How Aicelle became part of Wicked

MANILA, Philippines - In a recent pageant, the question was asked, “What is the most significant change you’ve seen in the world in the last 10 years?” In surveys, the most common answer would be “the social media boom.”

These days, that’s exactly what most enterprises are taking into. Particularly in the local arts media, be it in movies, TV, live concerts and even in theater, the entertainment industry has already caught on the benefits of free advertising and out-of-the-box ways to reach out to a wider audience.

In the same way, UK’s Wicked Production that’s about to open at The Theatre of Solaire Manila for a month-long run this month, has joined the bandwagon finding new ways to reach out to its target market using the power of online. Last year, the Wicked brand had brilliantly thought of producing a series of music video clips in an effort to go more mainstream pop called Out of Oz Sessions, showcasing stripped down acoustic versions of Wicked’s popular songs performed by former cast members like Idina Menzel and Kristine Chenoweth. The effort has successfully gained second-wind awareness from netizens accumulating millions of views.

Sustaining this new way of reaching out to new audiences, the Wicked UK production has incorporated an exciting new method of collaboration. In Singapore two months ago, they kicked off with Jacqueline Hughes (who plays the female lead Elphaba) with Singapore’s local male singing talent Bunz with the song As Long As You’re Mine and now for the Philippines after stalking clips of great female vocalists (and there’s a lot here), UK’s Wicked producers had selected Aliw awardee and Kapuso singer/stage actress Aicelle Santos to record the same duet this time with British stage actor Bradley Jayden (Wicked’s male lead who plays Fiyero).

“I’m beyond excited to be recording a song from Wicked — the music and lyrics are so iconic and I can’t wait for our first rehearsal. Not to mention I get to jam with Bradley Jaden, too,” says Aicelle.

“I’m very lucky to sing with this incredible talent (Aicelle)...truly honored,” says Bradley.

UK’s Wicked producers were impressed upon seeing Aicelle’s many YouTube clips particularly her version of the Wicked song For Good.

Aicelle and Bradley’s Out of Oz session is scheduled for a series of rehearsals, recording and shoot this month for an online launch during the musical’s run.

Aicelle first caught the eye of Wicked producers when they saw her cover songs from the award-winning Broadway and West End musicals, prompting producers to pitch a collaboration between her and a cast member from the international tour. The musical is on its musical run until March 5.

Bradley’s theater credits include Enjolras in Les Misérables (Queen’s Theatre, 30th anniversary cast), Freddie in My Fair Lady 60th Anniversary Celebration (St. Paul’s Church), Ghost the Musical (UK No. 1 tour), Shrek the Musical (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), The Blues Brothers (Edinburgh Festival), The Rat Pack (Edinburgh Festival) and Stiles and Drewe’s Peter Pan (West Yorkshire Playhouse.)

Aicelle skyrocketed to fame after she joined the first season of local singing competition Star In A Million. Since then, she has represented the Philippines in various international festivals, including the Astana Music Festival in Kazakhstan where she won the Best Performance of Own Country Song award.

In 2013, Aicelle made her big break into the theater scene when she landed the lead role in the original Filipino musical Katy! The Musical. She went on to play the lead in the beloved hit comedy musical Rak of Aegis and won Best Actress in a Musical at the 2014 Aliw Awards for her performance in the show.

Based on the best-selling novel by Gregory Maguire that ingeniously re-imagines the stories and characters created by L. Frank Baum in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Wicked tells the incredible untold story of an unlikely but profound friendship between two sorcery students — a popular blonde girl called Glinda and a misunderstood, green-skinned girl named Elphaba. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfill their destiny as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

Wicked features music and lyrics by multi-Grammy and Academy Award-winner Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Disney’s Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame), and is based on the novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Maguire and adapted for the stage by Winnie Holzman. Musical staging is by Tony Award winner Wayne Cilento and the production is directed by two-time Tony Award-winner Joe Mantello.

Wicked is produced around the world by Marc Platt, Universal Stage Productions, The Araca Group, Jon Platt and David Stone. Executive producer is Michael McCabe (UK/international tour).

The Manila engagement is presented by Globe Live, Lunchbox Theatrical Productions and Concertus Manila.

Tickets are available at TicketWorld outlets.