Stephanie Reese is Back for a Concert, 7/13

Manila, Philippines, June 26, 2012 – Filipino-American performing artist Stephanie Reese wears many hats: for the theater enthusiast, she is Esmeralda in the world premiere production of Disney's "Hunchback of Notre Dame" or the "German" Kim in the German production of "Miss Saigon;" for the concertgoer, she is the "Standing Ovation Queen," who never fails to bring her audiences to their feet, and who once shared the stage with Grammy winners Patti LaBelle and Natalie Cole; and for the social worker – for nonprofit organizations such as  Gawad Kalinga, Make A Wish Foundation, or World Vision –  she is a young lady who has a compassionate heart for children who are in dire need of help.

Stephanie is all that and more! She writes her own one-woman shows; she also composed songs on her previous solo studio albums, "Stephanie Reese at Her Best" and "This is My Life." And for a bit of theater trivia, she was a childhood friend of Tony nominee Chad Kimball, who originated the role of DJ Huey Calhoun in the Tony Award-winning musical "Memphis." Both grew up in Seattle, and have remained good friends until today.

Even though Chad is not among Stephanie's guest performers in her upcoming concert, dubbed  "A Little Big Bang!" at Music Museum (July 13) – her second solo concert in Manila –  she is still in good company with her newfound friends in local showbusiness: among them are world singing champion Jed Madela, who is one of her special guests, alongside the Madrigal Singers, Luke Mijares, and pianist John Florencio; stage director Raymond Lauchengco, another multi-talented artist who dabbles in photography, recording, and directing concerts and special events, who is her concert director; and renowned musician Mel Villena, who is her musical director for the show.

Stephanie's new concert, whose proceeds will go to World Vision, "promises an evening of big band standards, soulful ballads, Broadway showtunes, and contemporary pop tunes with a twist," Stephanie said. "I think people can expect a large variety of music, which is sort of what I'm known for, and a night that is nostalgic, entertaining, and exciting."

Raymond first met Stephanie at a corporate event six months ago.  The diminutive diva's (she is five foot one) vast vocal range, and her ability to effortlessly cross over into different musical styles have left a marked impression on the director.

Raymond shared, "When she approached me to direct her concert, I said yes immediately. We came up with the concept, and together with our producer, Teresa Kong of Artefice Events, and musical director, Mel Villena, we threshed it out in terms of the choice of songs and the flow of the program. Stephanie's multi-faceted: she's a singer, an actress, a writer, a composer, a philanthropist…from that alone you can tell she isn't content with being just one thing."

He added, "So when we were discussing the concept, I wanted her to more or less stick to one genre, but I realized it just wasn't who she was. She's just so versatile and she switches from one genre to another so effortlessly and elegantly; we had to figure out a way for her to do that in a cohesive manner. I also love that she's so confident in her artistry that she respects the artistic input of others without compromising her own."

For tickets to Stephanie's concert, call TicketWorld at (632) 891-9999 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph. Ticket Prices: P 1000, 1800, 2100.

Oliver is about to earn his M.S. degree in public relations and corporate communication from New York University while serving as regional editor for BroadwayWorld.com. Over the past 18 years, Oliver has been handling public relations and corporate communication for numerous brands (including Pepsi), Broadway shows, Broadway stars, non-profit organizations, and mainstream celebrities. He also teaches public relations at De La Salle University-Manila. Follow Oliver on Twitter: @OliverOliveros

More Articles by This Author...