Tag: musical
Review: “The Notebook, The Musical” Breathes New Life Into Nicholas Sparks’ Novel
Nicholas Sparks’ The Notebook debuted on bookshelves around the world in 1996. Since then, the American novelist and screenwriter has released many other internationally bestselling books such as A Walk to Remember and Message in a Bottle—all of which were adapted into hit Hollywood movies. The film version of The Notebook came out in 2004. […]
“On Your Feet!” Review: The Rhythm Did Get Me
For ’80s kids and ’90s teens like myself, Gloria Estefan was one of the popstars whose cassette tape made its rotation in our household. I remember my parents took me to the concert of Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine in 1991 at the Folk Arts Theater, where we watched them perform hits such […]
Spring Awakening in Manila is as Radical as The First Time
In 2007, I bought student rush tickets to Spring Awakening, one year after it officially debuted on Broadway in New York City, and one week after it won eight awards at the Tonys, including Best Musical. It was the first real Broadway musical I ever watched, which is why it has a special place in […]
“Liwanag Sa Dilim: The Musical” Is One Heck of a Ride
There was a conundrum among the writers in my section at the March 6 press preview of Liwanag sa Dilim: “How do we keep our reviews spoiler-free and how long can we go without telling anyone the plot of the musical?” As the official first audience of this new original Filipino musical, we were on […]
“Next To Normal” Looks Grief In The Eye
Mental health may no longer be the taboo topic it was 10-20 years ago, but when Next To Normal made its 2008 off-Broadway and 2009 Broadway debut, the rock musical made waves in modern theater. It won three Tony Awards (Best Original Score, Best Orchestration, Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical for […]
‘Rent’ Manila 2024 is More Than a ’90s Throwback
I may have been a ’90s teen through and through, but I wasn’t mature enough to fully understand the story of Rent had I watched it in 1996. The late and great Jonathan Larson’s rock musical is about a group of impoverished young artists struggling to survive in Alphabet City, East Village, back in the […]
Chicago in Manila: Meet Roxie and Velma
They razzled. They dazzled. Chicago’s Manila run doesn’t begin until December 2, but the leading ladies of the cast dropped by Solaire last week to give the press a preview of what to expect at the show. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the role of Roxy Hart in the Manila run will […]
Chasing Broadway
I had just moved out of my Brooklyn apartment and into Crowne Plaza near Times Square. “Perfect location,” I told myself. I had less than a week left in New York and was starting to show symptoms of a flu. Upping my vitamin C and cough drops intake, I formulated a master plan—to watch as […]
Wicked in Manila: Meet the Cast
Whether you’re pro or anti-Glee, you have to admit that they helped introduce musicals and Broadway references to the young pop culture generation that was once too busy gloating over Bieber. Who can blame the Manila crowd for going crazy after hearing the news that Wicked will be staged in CCP early this year? Theater purists […]