Wednesday, October 20, 2010

ClickTheCity.COM: The 1980s Reinterpreted in Musical Comedy 'The Wedding Singer'




 (Original Article can be found here: http://www.clickthecity.com/arts/?p=9090 )


Are you ready to dance the night away and relive the era of the 80’s?

9 Works Theatrical proudly presents “The Wedding Singer”, a musical comedy based on the 1998 New Line Cinema film of Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore.

“The Wedding Singer” is set to open on October 23, 2010 – 8 p.m. at the Meralco Theater, Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City.

The Wedding Singer takes place in 1985 and rock-star wannabe Robbie Hart is New Jersey's favorite wedding singer. He's the life of the party, until his own fiancée leaves him at the altar. Shot through the heart, Robbie makes every wedding he plays as disastrous as his own.

Enter Julia, a winsome waitress who wins his affection. Only trouble is Julia is about to be married to a Wall Street shark, and unless Robbie can pull off the performance of the decade, the girl of his dreams will be gone forever.

Since “The Wedding Singer” is set in 1985, here’s a quick look at some interesting facts in the music scene.

The Billboard Top 10 CD’s: Loverboy - Billy Ocean, Shout - Tears For Fears, The Heat Is On - Glenn Frey, Broken Wings - Mr. Mister, Miami Vice Theme - Jan Hammer, Oh Sheila - Ready For The World, We Built This City – Starship, The Power Of Love - Huey Lewis & The News, Can't Fight This Feeling - REO Speedwagon, and St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion) - John Parr

The top albums: Beverly Hills Cop - Sound Track; Born in the U.S.A. - Bruce Springsteen, Like a Virgin – Madonna, Make it Big - Wham!, Private Dancer - Tina Turner, Reckless - Bryan Adams, Suddenly - Billy Ocean.

Grammy Awards: Album of the Year: No Jacket Required, Phil Collins; Best New Artist: Sade; Best Pop Duo or Group: “We Are the World,” USA for Africa; Best Pop Female Vocal: “Saving All My Love for You,” Whitney Houston; Best Pop Male Vocal: No Jacket Required, Phil Collins; Best Rock Duo or Group: “Money for Nothing,” Dire Straits; Best Rock Female Vocal: “One of the Living,” Tina Turner; Best Rock Male Vocal: “The Boys of Summer,” Don Henley; Record of the Year: “We Are the World,” USA for Africa; Song of the Year: “We Are the World,” Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie.

In fashion, the popular looks were power dressing, shoulder padding, dancewear, The Miami Vice look, the Thriller look (inspired my Michael Jackson), the Madonna look (inspired by the lady herself), designer sneakers and the preppy look.

Top 5 movies: Back to the Future, Rambo: First Blood Part 2, Rocky IV, The Color Purple and Out of Africa. Top TV shows: The Cosby Show, Dallas, Dynasty, The Golden Girls, Miami Vice and Knot's Landing. 

“The Wedding Singer” is written by Tim Herlihy and will feature a brand new musical score with music by Matthew Sklar, lyrics by Chad Beguelin, and book by Chad Beguelin and Tim Herlihy.

The cast of “The Wedding Singer” is led by Gian Magdangal who plays the role of Robbie Hart. Gian is a regular mainstay at GMA Channel 7’s Party Pilipinas and most recently, he appeared onstage as Roger in 9 Works Theatrical’s RENT THE MUSICAL. Here, he is reunited with TV personality and MYX VJ Iya Villania who he once shared the stage with in a local production of “Footloose the Musical”.

Iya Villania will play the role of waitress Julia Sullivan, alternating with theater veteran Shiela Valderrama-Martinez who was part of the opening team of Hong Kong Disneyland as the first Asian to play Nala in the Festival of the Lion King and Bebe in the Golden Mickeys.

Singer-actress and TV personality Nikki Valdez, who also shared the stage with Magdangal and Villania in Footloose, returns to the stage as Holly, Julia’s bubbly, uninhibited and lovable cousin.

Analin Bantug, who has played a bevy of roles, including Kim in her five-year stint with Miss Saigon UK Tour, alternates with Valdez for the said role.

Completing the stellar cast are actors Jeremy Aguado as Julia’s fiance Glen Guglia, Lorenz Martinez as Robbie’s pal Sammy, Johann dela Fuente as Robbie’s flamboyantly eccentric friend George, Myrene Santos as Linda, and Enchang Kaimo as Rosie, Robbie’s feisty grandmother.

Other members of the cast who will showcase their mettle in acting, singing and dancing prowess include: Arnold Trinidad, Bym Buhain, Chinie Nepomuceno, Francis Matheu, Harold Cruz, Ikey Canoy, James Stacey, Jenny Villegas, Jonjon Martin, Luau Sablan, Mark Tayag, Mian Dimacali, Miguel Vasquez, Nikki Guevara, Peachy Atilano, Sab Jose, Shelyn Tayanes, and Sylveth Ong-iko.

Robbie Guevara, one of 9 Works Theatrical’s founders, will be directing The Wedding Singer”. He has performed in numerous productions both here and abroad, and was the director of Songs for a New World and RENT THE MUSICAL (9 Works Theatrical’s first two productions) I Love You Because, A Christmas Carol, Fiddler on the Roof, Gay Birds and Romance, Romance, for Repertory Philippines; Bat Boy for Blue Repertory; Heart & Music and the Rhythm of Life for the Philippine Opera Company.

Incidentally, “The Wedding Singer” is also the reason that propelled Executive Producer Santi Santamaria and Artistic Director Robbie Guevara to establish their theater company, 9 Works Theatrical. “When we first encountered the material, we knew that we had to do it,” relates Guevara. Santamaria adds, “Wedding Singer is a crazy and energetic musical, and audiences will surely enjoy,” to which Guevara interjects, “One word to describe Wedding Singer ? Fun! ”

The artistic production team includes Musical Director Rodel Colmenar conducting the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra, Choreographer Francis Matheu, Musical Director for Vocals Onyl Torres, Scenographer Mio Infante, Lighting Designer Martin Esteva, Sound Designer Chuck Ledesma, and Costume Stylist Rosanna Aranaz.

The production team is composed of Executive Producer Santi Santamaria, Production Manager Sunshine Domine, Technical Director Paul Domine, PR and Publicity Consultant Toots Tolentino. PR Director Christopher de Venecia, PR Manager Jonjon Martin, Marketing Manager Shelyn Tayanes, Stage Manager Lambert de Jesus, Company Manager Anna Santamaria and Photography by Revolution.

Catch the Wedding Singer: The Musical Comedy
on November 7, 2010 (Sunday) 8 PM @ The Meralco Theater 

Contact Us:
Borgy Marzan (0922.888.5344)
Onay Sales (0918.536.2116)
Robert Marzan (0922.888.5348)
Email: watchplays@yahoo.com

To view available seats, click here: 

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