Kong SAR, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore.

He started the year off directing the critically acclaimed production of Piaf starring Pinky Amador and then returned to Vancouver and the UK to fulfill several long-term commitments. He returned to Manila in August to begin rehearsals for the musical version of Stephen King’s classic horror novel Carrie, which opened on Sept. 20 at the Carlos P. Romulo, RCBC Theatre, Makati, to a prolonged standing ovation and critical acclaim. Guest of honor on opening night was none other than the musical’s book writer, Lawrence Cohen.

He says of his latest hit show Carrie, “I think it is important to take risks on shows that you believe in, even if you are uncertain how they will be embraced by audiences. When we first staged Rent, we had no idea that it would be the hit it became. The same was true with Next To Normal, which goes to even darker places than Rent. But we were thrilled and grateful for the reception audiences gave it. I have been obsessed with Carrie for 25 years and I am thrilled that we were given the rights to stage the new Off-Broadway version of the musical. It is a powerful story of abuse, the dangers of religious extremity and atonement. Those important messages combined with an exciting supernatural horror story and a thrilling Broadway pop score make it an exciting and one of a kind night at the theater. I couldn’t be happier that audiences have embraced this one-of-a-kind-musical.”

Bobby is also thrilled to have collaborated closely with the musical creators — book writer Cohen, composer Michael Gore and lyricist Dean Cohen on the show’s first international production. He says, “The experience of taking this journey and having the full support of the writers is a one-of-a-kind experience that I will never forget. It has been an inspired collaboration and they have now become life-long friends. I thank them from the bottom of my heart for trusting me with their little girl.”

After Carrie, Bobby immediately begins rehearsals for the highly anticipated family Broadway musical The Addams Family which will star Eula Valdes, Arnel Ignacio, K-La Rivera, Jimmy Marquez, Carla Guevara, Calvin Millado, Jamie Wilson, Ikey Canoy and Ryan Gallagher. It will run from Nov. 15 to Dec. 1 at the Meralco Theatre. He says of The Addams Family, “After doing Piaf and Carrie, I am looking forward to ending the year on a lighter note with a zany, madcap, musical that celebrates the musical comedy form. The Addams Family is pure pleasure and I am certain we will have a good time creating it.”

He will end the year directing Lea Salonga’s big concert titled Playlist in December. He is also busy planning Atlantis’ 15th Anniversary Season next year which he promises will be an unforgettable season.

Asked what the greatest lesson he has learned in his 20-year career, he says, “The most important lesson I have learned is to work as hard as I can, come each day prepared and on time, never stop following your dreams, count your blessings and then surrender the rest to the gods. Woody Allen said that, “You can only do so much, and then you are at the mercy of fortune. I believe it.”

And it looks like God has been shining his path with good fortune. Bobby is looking forward to what the next 20 years will bring. And so are we, his friends.