Pinay plays Yoko Ono in Lennon musical

Being a diehard Beatlemaniac (aren’t you?), I jumped with joy when I heard the good news that a musical is being mounted in America revolving around the life of John Lennon. Titled simply Lennon, the musical is now on tryout runs in San Francisco and will open on Broadway in July. I bet you it will equal, if not surpass, the box-office record of the hit musical Mama Mia (based upon the hit songs of Abba). My fondest wish? To watch Lennon anywhere it is staged. Don’t you wish it will have a run in Manila?

The other good news about Lennon is that a Filipina has been tapped to play Lennon’s widow Yoko Ono. She’s none other than Julie Danao who is not a greenhorn on Broadway.

Here’s an exclusive report by Funfare’s New York correspondent Raoul Tidalgo (columnist and entertainment editor of the New York-based The Filipino Reporter):

Another talented Filipina is poised to take a crack at The Great White Way and walk the trail blazed by Cely Carillo and Lea Salonga.

Julie Danao, Philippine-born and raised in Miami, Florida, plays Yoko Ono in the new musical Lennon that is coming to the Broadhurst Theater on Broadway in July.

According to the production notes, the life and songs of John Lennon, using his own words, as well as 27 of his songs, provide the basis of this musical play.

Lennon is currently on a tryout run in San Francisco’s Orpheum Theater until May 14, then goes to Boston’s Colonial theater on May 31 through June 25. It will start previews July 7 and opens July 21 on Broadway.

Speaking on the phone from San Francisco, Julie, whose parents hail from Masbate in the Philippines, said that she won the role of Yoko Ono after a series of nerve wracking and strenuous auditions in October last year at which Ms. Ono herself sat in the audition hall.

"At first I found Yoko Ono’s presence both powerful and intimidating, having read all those stories about her, but she soon proved to be a kind and helpful person that I was put at ease immediately," said Julie.

For her audition piece, Julie did two Lennon songs – Don’t Let Me Down and Grow Old with Me.

"Before auditioning I learned that so many had gone before me and that the producers didn’t find anyone they liked, so that made more nervous but I just did my best and gave it my all and I guess I didn’t do badly because two months later, I was told the role was mine," laughed Julie on the phone.

Julie describes her part in Lennon as a singing and acting role that is made more difficult by the fact that she’s the sole portrayer of Lennon’s widow while there are eight actors playing the musical icon at various stages of his life.

"It’s my first big, big role and I’m terribly excited," gushed the talented Fil-Am whose high school ambition was to become a Gospel singer.

Julie is not actually a newcomer on Broadway; she’s played parts in the original productions of Rent and Aida as well as in Saturday Night Fever.

She’s also been on the national tours of Miss Saigon, Rent and Aida.

Julie was born in Quezon City. Her parents immigrated to the US when Julie was three. The family first stayed in New York but later settled in Miami where Julie started winning singing competition in high school.

Julie has been to the Philippines only once, in 1980, vacationing in her mother’s hometown of Balena in Masbate. She understands Pilipino but can’t speak it fluently.

She does, however, utter a smattering of Taglish when hanging around with other Fil-Am actors like Rona Figueroa (who understudies Julie in Lennon) and Dedee Magno.

Aside from singing and dancing, Julie also writes music, a talent that she has focused on after being sidelined from acting due to a knee injury a few years ago. She has written about 50 rock and pop tunes "with 10 really good ones."

Aside from Julie, the Lennon cast is made up of Will Chase (Lea Salonga’s leading man in Miss Saigon), Chuck Cooper, Mandy Gonzales. Marcy Harriell, Chad Kimball, Terrence Mann, Julia Murney and Michael Potts.

Lennon is written and directed by Don Scardino. It has the full blessing and cooperation of Yoko Ono.

Humperdinck coming soon

We’re on nostalgia mode, aren’t we? Especially Baby Boomers who are still recovering from that welcome "blast from the past" created by The Cascades’ recent concert here.

Stand by because the PICC Plenary will reverberate with the well-loved, familiar sound of Engelbert Humperdinck on June 24 when he holds a much-awaited concert. We have to thank the Llamas brothers Winston and Glen for bringing Humperdinck to the Philippines and let us groove once again to such classics as, among others, Release Me; Love Me With All Your Heart; The Last Waltz; After the Lovin’; Quando, Quando, Quando; Am I That Easy To Forget; Winter World of Love; A Time For Us; A Man Without Love; Spanish Eyes; and What a Wonderful World.

Fans of Humperdinck (real name: Arnold George Dorsey) will be glad to know that their idol has, in a span of 35 years, generated sales of more than 130 million records including 64 gold albums and 24 platinum, four Grammies, a Golden Globe and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He has performed for Queen Elizabeth, several presidents and heads of state. His unique voice has charmed millions of fans (us included) around the globe. Humperdinck has recorded every genre of music, from romantic ballads to movie theme songs to disco to rock even to Gospel songs.

But did you know that Humperdinck never wanted to be a singer? As the youngest boy of a family (from Leicester, England) among 10 children, Humperdinck was painfully shy. He grew up in Madras, India, where his father was stationed during World War II. Even as he was loved by his parents, Humperdinck as a child was insecure with his looks. Little did he know that those same looks would make women around the world swoon and throw their underwear to the stage during his performances.

It was during the ’60s when Humperdinck burst onto the music scene, along with such icons as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Tom Jones. He has performed before sell-out crowds in every corner of the globe and his forthcoming concert in Manila will surely be another musical event to look forward to.

Incidentally, Humperdinck has just come out with his latest album, Let There Be Love which covers more than four decades of hits featuring classics from Nat King Cole to contemporary songs from Ronan Keating and Bryan Adams.

Okay, then, Humperdinck fans, buy the album and save for his PICC concert on June 24 (which coincides with the Araw ng Maynila).

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