The future looks bright for K-La

There is always something genuinely thrilling about being present when someone extremely talented takes center stage for the first time and blows people away. That’s how it was for many people who watched K-La Rivera in her professional musical theater debut as Nina in In The Heights.

It was Bettina Aspillaga of Backroom Inc. who brought K-La into the room to audition for a role in In The Heights. Knowing that the discipline and focus that theater demands would be good for K-La (a Backroom talent), Bettina hoped she would get any part — even in the chorus. They were both surprised and thrilled when director Bobby Garcia the director called to inform them that he was casting her as Nina, the lead female role in the Tony Award winning musical.

According to Bobby, K-La was a delight to work with. She came in every day open to learning new things and discovering what it meant to be a professional stage actress. She also stunned everyone with her pitch-perfect voice, beautiful face and natural acting skills.

“It was no surprise to us that many people who caught the run of In The Heights, left the theater saying, ‘Who was that girl? She is amazing!’ Our In The Heights Twitter timeline was suddenly filled with praises for K-La. Friends who were watching her for the first time said in that moment, a star was born. Some even said that she reminded them of Lea Salonga when she was that age,” enthused Bobby.

Here are what they have to say about K-La:

Martin Nievera: K-La is one of our brightest new stars! I was blown away by her performance in In The Heights If I didn’t know any better I would say that she has been singing and acting for many years now. As unpredictable and sometimes jaded as this business can be, I am sure all will agree that more than anyone else, K-La belongs on that stage.

Mickey Muñoz (head of The Filipino Channel Events, ABS-CBN Global Ltd.): One doesn’t stumble upon an amazing talent like K-La too often and too easily. She was a most precious gem in In The Heights. I am very excited for what the future has in store for her.

Cristalle Henares: For someone as young as K-La, she definitely grabbed everyone’s attention with her fearless performance, adorable look and stunning voice. This is clearly just the start of great things and bigger roles for this fresh new talent!

Raymund Isaac: K-La is a breath of fresh air on the musical theater stage. Her beauty and her talent is a joy to behold. I was riveted in my seat watching her sing, dance and act so wonderfully.

Garlic Garcia (headwiter, ASAP): In In The Heights, K-La proves to one and all that she is more than just a pretty face. She is a revelation in her very first musical theater role. She was clearly pushed to excellence by direk Bobby Garcia and by her colleagues on stage. She is now one of the most exciting new faces in Philippine Musical Theater.

K-La will be back on stage in March 2012 for the limited repeat run of In The Heights. She will join all the original Manila cast members who will return to that magical Washington Heights neighborhood where a gentle breeze blows from Hudson and the coffee from the corner store is light and sweet. It is a role that K-La has put a stamp on and calls her own.

But In The Beginnings is just the beginning of many exciting roles for K-La on stage, on television and on the concert stage. Pretty soon, I predict that K-La will be one of the busiest singers in the business. And if asked to give her advice on how not to get overwhelmed by it all, I would tell her to listen to the words of the very first song she sings in In The Heights… “Just breathe.”

And that’s exactly what she did when she first came to see me in the office. This pretty girl had eyes that spoke bravely about her big dreams of becoming a great singer someday. With confidence of a seasoned diplomat, she sat in front of me, a seasoned eavesdropper to the wins and losses of many stars who glided their way into the fiercely competitive Philippine entertainment arena. She took out a piece of paper from her purse and started to negotiate with me. She wrote down all her questions and asked them with gusto and propriety.

She wanted to know the music industry. Where do I start? How does recording happen? Packaging and imaging, how important are they? Do I have to learn Filipino? What about talent searches? Are they a good entry point to the business? What about financial arrangements? Contracts? Do we sign a contract?

She had sensible and relevant questions. Of course, I realized that this was not an ordinary girl with ordinary dreams. I was in the presence of an extra ordinary girl who was destined to be a star. And when I answered her questions, or when it was my turn to ask her the tough ones or to tell her the harsh truths about stardom and how it can build and break dreams — even lives, she listened intently like she was being beatified by the Almighty.

Today, as she makes her way into “The Heights,” it will be hard for people who experience her presence and talent to forget this girl named K-La.