SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER Proves There’s Life After Broadway

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Show Closes Run in Manila July 26; Moves On to Malaysia, Singapore, China, and Australia

SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER (SNF), the smash musical that drew inspiration from the ‘70s film of the same name, has been taking on a life of its own since bowing out from Broadway 15 years ago: spawning at least four UK Tour productions, seven International Tour productions, a cruise production, and a West End Revival production—proving the adage that “indeed, there’s life beyond the shadows of the Great White Way.” 

SNF’s latest triumph, a newly reimagined production aimed at revisiting the gritty, chaotic, and dystopic elements of the film—initially announced to make tour stops in Manila, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore—has just added China and Australia to its itinerary. Patrick Bywalksi, deputy chairman of The Robert Stigwood Organisation, which produced the film and its succeeding film-to-stage adaptations, announced the extra tour stops on the opening night in Manila earlier this month. Bywalski said, “Now that we’re up and running, I trust that we should be able to secure more venues as per my announcement.

“This brand new production of SNF represents a true value: the essence of the movie is respected all the way, [which was deliberately overlooked in the original West End and Broadway runs to appeal to a wider audience]. Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group (ATEG) director Bobby Garcia has epitomized Nick Cohn’s original story, ‘Tribal Rites of the New Saturday Night,’” an article published in New York magazine in 1976, which served as the basis of the film. 

In fact, local critics also noticed those stark similarities to the film. Vlad Bunoan, who edits for an online news portal, wrote in his review, “The musical is actually a near word-for-word adaptation of the popular 1977 movie that turned John Travolta into a global superstar. And it must be stressed that [film director] John Badham's movie is set against a backdrop of a period in American history marked by economic malaise and a growing hopelessness. 

“For Tony Manero [played by Broadway actor Brandon Rubendall], a 19-year-old dropout working at a paint store—as well as for many Americans—disco offered an escape from his dreary family life: his father is out of the job and his brother has decided to leave the priesthood.”

Bunoan continued, “The movie—and musical—also tackles the '70s-era, sexual promiscuity, abortion, and racial violence. In short, this isn't a retro, feel-good musical like ‘Mamma Mia’ or Travolta's ‘Grease’… But if you're a big fan of the movie in its dramatic entirety, you will be pleased by the way it was magically transported to the stage…”

Deemed too provocative, this latest incarnation of SNF actually comes in two versions: a Rated R version, which is the one currently playing in Manila, and a Parental Guidance (PG) version, which will be shown in countries whose theatergoers are considered more conservative. “As what we did with the film, we had two versions: one rated R and one PG. So we already know which parameters we have to work with to satisfy the local practice,” Bywalski revealed.

In spite of everything, the timeless songs of The Bee Gees that defined the disco era of the ‘70s have been retained in the musical’s score—prompting the audience to bob their heads to the beat, and get up and dance by the show’s end. Theatergoers leave the venue humming either “How Deep Is Your Love” or “Stayin’ Alive,” or either “Night Fever” or “You Should Be Dancing,” which makes for an incredible evening of live theater.

Touted as “the first Filipino-produced Broadway musical for the world,” whose primary proponents ATEG and Ten Bridges Media Corp., both based in Manila, Philippines, did not scrimp on the quality of expertise in this production as embodied by its A-list creative team: Bobby Garcia (stage direction), Broadway choreographer Vince Pesce (choreography), Tony winner David Gallo (set design), Broadway lighting designer Paul Miller (lighting design), costume designer Eric Pineda (costume design), sound designer Michael Waters (sound design), technical director Richard Martin (technical direction), graphic artist GA Fallarme (video projection design), musician Ceejay Javier (musical direction), and West End and London casting director Tara Rubin (casting).

SNF in Manila, which stars Rubendall (“Spider-man: Turn Off the Dark,”), Jenna Rubaii (“American Idiot”), Mikkie Bradshaw (“Carrie The Musical”), Nick Varricchio (“A Chorus Line”), and Carla Guevara-Laforteza (“Miss Saigon”), among others, plays The Theatre at Solaire Resort and Casino (ASEANA Avenue, Paranaque, Metro Manila) until Sunday, July 26.

Performances are also set at Istana Budaya (Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) from September 4 to 13 and at MasterCard Theatres at Marina Bay Sands (10 Bayfront Ave., Singapore) from September 25 to October 4.

For tickets in Manila, call ATEG at (632) 650 5144 or (63917) 8381534; or visit TicketWorld at ticketworld.com.ph.

SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER is presented by PLDT and Citibank, in cooperation with ABS-CBN, Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Philippine Star, Monster Radio RX 93.1, Crossover, Mellow 94.7 Sound Good, Retro DCG-FM, Makati Diamond Residences, First Unitel Travel, and Portfolio Studios.

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PRODUCTION Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group, in cooperation with Ten Bridges Media Corp. and Robert Stigwood Organisation, presents the 2015 Asian Tour of the dance musical SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER

DIRECTOR Bobby Garcia

MUSIC The Bee Gees, Harry Casey, Richard Finch, Leeroy Green, Ron Kersey, Rick Dees, Ronald Bell, and David Shire

SETS David Gallo

COSTUMES Eric Pineda

MAIN CAST Brandon Rubendall*, Jenna Rubaii*

*Indicates Members of Actors’ Equity Association

WHEN Manila, July 3 to 26

Kuala Lumpur, September 4 to 13

Singapore, September 25 to October 4

WHERE Manila: The Theatre, Solaire Resort and Casino

Kuala Lumpur, Istana Budaya

Singapore, MasterCard Theatres at Marina Bay Sands

INFORMATION Tel: (632) 650 5144 or (63917) 8381534

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Asia Tour of SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER Aims to Bring Audience To Their Feet—And Dance in the Aisles

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Remembering "Saturday Night Fever"? A huge commercial success, "Saturday Night Fever" significantly popularized disco music around the world and made celebrities like John Travolta famous. The Saturday Night Fever soundtrack featuring disco songs by the Bee Gees became one of the best-selling soundtracks of all time.

The younger generation has not had a chance to witness the impact of the movie 'Saturday Night Fever' made in the '70s. I'd be great to see a new generation of theatergoers dancing in the aisles to the timeless tunes of The Bee Gees,” says Patrick Bywalski, deputy chairman of Robert Stigwood Organisation Ltd. , which co-produces the upcoming Asian Tour of the hit West End and Broadway dance musical SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER alongside Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group (ATEG) and Ten Bridges Media Corp. 

The dancing crowd doing the hustle is expected to spill out of The Theatre at Solaire Resort and Casino, where a '70s disco-themed party will take place at a nearby venue to aptly kick off the tour running in Manila (July 3-26), Kuala Lumpur (Septmber 1-15), and Singapore (September 25 to October 11). 

“Since SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER opened in the West End in 1997, we've nurtured the musical around the globe with each production contextualized [and recontextualized] to please the local customs,” adds Bywalski. Apparently, the recent UK productions and the upcoming Asian Tour of the musical have been more fearless—definitely more provocative—than their sanitized predecessors in the West End and on Broadway by staying true to the authentic, gritty realism depicted in the landmark film. 

“The film was, finally, so authentic...it was more of a documentary,” Karen Lynn Gorney, the actress who played Stephanie Mangano, the love interest of John Travolta's Tony Manero in the film, told Vanity Fair in December 2007. “We improvised for two weeks, so that by the time it came to filming, [film director] John Badham just shot what was happening. It wasn't acting.”

With the stamp of approval to reimagine SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER onstage for Asian audiences, multi-awarded stage director Bobby Garcia has set his eyes on reliving the authentic coming-of-age in a tough world story of the film—amid the backdrop of the pulsating strobe lights of the infamous retro '70s disco era.

For Garcia, nothing would be more authentic than asking Broadway choreographer and child of the '70s Vince Pesce to join his creative team. Pesce, who's a longtime associate choreographer of Tony winner Kathleen Marshall, grew up in the same neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, where the movie was filmed. “I've a clear memory of the movement/dance and how it made us feel,” says Pesce.

Based upon music critic Nik Cohn's magazine article “Tribal Rites of the New Saturday Night,” which was published in the June 7, 1976 issue of New York, SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER tells the story of Italian-American Vincent (later renamed to Tony Manero) and his gang in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn who are stuck in dead-end jobs but rule the dance floor at the discotheque 2001 Odyssey. Vincent or Tony is a tough cookie; an outstanding dancer, his ultimate dream was to escape the mean streets of Brooklyn.

“I did go back and look at the movie again just to make sure I capture the gritty, dynamic, and social movement that shifted popular dance as we know it,” Pesce continues. “With that in mind, Bobby Garcia, our director, and I felt we needed to expand the dancing in the show and make it more relatable to modern audiences yet remain true to the original choreography. You'll get to see the hustle, Travolta's finger point, and lots of exciting disco dancing but much more is needed to be done.

“Today's sophisticated audiences are accustomed to intricate, dynamic dance styles on TV, e.g. 'Dancing with the Stars.' We have to deliver expanded dance sequences that will thrill. On the other hand, we also have to create a world of movement that doesn't only take place in the disco. Essentially, we need to capture the pulse, frustration, and energy of the streets of Brooklyn and the '70s social movements.”

A show that's heavy on the dance side yet demands authentic emotions onstage, a triple threat casting is equally crucial. “We auditioned for the roles of Tony, Stephanie, Tony's friend Double J, and a [Latin] dancer in N.Y.,” says West End and Broadway casting director Tara Rubin. “We were looking for great actors, singers, and dancers who seemed authentic to the show's time and place. We needed actors experienced enough to star in the show and play these iconic roles.”

Pesce adds, “The culture in Brooklyn is all about bigger than life and fun loving personalities. We didn't stop looking until we found them.”

At the end of the auditions, Brandon Rubendall (“Spider-man” on Broadway), Jenna Rubaii (“American Idiot”), and Nick Varricchio (“A Chorus Line”) were cast as Tony, Stephanie, and Double J, respectively.

Thespians Marie Rose, Rafa Giguion-Reyna, Yanah Laurel, Jamie Wilson, and Carla Guevara-Laforteza are also joining its 20-strong cast.

Besides Garcia, Pesce, and Rubin, Tony Award-winning scenic designer David Gallo, original lighting designer of SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER on Broadway Paul Miller, costume designer Eric Pineda, and musical director Ceejay Javier are also part of the show's first-rate creative team.

For tickets and more information, call ATEG at (632)650 5144 or (63917) 8381534; visit TicketWorld at ticketworld.com.ph.

Like ATEG on facebook.com/ATEGasia.