Atlantis Productions is currently staging another Tony award-winning musical at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Ayala Ave., Makati City. Entitled "Nine," it stars musical theater favorite Jett Pangan in the role of filmmaker Guido Contini, first played on Broadway by Raul Julia, and later essayed by Antonio Banderas in the revival, and Daniel Day Louis in the film version.
"Nine" marks Jett Pangan's 11th musical with Atlantis and his biggest and most challenging role to date. Warren David Saga and Ethan Paras alternate as Little Guido.
Also in the major cast are Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, who once co-starred with Jett and plays Luisa Conti, devoted wife; multi-awarded film, TV and theater icon Cherie Gil, as the film producer Liliane Le Fleur; Eula Valdez in the role of Claudia Nardi, a film star and muse to Guido Contini; Carla Guevara-Laforteza as Carla Albanese, Guido's neurotic mistress.
Completing the cast are Ima Castro, Sitti Navarro, Yanah Laurel, Jay Glorioso, Mikkie Bradshaw, Reg Claraval, Princess Virtudazo, and Japs Teopaldo.
"Nine" is directed by Bobby Garcia who said "Nine" is "a musical that I have loved since my childhood and something I have wanted to do for many years." The musical runs till Oct. 7.
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MAG Dancers, Iriga's Ambassadors Of Goodwill
You'd know from the very start that they are highly-trained dancers. Because their movements are powerful, dynamic, graceful and highly-energized or emotionally charged.
They are the MAG Dancers, a 23-member group from Iriga City. Our encounter with them was when they performed at the Hotel Intercontinental Manila on the occasion of the Bicol Investment Forum held recently.
MAG stands for Madelaine Alfelor-Gazmen, the current city mayor of Iriga City. Mayor Gazmen, who is responsible for the dynamic growth of the city, organized the dance group, and since then, they have been participating in the promotion of culture and the arts wherever they are invited to perform. They also serve as the city's ambassadors for goodwill and development.
No less than the famous dance guru Douglas Nierras subjected them to rigid training workshops with his Power Dance. When they finished the course, the MAG Dancers were transferred to the supervision of their homegrown artistic director Lading Nagrampa and choreographer Rodrigo Salando.
Claudith Pantayao, member of the MAG Dancers, said that they learned so much from Nierras. "We do rehearsals almost every day especially when there is a forthcoming event where we have to participate in. It's all self-fullment and great for the soul!"
Nagrampa and Salanda were even sent by the mayor to a dance study tour in India and Malaysia to gain more knowledge on dance skills and styles.
The members of the dance group receive scholarship from Mayor Gazmen.
Like Mayor Gazmen who is so committed to serve Iriga City, the dancers are also committed to their self-discovery that they are indeed excellent dancers for the arts.
Since this is the last term of Mayor Gazmen, we are wondering she might join the entertainment industry starting with her MAG Dancers.
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Top Bands, Celebs Grace Rexona Event
Popular rock bands 6cyclemind and Gracenote are set to deliver awesome performances at the Rexona Run 2012 happening on Sept. 23 at the SM Mall of Asia grounds.
Joining the expected 10,000 runners are Rovilson Fernandez, Aubrey Miles, Troy Montero and Tessa Prieto-Valdes along with radio personalities Tony Toni, Sam YG, and Slick Rick of "Boy's Night Out!" Rich Hardin of "Amazing Race Asia," Anthony and Maricel Pangilinan, Tricia Chiongbian and Anton Suntay.
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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, Sept. 22, go to Ms. Nene Leonor, Dolly Anne Carvajal, Elizabeth Cristobal, Mrs. Baby Liban, Violy Sevilla, Marg Hubilla-Ordiales, Jinia Samad, Rashid Mathew Dayot, Cristina Tan Yao, Emmie Domingo of Filscap, Pitay Reyes-Vitan, Nicky Tesoro and Caroline Riggs of Star Magic... Don't miss the back-to-back episodes of Disney Channel shows like "Phineas and Ferb," "Upin and Ipin" and "BoboiBOy" every Saturday from 12 noon to 2 a.m.
