The young and the restless
Remember that popular teen anthem that was released in the ‘90s? “We are young, we run green. Keep our teeth, nice and clean,“ the opening lyrics went, “see our friends, see the sights, feel alright.” The song Alright by British alternative rock band Supergrass was featured prominently in the movie Clueless and was every bit the cattle call as it was a call to arms for a generation that was just about to break out. Booze, girls, “smoking a fag” — it talked about the youth’s first whiff of adulthood (and/or questionable maturity) which is probably among the most exciting stages of our lives, in hindsight.
And let’s not forget Swirl 360’s Candy in the Sun, another anthem that perfectly captured the generation. It talked about a place where the sun was always shining and not forgetting the people who kept you smiling. “You’re like candy in the sun, you’re my angel on the run. You’re like candy in the sun, hey, hey, hey.” The song was used heavily in the Drew Barrymore hit Never Been Kissed and, to my memory, was pretty much the anthem of my teenage infancy, even as I transitioned into adulthood.
Looking back at these songs, I can’t help but be transported to my days around the covered courts during lunchtime, mamon cheeks, bitin clothes, and hair parted in the middle. Unfazed by the problems we 20-somethings nowadays face (career, relationships, et al), my joys (and heartbreaks) back then were much simpler.
Contrary to what the post-adolescent Taylor Swift sings, the trouble was not “when (a boy) walked in,” but when the marching line from the covered courts to the classroom was broken. The walk of shame was not stepping into an afternoon rendezvous with friends, wearing the same clothes on your back from a torrid night out in Privé, but when you didn’t make it in time for the flag ceremony, or you screwed up the items on your spelling list. Sorry, Mom, I didn’t get a 10/10! And bullying? Well, there was never a watered-down version of that. Grade school or in real life, it’s just wrong. One thing’s for sure: life, back then, was a hell of a lot simpler.
In our biggest shoot yet (by “biggest,” we mean a cast of 32 invading a school field on a late Friday afternoon while actual kids were running around in the background for soccer practice), Young STAR talks to the cast of Repertory Philippines’ Camp Rock (yes, THAT Camp Rock – the Disney movie which starred the JoBros, current X-Factor judge Demi Lovato, and Anna Maria Perez de Tagle of Hannah Montana fame) “slumbook style” about a life in the theater, their career milestones, and regardless of affiliation, where they would personally enroll next summer? Camp Rock, or the newer and more state-of-the-art Camp Star?
Real Name: Markki Stroem
Alias: “Shane Grey”
Affiliation: Camp Rock
My all-time favorite Disney character is… Jack Sparrow ‘coz Johnny Depp rocks!
Real Name: Nacho Tambunting
Alias: “Nate Grey”
Affiliation: Camp Rock
What I love most about theater is… the chance to play so many different people.
Real Name: Jef Flores
Alias: “Jason Gray”
Affiliation: Camp Rock
Regardless of my camp affiliation, I would definitely join… Camp Star. Air-con. IMAX Theater.
Real Name: Morissette Amon
Alias: “Mitchie Torres”
Affiliation: Camp Rock
My all-time favorite Disney character is… Selena Gomez! She’s a good actress, very charming and she looks like a fun person to be with.
Real Name: Justine Peña
Alias: “Dana Turner”
Affiliation: Camp Star
Camp Rock in one word: Awesomesauce!
Real Name: Cheska Ortega
Alias: “Tess Tyler”
Affiliation: Camp Rock then Camp Star then Camp Rock
The similarities between me and my character is that… I have that “bitchy side” of me that Tessa has. So I just exaggerate it in my performance.
Real Name: Nel Gomez
Alias: “Luke Williams”
Affiliation: Camp Star
Camp Rock in one word: Cardio!
Real Name: Mica Fajardo
Alias: “Ella Pador”
Affiliation: Camp Rock
Regardless of my camp affiliation, I would definitely join… Camp Rock! It’s all about the heart and soul.
Real Name: Cara Barredo
Alias: “Caitlyn Geller”
Affiliation: Camp Rock
The best theatrical role I’ve played to date is… Beth in Repertory Philippines’ The Little Women.
Real Name: B Delgado
Alias: “Margaret ‘Peggy’ Dupree”
Affiliation: Camp Rock
What I love most about theater is… that it’s a happy escape.
Real Name: Kiara Dario
Alias: “Rosie Day”
Affiliation: Camp Rock
My all-time favorite Disney character is… Miranda from Lizzie McGuire because she’s so funky.
Real Name: Eric Mercado
Alias: “Andy Hosten”
Affiliation: Camp Rock
Theater is… an escape.
Real Name: Hans Braga
Alias: “Sander Loya”
Affiliation: Camp Rock
Camp Rock in one word: Energy.
Real Name: Justin Valiente
Alias: “Barron James”
Affiliation: Camp Rock
The best theatrical role I’ve played to date is… Orosman in Dulaang UP’s Orosman at Zafira.
Real Name: Tristan Cheng
Affiliation: Camp Star
Alias: “Star Camper”
Regardless of my camp affiliation, I would definitely join… Camp Star. State of the art, man!
Real Name: Steve Hotchkiss
Alias: “Camp Rocker”
Affiliation: Camp Rock
My all-time favorite Disney character is… Raven from That’s So Raven. She’s so funny!
Real Name: Jim Ferrer
Alias: “Andrew Ichikawa”
Affiliation: Camp Star
Theater is… a magical world.
Real Name: Alex Reyes
Alias: “Holly ‘Hot’ Hutcherson”
Affiliation: Camp Star
What I love most about theater is… I can play different characters and experiment on how far I can go. Also, when I step onstage, I totally forget who I am.
Real Name: Daniel Delgado
Alias: “Moose Delgado”
Affiliation: Camp Star
My best theatrical role yet is… Young Scrooge in A Christmas Carol.
Real Name: Erika Pangan
Alias: “Courtney”
Affiliation: Camp Rock
Regardless of my camp affiliation, I would definitely join… Camp Star because they’re so angas.
Real Name: Jin Dimson
Alias: “Amber Kim”
Affiliation: Camp Star
The similarities between me and my character is that… we both love Korean music.
Real Name: Jazmine Zabala
Alias: “Caroline”
Affiliation: Camp Star
One way to describe my character is… intense.
Real Name: Fran Jose
Alias: “Camp Rocker”
Affiliation: Camp Rock
Regardless of my camp affiliation, I would definitely join… Camp Rock because it teaches you that relationships are way more important than winning.
Real Name: Chaye Mogg
Alias: “Summer”
Affiliation: Camp Star
My favorite JoBro is… Joe Jonas! He’s hilarious (and quite appealing, ha-ha).
Real Name: Paolo Ocampo
Alias: “Kiefer Martin”
Affiliation: Camp Star
The difference between me and my character is that… he’s cold-hearted and discriminating. Of course, I really am not like that.
Real Name: Arianna Norton
Alias: “Lizzie”
Affiliation: Camp Rock
My favorite Jo Bro is… Nick, probably. He seems more down-to-earth and he’s a great singer.
Real Name: Shalee Vicencio
Alias: “Adrianna Lima”
Affiliation: Camp Star
Theater is… my nirvana.
Real Name: Keano Aniban
Alias: “Quorry Flint”
Affiliation: Camp Rock
The best theatrical role I’ve played to date is… Seymour.
Real Name: Eddy Thompson
Alias: “John-John”
Affiliation: Camp Rock
My favorite JoBro is… Kevin Jonas. He is like the comedian among the brothers and some people say that I look like him
Real Name: Toinky Lane
Alias: “Zebra Tigers”
Affiliation: Camp Star
My all-time favorite Disney character is… Buzz Lightyear!
Real Name: Karyl Factora
Alias: “TV Host Georgina Farlow”
Affiliation: Camp Star
Theater is… a stress reliever from my corporate job.
Real Name: Kelly Nicolas
Alias: “Riley Whitmore”
Affiliation: Camp Rock
What I love most about theater is… you can jump into another character’s life and explore different worlds.
* * *
Camp Rock: The Musical, directed by Audie Gemora, runs until Dec. 16, 2012 at Onstage, 2/F, Greenbelt 1 in Makati. For inquiries, call 571-6926 or 571-4941 or log on to www.repertory.ph. Tickets are also available through Ticketworld at 891-9999 and www.ticketworld.ph
Photos by joseph pascual
Special thanks to
Fr. horacio rodriguez,
o.s.a., coach mario, Miss puzon,
toots tolentino, gold soon,
and juno henares
