Ghost the Musical, Manila

Ghost the Musical is currently on its last weekend at the RCBC Plaza and I urge you not to miss this theatrical adaptation.

The musical may not be as popular as the recent behemoth, "Wicked" but what it lacks in spectacle, it more than makes up for its heart.

I wasn't familiar with any of the songs and was surprised to find out they have been written by Glen Ballard of Jagged Little Pill and Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics.  The songs cut across different genres but my favorite would have to be Three Little Words.  Listen.

I have seen the movie a few times but I wasn't too sure if it would translate well on stage so my expectations were low but I was blown away.  I loved it and it appears that I wasn't the only one.  Thanks to social media, you can vouch for whatever it is that I'm saying by the reactions of the netizens, celebrities and ordinary folks, like me, alike.

Reviews from major broadsheets have also been mostly positive. 

Plus, aside from the very heartfelt performances of Cris Villonco (you can feel her pain) and Christian Bautista, Ima Castro brings the house down.  Aren't you curious as to how this scene is translated on stage?

Last 5 performances this weekend!  

Tickets are available at Ticketworld.  

NINE in Manila

Atlantis Productions has assembled together theater, tv and film greats in its latest musical, NINE. If only for the casting, this musical is not to be missed with Jett Pangan in the lead who is no stranger to theater with numerous awards under his belt.



Eula Valdez plays his leading lady who has also proven her worth in theater via the country's most successful comedy musical, Zsazsa Zaturnnah. Joining them is theater's who's who, Cherie Gil, Menchu Lauchengo-Yulo and Carla Guevara-Laforteza.





Adding even more star power to the show are Sitti Navarro, the country's bossa nova queen and Ima Castro, who starred in Miss Saigon and recently, Atlantis Productions' In the Heights and Aida.

Nine tells the story of Contini, who’s turning 40 and facing a midlife crisis, as he prepares for his latest motion picture, and balances the many women in his life. The original Broadway production, which starred Raul Julia as the famed film director, won five Tony Awards including Best Musical in 1982. (source)

The people working in the background have, likewise, impressive portfolios. Atlantis Productions’ upcoming take on Nine will feature set design by Tony Award-winning scenic designer David Gallo (Memphis, The Drowsy Chaperone). “I’m so excited to collaborate with Gallo once again. He’s one of the most talented designers I’ve had the honor and pleasure of working with. He’ll also be selecting an up-and-coming designer in the Philippines to work as his apprentice for this production,” says Bobby Garcia, Atlantis Productions’ resident director, who first worked with Gallo in Broadway Asia’s touring production of Cinderella. “I’m also excited that the costumes for Nine will be designed by New York-based Filipino designer Robin Tomas,” he adds. (source)

The musical will run from Sept 21 - Oct 7 at the RCBC Plaza in Makati.



Prime seats are still available for the October 6, 8PM show:



You can purchase tickets through Ticketworld. Just click the link on the sidebar.

Meanwhile, here's Nicole Kidman's version of Unusual Way when she essayed the role of Claudia in the film version: