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| Lea can't have another babyColumn: Freehand LEA Salonga is celebrating her 30th year in showbiz. She was just a little girl when we first, saw her sang "Hard Knock Life" and "Tomorrow" in "Annie". Since then, she has conquered the world in "Miss Saigon", "Les Miz", "Flower Drum Song", and as Princess Jasmine in "Aladdin". She'll have an anniversary concert at the PICC, "My Life On Stage", on May 23 and 24 with brother Gerard Salonga and Filharmonika. On July 29, the Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical, "Cinderella", opens with her in the title role. This will run until August 24 at the CCP Main Theatre, produced by Broadway Asia Entertainment (BAE), the biggest producer of Broadway musicals in Asia, directed by the acclaimed Bobby Garcia and later to tour Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand, and Korea. What are the highlights of Lea's 30 year career? "Definitely playing 'Annie' is first because it started my career, then doing 'Miss Saigon' in London and later traveling to the U. S. It gave me the Olivier and Tony Awards but more than winning them, I consider meeting the people I admire in other musicals and concerts as the bigger highlights. Then doing 'Les Miz', first as Eponine and later, as Fantine. " Her daughter Nicole, almost two years old, is with Lea as we interview her. How is it being a mom? "It's so much fun. Look at my daughter, she brings so much joy into my life. " When does she intend to have a baby boy? "That has to wait in a long while as I'm under contract in 'Cinderella' until April of 2009. " Is married life with husband Rob a blissful one? "Thank God the answer is yes. I was looking for someone who's sweet, smart, loving, God-fearing, devoted to his family, understands me well, and good-looking. Not much, huh? But I got all that in one person, Rob, and even more, too. We have a lot of things in common, like our love for video games and new technology. I really consider myself so blessed as I not only have a good family life but also because I'm doing for a living something that I really love to do. There isn't anything else that I'd rather be doing. I can never do office work, but I do have the dedication to learn an intricate melody or memorize a long monologue to the point of obsession. " How does she intend to play Cinderella? "I first played it in high school when I was 16. This new production is special because it's by Rodgers and Hammersteins, whose 'Flower Drum Song' I also did on Broadway. Their music is really great. The challenge for me now is how to make Cinderella a real human being, not just a fairy tale character. " This version of Cinderella was originally created as a TV special starring Julie Andrews (who was then doing "My Fair Lady" on Broadway) in the title role and Jon Cypher as the Prince. Its best known songs are "In My Own Little Corner", "Ten Minutes Ago", "Impossible" and "Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful". Rodgers and Hammerstein (also the creators of "South Pacific", "The King and I" and "The Sound of Music" were faithful to the original Charles Perrault tale and worked on their adaptation for eight months and this premiered on CBS TV on March 31, 1957. It was a big hit. Tickets ranging from P500 to P7,000 for the CCP presentation starring Lea are now available at National Bookstore, Ticketworld (891-9999). Groups or companies who want to get block tickets can email Atlantis Productions at cinderella. phil @gmail. com or call them at 660-0764, to be sold at 20% discount and available for a full, half or quarter house. An early bird discount of 25% for a full house du-ring the first two week of its run is also avai-lable for the first 30 days only, so call now. RICHARD GOES SOLO, MOUNTS CONCERT SINGER Richard Poon gained yuppie fans as a regular in the "Serena-ding" portion of "ASAP". Now, ASAP Live produces his first solo concert at Music Museum on May 1 & 2, "Richard Poon: I'll Take Care of You". Richard has a Taiwanese mom (a singer there) and a dad who's a chef from Hong Kong. He was born and raised here along with his elder sister who he says sings even better than him. His dad owns the Mr. Poon chain of restaurants and after his business management course in La Salle, he joined his dad's kit-chen and worked there for six years. But his heart is really in singing and he gained fame as a member of the acoustic group called U-Turn who sang regularly at Tapika Katipunan. It was there that Viva Records disco-vered them and gave them two albums. They disbanded in 2006 and he wanted to put up a new band but his mana-ger told him to go solo. In a fund-raising affair last year, he was told to sing three old standards. "I was against it as I'm used to singing pop songs," he says. "It was very hard for me. But the audience in the fund-rai-sing affair liked my singing so much and Eastwood got me to sing with them every Tuesday night. It took sometime before I can sing old songs from the heart as I hated it when dad then would sing 'Born Free'. But I realized that pop songs became stale after about six months, but old songs, the more you listen to them, the more you love them. " He was then given his own album, ABS got him in January to sing in "ASAP", and he quickly gained his own following. "I never thought I can go solo. I'm just thankful to all my co-singers in 'ASAP' who all welcomed me and are all so helpful. Some of them will be guesting in my concert. " No other Chinese singer has really gained wide public acceptance since Jose Mari Chan, who has given Richard (he also composes songs like Jomari) encouraging words. "I'm overwhelmed with all the support I'm getting and I promise to give my best in my Music Museum concert to please the audience. " For tickets, call Kathy Solis at 415-2272 loc. 4607. RAMIELE PROUD TO BE PINOY RAMIELE Malubay was recently eliminated from "American Idol". She says she's hoping to visit her relatives here in the Philippines this coming Christmas season. "My last visit was two years ago and we try to visit them every other year," she adds. Ramiele is proud to be a Filipino American and she was really praying she'd be the first Asian American Idol. She has always included Regine Velasquez and Lani Misalucha in her list of musical influences. She'll try to pursue a career in singing and acting later on, but if things won't work for her in L. A. , she plans to go back to her nursing course. She'll be joining the Top Ten American Idol 2008 finalists after the season finale. But we won't be surprised if she'd get an invitation from GMA-7's "Pinoy Idol" to guest during the show's local run. It will be recalled that Jasmine Trias guested in ABC-5's "Philippine Idol" then and Ramiel's guesting in GMA-7's "Pinoy Idol" will definitely make it worthwatching. GB'S DREAMS ONE of the most sought after concert directors today is GB (for Giuseppe Bede) Sampedro, winner of the Aliw best concert director award in 2006. GB started as assistant to Louie Ignacio and he got to direct TV shows for GMA-7, like "Sis", before branching out to megging concerts. He has since directed the concerts and TV specials of artists like Sarah Geronimo, Mark Bautista, Jaya, Rachelle Ann Go, Kyla, Rufa Mae Quinto, Luke Mejares, and Ogie Alcasid, making him a favorite director of singing champs. He has also megged music videos for various artists, TV shows like the reality show "Real Pinoy Fighter", "Global Battle of the Bands", episodes of "Daisy Siete", and TV commercials and plugs like Xando, McDonalds,. Tide, Surf, Double Mint, Mr. Clean, Green Cross Soap, Palmolive Naturals and Argentina Corned Beef. He's currently directing the morning talk show, "Boy & Kris", and Cinema One's "Persona". He has directed the recent "Catch Me" concert of Toni Gonzaga in Aliw Theatre. It was a big hit so he's now directing its repeat, "Catch Me Again", on May 2 still in Aliw Theatre. Eventually, GB dreams of directing a TV drama or his own full length film. "I already have several story ideas and hopefully, when a producer will trust me well enough to finance a film project, makakagawa na rin ako ng pelikula," he says. DON MOEN IN CEBU AND CDO INTERNATIONALLY acclaimed inspirational singer Don Moen had a very successful concert tour here last year. This summer, he returns to our country for another series of praise and worship events that started at the Cuneta Astrodome last Friday. Don Moen is excited as he is scheduled to visit more places this time, including Lucena, Lingayen, Iloilo, Cebu and Cagayan de Oro. Famous for his many inspirational songs such as "God Will Make A Way", "Give Thanks", "Heal Me, Oh Lord", "God is Good All The Time" and "Thank You Lord. " Don is a famous songwriter-performer who gained success with his praise & worship songs that hew closely to the words of the Bible. He has traveled extensively around the globe to spread God's Word through his music and inspirational teachings. He has just finished his latest album which will be launched soon. Don Moen's "Worship and Revival Concert Tour" promises to unite once again believers from the Evangelical and Catholic Communities who are all looking forward to another memorable religious event supported by Chowking, The Mabuhay Manor, Commuter Express. . Come and celebrate a spirit-filled evening of praise and worship as we'll all unite in prayer for God's grace tonight April 11, 7:30 pm at the University of Southern Philippines (open grounds), Cebu City and tomorrow, April 12, 7 p. m. at the Pelaez Sports Complex, Cagayan de Oro. ANOTHER MAGALONA IN SHOWBIZ MAXENE Magalona is happy that she's not the only child of her dad Francis who is now in showbiz. A younger brother of hers will be introduce in the TV remake of "Dyesebel", playing the role of the young Fredo (Dingdong Dantes). "Nakakatuwa nga dahil just as 'Kamandag' is ending, heto't ang 'Dyesebel' naman introducing my brother ang siyang papalit sa slot namin sa GMA Telebabad," she says. "I'm really proud of my brother dahil very promising siya. Napasama siya sa 'Dyesebel' location taping sa Coron in Palawan. Buti na lang at bakasyon siya sa school ngayon kaya puwede siyang mag-taping. " In "Kamandag" this week, Maxene's life is put in grave danger because her own sister, Elinor (Alex de Rossi), plots to kill her. Meantime, the fight between Kamandag (Richard Gutierrez) and Talim (Mark Anthony Fernandez) becomes even more intense when Talim acquires new strength. THANK YOU WHEN we attended the launching of Drs. Willie and Liza Ong as endorser of Vitahart, we told the Unilab Biomedis production manager Aileen Apdian that we're really taking their product everyday to strengthen our heart. And you know what, she sent us a big package containing free samples of Vitahart. We just want to say thank you to her and assistant manager, Richie Keyser. With Docs Willie and Liza promoting Vitahart, we're sure it will help a lot of people who want to maintain a healthy cardio-vascular system. Source: People's Journal |
