Tony, Olivier and Grammy Winner JERSEY BOYS to Premiere in Manila, September 23

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Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group (ATEG), which recently presented the first international production of “The Bridges of Madison County” and the newly re-imagined production of “Saturday Night Fever,” is set to premiere a brand-new production of the Tony, Olivier, and Grammy Award-winning musical “Jersey Boys,” a biographical musical based on the story of the legendary American doo-wop group Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, on September 23 at Meralco Theatre in Pasig City.

Starring acoustic balladeer Nyoy Volante in the coveted role of Frankie Valli, lead vocalist of the Four Seasons, and Asian Pop Superstar Christian Bautista in the role of Bob Gaudio, singer-songwriter and keyboardist of the Four Seasons (the full cast will be announced at a later date), will run for a limited 15 shows only, on the weekends from September 23 until October 16. 

Now in its 11th year on Broadway, “Jersey Boys” officially opened on Broadway at the August Wilson Theatre on November 6, 2oo5. In 2006, the show won the Tony Award for Best Musical, Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (John Lloyd Young, who also played the role of Frankie Valli in the movie adaptation in 2014), Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical (Christian Hoff), and Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Howell Binkley). It also won Best New Musical at the 2008 Laurence Olivier Awards in London and Best Musical Show Album at the 2007 Grammy Awards. As of September 22, 2015, after setting a record of at least 4,093 performances, “Jersey Boys” has surpassed “Miss Saigon” as the 12th longest-running show in Broadway history.

To date, the show has been seen by more than 23 million people worldwide and is currently playing in New York, Las Vegas, London, and in numerous cities across North America and the U.K. In Asia, an international touring production, starring an all-South African cast, played Singapore, South Korea, and Malaysia from November 2012 to April 2014.

Directed by Bobby Garcia, “Jersey Boys,” featuring the music by Bob Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crewe, the Four Seasons' record producer, and book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, who creatively present the story of the Four Seasons' formation, meteoric rise and descent via four symbolic seasons told from different points of view, has some unique offerings for Filipino theatergoers: Mr. Garcia's brand-new staging, Driscoll Otto's lighting design, Edwin Tan's costume design, and Faust Peneyra's set design.

“Jersey Boys is such a well-crafted biographic musical. It manages to both be a celebration of the unforgettable music of the Four Seasons and at the same time a gritty but heartfelt true-to-life tale of friendship, family, and stardom. Like any good musical, it has a fantastic story and bringing that story to life while at the same time honoring the legends who created the music is the challenge—it is also what excites me about the show,” Mr. Garcia said.

“Jersey Boys” tells the story of the 40-year-friendship of four sons of Italian immigrants in New Jersey. They went from singing on street corners in the various housing projects in northern N.J. to singing on national television as their songs, featuring Frankie Valli's trademark three-octave range and falsetto and a distinctive doo-wop sound, charted 24 Top-30 hits from 1962 to 1968. Their most popular songs such as “Big Girls Don't Cry,” “Sherry,” “Walk Like A Man,” “Working My Way Back to You,” “Can't Take My Eyes Off You,” “My Eyes Adored You,” and “December 1963 (Oh What a Night),” defined the boomer generation who took illegal drugs, sex, rebellion, and rock and roll to a whole new level.

Considered as America's most popular singing group before The Beatles, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, alongside the Beach Boys, Motown, and Memphis soul, fought their way to the top of the music charts even during the phenomenal “Beatlemania,” The Rolling Stones, and British Invasion in the mid-60s.

“'Jersey Boys' is one of those nights at the theatre that leaves you feeling so good. I think it's those songs. There is an energy to them that lifts you higher and higher. We also have assembled a truly first-rate cast whom I think will bring these legends to thrilling life!” Mr. Garcia said.

Interviewed by Billboard, Mr. Valli said, “It [the Broadway musical] has created a new awareness [about the Four Seasons], especially with younger people.” 

★★★★★

“Oh, what a fantastic night you’ll have!” 

UPN 9 TV 

★★★★★

“The most exciting musical in years!” 

Chicago Tribune 

★★★★★

“A can’t-stop-the-music-tidal-wave!” 

The Star-Ledger 

Tickets go on sale from Tuesday, May 24, 2016; visit www.TicketWorld.com.ph or call Ten Bridges Media Corp. (632) 650 5144

PRODUCTION Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group, in cooperation with Ten Bridges Media Corp., presents the Tony, Olivier, and Grammy Award-winning musical “Jersey Boys” for a limited engagement only.

DIRECTOR Bobby Garcia

MUSIC/LYRICS Bob Gaudio (music), Bob Crewe (lyrics), Ceejay Javier (musical direction)

SETS Faust Peneyra

COSTUMES Edwin Tan

LIGHTS Driscoll Otto

MAIN CAST Nyoy Volante, Christian Bautista

WHEN Weekends from September 23 to October 16, 2016

WHERE Meralco Theatre, Pasig City

INFORMATION Tel: (632) 650 5144 or www.facebook.com/ATEGasia

TICKETS www.TicketWorld.com.ph or Ten Bridges Media Corp. (632) 650 5144

Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group Looking for new “Miss Saigon” cast

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Miss Saigon put Filipino talent on the map and showed the world how good Pinoy performers are.

Now, years after the first batch of Filipino talent made its mark in London’s West End—and all over the world—a new group of Filipino talent is out to replicate that success when the Miss Saigon company returns to the country to seek out local artists to join the musical.

Lea Salonga, who was the musical’s first Kim (and who went on to great success on Broadway and elsewhere in the theater world) says that if there’s anything Miss Saigon has done, it’s show to the world that the Filipino artist is one that is reliable, dependable, and able to interpret musical theater with the best of them.

“We are artistically right up there, and it makes me proud when any one of us gets that moment in the sun on the international stage. To see many of my friends in the West End and on Broadway makes my heart feel full,” says Lea, who went on to win major awards for her performance.

Singer and stage actress Isay Alvarez played the original Gigi to Lea’s Kim. She too, is grateful that Miss Saigonpaved the way for Pinoy artists to be recognized all over the world.

Being in the musical was both fun and challenging, says Isay. One of the hardest things was learning to work with the sheet music.

“Our counterparts read notes. They were sight readers. But the Pinoys were ingenious,” laughs Isay. “We brought our trusted tape recorders. In terms of adjustments (that we had to make), I’d say it was understanding the ways of our co-actors and production staff. Coming from a different culture was one thing, but they were understanding and Miss Saigon was a very mixed cast anyway.”

The auditions were also fun, but nerve-wracking. It was the first big test they all had to face.

“I was quite nervous, but during that time I was young and eager and my dreams were bursting out of my pores,” recalls Isay. “And to have the Cameron Mackintosh group in the audience was very exciting. They were very professional, and the English are proper anyway, and not intimidating at all. I should say they were very accommodating and I think they were really impressed that they found a mine of talents. They went to many cities and realized that Manila has what they need.” 

However, Carla Guevara-Laforteza says that passing the auditions was just the beginning.

“When we passed, we became scholars of the ‘Saigon School’ wherein we were pre-taught the songs and the choreography of the show. From there, we were handpicked on who would be assigned to go to what production (UK, Australia, Germany, and so on). Those chosen for Germany were required to learn the show in German.”

Of course, adjusting to a whole new lifestyle was part of the deal.

Lea had to give up her ‘sheltered’ life to be able to do the things she did there. “The toughest adjustment was just living a less-than-sheltered life. In Manila, all I had to worry about was school and whatever work I happened to be doing. Now, I had to learn how to take public transportation, and write checks for the monthly utilities, in addition to study my music, dialogue, and figure out how to do kissing scenes with a romantic opposite for the first time. 

Now, #TeamMissSaigon is back and looking for new talent. Auditions are presently ongoing with Atlantis Productions helping to coordinate the search.

Lea, Isay, Carla and other Miss Saigon alumni have words of encouragement and advice for those considering trying out for the musical.

The first thing, says Pinky Amador, is to realize that sure, it’s fun and it’s an honor to be chosen from among so many artists, but it’s also all about hard work and dedication from the moment one sets foot on the audition stage.

Her advice is to keep in mind that it just isn’t the best singers who make it.

“I have always maintained that in the end, the choices aren't just all about the best voices. They are about the best WORKERS. Remember, you will be working far away from home and facing many personal and artistic challenges. So they need to know that they can trust you. Be professional in every way. Show them they can invest you. Look at everyone they chose: they’re all people with high standards, all exacting and all with impeccable work ethic.”

As always, Lea’s advice is to be professional, even when one is just auditioning.

“First and foremost, show up prepared. Second, show up BEFORE your appointed time. Third, have fun! Enjoy the experience for what it’s worth. You may or may not get the job, but at least you can say you sang for some of the best creative forces in the world. That’s a pretty huge deal in and of itself.”

"Miss Saigon,” a sung-through musical, features music by "Les Misérables" collaborators Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, and lyrics by Boublil and "Closer Than Ever's" Richard Maltby, Jr. with additional lyrics by Michael Mahler, based on Giacomo Puccini's popular opera "Madame Butterfly.”

For more information contact (0995) 534-8371 or like the MISS SAIGON 2016 AUDITIONS page on Facebook.

Dates and Requirements on Open Call Auditions in Manila for Miss Saigon Announced

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Cameron Mackintosh announces Open Call Auditions in Manila for various upcoming global productions of Miss Saigon, the record breaking production that is taking London by storm and opens on Broadway in 2017. Auditions will be represented and facilitated in Manila by Bobby Garcia and Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group (ATEG) and held at the Opera Haus (3657 Bautista St., Makati City.)

“Miss Saigon’s producing and creative team will be flying in from London to hold auditions for various upcoming global productions of the hit musical. I look forward to working with them in discovering a new generation of Filipino talent to shine on the international stage in Miss Saigon the way Lea Salonga, Leo Valdez, JonJon Briones, Joanna Ampil and Rachelle Ann Go, among many others, have in the past.” says Garcia. who was also an Associate Director for Miss Saigon.

“We are searching for Kim, The Engineer, Thuy, Gigi and all Asian Roles in the musical. We are looking for leads and ensemble, as well as acrobatic dancers. We encourage performers throughout the Asian region to come to Manila and audition for Miss Saigon.” added Garcia.

All applicants must be 16 - 40 years old with strong singing voices (all vocal ranges) and proficient in the English language. Some dance movement experience preferred. For registration, bring your photo and CV. For auditions, prepare 16 bars of a song from MISS SAIGON (a pianist will be provided to accompany you at auditions.) Otherwise, bring your own music scores or CD.

Registration dates are on March 11 and 12 from 10am - 6pm at the Opera Haus, 3657 Bautista Street (near the corner of Buendia), Makati City. Auditions are on March 15 and 16 from 10am to 7pm also at the Opera Haus.

Trevor Jackson, Head of Casting for Cameron Mackintosh, said "Since casting for Miss Saigon began in the mid 1980's the Philippines has been integral to the show as a place to find exceptional Asian performers of World Class ability. Our teams have been returning regularly ever since. Filipino artists are the heart and soul of this show.”

"Miss Saigon,” a sung-through musical, features music by "Les Misérables" collaborators Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, and lyrics by Boublil and "Closer Than Ever's" Richard Maltby, Jr. with additional lyrics by Michael Mahler, based on Giacomo Puccini's popular opera "Madame Butterfly.”

For more information contact (0995) 534-8371 or like the MISS SAIGON 2016 AUDITIONS page on Facebook.

Open Call Auditions in Manila for Miss Saigon

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Cameron Mackintosh announces Open Call Auditions in Manila for various upcoming global productions of Miss Saigon, the record breaking production that is taking London by storm and opens on Broadway in 2017. Auditions will be represented and facilitated in Manila by Bobby Garcia and Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group (ATEG) and held at the Opera Haus (3657 Bautista St., Makati City), in March. 

“Miss Saigon’s producing and creative team will be flying in from London to hold auditions for various upcoming global productions of the hit musical. I look forward to working with them in discovering a new generation of Filipino talent to shine on the international stage in Miss Saigon the way Lea Salonga, Joanna Ampil, JonJon Briones and Rachelle Ann Go, among many others, have in the past.” says Garcia.,who was also an Associate Director for Miss Saigon.

“We are searching for Kim, The Engineer, Thuy, Gigi and all Asian Roles in the musical. From leads to ensemble, from singers to acrobatic dancers, we encourage performers throughout the Asian region to come to Manila and audition for Miss Saigon.” added Garcia.

Trevor Jackson, Head of Casting for Cameron Mackintosh, said "Since casting for Miss Saigon began in the mid 1980's the Philippines has been integral to the show as a place to find exceptional Asian performers of World Class ability. Our teams have been returning regularly ever since. Filipino artists are the heart and soul of this show.”

"Miss Saigon,” a sung-through musical, features music by "Les Misérables" collaborators Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, and lyrics by Boublil and "Closer Than Ever's" Richard Maltby, Jr. with additional lyrics by Michael Mahler, based on Giacomo Puccini's popular opera "Madame Butterfly.”

Audition requirements will be announced soon.

For more information contact (0995) 534-8371 or like the MISS SAIGON 2016 AUDITIONS page on Facebook.