Musicals for your must-watch list

Musical theater is not only alive and well in Metro Manila. It is flourishing mightily. The number of shows available, the variety of offerings, the incredibly talented cast of each, most of them Pinoys, all point to the fact that theater is currently at its most successful stage hereabouts.

I say that thinking of the days of long ago when we would have a play or musical from Repertory Philippines, a Rolando Tinio translation from Bulwagang Gantimpala, something local and edgy from PETA and then maybe one from dinner-theater or a school production.

Not anymore. In fact, the problem now as per live theater producers is the lack of venues for their presentations. Hopefully, we will get more theaters soon which would mean more shows. Theater producer problem solved.

But not mine. The more theaters there are, the more shows there are, the more money you need to buy those expensive tickets. Waaah!!!

Get a load of these selections and decide where your savings will go.

“Les Miserables, the World Tour Spectacular” at The Theatre in Solaire. Now almost everybody is already familiar with the Victor Hugo novel turned musical, also with its gorgeous score, On My Own, I Dreamed a Dream, Bring Him Home. This edition is billed as the World Tour Spectacular. I do not know what makes it different from the usual “Les Miz” or the “in concert” type, but who cares whatever it is, there is no way you can keep me away from this one, not with Lea Salonga as Madame Thenadier and Rachelle Ann Go as Fantine. Oh yes, bonus addition Red Concepcion as Monsieur Thenadier.

“Bagets The Musical” starting at the Newport Performing Arts Theater at Newport World Resorts. If you were among those who loved the “Bagets” movie from 1984, then you might want to do some reminiscing with this one. The show brings to the stage the iconic coming of age film of the same title with a talented batch of young actors playing the much-loved roles. Find out who among them will be the another Raymond Lauchengco, JC Bonnin, William Martinez, Herbert Bautista or even an Aga Muhlach. It will also feel good to remember how romantic So It’s You was, how real you thought Growing Up was and how graduation day became more sentimental because you and your classmates felt every word of Farewell.

The Tony and Grammy winning “Spring Awakening” by Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik will be the inaugural presentation of the Black Box at the Proscenium in Rockwell on Feb. 13 to March 22. “Spring Awakening” also tackles growing up but with emphasis on mental health and sexuality. It is small, sweet and at times deeply disturbing and has a lovely meaningful pop-rock score. The Sandbox Collective production stars Alex Diaz, Nacho Tambunting, Sheena Belarmino, Nic Chien, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo and Audie Gemora.

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “South Pacific,” a presentation by the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music in celebration of its 80th anniversary at the Proscenium in Rockwell on Feb. 21 and 22. The show marks the return to the spotlight of Ciara Sotto, the singer and actress who is the daughter of Tito and Helen and cousin of Sharon Cuneta. Ciara will play the role of Nellie Forbush with John Meer Vera Perez as Emile Dubuque. The musical boasts one of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s most popular scores with songs like Some Enchanted Evening, Bali Hai, Younger than Springtime, There is Nothing Like a Dame and others.

“A Chorus Line” starting March 12 to 29 at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater, Circuit, Makati. This is a look at dancers auditioning for a Broadway show and is one of the greatest and biggest grossing Broadway musicals of all time. It is also one of my favorite “organic musicals.” You know the kind that is just drama, singing and dancing so spellbinding it has no need for special effects or gravity-defying vocals. Just meaningful ballads like What I Did for Love.

See you at the theater.