Anna Maria in Jonases' concert

Hollywood and Broadway actress Anna Maria Perez de Tagle is coming to perform in a concert in Manila (Oct. 19) and Cebu (Oct. 20) with The Jonas Brothers (Kevin, Joe and Nick) who themselves announced the good news in their Twitter and Facebook the other night.

This “breaking news” was relayed to Funfare Update by this corner’s Big Apple correspondent Edmund Silvestre who quoted the Jonases as saying in their tweet, “Excited for our Philippines shows and we’re here to officially announce our good friend Anna Maria will be opening for us!”

As Funfare readers must know by now, Anna Maria is the daughter of one-time actor Artie Perez de Tagle (son of Sylvia La Torre) and his wife Evelyn who will accompany Anna Maria on her first homecoming in 12 years (the last time she was here was when she was 9).

“I’m thrilled to be coming back,” Anna Maria said in the press bulletin, a copy of which was furnished Funfare by contributor “Oliver/Andrew.” “My work has kept me so busy that I can’t believe so much time has passed. I was extremely flattered when the Jonas Brothers invited me to join them on their Manila and Cebu dates. Actually, they said I had to come!,” added Anna Maria in jest, “I’m glad all my talking about the beauty of the Philippines, the food, and the people made an impact on them through the years.”

Joe Jonas, who was here only a few weeks ago as Bench endorser, announced before he came that his involvement with Bench and the country originated with hearing about the Philippines from Anna Maria during the times they starred and sang together in the Camp Rock movies (Anna Maria played Ella alongside Demi Lovato and the Jonas Brothers in Camp Rock and Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam).

“Thanks to Anna Maria I have learned a lot about the Philippines,” Joe said in an interview. “She would mention some things and places and that made me curious about the Philippines.”

Often referred to as the “Jonas sister,” Anna Maria is managed by Kevin Jonas (a.k.a. Papa Jonas), the brothers’ father. She has become like a member of the Jonas family.

Anna Maria has just concluded a Broadway role in Godspell, co-starring with Hunter Parrish and Corbin Bleu. It was she who did the honor of singing Day By Day, the musical’s most memorable and most popular song. During the show’s run, Anna Maria and her cast mates appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman, The View, The Rosie Show and The 2012 Tony Awards. For her performance, Anna Maria was voted Best Featured Female Artist in a Musical at the 2012 Broadway World Awards.

The press bulletin recalled how Anna Maria started her acting career early with a recurring role as Ashley Dewitt in the Disney hit show Hannah Montana. In 2009, she played Joy in MGM’s remake of Fame. Exhibiting her own amazing singing talents, she toured with the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato in 2010 North and South America tours as an opener and performer throughout the show. 

A few years ago, Anna Maria got the singular honor of being requested by former First Lady Nancy Reagan to perform at the Ronald Reagan Centennial Birthday Celebration in which Anna Maria sang two of Mrs. Reagan’s favorite Broadway songs, I Dreamed A Dream (from Les Miserables) and Someone Like You (from Jekyll and Hyde) in front of hundreds of dignitaries at the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California.?

During the Jonases’ concert, Anna Maria will do “surprise” numbers including some originals. She will appear on stage in outfits by Hollywood designer Oliver Tolentino. After the shows, Anna Maria plans to spend some time in the country to trace her roots.  

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)