Will Cruise play lead in Rock of Ages film version?

The idea has been thrown around since Rock of Ages became a big hit on its US tour: Will Tom Cruise really play the male lead Stacee Jaxx in the musical’s film version which will start shooting within the year?

A few other names are being mentioned among the “probables” but so far, Cruise seems to be “it,” a belief that gained credence when Cruise caught the ongoing L.A. staging of Rock of Ages recently.

“Maybe Cruise wanted to get the feel of the music,” reported Funfare’s Big Apple correspondent Edmund Silvestre in a scoop report.

In the musical, Stacee Jaxx is played by Fil-Australian rocker MiG Ayesa whose patience, hard work and perseverance have finally paid off. After years of waiting for his biggest break in mainstream America, the West End star of We Will Rock You and Rent has finally landed his “major, major” Broadway star vehicle.

“MiG, who is currently part of the US national tour of the hilarious Broadway smash hit as the nasty and over the top rock star Stacee Jaxx, will join the Broadway cast when Rock of Ages resumes on the Great White Way at the Helen Hayes Theatre on West 44th Street beginning March 24,” said Edmund “thanks to numerous rave reviews by theater critics in various key US cities, most of them singling out MiG’s scene-stealing turn since the national tour began rocking America in September last year. He now leads the so-called ‘supergroup’ cast for Broadway that features a mix of actors from the original production, as well as those from the Toronto cast and the US national tour.”

Constantine Maroulis, MiG Ayesa and Rebecca Faulkenberry)

Among MiG’s early well-wishers after the announcement of the new Broadway cast on Monday were his ever-supportive Aunt Ching and Uncle Ramon Legarda, who never stopped believing in MiG’s talent and star power. Celebrity lawyer Katrina Legarda is MiG’s cousin.

“This is his dream and we are so happy to see him realizing it,” Edmund quoted Ching as saying. Ching has just returned to New York from Manila after serving as one of the principal sponsors in the Ogie Alcasid-Regine Velasquez wedding at the Terrazas de Punta Fuego Beach Resort in Nasugbu, Batangas, in December last year. (The Legarda family owns the famous La Cocina de Tita Moning, one of the Philippines’ best fine-dining restaurants today, according to the popular food and travel blog Our Awesome Planet. That’s where Dingdong Dantes treated his girlfriend Marian Rivera to a surprise romantic dinner last Valentine’s Day.)

MiG also got surprise calls from his and his wife Simone De La Rue’s super celebrity friends, among them actor Matt Damon and wife Luciana Barroso, and former presidential daughter Chelsea Clinton and husband Marc Mezvinsky. (Mig’s wife, a physical trainer for Hollywood stars, is currently in the ensemble cast of Broadway musical comedy Promises, Promises!)

“MiG has briefly appeared on Broadway in December 2008 as a male vocalist for the ballroom dance sensation Burn The Floor before joining the world tour of the same musical,” said Edmund. “But his upcoming Broadway stint with Rock of Ages will give his brilliance as a singer and actor a more extensive exposure and reintroduce him to America’s theater world.” 

Edmund quoted insiders saying that had MiG originated the Stacee Jaxx role in the Broadway production of Rock of Ages when it opened in April 2009, he could have been the second Filipino actor to bag a Tony after Lea Salonga’s 1991 Best Actress win for the smash-hit musical Miss Saigon.

“MiG as Stacee Jaxx is perhaps the best thing that ever happened to the latest edition of Rock of Ages,” according to a friend of the actor. “It’s almost always him that people talk about when they leave the theater. He’s simply terrific.”

The five-time Tony Award nominated musical is the story of a young rocker (originated on Broadway by American Idol finalist Constantine Maroulis, a recent Manila visitor, who later was joined by MiG in the national tour) hungry for his big break and a small-town-girl who meet in 1987 at an L.A. Sunset Strip facing its imminent closure. The score includes the hit songs of iconic rockers like REO Speedwagon, Journey, Styx, Foreigner, Pat Benatar, Whitesnake and others.

with the whole cast

Reports said the musical’s film version by New Line Cinema, to be directed by Adam Shankman (Hairspray), is set to begin production within this year. Tom Cruise is said to be “this close” to signing a deal, according to popular blogger Perez Hilton who quoted a rep of Cruise’s saying that Cruise “is in the process of closing a deal to take on the role of Stacee Jaxx.”

“People close to MiG said the Fil-Aussie singer was hoping to audition for the film version, but may drop the idea if major Hollywood actors are chasing the Stacee Jaxx.,” reported Edmund.

After watching the show, Cruise met with the cast. Tom was reportedly delighted with what he saw, particularly MiG’s outrageously splendid attack on the role that could possibly earn Tom his very first Academy Award — if he could do it the Ayesa way. Cruise has been nominated for an Oscar a few times but he has never won. MiG was mum on what he and Cruise talked about. Did Tom ask MiG for pointers? Maybe.

After L.A., Rock Of Ages is going to Costa Mesa, Calif. (March 1to 6) before heading to San Francisco (March 8 to April 19). The national tour, which began in Chicago, Illinois, will stop by eight more cities before wrapping up on June 14 to 26 in Denver, Colorado.

Added Edmund, “Meanwhile, the national tour with Constantine Maroulis in the lead will continue, with an Australian production also set to open in Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre in April.”  

2011 Miss Puerto Princesa City chosen March 4

Twenty candidates are vying for the 2011 Miss Puerto Princesa crown on March 4 at City Coliseum, Puerto Princesa, Palawan. The beauty contest is one of the highlights of the week-long celebration of the city’s founding anniversary spearheaded by Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn (below, leftmost) and his wife Ellen Marcelo (right, leftmost, with the pageant’s official couturier Eddie Baddeo and last year’s winner and her court).

Arnel Pineda will serenade the ladies during the evening gown competition (dresses designed by Baddeo). In photo with Mayor and Mrs. Hagedorn are (from left) their son Clink Hagedorn, pageant director Earl Crisostomo and Baddeo.

Among the other highlights is the Balayong (Palawan Flower) Festival.

Palawan is famous for its cleanliness and environment-friendly ambience. Its scenic spots include the Underground River which is considered ‘one of the Seven Wonders of Nature.’

Joint birthday bash

Antonia Sofia Julia and Antonio Francesco Babao, children of Julius Babao and STAR columnist Tintin Bersola, are celebrating their birthdays (her sixth and his first) with a joint party tomorrow, Feb. 26, at the Corinthian Garden Clubhouse, Corinthian Subdivision, to be catered by Josiah’s. In lieu of toys, guests are invited to pledge any humble amount on a Tree of Sharing, for the kids’ World Vision scholars.

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