We have Lea, MiG & Jett in 2012

MANILA, Philippines - One of the most challenging aspects of running a theater company is planning your season of shows. Challenging because it is never completely in your hands. There are shows that you might want to do but the rights to do them are not yet available, and then there are shows you might want to do but you aren’t so sure it will work in Manila. Which is why we at Atlantis Productions have always chosen our season based on one principle: We have to believe in the show 100 percent. It has seemed to work in our favor for the past 13 years that we have been producing theater.

2011 was one of our most exciting seasons to date with two hit runs of Next To Normal, Aida (which welcomed back Ima Castro to the Philippine Theater scene), the Tony award-winning In The Heights, and Disney’s The Little Mermaid (our most ambitious musical to date). We are thankful for all those who came to watch our shows and we are even more excited for our 2012 Season which will not only feature some of the most acclaimed Broadway shows, but will also feature several international celebrities.

We open our 2012 season in March with a repeat run of In The Heights. The Manila run won the Aliw Award for Best Ensemble and the repeat run will feature the original Manila cast led by Nyoy Volante, who will reprise his critically-acclaimed performance as Usnavi. Joining Nyoy in the joyous musical about friendship, family and the place we call home are K-La Rivera, Jackie Lou Blanco, Ima Castro, Calvin Millado, Tex Ordoñez, Felix Rivera, Jimmy Marquez, Bibo Reyes and Jay Glorioso (who also won an Aliw Award for her performance as Abuela Claudia). I am especially thrilled that the limited repeat run will also welcome In The Heights’ Tony award-winning composer and star on Broadway, Lin-Manuel Miranda, to Manila. Through a special arrangement with Delta Airlines, he will be present for the show’s opening night. The limited repeat run of In The Heights is from March 16 to 25, 2012 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City.

We have been planning to stage the hit Broadway musical Rock of Ages for a couple of years now and it is finally happening with no less than Filipino-born international rock star MiG Ayesa recreating the role of Stacee Jaxx, which he performed recently on Broadway. Rock of Ages is a worldwide smash hit that features 28 classic rock hits including Don’t Stop Believin’, We Built This City, The Final Countdown, Wanted Dead or Alive and Here I Go Again. A celebration of classic ’80s rock culture, Rock of Ages tells the hilarious story of a small town girl and a big-city rocker falling in love to the greatest songs of the decade. The Manila run of Rock of Ages is the first officially licensed production of the musical and will also be MiG’s first musical here in the Philippines. I have spoken to several of his family members (we are related through marriage) and it looks like it’s going to be one big family reunion for MiG when he comes to Manila in June for Rock of Ages. I am thrilled that Chari Arespacochaga will be directing this one-of-a-kind musical that will run from June 15 to July 8, 2012 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium. She has gathered an all-star cast to join MiG which we will announce soon.

Immediately after Rock of Ages, we welcome our dear friend and Tony Award winner Lea Salonga back on the Atlantis stage in the Tony award-winning play God of Carnage. Lea last appeared on stage with us in Baby in 2004 and I couldn’t be happier that she is back. I last directed her on stage in 2008 in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, and each time we work together whether on stage or in concert, it is always effortless, focused and a heck of a lot of fun. Lea has always impressed me because she has never settled for what is comfortable for her. She has always wanted to try new things and work outside her comfort zone. God of Carnage is going to be even more fun for us both because one of our favorite people in the world, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, will join Lea on stage in the dark comedy of bad manners. God of Carnage begins with two sets of parents meeting up to deal with the aftermath of a fight between their sons. What starts as a civilized discussion between grown adults about the importance of proper behavior soon devolves into a hysterical and very uncivilized session of tantrums, tears and startling revelations. It won the 2009 Tony Award for Best Play. It is also now a film titled Carnage starring Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, Cristoph Waltz and John C. Reilly. The very limited Manila engagement of God of Carnage is from July 13 to 22, 2012 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium. It will then travel to Singapore in November in a co-production with The Singapore Repertory Theatre.

In September, we open our doors to one of the most critically-acclaimed and awarded musicals of all time — Maury Yeston and Arthur Kopit’s Nine. Based on Italian director Federico Fellini’s comic masterpiece of biographical filmmaking, 8 1/2, Yeston’s sultry and enchanting musical Nine follows the life of world famous film director Guido Contini as he prepares his latest picture and balances the numerous women in his life. Nine won five Tony Awards including Best Musical in its original run on Broadway and then went on to win the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical in the 2003 run on Broadway starring Antonio Banderas. The Manila production of Nine will star Jett Pangan (in my opinion, musical theater’s finest leading man) as Guido Contini. It will also feature a star-studded cast of women from the entertainment industry. Nine will feature set design by Tony-Award winning scenic designer David Gallo (The Drowsy Chaperone) who currently has Memphis and The Mountaintop running on Broadway. I am so excited to collaborate with Gallo once again (he designed sets for Cinderella). He is one of the most talented designers I have had the honor and pleasure of working with. He will also be selecting an upcoming designer in the Philippines to work as his apprentice for this production. I am also excited that the costumes for Nine will be designed by New York-based Filipino designer Robin Tomas. Nine runs from Sept. 21 to Oct. 7, 2012 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium.

We end the year with a musical for the entire family that promises to take you far, far away. Yes, it’s Shrek, The Musical! Join Shrek and his loyal steed Donkey as they set off on a quest to rescue the beautiful (if slightly temperamental) Princess Fiona from her tower guarded by a fire breathing love-sick dragon. Add the diminutive Lord Farquaad, a gang of fairytale misfits, and a biscuit with attitude, and you’ve got this year’s must see new family musical comedy — Shrek, The Musical! Featuring all new songs as well as the cult Shrek anthem I’m a Believer, Shrek The Musical brings the well-loved characters to life, in a hilarious and spectacular new production based on the story and characters from the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film. Directed by Chari, Shrek The Musical runs from Nov. 16 to Dec. 9, 2012 at the Meralco Theatre.

We have opened up a limited number of shows for show buying and fund-raising opportunities with excellent returns on your investment. Atlantis’ 2012 Season has the perfect show to raise money for your organization, foundation or charity. Don’t miss out on this chance to be a part of one of some of the most exciting musicals of the decade.

None of our efforts would be possible without our year-long corporate partners led by The Philippine STAR, Metrobank and Delta Airlines. And of course, our loyal showbuyers and patrons who support our shows time and again. We thank you for believing in us.

We hope you will join us in 2012. See you at the theater.

For details, call Atlantis Productions at 892-7078 or 840-1187.