Ten Years and Beyond
MANILA, Philippines - Last Oct. 19 the cast of Spring Awakening took the stage in a straight line and sang about the wonders of a purple summer. With that, the show came to a glorious end.
Just about 10 years ago, our first Atlantis show also came to a close with the actors arranged in a straight line, singing about the many seasons of love.
It’s been a decade of learning about producing great shows — sometimes by trial and error. I will never forget the day in our small office when, due to a printer error, we ended up with a whole show’s run worth of ticket stubs — none of which were numbered. Bobby Garcia and I looked at each other, said “Slumber party!” and proceeded to number each and every ticket by hand. It has also been 10 years worth of fantastic Filipino talent. It has always been important for us to come up with an exciting mix of performers for each show — theater veterans, theater newbies, concert and recording artists, rock stars, respected film and TV actors, and maybe even a Tony-award winner. Over the last 10 years, we’ve had the chance to see them all give life to our shows.
The shows. We’ve had a decade’s worth, including hit Broadway musicals, award-winning plays and even a magical fairy tale or two — shows about learning to drive; an angry inch; mathematical proof of life; rocking Biblical figures; the life of a great theater composer; horror shows; urinetowns; dreamgirls; doubting nuns; unlikely girls getting the boy; babies; Disney beauties; life after 9-11 in America; life during martial law in the Philippines. And the great thing is, more and more wonderful shows are being created that we want to share with all of you. Which brings us to our 11th year!
We open our second decade with even more laughter as the much-loved Avenue Q returns to the stage. This hilarious musical that took Broadway, Manila and Singapore by storm will once delight Manila with its story about a fresh Princeton graduate and his adventures on Avenue Q with Kate Monster, Lucy The Slut, Trekkie Monster, Nicky, Rod, Brian, Christmas Eve and Gary Coleman. Rachel Alejandro returns to the dual roles of Kate Monster/Lucy The Slut. Avenue Q runs from March 12 to 27, 2010 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditiorium, RCBC Plaza.
After that it will be girl power in pink with Legally Blonde: The Musical. Based on the hit movie, Legally Blonde follows the heartbroken Elle Woods as she follows the guy she thought she’d marry to Harvard Law School. This journey leads her to finding her strength and her smarts, conquering the halls of justice and meeting the man she was meant to marry. Nikki Gil conquers the musical theater stage as Elle Woods. Legally Blonde is a delightful, high-energy show with great music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin and book by Heather Hach. This much fun shouldn’t be legal, but it will be come June 2010 at the Meralco Theater.
Disco, pink and roller skates combine in Xanadu. This intimate musical based on the Olivia Newton John movie was a surprise Broadway hit and it skates onstage in September 2010 at the RCBC Theater. Gods, goddesses and mortals all meet and mingle in downtown Los Angeles until they find “that place where nobody dares to go.” Rachel Alejandro will don leg warmers, roller skates and take on an Australian accent as she performs the role of Kira. The show features hit songs like Xanadu, Suddenly and Have You Ever Been Mellow.
On our 11th year we want to celebrate 80 years of a life that has changed musical theater as we know it — Stephen Sondheim’s. A Little Night Music is about several mismatched lovers who find themselves together one weekend in the country. With a haunting, beautiful score that includes the song Send In The Clowns, we follow these lovers as they wait for the summer night to smile upon them and lead them to their true loves. The elegant, beautiful, award-winning actress Dawn Zulueta makes her theater comeback after more than a decade of being away from the stage as Desiree. Isn’t it bliss, indeed!
So much to look forward to. So much to share with all of you. So much so that even as one show comes to an end, the great thing is, it still feels like a beginning. And really, from year one to 10, year 11 to 20, the greatest joy was, is, and will always be… losing count.
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For show-buying and fundraising opportunities for all shows contact Atlantis Productions at 892-7078 or 840-1187.
