What could be Rafael’s secret?

It’s been a year since we greeted Norwegian born actor Rafael Rosell IV "lykke til" (good luck, in Norwegian) in this space. And so far, lady lykke has indeed been kind to him.

So far, Rafael has done guestings and provincial stints, regular TV shows, a high-profile endorsement for a toothpaste ad. He is the image model of Blue Soda, a brand of clothing which carries shirts, pants, polos, caps, accessories and many more.

"It’s been one year since we first used Rafael for Blue Soda. It’s actually our first time to use a celebrity to endorse Blue Soda and it worked. Our sales increased by 25 percent in the past year," says Chin-Chin Bona La Rosa, senior vice-president of Blue Soda. "That’s why we renewed his contract for another year." Incidentally, Rafael, as well as Pink Soda image model Audrey Tan will appear in a special show for Fashion Week in Glorietta on April 9. Pink and Blue Soda will unveil their exciting 2003 summer collection.

Now what seems to be the secret of Rafael, that despite being born and raised in the Land of the Midnight Sun, he has been able to transcend the stigma of balikbayan actors who fade into oblivion even faster than you can say "deport?" "I guess it would be my hard work and determination," says the ABS-CBN Talent Center artist. "And I’m really working hard to learn Tagalog. I guess that’s my difference with the others."

Launched via Star Circle Batch 9, Rafael’s first regular TV role as Oliver in Tabing Ilog. Now, he plays Tiborce in Kay Tagal Kitang Hinintay. On the silver screen, he earned the nod of the Philippine Movie Press Club when he was nominated for Best New Movie Actor in Star Cinema’s Kung Ikaw Ay Isang Panaginip.

To Rafael, I wish you the best.

Bobby takes no chances

When it comes to theater, his avowed passion, Bobby Garcia takes no chances. Bobby, the prime mover and guiding spirit behind Atlantis Productions, inasists on working with the best creative team in the local scene.

And although he collaborates with a tried-and-tested stable of artists, both onstage and off, he also experiments with Atlantis first-timers. The same is true for his latest splashy musical, Dreamgirls.

"As much as possible, I try to get the same people I’m comfortable with," Bobby explains, "but I also make it a point to put in new faces to jazz up the team. Like for the main cast of Dreamgirls, I recruited Atlantis veterans like Bituin Escalante, Anna Fegi, and Lana Jalosjos. But for the fourth girl, I chose Tex Ordoñez, with whom I’ve not worked with before. (Other members of the cast are other Atlantis veterans Calvin Millado of Rocky Horror Show, Rent and Jesus Christ Superstar, Jett Pangan of tick, tick.... BOOM! and Rocky Horror Show and Raul Montessa of Jesus Christ Superstar)."

Behind the scenes, he also welcomes the fresh ideas these Atlantis newcomers bring to the equation. And collaborators, Bobby asserts, could come from anywhere, from diverse fields, in fact.

For his last musical, the wildly triumphant The Rocky Horror Show, he recruited topnotch fashion designer Rajo Laurel to whip up those outré and outrageous costumes that the colorful cast of characters donned onstage. Quick on the heels of their Rocky Horror collaboration, Bobby and Rajo have again teamed up for Dreamgirls.

"He did the fabulous gowns of the girls in the show," Bobby beams. "We were very happy with his work in Rocky Horror. That was why we tapped him again for this musical. He’s great to work with, very adaptable." Additional costumes for the show were created by Sky Manapat.

Meanwhile, the show’s music, Bobby chimes in, is one of the most celebrated in the Broadway canon. As such, he recruited the best in the local scene to work with him in the music department. For Dreamgirls, Bobby is teaming up with gifted musical director Gerard Salonga.

"He’s a brilliant musical director," Bobby intones. "And he is not just working under me, we are working alongside each other. This play is really about great music. And young as he is, Gerard already has impressive credentials when it comes to musicals, having worked on Carousel (for Repertory Philippines) and They’re Playing Our Song (for Maxi-Media International)."

Dreamgirls runs until April 6 and is on its last weekend at Onstage in Greenbelt Makati. Call Atlantis Productions at 892-7078 or Ticketworld at 891 5610 for ticket information.