Imelda musical soon in NY

Curtain-raisers:

• Here’s the reaction of Malou N. Santos, managing director of Star Cinema, to Funfare’s item about Angel Locsin’s refusal to play Sharon Cuneta’s daughter in Mano Po 6: My Love, Sharon’s first movie for Regal Films. Angel was accused as “hindi marunong makisama” or “walang utang na loob” because it was Regal which produced her first big movies and she has committed herself to doing three more films. Said Malou, “I personally spoke with Mother Lily of Regal Films to explain why Angel Locsin cannot do Mano Po 6. Angel would love to do a movie with Megastar Sharon Cuneta but unfortunately, she could not accept the project because of her prior commitments and busy schedules. After doing the TV series Only You, Angel will start shooting two movies, one with Aga Muhlach under the direction of Cathy Garcia-Molina and another with director Chito Roño, after which she will start taping for a new teleserye. I hope this will put the issue to rest. Thank you for your understanding and continued support to Angel Locsin.” (Note: A piece of advice to Mother Lily: Find another one. Showbiz history shows that second choices always turn out to be the better choices.)

• Who’s the actor-politician said to have recently bought a house in Las Vegas worth, according to the Funfare DPA, “around $1 million?”

The DPA added that the actor and his wife stayed in their new house during their recent vacation. How nice, ‘no?

• And who’s the young businessman seen visiting Heart Evangelista on the set of her GMA soap Ngayon at Kailanman? According to an eyewitness, he and Heart looked “sweet na sweet” while exchanging sweet nothings and laughing. The guy comes from a prominent political family which has showbiz connections. “He’s a bachelor,” said the eyewitness, “binatang-binata.” Clue? His father is famous for his fearless fight to ferret out “the truth.” 

•  A moneyed TV host has just bought the house of his boss for, hold your breath, P80 million! Only last year, he also bought a lot (worth P90 million!) from his other boss who has retired. Wow, wow, wow! I won’t be surprised if, knock on wood, the TV host would end up buying the company, building and all, he’s working for. Hmmmm, when (BIG) money talks...

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Let’s face it: Even now that she (has just turned) 80, former First Lady Imelda Marcos is a box-office draw, a hot media item and a hit anywhere she goes, whatever she does. She’s a newsmaker for all seasons, for all reasons, a Steel Butterfly whose wings continue to flutter-flutter.

Even New York just can’t seem to have enough of The Madame.

Listen to this report from Funfare’s Big Apple correspondent Edmund Silvestre (of The Filipino Reporter):

An off-Broadway production about the “ambitious” and “controversial” former Philippine First Lady will be staged this fall at The Julia Miles Theater on 55th Street in Manhattan on a limited engagement, from Sept. 22 to Oct. 18.

Pan Asian Repertory Theatre will present Imelda A New Musical that has a book by Sachi Oyama, music by Nathan Wang and lyrics by Aaron Coleman. East West Players producing artistic director Tim Dang, who staged the 2005 Los Angeles world premiere of the musical, will direct, with choreography by Reggie Lee.

Broadway actress Jaygee Macapugay will play the title role, with Liz Casasola as Corazon Aquino, Mel Sagrado Maghuyop as Ferdinand Marcos, and Brian Jose as Ninoy Aquino.

The cast also includes Alan Ariano, Angelica-Lee Aspiras, Billy Bustamante, Leanne Cabrera, Sacha Iskra, Loresa Lanceta, Jonelle Margallo, and Romney Piamonte.

The creative team is headed by Kaori Akazawa (set), Victor En Yu Tan (lighting), Ivy Chou (costumes), and Leslie Espinosa (hair and make-up).

Tisa Chang, artistic producing director of Pan Asian Repertory Theatre, said Imelda, which will be New York theater’s first Filipino-themed musical, spans the 1940s to 1980s, the pivotal years after the Philippines gained its independence. “Imelda Marcos wanted to set her country as an equal player on the world stage and gain the respect of the world,” Chang said.

Noted Fil-Am community leader Vivian Velasco said Imelda will give Filipino tourists another reason to see the Big Apple.

(Tickets are priced at $55, $35 for seniors and $20 for students. For particulars, visit www.panasianrep.org.)

Feedback from the Hollywood Olympics

From Funfare’s L.A. DPA, this report: Teen heartthrob Sam Concepcion took a break from the Star Magic tour in the US by visiting Junior Grand Champion Performer Aria Clemente at the Westin Bonaventure, the official venue for this year’s World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA), also known as the annual Hollywood Olympics.

Sam and Aria, both from STAGES’ talent roster, have started making their entry in mainstream Hollywood.  

Aria recently signed with US talent agent Susan Osser. The young singing champion has been attending callbacks for product commercials.

Sam, on the other hand, just met with Sovereign Talent Group agent Frank Gonzalez.

“Sam is highly sellable and easy to cast as a young television actor,” said Gonzalez.

2008 WCOPA grand winner Catherine Loria, together with 2005 WCOPA grand winner Jed Madela, opened this year’s competitions at the Westin Bonaventure last Sunday. Participating in the Olympics are 40 countries including Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Haiti, Ireland, Jamaica, Moldova, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, USA, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Moldova and the Philippines.  

This year’s Team Philippines will be fielding 28 delegates competing in various vocal and modeling competitions.

Three idols in 1st show together

They have performed solo in their solo concerts but never together.

The time has come for Rannie Raymundo, Dingdong Avanzado and Ogie Alcasid to join forces in their first concert together in 25 years, titled 3 Tenors in Concert, slated for tomorrow night, July 15, starting at 8 o’clock at the Music Museum.

The concert is timely because putting together a few idols in a (nostalgic) show is the current fad. The concerts of Pilita Corrales, Carmen Soriano and Carmen Pateña was a big hit; and so were those of Nonoy Zuñiga, Rico J. Puno, Hajji Alejandro, Marco Sison and Rey Valera; and Imelda Papin, Claire dela Fuente and Eva Eugenio.

Presented by Brattrax Productions (with Paul Le as producer), 3 Tenors in Concert is co-presented by Met Tathione and White Beauty Aesthetic Center, for the benefit of Gawad Kalinga.

It’s something to look forward to. Let’s see who among the three — Rannie, Dingdong or Ogie? — will get the lion’s share of the audience applause.

(Note: For tickets, call Music Museum at 721-6726 or TicketWorld at 891-9999.)

(E-mail reactions at [email protected] or at entphi[email protected])