Spring Awakening October 2009

I did not really like the musical among all the musicals I have watched before.
S.A. is also graphic in depcting the blossoming of prepubescence to adolescence and how tensions in school, authoritarian restrictions lead to youth rebellion.
Still, performance wise, I felt like watching a musical concert pieced together, the story, in my opinion is good, but the music overpowers the plot. The songs are in a belting, vocally high manner that impresses but is not as "singable" toe-tapping, and feel good as the usual narrative musicals I have seen.
Joaquin V. is good as the lead and Nar as the supporting is at his best, as usual. I cannot speak for the other cast members whom I do not really know personally.
Watching this with three lady friends, is a new experience for me, I know watching with them can be awkward initially, but at this age and time, it was quickly dispelled.
I love the lighting, it denotes seasons so nicely, it is almost cinematographic if translated on the silver screen.
I wished though I can like it as much as I liked Rent, but, I can't force myself.

Countdown to the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee March 20 to April 4, 2009

Atlantis Productions is coming up with another production to kick off the summer theater season with The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee to be held at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium in RCBC plaza this March 20 to April 4, 2009 .

I read the article on Philippine Star for December 18, and of course, I am excited to see it.

After Hairspray which make me wanna shake it and shimmy it, here one is expected to know how to spell words like rendezvous, oxymoron, chutzpah and accommodate without the hesitation of average spellers.

I have also seen some episodes of Spelling Bee contests on TV, US version that is, I could feel how nerve wracking it could be to spell some words which seem to be as we say "chicken lang yan" . It is like being on stage in a bikini and answering the final question. In this case, it's like a 10 letter word spells eternity in joyous applause or disgrace in 10 seconds.

So, check outhte Philippine star article by Director Bobby Garcia, and yes, this is an Atlantis Production again, the same production that brought us Rent, Avenue Q,Dogeaters,Doubt and more. Check out the site:

http://atlantisproductionsinc.com/

I think I'm gonna start practicing my spelling skills, two lucky audience spellers will be picked out along with two celebrity spellers...watch out for it.

Steve Rojas

FRIENDS! WATCH this concert for a good good cause. PLEASE click on the link below

BENEFICIARY: SOS Children's Village

http://www.sos-childrensvillages.org/Focus-areas/Emergency-relief/Children-in-catastrophes/Global-Food-Crisis/Pages/Philippines-difficult-choices-between-basic-needs.aspx

EVENT: THe VILLAGE BOYS in concert

WHEN: December 8, 2008 MONDAY

WHERE: Philamlife Auditorium, UN AVenue, Ermita Manila

ticket cost: very friendly 300 php and premium VIP 500 php

Appeal to your cultural taste of watching two young upcoming singers, JESUS Emmanuel Baang, nonon as we college barkada call him in our UST days, is teaming up with Dominique Moralez to serenade you after a day's stressful load and burdens, for a very good cause. KIDS!

NONON has already had several mini concerts and was one of the four leads at the recetly concluded run of LA BOHEME at the CCP .

the kids who will benefit are part of SOS Village, gathered from the rough streets and hands of abusive guardians, integrated into a family setting and mentored to be good productive citizens of the future.

For ticket inquiries, please message me and I will get in touch with the ticket coordinator.

you can use this as an early christmas gift for your date, your family, your barkada, and have a reunion afterwards for coffee (why not di ba?), and think of the warm feeling that you know you have helped someone else while you enjoyed wonderful music.

OK, sana convinced na kayo! watchna.....if your excuse if wala kayo, abroad, out of town, busy,...buy a ticket, and give it to someone who can, say that christmas present mo na yan...o di ba?

Mga berks, bros, sis, ano, tulungan nyo ko dito hahah, you know who you are..(wink wink heheh)

Stephen CHUA-ROJAS

Yuletide ART

Christmas time means I will go back to my grade school standard art stuff, from personalized greeting cards, to origami and mobiles.
What have I done for Christmas in the past?
I have given out christmas mini boxes filled with candy, origami birds with beads and notes, holiday greeting cards(store bought) but personally written greetings, mobile christmas decors.
what I have not yet done was pop up cards, and the christmas table top decors that I wish I can do on my own. But it is so much cheaper to just buy from tiangges cheaply.
Yeah I know, labor of love, and it is the thought that counts.
But, sometimes, when I reflect, it takes too much time to do all these personalized things. That is why I treasure stuff given to be that are obviously painstakingly made and not just simply bought from stores. Of course, getting the artsy gift done, means, I have to prepare now. My mind has to activate its right hemisphere to get things going.

love opera that transcends time: LA BOHEME , CCP October 3-5

A backlit broken carousel and tents, apparently an abandoned carnival, metal wire fencing, melancholic and heartbroken singing was what greeted me when I joined the audience this evening.

I was lucky to be one of the group of bloggers who joined the Lorna Lopez entourage to watch the dress rehearsal of La Boheme, the Puccini classic opera where the hit musical RENT was based on.

The cast of performers are the following:

1. Maribel Miguel, Jennifer Uy - Mimi

2. Elaine Lee, Ana Feleo- Musetta

3. Gary del Rosario,John Alberto Gaerlan-Rodolfo

4. Lawrence Jatayno, Jesus Emmanuel "Nonon" Baang -Marcello

directed by Floy Quintos

Guest Conductor of the Orchestra: Ms. Helen Quach

ACT 3 and 4 was what me and the rest of the bloggers saw, we missed the very lively and "flirtatious" Act 1 and the "courtship and ligawan" Act 2.

In this act 3, according to the post opera discussion given by no less than the director Floy , Rodolfo and Mimi, completed by the star crossed lovers Musetta and Marcello, were having their problems with loss of the fire of love, LQ or lover's quarrel and what we term is "pag-ibig na pinagsawaan na". Goodbyes are so long and stretched in this act, as both lovers struggle to stay together but want to let go because of unresolved conflicts. In one word, as direk Floy would say, co-dependency of the lovers for each other.

Act 4 was where the boys were making fun of each other, and playing around like singles, little did they know, Mimi, who was dying of TB came back seeking her lover. She died on the couch, singing what could only be a very difficult aria. I learned that opera singers would rather sing on their feet for that is where they can steady themselves and get that power they need, the challenge of being on the couch means all effort has to come from the diaphragm and, lying on the couch even with a back support is quite a challege, so kudos really to Jennifer Uy for doing it so well that evening.

Gary Del Rosario was animated, and his voice carried itself all the way to the back of the theater effortlessly.The nice touch about the opera is that the scenery is not 19th century but contemporary backgrounds.

Act IV featured a set located on the rooftop of an old building where they all stay in. And looking out the balcony, are the various tops of skyscrapers and the ubiquitous billboards, plus moving animated clouds above (which we have not seen but was described by direk) The billboards actually can change their ads even so. We were told that the face featured on the billboard would be the young digitized face of Mimi changing from when she was still alive and when she dies.

I also listened to the explanation why Floy was so excited about directing this opera, he says that though he does not understand Italian, he says the audience should just listen and internalize the songs and really be touched. He further explains the difference between opera singers and theater veterans."With theater, they would want to perform the more runs the better and they would not be all please to see a dwindling audience.

It is quite the opposite for opera singers, for as an example, when we performed Die Fliedermaus, the audience was there on the first day, but onthe last day we could almost say we (the cast) played to a very small audience. I asked the performers, dont you get discouraged? They replied that it is fine with them, for just to be able to perform the renowned operas on stage, for that time is an achievement for them." He further says opera pieces are practiced , for this LA Boheme for four months at least before this came about.

True, I dont understand Italian either, and somehow, , with all apologies, I really got drowsy listening to the arias even though they are really really rich and full in voice and meaning. But they gave me a sense of heaviness if melancholic, and sorrow when there was death. I have listed to other operas with happy scenes and I smile and I feel uplifted.

See it from October 3-5 at CCP, call 832-11-25 local 1801- 1806 for tickets and reservations.

PAINTINGs that I do not understand

I have never really known a lot of artists but when I see something that catches my eye, I snap a picture of it. Of course, taking a good look at these photos, I get the goosebumps on the first one, the look of three people looking up with their eyes crossed is kinda peculiar and grotesque. This painting hung at the head of my friend's bed and he said when he had this mounted, he had a fever for a week. I dont know why. Who is the painter and what is the story behind this?

This second painting is boggling to me as well, it looks quite benign andto me, it looks like an onion ring with a tomato wedge splattered with mashed potato. But that's it, sorry, I am not an art critic now..:D

HAIRSPRay in DECEMBER

From:
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"Lorna Lopez" View contact details
To:
cranegoddesscorp@gmail.com
Message contains attachments
Hairspray.jpg (268KB), HS.STAR THEATER SEAT PLAN.xls (27KB)
-----Inline Attachment Follows-----
Hello Guys and Gidgets,From the same production company that brought the smash hits Avenue Q and RENT to Manila, ATLANTIS now proudly presents the Tony Award winning musical Hairspray for a limited engagement.Hairspray Shake & Shimmy Show Date:06 Dec 2008 2pm (Sat)Venue: Star Theater, CCP Complex, ManilaTo view the seatmap:Please see attachment (Available seats are colored WHITE. First come first served basis.)Ticket prices (plus 3% surcharge for Ticketworld purchases):Balcony Php 600 (Rows Y-Z)Loge Php 800 (Rows T-X)Upper Orchestra Php 1,000 (Rows J-S)Lower Orchestra Php 1,200 (Rows A-I)Please let me know your seat preferences via email.And, get the chance to watch the opera La Boheme (upon which RENT the Musical is based):http://www.thebachelorgirl.com/2008/1035/an-invite-for-bloggers-to-compare-la-boheme-and-rent/(NOTE: For deletion from the email list, please reply with a blank email.)Thank you very much.Shake and Shimmy,Lorna