How Sitti got bitten by the theater bug

Bossa Nova Queen Sitti has always had a love and affinity for musical theater. Several years ago, she told her management company, Backroom, that she would like to do musicals. The timing was perfect, as Atlantis Productions was holding auditions for its groundbreaking production of the Tony Award-winning musical Spring Awakening.

Sitti auditioned and got cast as Martha. She got to sing the Duncan Sheik song The Dark I Know Well. After that experience, Sitti was bitten by the theater bug. Now, she returns to the stage as the serene Our Lady of the Spa in Atlantis’ staging of the Tony Award-winning musical Nine, directed by Bobby Garcia. Let’s hear it from Sitti. 

How does it feel to be called OPM’s Bossa Nova Queen?

“Varying levels of discomfort. Until now, every time I am introduced as such there’s a voice in my head that asks why me when there are so many who are more deserving of that title. Another voice tries to squash the previous one with ‘don’t pay attention/just do your best/there’s a reason for everything.’ Voices in my head, I know, I’m crazy (laughs).” 

How did you get involved in musical theater?

“I have always been a big fan of musical theater — the music, the stories, how powerful it is to make an audience feel all sorts of emotions instantaneously one can only wish to relive them but achingly, knowingly can’t. I would marvel at how amazingly gifted all these theater actors and actresses are that they could convey so much, in so few, and be able to sing so darn good! I wanted to subject myself to that dedication and to the discipline and challenge that I knew came with it. I have expressed my interest in joining a musical to my management, Backroom, Inc. In 2009, when I heard Atlantis Productions was casting for Spring Awakening, I immediately jumped at the chance and auditioned.”      

What do you enjoy about doing a musical?

“Everything! The music, singing in ensemble, the clever lines, watching each scene unfold and feeling all of these emotions as they do, learning a particularly confusing choreography and subsequent numerous attempts to perfect it, laughing at myself when I don’t. Loving the material, relating to the characters… that joy of knowing how incredibly lucky I am to be able to breathe life to a beautiful story no matter what my role is. I especially love the creative process of it at rehearsals, when the director would carefully describe the intent and motivation for each scene, each line. You attempt to share that vision, and watch as it comes to life!”

What was Spring Awakening like?

“Spring Awakening was my first-ever musical so in all senses of the word it was an awakening for me, ha ha! I remember loving Duncan Sheik’s music so much I cried at sitzprobe. Steven Sater’s book and lyrics allowed me to let go and embrace my sensuality in Touch Me, be angstsy in Totally F*cked and swoon like a schoolgirl again in My Junk.  

“I played the role of Martha — she’s a shy, reserved girl who unbeknownst to her friends was being repeatedly raped and abused by her father. I have to admit that it was a real challenge playing her. There were performances when I felt rage at abusive fathers after singing Martha’s song The Dark I Know Well; moments when I felt like I was singing my heart out for all abused children everywhere and moments when I felt my delivery was inadequate. I experienced my first highs and lows of theater in that play.

“Looking back, I wish I had prepared more for the show vocally — I am naturally soft-spoken and it was of course, a setback. But I learned so much; it will always hold a very special place in my heart and memory and I will always be thankful to Direk Chari Arespacochaga for giving me my first theater break.”    

How does it feel to be a part of the cast of Nine?

“If I can include all the super superlatives in my answer, I would! Extremely blessed! Lucky! Grateful! Amazing! Fantastic! I cannot repeat enough how incredibly thankful I am to be a part of the cast. Every day of coming to rehearsals, getting to spend time with such veteran actors, watching and learning from them, getting the occasional fan girl moments (with Ms. Cherie Gil, Eula Valdez and Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo specially), getting to work with direk Bobby Garcia, singing such beautiful songs, fun choreography, it’s just an extreme absolute delight!”   

What excites you about the show?

“Again, everything! I love everything and everyone in the musical, fictional and real ones alike. First off, Arthur Kopit and Maury Yeston are geniuses! The music is just so beautiful; every song echoes in me and I can’t wait for everyone to hear it. I’ve been telling my mom over and over just how much she’ll like the musical and how she’ll be able to relate to all of the songs. All of the characters are lovable and how each member of the cast pour out their all in every performance is just a wonder to watch. I got to watch the movie and I thought then that it was mostly about production values and dancing and being glittery — in short, I found it insubstantial (pardon my critic on the movie version). But when I read the script and heard the music, by golly, I really fell in love with it and I can’t wait for theatergoers to experience the same love, wonder, annoyance, incredulity, empathy, sadness, joy and hope that I felt.”   

Who do you play in Nine?

“I play the Lady of the Spa. She owns/runs the spa that famous film director Guido Contini (played by Jett Pangan) goes to with his wife Luisa (Menchu) in the hopes of coming up with an idea for his next film. I imagine her to be a calm, soothing person, who knows everything about everyone in her spa. She holds many secrets and is extremely proud of her establishment.”

What is the most challenging part of Nine for you?

“We have not gone up and down the nine steps to and from our positions on the stage yet but I imagine that’ll be a real cardio exercise, ha ha! But seriously, saying all my lines clearly and audibly with more nuances and inflections (as pointed out by direk Bobby earlier I tend to say my lines as if I’m singing, ha ha), and building and having the stamina to sing all those high songs while dancing are major challenges. You have to watch the show to find out what really is the most challenging part for me. It made me turn red when direk explained it. As a consequence of that scene, I will never look at Kuya Jett the same way ever again.” 

What is the biggest lesson you have learned from working in theater?

“Every moment on stage is fleeting. So once you’re there you really have to be present and savor each moment because no scene will ever be repeated in the same way ever again. You have to give it your all every time, to treat each scene as truthfully as you can, to do less than that is to do injustice to the story. Also, projection, ha ha. Hindi pwede soft-spoken dito.”

How important is discipline in your work?

“Very important. You have to learn, review and re-review your lines, lyrics, choreography, and cues so as not to derail the performances.”

What are your dream roles?

“I honestly still am not that well-versed with Broadway musicals. I only know and have watched a handful. Kumbaga, my knowledge is limited to the bestsellers list in a bookstore. But of those that I know, it would be a dream if I were able to play the following: Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Mimi in Rent, Maria in West Side Story and Velma Kelly in Chicago. Keeping my fingers crossed...God’s will be done.”

(Nine runs from Sept. 21 to Oct. 7 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City.)