K-La flying high

Beautiful and talented K-La Rivera took the Philippine theater scene by storm as Nina in Atlantis Productions’ staging of the Tony Award-winning musical In The Heights. It was her professional musical theater debut and her performance garnered her an Aliw Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical. All eyes are now on K-La as the discriminating public wants to see more of her on stage.

After that sterling portrayal in In The Heights, K-La has bagged one of the biggest roles of her career  that of Princess Jasmine in Disney’s Aladdin, another Atlantis production which opens in November at the Meralco Theater. Directed by Bobby Garcia and Chari Arespacochaga, Disney’s Aladdin is based on the much loved animated film of the same title. It tells the story of a street-smart commoner whose whole life changes with one rub of a magic lamp.

The brand-new romantic musical adventure incorporates all the beloved songs from the film’s Oscar-winning score and brings some of the movie’s most memorable characters to life  Jafar, Lago, the Sultan, the Genie and of course Aladdin and Jasmine. Disney’s Aladdin features music by eight-time Oscar Award winner Alan Menken and Lyrics by Oscar Award winner Howard Ashman, Oscar Award winner Tim Rice and Tony Award nominated lyricist Chad Beguelin (who also wrote the brand-new book of the musical). It had its world premiere in Seattle last year.

K-La has fallen in love with musical theater after performing in two successful runs of In The Heights.  She says, “From my experience, working with Atlantis Productions and doing In The Heights, I have fallen in love with everything about theater.  From the adrenaline rush I get performing in front of a live audience to the rehearsals and bonding time we get with our cast mates. Theater allows us to grow as actors, singers and dancers while it tests our limits.”

Director Bobby Garcia says of the first time he met K-La, “When Bettina Aspillaga brought her in to audition and she began to sing, I instantly knew that this was a performer to reckon with.  Not only does K-La have an amazing singing voice but she is also an instinctive actress and she has so much charm and charisma. A lot of what she has can’t be taught or learned.  You just have it or you don’t. K-La has it in abundance.”

When asked about how she reacted when she got the news that she would be playing the iconic role of Princess Jasmine, K-La says, “I squealed out loud! Being chosen to play Princess Jasmine in Disney’s Aladdin is such a dream come true for me, as growing up being a princess was a dream of mine. Doing the photo shoot and wearing the costume alone made me so kilig and excited to do this production. I’m so thankful to direk Bobby and direk Chari and I am honored to have been chosen for this iconic role and will do my best to bring Princess Jasmine to life in the Manila production of Aladdin.”

Joining K-La in the musical is former PBB housemate Tom Rodriguez who will play the title role.  K-La says of her leading man, “I am excited to work with Tom. Whenever we both see each other it’s all we talk about.  We both want to start rehearsals na!”

Atlantis Productions’ staging of Disney’s Aladdin will open in November at the Meralco Theater.

A casting coup in Nine

Here’s another good news from Atlantis Productions! Bobby says his production company has pulled a casting coup for its upcoming production of the Tony Award-winning musical Nine. It has gathered a once-in-a-lifetime cast of movie stars, musical theater icons, recording artists and rock stars who will deliriously fill the stage in what is sure to be the musical theater event of the season.

Leading the cast of Nine as filmmaker Guido Contini is rock star and musical theater favorite Jett Pangan.  The role of Guido was originated on Broadway by Raul Julia, played in the revival by Antonio Banderas and in the film version by Daniel Day Louis. Jett marks his 10th year of performing with Atlantis Productions and Nine, his biggest and most challenging role to date, marks his 11th musical with Atlantis. Jett has become the country’s most sought after musical theater leading man.

Joining him onstage are Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, known as the First Lady of Philippine Musical Theater, who plays Guido’s devoted wife Luisa Contini; Cherie Gil as the fabulous film producer Liliane Le Fleur who sings the showstopping Folies Bergeres; Eula Valdez takes on the role of Claudia Nardi, film star and muse to Guido Contini; theater performer Carla Guevara-Laforteza plays Carla Albanese, Guido’s mistress who hopes for a more permanent place in his life; international stage star Ima Castro plays Sarraghina, the prostitute who teaches a young Guido Contini the ways of the world; bossa nova diva Sitti Navarro is the Lady of the Spa who narrates Guido’s journey in Europe’s most luxurious spa where he is hiding from the world; Yanah Laurel, musical theater’s upcoming “it” girl, plays Stephanie Necrophorus, the film critic-turned-assistant to Liliane Le Fleur who never was a fan of Guido’s films; and Jay Glorioso who plays Guido’s mother who visits him from beyond the grave.

Also featured in the cast as Guido’s many admirers are Mikkie Bradshaw, Reg Claraval, Francis Ann Rivera and Japs Treopaldo. Warren David Saga and Ethan Paras alternate as Little Guido.

Based on Italian director Federico Fellini’s comic masterpiece of biographical filmmaking, 8 1/2, Maury Yeston’s sultry and enchanting musical follows the life of world famous film director Guido as he prepares his latest picture and balances the numerous women in his life. Nine is the winner of five Tony Awards including Best Musical.

Nine runs from Sept. 21 to Oct. 7 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City.  For details, call 892-7078.