Atlantis and Viva-Atlantis announce 2013 line-up

MANILA, Philippines - It was a stellar 2012 for Atlantis Productions, one of Asia’s most prolific theater companies. Apart from sold-out, award-winning and critically-acclaimed productions of In the Heights, Rock of Ages, God of Carnage, Avenue Q, Nine and Disney’s Aladdin, Atlantis also had shows running simultaneously in Manila and Singapore several times last year.

Atlantis Productions now announces it’s 2013 season as well as the launching of a new company called Viva Atlantis Theatricals, formed with Viva Communications Inc. with Viva chief operating officer Vic del Rosario and Atlantis artistic director Bobby Garcia at the helm. The new joint venture will be bringing quality theatrical entertainment presenting Filipino artists to the public, here and in other parts of the world.

Together in Viva Atlantis Theatricals, Del Rosario and Garcia hope to open new avenues to showcase Filipino talent. “There is no question that Filipinos are among the best performers in the world today,” says Del Rosario. “They just need to be seen and heard. I want to give them that chance. With Bobby Garcia at the helm, I see no limit to what Filipinos can do.”

Garcia, who has established a solid reputation in the global theatre scene, has also chosen to grow roots in the Philippines because of his faith in local artists. “I formed Atlantis Productions 13 years ago because I have always believed that we have some of the most talented performers in the world and we excel at musical theatre. We are all thrilled that Atlantis Productions has joined forces with Viva, who can only help us reach more people and strengthen our audience base.”

Viva Atlantis Theatricals will be inaugurated in 2013 with the staging of three Broadway musicals. The Tony Award nominated musical The Full Monty runs in April, the Asian Premiere of Disney’s Tarzan runs in June, and the hit new Broadway musical The Addams Family in November. Viva Atlantis is also working on two new original musicals. Bongga, an original Filipino musical featuring the music of the Manila Sound pioneer Hotdog, and a musical stage version of the hit movie Pusong Mamon, which will feature an original score by Nyoy Volante. Both shows will be directed by Garcia and will premiere in 2014. Viva Atlantis will also be releasing a compilation CD of musical theater songs by various artists in May.

Atlantis Productions complements the Viva Atlantis season as it enters it’s 14th year of producing for the stage. It begins its season with Piaf, starring Pinky Amador, in March. Pinky marks her 30th year in the industry with what is guaranteed to be a once-in-a-lifetime portrayal of the famous Parisian singer Edith Piaf. Piaf also features the musical theatre debut of Giselle Tongi Walters. Following Piaf, Rock of Ages returns to rock Manila once more in July. After its sold-out hit run this year, the wickedly funny musical returns to thrill Manila audiences once again.

Closing the Atlantis season is the Asian premiere of the legendary stage musical Carrie. Based on Stephen King’s horror classic and the hit movie, Carrie tells the story of an abused teenage girl with special powers. Carrie will star Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo as Margaret White, Carrie’s Bible-bashing mother, and features music by Michael Gore (Fame).

For information, call Atlantis Productions at 892-7078 or 840-1187.