A dream come true for Erik Santos

Erik Santos was euphoric when told he will be recording a Jim Brickman album in the US. The Prince of Pop couldn’t get over the feeling that he will be seeing the world famous singer/composer anytime soon.

Erik, who was a high school student when Brickman songs dominated the airwaves, will record his own version of Brickman classics. Some of the songs Brickman popularized are Valentine, The Gift, After All These Years, Destiny, Simple Things, Love of My Life, Angel Eyes, You and If You Believe, among others. Brickman will also compose original songs for Erik. “I didn’t imagine that this would happen. This is a dream come true. I bought Jim Brickman records and sang his songs in high school and in college during school events,” said Erik.

Erik enthused that he has made his own line-up of songs he wishes to record. “I will secure his advice. He is one of the best in the world.” Erik leaves for the US soon.

The power of celebrity

If some celebrities are going red, others are going green like Julia Roberts. Julia has come up with her own advocacy to save Mother Earth with her decision to go organic. The Oscar winning actress in an interview said she has started to educate her children Hazel and Phinnaeus about saving Mother Earth.

She said that they have started to grow a garden of vegetables in her backyard and both Hazel and Phinnaeus are loving it. In an interview with Oprah, Julia tried to promote the use of cosmetics made from organic materials.

One of the biggest secrets she revealed was that she doesn’t use underarm protection. Oprah was baffled and asked the actress what she does with her underarm to which the actress replied with a hearty laugh. Some say that Julia is one of the best smelling Hollywood actors. She is pretty even without make up.

She remains sexy, attractive and has one of the happiest marriages in Hollywood. The secret to a happy marriage she said is when you have somebody who loves you. She is also big in promoting biodiesel fuel especially on school buses. She understands the power of celebrity to advance her causes.  

“I’ve been in this business for 20 years, so I understand for better or for worse the media frenzy and the power of celebrity,” she says. “And until you say something of true value on Oprah, you don’t really realize how many people watch her.”

Saving Mother Earth

Following in the footsteps of Al Gore who won several Grammys for the documentary an Inconvenient Truth, Leonardo Di Caprio has come up with 11th Hour, a feature length documentary that tackles issues on the global environment. What has humanity done to the planet? What can we do to save Mother Earth? What solutions can we do to help the earth’s ecosystems? 

In the country, some manufactures have also turned green. Recently, Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos officially launched Intensity, a local distributor of earth-friendly lighting systems. Intensity products utilize Light Emitting Diodes (LED) technology which delivers quality lighting at a lower cost. The new line of recyclable lighting products include street lamps, floodlights, home and commercial lamps. Attending the launch of Intensity were Rep. Mat Defensor, Philippine National Construction Company president Maite Defensor, Intensity, Inc. president Diosdado Capellan and Tetch Capellan.

In local showbiz, actors are also taking the high road to go environmental. Diether Ocampo, KC Concepcion, Piolo Pascual are among those who have known advocacies to save the environment. 

Kelly Frances Lati is Wendla in Spring Awakening

At 18, Kelly Frances Lati will face a world defined by desire, growth, joy, betrayal and passion. If it seems a bit much for someone so young, perhaps one can rest assured by the fact that it’s a world she auditioned for.

This September, Kelly is set to star as Wendla in Atlantis Productions’ highly anticipated staging of Duncan Sheil’s rock musical Spring Awakening. Originated by Lea Michele on Broadway, the role of Wendla is a plum and rich role sought after by many young actresses today. As the lead female in the Tony Award-winning musical, whoever plays Wendla has to be a girl curious about life and strong in her womanhood — someone Kelly undeniably is.

Born and bred in New York City, Kelly has been studying and watching musical theatre for as long as she could remember. She has a gamut of roles in her portfolio: Little Red in Into the Woods; Catherine in Pippin; Sally Brown in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown — but she admits Spring Awakening is her most challenging role to date. Kelly was one of over 200 who auditioned for Spring Awakening. Her callback video was sent to the New York producers of Spring Awakening for final casting approval.A full cast will be announced soon.

Spring Awakening, which opens at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati in September, continues Atlantis Productions 10th Anniversary Season and will be directed by Chari Arespacochaga. It is made possible through a special licensing agreement with its Broadway producers Ira Pittleman, Tom Hulce, Jeffrey Richards and Jerry Frankel.

(Only a few shows remain available for showbuying and fundraising purposes. Call Atlantis Productions at 892-7078 or 840-1187 for more information. Due to explicit content, parental discretion is advised.)