'Spring' step by step

MANILA, Philippines - Imagining staging Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater’s Tony and Grammy Award-winning rock musical Spring Awakening here in the Philippines has been a flame burning at the back of my mind and the tip of my spirit since I saw it in its Off-Broadway run several years ago.

Since then, the show made it to Broadway, blew everyone away, won eight Tony Awards including Best Musical, and somehow, my angel presented me with the gift and blessing of directing the show. 

Then I knew what it was like to hold your dream in your hand. 

Many hands are now joined with mine as we shape this dream into reality.

Next are the hands and beings of the very brave and generous young actors who make up our cast. This cast was not easy to assemble because of what is required from the actors who join the show. The screening process was rigorous, meticulous and included sending videos of our recommended cast to our US licensors for approval. Watching them all work now, I can say, the rigors of casting were well worth it.

I first met many of them on a fine day in December last year when we first held auditions:

Kelly Lati walked into the room and silently, I wished, “I hope she can sing!” And sing she did. And act, too. Kelly has a raw, innate truthfulness that disarms. After her callback, I knew I had found my Wendla. Now in the midst of rehearsals, Kelly continues to grow and she says, “I am excited and nervous but I know this is going to be an amazing experience.”

Nar Cabico comes from the roster of young actors of CCP. He came in, sang and even accompanied himself on the piano. From the zaniness of playing Didi in ZsaZsa Zaturnnah, he continues to shine as the innocent Ernst in Spring Awakening. 

Ava Santos is a theater major from UP. As Anna, she is thrilled to be singing onstage again. Another product of the UP theater program is Inno Martin. Wide-eyed and baby-faced, he plays the Mama’s boy, Otto. 

Tall and handsome, Miguel Mendoza first had his taste of acting in his school productions of Godspell and You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown. He has come to be more known as one of the top finalists of Pinoy Dream Academy. He shows off his acting chops as Georg, the young man who desires his teacher. Miguel will open this show just as he launches his new solo album as well. 

The auditions also brought us many people we have worked with before:

Yanah Laurel was one of the “nicest kids in town” in our production of Hairspray last year. This time, she plays Thea, one of Wendla’s best friends. Yanah sees herself doing much more theater in the future. But for now, she is simply happy to be living out her dream of being in Spring. 

Bea Garcia, I have literally seen grow up and in very many ways. I first met her when she was six and she was a student in the first acting class I ever taught. She went on to play Little Cosette/Little Eponine in Les Miserables and has not stopped since. She has appeared in many a show and truly comes to her own as Ilse. She says, “This is a musical one will never forget!” 

Nicco Manalo, I had the pleasure of working with in Dogeaters where he played Joey Sands. I was so surprised to see him at the audition and was even more surprised when I heard him sing! Who knew? Nicco brings a lot of experience to the table as he tackles the role of the confused and troubled Moritz. 

Joaquin Valdes is really known to me as Wackie. Another one I have seen grow up from his days as a young child playing Edmund in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe to his days as a teenager in a boy band. He is now the one of the most watched-out-for filmmakers of the industry. But until, Oct. 18, at least, Joaquin is Melchior, the rebel of our story. 

From that first audition in December, there followed many more auditions as we sought to complete our cast. Rounding up the list of the young actors are JC Santos and Sitti.

JC Santos is the third of our UP theater majors in the cast. I first saw him in our choreographer, Dexter’s production of Orosman At Zafira. When we were looking for more boys to try out, we had him called. When we asked why he didn’t audition during the first round, he said, “I had class that day that I just could not cut.” Well, if something’s meant to be, it happens. So on what was our third round of auditions, we found our Hanschen. 

Sitti, famous as the “Queen of Philippine Bossa Nova,” was another welcome surprise when we were casting. She had signified interest in doing theater to her manager Boy Abunda and wanted to audition for the show. When she did, her quiet truthfulness made her perfect for the role of Martha. “I feel excited and scared and privileged all at the same time!” she says on being a part of Spring Awakening. “This show really rocks!”

All their audition tapes were sent to the New York Producers for final casting approval. They were more than thrilled with the cast members (young and older) we had assembled for the Philippine premiere of Spring Awakening, which continues Atlantis Productions’ 10th Anniversary Celebration.

I have a good feeling the rest of the young cast-mates, along with rock star Jett Pangan and Cheska Inigo echo Sitti’s sentiments that Spring Awakening rocks. I know I do. I am excited to have them share this show with you. I am excited to see them giving life to all these characters. I am excited because having them in this show makes it so much better than how I imagined it could be. 

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Special thanks to our generous friends and benefactors from The Philippine STAR (especially Ricky Lo and Millet Mananquil) who have supported Atlantis Productions from the very beginning and who continue to be our greatest supporters in producing theater here in the Philippines; Raymund Isaac Photography (who has shot every single show we have done), as well as Studio 23, Myx, Spot, Digipost, My Screen, Emphasis, Mac, Capricciosa, Clawdaddy, New Orleans, Burger King, Brookln Pizza, Mang Inasal, Chowking, Yoshinoya, Chili’s, Super Bowl, GA Printing, Hit Productions, Enderun, Astoria Plaza, Digital Fox, The City of Makati, Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza and all our loyal block buyers. None of this would have been possible without their generous support and belief in the performing arts. Their hands are the hands that help keep Philippine theater going. 

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Spring Awakening runs from Sept. 25 to Oct. 18 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati. For tickets call Atlantis Productions at 892-7078 or 840-1187. Due to explicit content and some nudity, Parental Discretion is advised.