J.Lo's and other shows

So this is the reason why she quit American Idol (AI). I thought that when I read in The STAR that J.Lo is coming to town. Yes, Jennifer Lopez, singer, actress, former Idol judge and the Most Beautiful Girl in the World, will be performing at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Nov. 26. That seems a long way off but I know diehard fans and those who are merely curious are already wondering how much they will be charged for this experience.

Ticket prices have not been announced by promoter Radio High 105.9/fm and Vista Land and Music Management International. But I am sure these will not come cheap. This, after all, is J.Lo. The only one who should be priced higher as far as song and dance spectacles are concerned is Madonna. We have already had Beyoncé, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, etc., but J.Lo is something else. She is bigger.

This is because Jennifer is also a movie star. I liked her in Selena. Girls absolutely adored her in Maid in Manhattan and Monster in Law and wasn’t she sensational in Shall We Dance? My favorite J.Lo movie of all though and where I thought she was at her best is Enough. She was a symbol of hope for all women caught in a bad relationship and I loved how she came out the winner in the end.

But we will not be watching movies when she gets here. We will be watching the J-Lo Dance Again World Tour. Here is another great thing about this show. You know what they say is the worst spiel from a performer: Now I would like to do a song from my latest album. Tell that to an audience expecting the hits and you signal a bathroom break. People do not like the new and unfamiliar in a show. That will not happen with J.Lo because she is promoting the album Dance Again…. the Hits.

And so we will get live versions of Waiting For Tonight, If You Had My Love, Jenny From The Block, Love Don’t Cost A Thing and Let’s Get Loud.

Meanwhile, J.Lo’s former “wards,” the idols of Season 11 will be at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Sept. 21. Just in case you have forgotten, we owe Jennifer plus Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler this batch of idols. Those judges were also responsible for that historic “save” vote that kept contestant Jessica Sanchez from being booted out of the contest.

Time now to see live whom J.Lo and her friends picked for AI. Arriving will be winner Phillip Phillips, plus finalists Joshua Ledet, DeAndre Brackensick, Elise Testone, Erika Van Pelt, Hee Jun Han, Skylar Laine, Colton Dixon, Hollie Cavanagh and the most awaited one of all, Jessica herself. They will perform songs and numbers they did in the TV show. Tickets are now available at Ticketnet outlets in SM Department Stores.

Good news for all of you who still have to watch or would like to see again the gorgeous Phantom of the Opera at the Main Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. The local run has been extended again. This was first extended up to Sept. 30. Now I saw in the Net that the show had been extended again up to Oct. 14. And better yet, there are lower-priced balcony tickets available.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom should not be missed. It is more than a musical. It is a total sight and sound experience at its most beautiful. I have seen a few Phantoms and each one was as exciting as the first and the latest at the CCP is even more so. Phantom is 26 years old and not dated one bit. I can shout from the rooftops that Webber is indeed a genius and so are all those people who helped him create this phenomenon. Of course, it was also great that the Manila presentation has an excellent cast.

Make sure you catch this one. Take note, it looks and sounds as wonderful even from the topmost balcony seat.

A good turn for kids. The Repertory Philippines Children’s Theater will hold a special performance of The Wizard of Oz at 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 30 at Onstage second floor of Greenbelt 1 in Makati. The event is courtesy of generous private sponsors who are treating over 250 children from marginalized areas of Cavite and Quezon City. It makes one feel good that kids who otherwise might have never heard of The Wizard of Oz or known about the theater are getting this treat.

I am sure that many of those children will not only enjoy the experience, but will think of reading the book, wanting to see more shows and then acting or even writing one of their own. As artistic director of the Rep’s Children’s Theater, Miss Joy Virata says: “The primary goal of encouraging our children as early as three years old to watch musical productions is to help them develop their creativity and imagination.”

The Wizard of Oz runs until Dec. 16. Still needed are groups and individuals who would sponsor kids who would otherwise not be able to enjoy the show. For details, call 571-6926 or e-mail at [email protected] or go to Error! Hyperlink reference not valid..