Welcome the Dogeaters

It is a rare occasion when stars of this magnitude appear together on one stage. And with Atlantis Productions’ staging of Jessica Hagedorn’s critically acclaimed play Dogeaters opening in Manila in November, Gina Alajar, Michael de Mesa, Jon Santos, Andoy Ranay, Teresa Herrera, Ana Bitong and Joel Torre will share the same stage as they bring what promises to be one of the most exciting theatrical productions in Philippine theater.

Directed by Bobby Garcia, Dogeaters, which played at New York’s Public Theatre in 2001 to rave reviews, tells the story of over 40 people (performed by 16 actors) during the tumultuous administration of President Ferdinand Marcos and his wife, Imelda. Both funny and heartbreaking, Dogeaters is based on Hagedorn’s New York Times best-selling novel.

Bobby is ecstatic about the cast he has gathered.

“I wanted the best actors for the show because it really deserves a stellar cast. I am so thrilled we have accomplished that. We have some of the country’s most respected performers of stage and screen. It is a beautiful play and I can’t wait to begin work,” he says.

Gina will play multiple roles including Leonor Ledesma, the penitent wife and Lola Narcisa Divino, the storyteller’s deceased grandmother. Gina is both excited and nervous to do Dogeaters as it is her first English Language stage play.

Michael, who has performed many times before with Atlantis Productions including Rent, Proof and Urinetown, will play the roles of Freddie Gonzaga and Severo “Chuchi” Alacran, the richest man in the Philippines.

Jon will play the roles of fabulous drag queen Perlita Alacran, New York Times correspondent Steve Jacobs and BoomBoom Alacran.

Teresa Herrera, who returned from Los Angeles to Manila to perform in Dogeaters, will play the role of balikbayan Rio Gonzaga.

Ana Abad Santos-Bitong, who recently appeared on stage in Love’s Labour’s Lost, will play several roles including ageless soap opera star Barbara Villanueva.

TV director and actor Andoy Ranay will play the First Lady of the Philippines.

And Joel Torre will reprise the roles he played in the 2001 New York Public Theatre Production, which includes Sen. Domingo Avila, head of the opposition movement against the Marcos Government.

Also featured in the cast are Chari Arespacochaga, Richard Cunanan, Jenny Jamora, Jerald Napoles and Paolo Rodriguez. A full cast will be announced shortly. Dogeaters will run from Nov. 16 to Dec. 2 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati.

For details, call 892-7078 or 840-1187.

Britney’s comeback song

Britney Spears’ comeback song, Gimme More, has entered the Top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100. Just within one week of its release, Gimme More topped the iTunes Stores Top Songs chart at No. 1 with over 179,000 digital download sales and races up the chart with a meteoric jump from No. 63 to No. 3 in the Billboard Hot 100 Singles. Gimme More is Britney’s highest charting hit since her debut single Baby One More Time.

A video of the song will be on sale at iTunes in November. Gimme More is Britney’s first single from the album Blackout. It is produced by Nate “Danja” Hills, the hit-making producer who has worked with Nelly Furtado and Timbaland, among others.

Britney was involved in crafting the album. She collaborated with top producers and songwriters to produce an upbeat album with a nod at past musical influences and an ear toward the future. The album includes songs such as Heaven on Earth produced by promising newcomers Freescha and Kara DioGuardi; Radar, Piece of Me both produced by the Swedish team Bloodshy and Avant, the duo behind Britney’s Grammy winning Toxic.

Britney is one of the top-selling artists of the last decade ever since her 14-time platinum selling debut album Baby One More Time. She has sold more than 83 million albums worldwide.