Theater One is Cebu’s newest world-class venue

Several theater masks, an abundant collection of satin slippers and graphics of numerous musical notes greeted Cebuano guests as they arrived for the grand opening of Theater One, SM City Cebu’s newest venue for live performances.

Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama and Cebu Arts Council Foundation chair Fe Sala Villarica led the ribbon-cutting ceremonies. SM’s senior AVP for operations Marissa Fernan and senior AVP for marketing Millie Dizon assisted them.

The evening’s musical presentation began with Cebu’s pride and joy, The Peace Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Robert del Rosario, who rendered all-time favorite classical pieces. Cebuana television personality and singer with the golden voice Pinky Marquez captured the audience with her interpretation of I Want More and Light of a Million.

Versatile Isay Alvarez, best remembered for her hard-to-beat portrayal as Gigi in the original London production of Miss Saigon, wowed everyone present with a heart-warming rendition of songs from A Chorus Line. She was then joined by Marquez in a well-received medley of hits by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Another Miss Saigon original cast member, the talented Robert Seña, bewitched the guests with songs from Man from La Mancha and the stirring The Prayer by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli.

Jinky Llamanzares, the first Asian to play the lead role of the Acid Queen in the multi-awarded musical Tommy, enthralled the invitees with her jazzy version of New York, New York and I’m Changing.

The joy-to-listen-to tenor Nolyn Cabahug, whose long list of credits both here and abroad includes apperances at the San Francisco Opera, brought a wonderful new meaning to popular songs, such as "You’ll Never Walk Alone" from Carousel and "Climb Every Mountain" from the popular film The Sound of Music. Cabahug’s virtuosity and powerful voice brought the house down with the all-time favorite Granada and Andre Bocelli’s hit song Con Te Partiro.

The newly reformatted theater, which seats 764 persons and features a 386-square-meter stage with special flooring for dance performances, is equipped with a high-tech Dolby digital sound system. The area allows for a lot of legroom. The interiors are fully carpeted with posh fabric-covered seats.

Now, Cebuanos can truly enjoy world-class performances in a world-class venue – only at Theater One, SM City Cebu.