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REVIEW: ‘HAMILTON’ — Astonishing stagecraft
“Hamilton,” Lin-Manuel Miranda’s rap musical about the eponymous Founding Father, has finally landed in Manila — the first stop of a new international tour that replicates the exact production currently running on Broadway and London’s West End. This is, in other words, essentially the same production that’s won every major theater award conceivable in the West, and whose live stage recording released on Disney+ three years ago was a global success among Covid-captive home viewers. You wouldn’t immediately know all that, however, just from watching this production: Even as it brims with dazzling theatricality and refreshing erudition, it also feels surprisingly small, rid of its status as a phenomenon, pared down to human size. It’s a show that’s almost oblivious to its own celebrity, even as entrance applause (erupting to diminishing returns) dotted the first 15 minutes of its 21 September gala performance at The Theatre at Solaire. Instead, it knows when to build up to the big musical moments, which are few and far between, and does so organically and therefore quite satisfyingly. The logical progression of the narrative and individual character drama — the musical’s unassailable structural precision — are rendered very clear; put bluntly, it is a storytelling apologist’s wettest dream. Never mind that the musical itself — evidently a product of modern-day liberalism, the politics of the American Dream made manifest through the eyes of 21st-century immigrants — is by now indivisible from the very valid criticisms it has received from many corners of American scholarly thought. For the uninitiated, Hamilton tells through rap the rise of the Founding Fathers, including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, as they built America in the latter half of the 18th century. Admittedly, given what we know now and what we’ve been through since the musical premiered in New York in 2015, it feels weird, to say the least, to be watching a show that hero-worships to varying degrees the likes of Washington, Jefferson and Hamilton — all products of and complicit to the sins of their time. Moreover, the way the musical intentionally casts non-white actors to play these historically white figures (and slavers) can, depending on how one looks at it, come across as a stroke of meta subversion or “revisionist and insulting nonsense,” to quote one critic. Unique brilliance Again — all valid criticisms, which some have suggested are actually part of the musical’s unique brilliance. Watching the musical (through this particular production) in Manila, however, you entertain those thoughts mainly in retrospect. Inside the theater, it’s all those aforementioned merits — and more! — that surround you: a show that’s so technically precise in ways that highlight the material’s inventiveness, a feast of astonishing stagecraft, a display of just how good musical theater can get when given vast resources. [caption id="attachment_187901" align="aligncenter" width="1148"] DeAundre’ Woods as Aaron Burr. | photograph courtesy of IG/dre_woods[/caption] Despite the title, the crux of this production is DeAundre’ Woods’ Aaron Burr (Hamilton’s archrival, if you will). It’s a performance for which the phrase “no notes” seems to have been coined. Whenever Woods disappears from the stage, you look for him. But, more importantly, the genius of Woods’ performance is in how it becomes the anchor through which the musical itself can be better understood: as a story of wanting and longing, a warning against the folly of ambition, a morality tale run parallel to the uncertainty and messiness of nation-building. When Woods sings (and brings down the house with) Burr’s first big solo “Wait for It,” you instantly comprehend the song — and, for that matter, the musical. Arguably, Burr is the central and meatiest role here. Next to Woods’ interpretation, however, the smallness and silliness inherent to the story Hamilton tells become all the more coherent. You grasp how Hamilton and his posse were essentially just kids bumbling their way through a revolution. It’s all very grand on paper, but it’s also a journey chockfull of pettiness and foolishness — and on that stage, a history lesson that revels in its occasionally juvenile, highly accessible nature. [caption id="attachment_187903" align="aligncenter" width="1432"] JASON Arrow as Alexander Hamilton. | photograph courtesy of ig/jason arrow[/caption] Three other male performances stand out in the process: Jason Arrow’s Hamilton, who convincingly pulls off the title character’s transformation from “young, scrappy, and hungry” to world-weary; Darnell Abraham’s Washington giving gospel-preacher-showdown realness; and Brent Hill’s King George literally putting the “mad” to delectably comic effect in his interpretation of the famed mad king. [caption id="attachment_187906" align="aligncenter" width="1512"] DARNELL Abraham as George Washington. | photographs courtesy of ig/darnell abraham[/caption] [caption id="attachment_187900" align="aligncenter" width="1348"] BRENT Hill as King George. | photographs courtesy of ig/darnell abraham[/caption] Dreamcasting Elsewhere, this is a production that’s supplied with all the right parts — but, on a local stage as technologically impressive as the Theatre at Solaire (the best acoustics in Metro Manila, hands down), it also invites “dreamcasting” — permitting you to imagine in real time how certain Filipino theater performers cast in certain roles would, without a doubt, totally slay those parts. No matter: As it is, this Hamilton is one that lives up to the hype surrounding its supposed brilliance — while simultaneously earning that reputation before a live audience night after night. Among others spots of pure artistry, it has a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it onstage costume change involving the terrific ensemble early in Act I, a historical battle conjured through frenzied dance, and entire scene changes and moments evoked simply through the deliberate arrangement of performers’ bodies (that climactic bullet scene, anyone?). In lieu of an arduous and expensive trip to New York or London, this production more than does the job. Hamilton runs at the Theatre at Solaire, Pasay City, until 26 November. The post REVIEW: ‘HAMILTON’ — Astonishing stagecraft appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
How ‘Here Lies Love’ co-producer found his mark on Broadway
When Here Lies Love, the hit musical about former First Lady Imelda Marcos, made history by debuting on Broadway debut with an all-Filipino last July, one of its co-producers, Don Michael H. Mendoza, also reached a career milestone. His goal of putting his name on a Broadway show before turning 40 came true now that he’s 34. [caption id="attachment_172743" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Don Michael Mendoza with Daily Tribune’s (from left) Dinah Ventura, Jojo G. Silvestre, Gigie Arcilla, Vangie Reyes, Marc Reyes, Raffy Ayeng, Gibbs Cadiz and Nick Giongco.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_172742" align="aligncenter" width="525"] ‘Always ask for what you want because the worst that can come back is a no.’ | Photographs Courtesy of Daily Tribune.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_172741" align="aligncenter" width="525"] DON Mike Mendoza with Daily Tribune’s Jojo G. Silvestre and Dinah Ventura.[/caption] It happened, and it’s not just any show. It’s the first Filipino musical on Broadway,” he tells Daily Tribune’s Dinah Ventura and Jojo Silvestre in an interview on their online show Pairfect. “It’s very important to me because a lot of my career is based on the idea of D,E & I — diversity, equity and inclusion — especially in a country like America that’s a melting pot. “It’s very important to make sure that unrepresented voices and communities are brought to the front. To be part of that, for me personally, is an incredible honor because it’s exactly aligned with how I live my professional life every day, every year.” “For the Fil-Am community,” he adds, “I think it’s important for people to see themselves in that arena, whether be as a producer, an actor, or a stagehand, or on the creative team as an assistant director. You know, it says a lot when someone tries to reach that can see themselves in a role that they want to achieve. “Because for a long time, my role models were very few. They’re mostly Americans, they’re white people. And I wanted to be an actor and my only acting influences in the media was Paolo Montalban. He was in Cinderella, American Adobo… He’s now a friend — which is amazing! But I didn’t really have many role models. So, to our community, both Filipino and Fil-Am, they can now look at this production and say, whatever they feel is their career path, ‘I can do it, too.’ So, it’s very powerful.” Beginnings Don Michael Hodreal Mendoza, nicknamed Don Mike, was born in Washington D.C., the capital city of the United States, to immigrant parents. His father Donald Mendoza’s family hails from Cavite and is involved in local politics. His mother Maria Leonila Hodreal has families in Marinduque (maternal side) and Bicol (paternal side). His grandfather Querubin Hodreal created what is now known as the Easy Rock Manila radio station. “My mom, who’s part of that legacy, says even though we’re in the States I somehow ended up doing what our family does, in entertainment and media,” he says, beaming. From Washington D.C., Mendoza’s nuclear family moved to the city of Pittsburgh in the Pennsylvania state, where he grew up. “But I was also raised here in Manila, in Ayala Alabang, for a couple of years,” he points out. He was then between the ages of six and eight, also starting his education at Montessori Manila in BF Homes. “We’re lucky we’re able to come home a lot, so even though I grew up on majority in America, we’d come home every other year.” That explains why he also has exposure and gets inspiration from Filipino movies and entertainment. Mendoza started performing in school plays and high school musicals “for fun.” For college, though, he “needed to study that wasn’t the arts because immigrant families want you to do something that makes money in their eyes.” So he took up broadcast journalism and political science at the American University in D.C. But he didn’t like political science, so he dropped it and added musical theater to his studies without telling his parents until he got into the program. After graduation, he was torn between two goals: becoming a Broadway actor like Jose Llana, who currently plays the late President Ferdinand Marcos in Here Lies Love, and becoming the “Filipino Anderson Cooper.” He ended up staying in D.C with a job in marketing, which eventually became his master’s degree. Mendoza started auditioning and trying to get into shows. “But I wasn’t getting cast the way I wanted to,” he recalls, “because it’s very hard for a Filipino, an Asian male actor to get parts, unless you decided to be in Miss Saigon, which was one of the only very few shows that hire Asian people. So, I kinda fell into producing.” That was when he met a fellow Fil-Am, Regie Cabico, who’s 20 years older than him and became his mentor. He remembers Cabico telling him, “The way to be successful for someone like us in the arts is to start your own opportunities.” Thus, the birth, in 2012, of their company, La Ti Do, which is into production of cabarets and concerts. “I met so many people and worked with so many actors and performers without knowing it’s producing,” he says, smiling at the memory. “I just realized producing means organizing. It means you’re in charge, you’re putting things together and hire people. In those 10 years, I was able to produce small musicals and concerts and special events.” He then put up his own DMH Mendoza Productions, which has La Ti Do as its cabaret-concert arm, to allow him to “produce bigger and more incredible things.” For starters, he produced the off-Broadway play Hazing U that tackles violence in fraternities. Around that time, February 2023, he heard about Here Lies Love being restaged, this time on Broadway. The musical created by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim originally premiered off-Broadway in 2013 at The Public Theater in New York City. A year later, it moved to the Royal National Theater in London, England, and then was restaged at Seattle Repertory Theater in the US in 2017. Mendoza admits with regret that he missed seeing Here Lies Love’s off-Broadway premiere and thought he’d never see it ever again “just because Filipino things don’t usually last very long in America.” So when he heard it was coming to Broadway, he basically called everybody he knew who’s involved in the production to ask how he could help. “I wasn’t really looking for a producer stature,” he says. “I said to many people I’m willing to sell t-shirts in the lobby just to support this show.” It turned out his good friend Lora Nicolas Olaes, who he stayed with in New York, was in the first workshop of the show in 2011, and she personally knows one of the lead producers, Clint Ramos. Olaes then connected Mendoza and Ramos via email, which led to Mendoza joining the Here Lies Love production team. “I’m still having trouble today saying I’m a co-producer. I’m so used to just doing rather than labeling,” he says. “It’s been a wild ride from then till now. I don’t regret any of it. It’s been the best experience so far.” He then shares that having an all-Filipino cast and a predominantly Filipino production team is very important for the lead producers. Two of the five are Filipino: Clint Ramos, a Tony award-winning costume designer, and Jose Antonio Vargas, a Pulitzer prize-winning journalist. This extends to other producers, such as Hal Luftig, Diana DiMenna and Patrick Catullo, as well as to musical writers David Byrne and Fatboy Slim. “They wanted to reach beyond the cast and make sure that the show is escorted into Broadway by Filipinos because it’s a Filipino story,” Mendoza points out. Aside from Llana, the main cast is made up of Arielle Jacobs (as Imelda) and Conrad Ricamora as (Ninoy Aquino), with Lea Salonga (as Ninoy’s mother Aurora) in a limited run until 19 August. “It’s beyond the cast. So our creative team, our production team, our stagehands, everybody. Even our house staff, some of them are Filipinos. We really wanted to make a mark on Broadway. That’s how it came about. So that was an early decision. Because the off-Broadway production was mixed. It was not all-Filipino. It had Ruthie Ann Miles as Imelda. She’s not Filipino. It was hard to move from her and bring in Arielle Jacobs, who is just as amazing, but, you know, it was very important for the team to be culturally accurate. Because it’s our story.” “It’s our show,” he reiterates. “Let’s bring it to the world. Our people are playing themselves. I’ve said this in an interview: The general public is trained to love Filipino as other ethnicities. This is the first time we’re training them to love us, Filipinos, as ourselves.” Musical textbook Mendoza’s fellow co-producers include Salonga and Fil-Am celebrities like comedian Jo Koy, musical artist H.E.R. and rapper Apl.de.ap. “Our show is a musical textbook,” he explains. “It’s a musical built around facts, what happened historically during her lifetime. Our whole goal for the show is to present to you what happened with, of course, entertainment attached to it. There’s a misconception that it’s a documentary. It is not. It’s musical theater. It’s supposed to be fun. You see what happened. “We empower our audience to make their own decision. We don’t tell them, ‘This was a bad person. This was a good person.’ Here’s what this person did in their life and how she was affected by her surroundings, and go home and do the research. You figure it out. We liken it to giving someone a Zip file of Philippine history in the 21th century and you go home and unzip the Zip file to get into the details. “But we give you an overview. It’s really up to the audience when they leave the show. I know it’s the goal of our writers and directors to not impose an opinion. We’re just here to entertain and make you learn. When you leave, it’s up to you.” Mendoza happily reports that Here Lies Love is being received “very well.” He adds, “The critics have come and said really wonderful about the show, especially the ones we’re nervous about, like the New York Times, or The Washington Post, or the Wall Street Journal. It trickles down to everyone who’s seen the show. I think we’re so proud and excited that it’s well-received. Audience members love it, they keep coming back.” He also notes that audiences are “pretty diverse. You see Filipinos, you see Americans, you see visitors. It’s really a big hodge-podge of different people. We’re happy about that, too. It’s not biased to just one community.” Indeed, Mendoza is living his dream and he has this piece of audience for the younger generation who also hopes to break into theater or arts in general: “Always ask for what you want because the worst that can come back is a no.” He then shares what she’s picked up from Kris Jenner: “If somebody says no to you, you’re asking the wrong person. Keeping asking for what you want. Not just manifesting, but really it’s just speaking up. Nobody can read your mind. Nobody can see what’s happening in your mind and in your heart. So if you express it, you ask and you’ll get there. It may not happen in the timing that you want, but it will happen if you keep pushing.” The post How ‘Here Lies Love’ co-producer found his mark on Broadway appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Here Lies Love’ co-producer says hit musical may soon be staged in Manila
After conquering Broadway with an all-Filipino cast, Here Lies Love, the musical created by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim about former First Lady Imelda Marcos, may soon be staged in the Philippines. It’s being talked about,” Don Michael H. Mendoza, a co-producer of the Broadway production, told Daily Tribune in an exclusive interview. He recently flew in from the United States for a vacation and to visit some family and friends. [gallery columns="2" size="large" ids="171941,171942"] “The hope is that the first international production will be in Manila. But they’re also considering Sydney. It’s very early in discussions, but there are plans to bring it abroad. We’ll just have to look for the right place that will house the show because the set is so different. It’s more probably like a studio space than a traditional theater.” Mendoza also confirmed having an all-Filipino cast in the planned touring production, hopefully with the current lineup led by Arielle Jacobs (as Imelda), Jose Llana (as Ferdinand Marcos Sr.), Conrad Ricamora (as Ninoy Aquino) and Lea Salonga (in a special guest role as Ninoy’s mother Aurora). “Of course, it depends on where people are at that point of time,” he pointed out. “If they haven’t moved on to other shows, what their schedules are like. So, hopefully… It would be great to bring the whole cast, but it depends on what they’ll have next.” Show vacancies In case of vacancies, the production may audition performers based in the Philippines, like it did before. This led to the question about Mark Bautista, who played Marcos in both the London and Seattle productions of Here Lies Love after it premiered off-Broadway in 2013 at The Public Theater in New York City. Jose Llana, who currently plays Marcos, originated the role off-Broadway. “We auditioned people from the Philippines,” Mendoza said of their casting process for the Broadway staging. “So I’m sure Mark auditioned. He was in high consideration.” The co-producer explained that Mark’s non-inclusion in the current cast doesn’t mean the Filipino singer-actor “won’t be in that later.” He shared the story of a friend of his who was able to join the cast months after auditioning and doing other shows. “It’s a never-say-never situation.” As for Salonga’s limited stay in the show, Mendoza said the Tony winner has another engagement, but “she might come back later down the road. But for now, she’s on until the 19th (of August).” About the unfortunate invasion of Salonga’s privacy in her own dressing room, “Lea handled it really well. The public opinion is on our side. We worked it out,” said Mendoza, adding that the production has tightened its security as a result of the incident. “Like Lea said, a ticket buys you access to the show, that’s it. Meet-and-greets, that’s because they’re nice, not because it’s in the contract. If they do a stage door greeting, that’s out of the goodness of their heart. They’re not contracted to do that, so they don’t have to entertain you after the show.” Positive reception Mendoza, who’s among the “at least 20” co-producers of Here Lies Love (aside from “five lead producers and three to four associate producers”) expressed joy and excitement when talking about how the Fil-Am community and Broadway theatergoers have received the musical. “It’s good, positive,” he said. “People are really enjoying the show. The lifespan of the show is 1945 to 1986, just after the Edsa Revolution. It is fun. It’s an enjoyable show. They liked that they learned something — even the people who really know the story, they also say that they learned something they didn’t know about Imelda or Ninoy or whoever. So, all positive. “The negative things we received are just about content. People [were] worried about watering down what actually happened, but, like I said in the interview, it’s supposed to be entertaining. It’s not a documentary, you know. If it gets you to think about something, we’ve done our job.” He also recalled the stellar opening night last 20 July, with celebrity attendees like actors Drew Barrymore and Daniel Dae Kim, comedian-TV host Stephen Colbert, filmmaker Spike Lee, singer-songwriter Shoshana Bean, hairstylist Frederic Fekkai and fashion icon Anna Wintour. “There were so many people that I heard were there, but I didn’t see them,” he said. But he didn’t miss seeing his fellow co-producers Jo Koy and H.E.R. at the opening. Mendoza said Here Lies Love has tickets open until January 2024 and its contract with The Broadway Theater, where it’s playing, is “open-ended.” So it can “keep going as long as tickets sales are up.” He then gave a satisfied smile: “So far, so good.” In the future, he said he hopes to produce more shows, including maybe an original Filipino musical or play on Broadway. “I think now that Here Lies Love has happened, it’s more possible. I won’t say it’s easy, I won’t say it’s easier. But I will say the door is now open for the others to follow.” The post ‘Here Lies Love’ co-producer says hit musical may soon be staged in Manila appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Ravishing, irresistible’: ‘Here Lies Love’ opens to solid reviews
Here Lies Love, the groundbreaking musical about former First Lady Imelda Marcos, officially opened on Broadway on Thursday night, 20 July, with an all-Filipino cast led by Tony-winning actor Lea Salonga and a guest list headed by Filipino-American entertainers H.E.R. and Jo Koy, who are among the show’s producers. Giselle Tongi, a known actress in the Philippines before migrating to the United States, is also a co-producer who functions as community/cultural liaison. She was joined at the event by other celebrities of Filipino descent, including actress Tia Carrere, fashion designer Josie Natori and drag performer Manila Luzon. There were also Hollywood figures, such as actors Drew Barrymore and Daniel Dae Kim, comedian-TV host Stephen Colbert, filmmaker Spike Lee, singer-songwriter Shoshana Bean and hairstylist Frederic Fekkai. [gallery size="full" ids="161929,161926,161931"] Philippine-based actors Yassi Pressman and Mark Bautista, plus Liza Soberano, who’s trying her luck in the United States, were in attendance, too, along with fashion photographer BJ Pascual and model-host Joey Mead.The show has received mostly raves so far. Charles Isherwood of The Wall Street Journal praised “the irresistible score” that is “like nothing else on Broadway,” a sentiment shared by Peter Marks of the Washington Post who said the show’s “jolting tunes, melodic and insistent, send scintillating vibrations through your nervous system.” Wrote Greg Evans of Deadline: “The real pull of Here Lies Love is the staging, with a malleable performance space, an audience herded to and fro, and cast members finding perches throughout the venue.” [caption id="attachment_161930" align="aligncenter" width="720"] LEA Salonga and Manila Luzon.[/caption] Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune, meanwhile, pointed to “a couple of formidable assets. One is the Byrne-and-Slim soundscape, which is to my mind more beautiful, more exciting and more surprising than any score on Broadway last season… The second strength is director Alex Timbers’ conceptual staging.” “The groundbreaking, floor-shaking Here Lies Love makes space for itself like no Broadway show ever has,” said Adam Feldman in Time Out New York, with the “immersive production” allowing audience members to “get swept up in the shifting tides and undertows of history.” [caption id="attachment_161933" align="aligncenter" width="449"] FILMMAKER Spike Lee (middle). | PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF IG/HERE LIES LOVE[/caption] And Johnny Oleksinki of The New York Post concluded: “Even if Here Lies Love doesn’t reach the emotional highs of Evita… it’s a ravishing sensory experience unlike any other.” Here Lies Love is based on the concept album created by Scottish-American musician/songwriter/record producer David Byrne and English musician/DJ/record producer Fatboy Slim that evolved into a rock musical. It tells the story of Imelda’s rise to power and subsequent fall in the aftermath of the People Power revolution in 1986. The show premiered off-Broadway in 2013 at The Public Theater in New York City. A year later, it moved to the Royal National Theater in London, England, and then was restaged at Seattle Repertory Theater in the U.S. in 2017. Mark Bautista played the role of the late President Ferdinand Marcos in both the London and Seattle productions. In the current Broadway run, Arielle Jacobs plays Imelda and Jose Llana reprises the Ferdinand Marcos role he originated at The Public Theater. Conrad Ricamora takes on the part of Ninoy Aquino, while Lea Salonga portrays Ninoy’s mother Aurora Aquino in a limited run until 13 August. The post ‘Ravishing, irresistible’: ‘Here Lies Love’ opens to solid reviews appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Moment of legacy’:Pinoy producers making B’way history with ‘Here Lies Love’
[caption id="attachment_157582" align="aligncenter" width="546"] Don Michael Mendoza and Georgina Pazcoguin.GIRLIE Rodis[/caption] [caption id="attachment_157584" align="aligncenter" width="193"] Giselle Tongi[/caption] [caption id="attachment_157583" align="aligncenter" width="351"] Adam Handyman, Bobby Garcia,[/caption] Here Lies Love, the Broadway musical about former First Lady Imelda Marcos and the People Power Revolution, is not only the first Broadway production to have a cast composed entirely of Filipinos. It is also the first to have so many Filipinos on its producing team. The latest HLL Pinoy producers are Black Eyed Peas singer Apl.de.Ap and DJ CherishTheLuv. They are part of a distinguished group that includes celebrated performers, renowned artists and accomplished advocates who are of Filipino blood and are proud to be part of the innovative show. Named as producers are Hal Luftig, Patrick Catullo, Diana DiMenna and Plate Spinner Productions, Clint Ramos, and Jose Antonio Vargas, with Aaron Lustbader as executive producer. They are joined by Lea Salonga (who is in the cast), H.E.R., Jo Koy, Bobby Garcia, Giselle “G” Töngi, Celia Kaleialoha Kenney, Girlie Rodis, Miranda Gohh, Rob Laqui, Georgina Pazcoguin, Don Michael H. Mendoza, Adam Hyndman, Yasuhiro Kawana, Triptyk Studios, Shira Friedman, James L. Nederlander, Kevin Connor, Patrick Trettenero, Elizabeth Armstrong, Cathy Dantchik, Wendy Federman/Suzzane Niedland, Luke Katler/Ryan Solomon, Laura Ivey/Janet Brenner and Hunter Arnold/TBD Theatricals. David Byrne, co-founder of the ‘80s New Wave group Talking Heads and the brains behind the concept and music of HLL, said to The Washington Post’s Gina Apostol that this was what he intended. The Grammy- and Oscar-winning musician explained, “I wanted producers who understand what it means, not just to them personally but to the Filipino community.” ‘Phenomenal musical’ Getting the producers on board was not difficult because of HLL’s history. In 2013, HLL premiered off-Broadway at New York City’s The Public Theater where it played until 2015. It also had runs at London’s National Royal Theatre from 2014 to 2015, and at the Seattle Repertory Theater in 2017. Tony Award-winning producer Adam Hyndman was among the audience of HLL’s off-Broadway debut. “I was so impacted that I saw it three times and brought everyone I knew!” he recalled. When he was invited to bring the project to the world’s most famous theater circuit — Adam had produced the Broadway musicals Aladdin, Once On This Island, Hadestown and The Inheritance — his response was immediate: “I jumped on board because I knew HLL would be more than just another show, but rather a moment of legacy.” G Töngi, who had made a name for herself as an actress/host/VJ in the Philippines in the 1990s, was likewise fired up when she witnessed HLL at Seattle Repertory. “I walked away from that experience feeling so seen,” she said. The musical brought her back to 1986 when she, as a child, marched in the streets outside Malacañang with her mother. Atlantis Productions founder Bobby Garcia, who mounted the Philippine productions of Rent and Angels in America, has been involved with HLL since 2014, when it premiered at London’s National Theater. Bobby said, “(Director) Alex Timbers kept me in the loop of potential productions. Patrick Catullo and Clint Ramos approached me about joining the team as co-producer and talked to me about how the show would have a revolving door of Filipino artists from Manila to play Aurora Aquino (the mother of Ninoy Aquino).” The opportunity was simply too good to pass up, said Garcia. “As an advocate of Filipino talent, I wanted to be part of bringing this phenomenal musical to the Broadway stage and opening the door for talent from the Philippines to cross the ocean and make their Broadway debuts.” Breaking ground Garcia’s friend, veteran talent manager and stage and film producer Girlie Rodis, certainly understands what he meant. “Whether you’re someone on stage or someone working behind the scenes, the big break doesn’t come often,” said Rodis. “So when Bobby talked to me in 2021 about joining him as co-producer, no questions asked. More than the prospect of giving breaks to our talented Filipino artists, it’s the chance to carve a legacy that made me tell Bobby, ‘Count me in!’ Who would have thought that a Broadway musical production would have an all-Filipino cast and depict the history of the Philippines? Now it’s finally happening.” HLL’s Broadway debut is set to break ground in American media and performing arts. “This visibility of Filipino performers in leading roles on Broadway just fills my heart,” said Georgina Pazcoguin, New York City Ballet’s first Asian-American female soloist and co-founder of the diversity initiative Final Bow for Yellowface. For actor and stage/TV/new media producer Don Michael H. Mendoza, the impact will definitely be long-term. “Like Hamilton does for actors of color, Here Lies Love will provide employment to countless Filipino performers, musicians and production staff for many years to come. Moreover, it will teach the audience about a people that was always in front of them for decades, but playing other ethnicities. Now it’s our turn to be seen and loved by the audiences for who we are as Filipinos. Not as anyone else.” Bayanihan spirit The bayanihan spirit, or cooperative spirit that Pinoys are known for, is very present among the HLL producers. A number of them are based outside of New York and a few — like Rodis — are outside the US. But thanks to technology and fueled by a united passion, they have formed a strong bond and have achieved their tasks outstandingly. “Being a Here Lies Love co-producer has, at long last, connected me with my culture in a way I’ve been craving. For the first time ever I’m surrounded by co-workers who share a part of my identity,“ said Pazcoguin. Rodis added, “Collaborating with this incredible group of Filipino co-producers has already given me so much. Tony award-winning designer Clint Ramos and producer Jose Antonio Vargas, a Pulitzer-prize winning journalist, have been supportive and generous. It’s a blessing to be in this company.” A few days before Here Lies Love opens on Broadway, the producers already feel ecstatic. “We are excited that there is so much enthusiasm both in the Broadway and Filipino and Fil-Am communities to see HLL,” said New York-based creative producer Rob Laqui. “One of our jobs as producers is to translate this buzz to getting people to the theater so HLL will have a long and successful run… We are confident and have faith in our process, and in the incredible team assembled, that HLL will be the gold standard for what Broadway can be.” The post ‘Moment of legacy’:Pinoy producers making B’way history with ‘Here Lies Love’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Leopoldstadt’, ‘Kimberly Akimbo’ top Tony Awards
Tom Stoppard's play "Leopoldstadt," a look at how one Jewish family confronts anti-Semitism and loss, and intimate tragicomic musical "Kimberly Akimbo" earned the top prizes Sunday at the Tony Awards, the highest honors in American theater. Inclusion and identity were key themes on a night at which history was made -- J. Harrison Ghee in "Some Like It Hot" and Alex Newell in "Shucked" became the first openly nonbinary actors to win trophies for their work on Broadway. Winners, performers and presenters alike at the United Palace theater in Manhattan's Washington Heights neighborhood also offered their full support to striking writers in Hollywood. The 85-year-old Stoppard, who won his fifth Tony for best play with "Leopoldstadt," a work inspired in part by his own family history, called out artificial intelligence, saying he was "teeming with emotions a chat box wouldn't begin to understand." In the 55 years since his first Tony for best play for "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead," Stoppard said, "I have witnessed the theater writer getting progressively devalued in the food chain. It's just something I thought I'd mention." The play won four awards overall, including best director and best featured actor. "Kimberly Akimbo" -- about a high school student suffering from a genetic disorder that causes her to age prematurely -- won five Tonys including best musical and best lead actress for Victoria Clark. Ghee and Newell gave emotional speeches, with Ghee telling the audience: "For every trans, nonbinary, gender-nonconforming human who ever was told... you couldn't be seen, this is for you." Britain's Jodie Comer, known to TV fans as the assassin Villanelle on "Killing Eve," won for best actress in a play for her searing one-woman show "Prima Facie," about a lawyer who defends men accused of sexual assault, until she herself is attacked. Sean Hayes, who starred on TV's "Will and Grace," won for best actor in a play for "Good Night, Oscar." Industry woes The Tonys almost didn't happen, as a strike by the Writers Guild of America, which began in early May, called into question how to produce the live nationally televised event. Eventually, the union said it would not picket the ceremony, after Tonys organizers made some concessions about the show's format -- the show was unscripted, a fact made clear by host Ariana DeBose, who opened the show by looking at blank pages. "Our siblings over at the WGA are currently on strike in pursuit of a fair deal," she said after an elaborate opening dance number. "I'm live and unscripted... buckle up." Staging the Tonys gala was seen as key for Broadway productions. The event serves as an annual showcase for American theater -- and a live ad to encourage tourists to buy tickets. Broadway took a serious hit during the Covid-19 lockdown, which shuttered theaters and left travelers skittish about returning to crowded venues. But the Broadway League, the industry's national trade association, released data last month indicating that theatergoers were coming back to Manhattan. During the 2022-23 season, the first full one since the pandemic, 88.4 percent of seats were filled - "comparable to pre-pandemic levels," the league said in a statement. Total attendance was at more than 12.2 million. But the season was not without its victims, including some of the shows up for awards on Sunday. In addition, "Phantom of the Opera," the longest-running show in Broadway history, closed in April after 35 years, in part because it struggled to rebound from Broadway's 18-month closure. The post ‘Leopoldstadt’, ‘Kimberly Akimbo’ top Tony Awards appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Chesie Galvez CariÑo: Multi-faceted theater ‘Tita’
The recent success of the play Twenty Questions, performed before a full house, is an affirmation of the continuing success of its producers, the Theater Titas, a twosome of friends and former teacher-student Chesie Galvez Carino and Cheese Mendez. Chesie shared with the Daily Tribune that the group recently joined the ranks of other top theater companies in the membership roster of Philstage, the organization of professional theater companies in the country. Reacting to their acceptance into this exclusive fold of the best thespians in this part of the world, Chesie said: “We’re proud of being a part of Philstage now. We were telling ourselves, sino ba naman kami? One has to qualify with three professional productions to one’s name.” She enumerated all three — What’s in the Dark, Paglilitis ni Mang Serapio and Macbeth. “We also had one online during the pandemic, and we got a good number of people who watched it.” So, what are they known for, the way certain theaters bring in their audiences because of their adaptation of world literature or their interpretations of Broadway hits? Chesie claimed, “because we do what we want to do. Macbeth was different. I like to think that ours is an accessible and enriching theater. Like we’re deliberately accessible and enriching.” Of her first play, Chesie said: “I wrote it during a drama workshop that I was giving with Juan Ekis, the writer of Twenty Questions. He was giving the playwriting portion, so I said I would join. I had been working on it for several months. Then, he said, ‘Chesie, I really like your play, let’s just do it.’ I said, ‘Okay, let’s do it.’” To Chesie, “being a producer is not just about providing the money. It’s like, if they need rehearsal space, then come over to our house. Theater is family to us. “And even my kids, Sofia and Franco, are exposed to actors coming and out of our home. Sometimes they watch, and they both act. Carlos hired Sofia as his production assistant in Macbeth. Theater is part of our family life and we’re all happy and fulfilled being in theater.” The post Chesie Galvez CariÑo: Multi-faceted theater ‘Tita’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Opinion - South China Sea- Philippines must softly manage disputes or miss out economically
Manilas assertive transparency strategy is touted as a model for managing maritime disputes but it diminishes key economic opportunities. As Chinese investment pours into other Southeast Asian countries, the Philippines must reduce geopolitical risks without acquiescing to Beijing......»»
2 ex-James Bond actors approve of Aaron Taylor-Johnson as next 007
Former James Bond actors George Lazenby and Pierce Brosnan have stated their approval for Aaron Taylor-Johnson should the latter be the next individual to carry the Agent 007 mantle......»»
Villarreal Football Academy opens in Philippines
Villarreal Philippines Academy will provide unrivalled opportunities for football players all over the Philippines by working hand in hand with Villarreal CF to implement the Yellows’ innovative methodology for the development of its players and coaches......»»
Aktres pinanggigilan ng mga kasamahan sa pagiging late, ‘di nagbago?
LUKANG-LUKA ang co-actors at buong production people ng isang movie outfit sa aktres dahil 6AM ang call time at dumating sa set ng 6PM. Humingi naman daw ng dispensa ang aktres dahil na-overlook niya ang oras bukod pa sa gumimik siya kinagabihan kaya hindi siya nagising at hindi rin siya ginising ng kanyang kasama sa.....»»
Vina Morales wants to do more theater after Broadway stint, plans moving to U.S.
Vina Morales shared that she’s currently working on her Green Card with sister Shaina Magdayao, which will enable them to live and work permanently in the US......»»
Vhong pangarap makatrabaho si Bitoy: Marami akong matututunan sa kanya!
KUNG may isang Kapuso star na gustung-gustong makatrabaho ni Vhong Navarro, yan ay walang iba kundi si Michael V. Ngayong mapapanood na rin ang “It’s Showtime” sa GMA Network kung saan isa sa mga regular host si Vhong, hindi na imposibleng maka-work niya ang ilang Kapuso actors. Nang matanong kung sino sa mga GMA stars.....»»
Betterment of women s sports tackled in forum
In celebration of Women's Month, Evident Integrated Marketing and PR hosted a forum called Equal Play: Accelerating Progress for Filipina Athletes, to discuss the progress of Filipina athletes in terms of representation and opportunities......»»
Ayala to expand partnership with Bosch
The Ayala Group and German company Bosch are eyeing opportunities to expand further their partnership in the Philippines......»»
‘Government should help exporters hurdle EU barriers’
The government must seek the removal of some trade barriers imposed by the European states to allow exporters to maximize the opportunities of the country’s prospective free trade agreement with Europe, an industry group said......»»
Bakbakan ng mga sikat na K-drama actors sa ‘The Wild’ pasabog ang aksyon
NAGSAMA-SAMA ang pinakamatatapang sa Korea para sa isang matindi at makapigil-hiningang aksyon! Game face on na at maghanda para sa isang ‘di malilimutang intense movie experience! Showing na ngayon ang “The Wild” sa mga sinehan nationwide. Ang mga A-List at beteranong aktor ng South Korea na sina Park Sung Woong, Oh Dae Hwan, Oh Dal-Su,.....»»
First poster ng ‘Secret Ingredient’ ni Julia, 2 Asian actors ibinandera na
HUMANDA na sa nakakatakam na upcoming romantic series! Ipinasilip na ang first poster para sa K-Drama na “Secret Ingredient” na pinagbibidahan ng Pinay actress na si Julia Barretto, kasama ang Korean star na si Sang Heon Lee at Indonesian actor na si Nicholas Saputra. Ang serye ang kauna-unahang collaboration ng Viu Philippines at Unilever Nutrition.....»»
Big Slaysian energy : Abigail Adriano, Seann Miley Moore on their Miss Saigon roles
Filipino-Australian actors Abigail Adriano and Seann Miley Moore are expected to deliver on making their "Miss Saigon" characters their own when the musical returns to the Philippine stage this March......»»
Miss Saigon co-creator praises musical s Philippine connections
Claude-Michel Schönberg is back in the country to witness the comeback of "Miss Saigon," which has close ties to the Philippines because of all the Filipino actors who took part in its numerous stagings, beginning with theater legend Lea Salonga......»»