Manila, Philippines - When we at Atlantis Productions ?rst announced our 2012 season, we knew it was going to be a very exciting year for us. Between our lineup of shows and the visiting, world-class artists who would be joining us to help create the shows in varied ways, we were raring to go.
We kicked off the year with a repeat run of In The Heights. This truly magical, Tony Award-winning musical captured the hearts of Filipino audiences in its ?rst run in 2011. The show also won the Aliw Award for Best Ensemble and our Abuela Claudia, Jay Glorioso took home the Aliw Award for Best Supporting Actress. We felt it would be a ?tting way to kick off our 2012 season with this joyous celebration of life. The very successful repeat run was made even more special by the presence of the show’s Tony Award-winning creator himself, Lin-Manuel Miranda, who was mobbed like a rock star by audiences on opening night. Lin took to Manila like the honorary Pinoy he claims himself to be and joined the cast onstage for opening night bows where he said it is truly a gift to ?nd that he has a “barrio” here in Manila as well.
For his despedida party in Manila, Lin was serenaded by no less than Asia’s Queen of Song, Pilita Corrales, who sang for him in English, Tagalog and Spanish. And then the party turned into a full-out karaoke with Nyoy Volante providing music on his guitar and cast-members singing songs including some songs from Heights with Lin joining in. It was truly one of the most unforgettable evenings we have had.
Next up was the show that rocked Manila to its core, Rock of Ages. Rock of Ages, which continues to run on Broadway and in London’s West End, featured international rockstar MiG Ayesa in his very ?rst Philippine musical. He was joined by a stellar cast led by Nyoy Volante, Vina Morales (making a breathtaking professional stage debut), Jett Pangan, Aiza Seguerra, Calvin Millado, Jinky Llamanzares, Bibo Reyes and Jamie Wilson. This wild party of a musical had people singing along, hooting loudly and getting up to dance throughout its wildly successful sold out run.
Immediately after, Rock of Ages, we heralded the return of Tony and Olivier Award winning actress, Lea Salonga to a straight play in Yasmina Reza’s Tony and Olivier Award winning play, God of Carnage. With Lea in the cast were the ?rst lady of Philippine Musical Theater, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo with internationally-acclaimed actor Art Acuna and Singaporean superstar Adrian Pang. The acclaimed Manila production will travel to Singapore for a three week run in November. God of Carnage is a joint production of Atlantis Productions and The Singapore Repertory Theatre.
Another favorite Atlantis show returns to Singapore in September, as well. After multiple hit runs in Manila and a triumphant run at Singapore’s Esplanade Theater in 2008, musical theater’s funniest and most naughty puppets are back. The Tony Award winningAvenue Q, which will feature Rachel Alejandro in her award-winning dual performance as Kate Monster/Lucy The Slut along with a brand new and exciting cast. Avenue Q runs from Sept. 27 to Oct. 7 at the Marina Bay Sands Grand Theater.
While the puppets are conquering Singapore once more, we present the majestic Tony Award-winning musical Nine in Manila. Based on Frederico Fellini’s iconic ?lm 8 1/2, the musical which features gorgeous songs by Maury Yeston follows the life of world famous director Guido Contini as he prepares his latest picture and balances the women in his life. Nine features musical theater’s favorite leading man, Jett Pangan as Guido. Playing the different women in his life are Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Cherie Gil, Eula Valdez, Ima Castro, Carla Guevara-Laforteza, Sitti Navarro, Yanah Laurel and Jay Glorioso. This once-in-a-lifetime cast of movie stars, musical theater icons, and recording artists will truly make this show the musical theater event of the season. Add to this, is a serendipitous assembly of members of the creative team who will be collaborating with director, Bobby Garcia. David Gallo, Tony Award-winning designer of Broadway shows like The Drowsy Chaperone, Memphis, Xanadu, Company, Thoroughly Modern Millie and The Mountaintop ?ies into Manila to design the set of the show. New York-based Filipino designer Robin Tomas goes from couture to musical theater with his costume designs for the show. Nine runs from Sept. 21 to Oct. 7.
To end the year, Atlantis was handpicked by Disney Theatricals to create the Asian Premiere of Disney’s Aladdin. This will de?nitely be the family musical event of the year where we bring to life the enchanting world of Agrabah, romantic Arabian nights and a romantic magic carpet ride for Princess Jasmine and Aladdin as they sing the Academy Award winning song A Whole New World. Based on the ?lm which features music by eight-time Oscar winner, Alan Menken, Oscar winner Howard Ashman, Oscar winner Tim Rice and Tony Award nominated lyricist Chad Beguelin (who also wrote the book to the musical), Aladdin tells the story of a street-smart young boy whose life changes with one rub of a magic lamp. TV actor, Tom Rodriguez makes his professional musical theater debut as Aladdin and K-la Rivera, straight from her triumphant and acclaimed turn as Nina in In The Heights plays Princess Jasmine. Aladdin comes to Manila thru a special licensing agreement with Music Theatre International and Disney Theatricals. The show opens in November at the Meralco Theater.
A limited number of shows are still available for show-buying and fundraising opportunities for Nine and Disney’s Aladdin. We want to thank everyone who has joined us for our shows and we hope to see you at the theater for the rest of the year. The excitement and the magic continue. It is our constant joy to share all these shows with all of you.
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For show-buying inquiries, call Atlantis Productions at 892-7078.