Regine enjoys being a ‘princess’

If you want a fantasy musical for a Valentine concert, then Forever After is right for you. The concert is about two star-crossed lovers in a Kingdom called Amorata which is inhabited by fairies. The fantasy musical is topbilled by Asia’s Songbird, Regine Velasquez, who plays a fairy for the first time.

"For a change, I’m going to play a fairy," says Regine. She conceptualized the concert together with Ogie Alcasid. She is also producing it.

In Forever After, Regine falls for a Prince (Ogie Alcasid). But the evil Queen (Ai-Ai de las Alas) of the Kingdom of Amorata forbids love in her domain. Through the help of the hopeless romantic fairy (Rico J.), the two young hearts will find that love is stronger than the evil maneuverings of the villainous Queen.

The concert is story driven, thus Regine will only sing a few of her original songs. She has chosen songs that fit the concert’s story, "It’s a break from my own songs and it’s a chance for me to sing the songs of other artists."

Producing concept concerts is not new to the Songbird. She is known to have an eye for details, visuals, the over-all look, production numbers, and the whole shebang when it comes to her concerts.

Regine is making sure that there will be no stone left unturned in a big production like this: costumes painstakingly and elaborately designed, a stage set ala Encantadia, and a top notch crew behind her: Rowell Santiago, director; Ricky Lee, scriptwriter; and Raul Mitra, musical director.

Regine admits that Forever After proves to be far more difficult to produce than she had anticipated it to be.

"It’s harder because it has a story," she relates, "We’re playing a character and at the same time we’re doing a concert."

She is excited and optimistic about the show because she will be working with three of the most respected artists in the local entertainment scene. Two of them (Ogie and Ai-Ai) she has worked with before and with tremendous success.

Rico J. is a completely different story altogether since this is the first time that the two will work together. But the Songbird has only good words for Mr. Total Entertainer. "We have good chemistry and I feel comfortable with him."

In fact, she cannot remember any instance when another artist has tagged her as somebody difficult to work with. "I adjust to people around me," she says.

And with Forever After’s stellar cast and crew, a fairytale like production with a heartwarming story, Valentine’s will be comically redder than red.

Arnold Reyes in ZsaZsa Zaturnnah

Did you know that Arnold Reyes initially wanted to become a matinee idol? That he even auditioned for Kuya Germs’ That’s Entertainment? Arnold Reyes is a respected theater actor today. Recently, he played the role of Bulan in St. Louis Loves Dem Filipinos and in Ryan Cayabyab’s Noli where he essayed the role of Crisostomo Ibarra. In both plays, Arnold earned rave reviews.

"As Bulan, Arnold has found a signature role," said playwright Floy Quintos of Arnold’s portrayal of the character. "He has imbued his Bulan with a wild and feral sensitivity, truly a tribal man lost in a new world. But the real test of St. Louis is the second act, where Bulan wanders America in the Depression Years as a bum. Arnold is alternately comic and tragic, finally, succumbing to a defeat that is heart-breaking."

Arnold is cast in the Tanghalang Pilipino production of Carlo Vergara’s ZsaZsa Zaturnnah (Ze Muzikal) to be staged at the Tanghalang Huseng Batute (CCP Studio Theater) starting today until March 5 with matinees at 3 p.m. (Saturdays and Sundays) and evening shows at 8 p.m. (Fridays and Saturdays).

The musical is based on a comic book, Ang Kagilagilalas na Pakikipagsapalaran ni ZsaZsa Zaturnnah, by Carlo Vergara. It is a recipient of the Manila Critics Circle National Book Award.

Directed by Chris Millado, ZsaZsa Zaturnnah also casts Eula Valdez in the title role, Tuxqs Rutaquio as Ada, Ricci Chan as Didi, Lauren Novero as Dodong (alternate), Agot Isidro as Queen Fermina with Kalila Aguilos as understudy, Wilma Doesn’t, Deeda Barretto, Tess Jamias, Mayen Estanero as the Amazonistas.