BWW Phils. Interview: PRISCILLA’s J. Elaine Marcos Talks Ping-Pong Balls, Pink Boas & More
by Oliver Oliveros

(Jan. 18 9:18 PM) - TV, film,and Broadway actress J. Elaine Marcos can’t shy away from the fact that she’s a distant relative of the Marcoses, the Philippines’ most controversial political clan. Apart from the obvious last name and broadly similar facial features as Imee Marcos, the current governor of the northern province of Ilocos Norte, J. Elaine even made a cameo appearance as Imee’s mom, Imelda Marcos, the Philippines’ former first lady, in the Broadway musical comedy THE WEDDING SINGER five years ago. Nonetheless, the Marcoses (and Filipinos around the world) should pay attention to this petite, brown-skinned, talented actress – J. Elaine happens to be carrying an impressive Broadway resume that includes MISS SAIGON, FLOWER DRUM SONG, WONDERFUL TOWN, SWEET CHARITY, again THE WEDDING SINGER, A CHORUS LINE, and her latest assignment, PRISCILLA: QUEEN OF THE DESERT, where she does a show-stealing turn as Cynthia, a feisty Filipina mail-order bride who performs the late ‘70s hit single “Pop Muzik” (interspersed with lyrics in Filipino, e.g.“isa, dalawa, tatlo, I’m rapping in Filipino”) while blowing out ping pong balls into the audience.

Photo Flash: Geoffrey Nauffts’ NEXT FALL Opens In Manila, 1/13-2/5
by Oliver Oliveros

(Jan. 13 10:56 AM) - Repertory Philippines (Rep.), the country’s premier English-speaking theater company, is celebrating 45 years in business by opening its 75th season with New York University Tisch School of the Arts alumnus and playwright Geoffrey Nauffts’ Broadway dramedy NEXT FALL, a moving story of a gay couple whose religious differences add tensions and contradictions to their five-year romantic relationship. The play “takes a witty and provocative look at faith, commitment, unconditional love, and what goes beyond a typical love story,” according to Rep.

NEXT FALL Opens Repertory Philippines’ 75th Season, 1/13-2/5
by Oliver Oliveros

(Jan. 12 6:04 PM) - Repertory Philippines (Rep.), the country’s premier English-speaking theater company, is celebrating 45 years in business by opening its 75th season with New York University Tisch School of the Arts alumnus and playwright Geoffrey Nauffts’ Broadway dramedy NEXT FALL, a moving story of a gay couple whose religious differences add tensions and contradictions to their five-year romantic relationship. Rep.’s staging of NEXT FALL runs from January 13 to February 5, 2012 at Onstage, Greenbelt 1, Makati City; evening performances are on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., and matinee performances are on Saturdays and Sundays at 3:30 p.m.

Follow BroadwayWorld on Google Plus to Win Tickets & More!
by BWW

(Jan. 11 7:30 PM) - Are you one of the thousands already following BroadwayWorld.com, the biggest theatre site on the net on Twitter and Facebook?

BWW Phils. Interview: Fredison Lo Talks SOUND OF MUSIC, RENT, Anne Curtis & More
by Oliver Oliveros

(Jan. 11 6:49 PM) - Perceived as a boy-next-door type by many young theater habitués and TV 5 viewers, Fredison Lo (Fred Lo to his theater colleagues and former schoolmates at De La Salle University-Manila), has started out a career niche in the theater by essaying lead roles in major musical productions of RENT (Mark Cohen) and Trumpets’ N.O.A.H (Narrator/God); and has recently been exploring acting on mainstream television too via TV 5’s remake of the ‘70s-‘80s popular sitcom ISKUL BUKOL, where he played the role of the young professor Rude Valentino. Lo's currently playing Rolf in Resorts World Manila's production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC.

Stage Tube: MAMMA MIA! Gives Backstage Tour; International Tour Opens in Manila 1/24
by Oliver Oliveros

(Jan. 9 4:13 PM) - Philippine-based ABS CBN lifestyle program host and entertainment reporter MJ Felipe recently flew all the way to Zurich, Switzerland to meet and conduct a behind-the-scenes tour with MAMMA MIA’s international touring company’s stage manager, James Anderton and its cast. The touring production marked its 2,000th performance on the road in Zurich last November; its next stop is the Cultural Center of the Philippines, with limited engagement performances from January 24 to February 12.

Stage Tube: SOUND OF MUSIC Manila Releases New Promo Video; Show Extends Till 2/12
by Oliver Oliveros

(Jan. 7 8:09 AM) - London-based musical theater actress Joanna Ampil (MISS SAIGON, AVENUE Q), who’s been playing the coveted role of postulant Maria Rainer (with Cris Villonco as alternate actress) in Resorts World Manila’s local production of Oscar Hammerstein II and Richard Rodgers’ beloved musical THE SOUND OF MUSIC(SOM) for over three months now, would need to postpone her planned visit to New York City this winter because Resorts World has just announced SOM’s extended performances till February 12, 2012.

BWW Announces 2012 Regional Expansion - Find Shows, Restaurants & More in 120 Markets
by BWW

(Jan. 5 3:03 PM) - BroadwayWorld.com, the largest theatre site on the Internet is excited to unveil the first in a series of massive 2012 expansion plans - complete and expanded coast to coast show listings. Full regional show listings are now available in all of BroadwayWorld.com's 100 regional markets across the United States and globally in 20 countries (with an additional 20 to launch throughout January).

Stage Tube: MAMMA MIA’s Catherine Ricafort Stars In PRISON DANCER Web Series
by Oliver Oliveros

(Jan. 2 6:25 PM) - Last year’s New York Musical Festival’s (NYMF) participant PRISON DANCER, a musical inspired by the world-renowned dancing prisoners from Cebu, Philippines, featuring music and lyrics by Romeo Candido, and book by Candido and Carmen de Jesus, is now a web series. PRISON DANCER, a 12 episode web series premiering this Spring, stars CANADIAN IDOL Season One finalist Mikey Bustos and MAMMA MIA! on Broadway’s current Ali, Catherine Ricafort.

BWW Philippines Awards Update 12/28 - Voting Ends 12/31!
by BWW

(Dec. 28 7:30 AM) - It's almost over! There's just THREE days of voting remaining for the 2011 Philippines Awards and here is the latest update! Have you voted yet, and helped to spread the word to support your favorites in the hopes that they will be the recipients of a 2011 BroadwayWorld Philippines Award? There is no time to waste, click on the voting link and make your opinion count! Below are the stats so far as of Monday December 26, 2011. Voting ends at midnight on 12/31 so time is running out.

BWW Philippines Awards Update 12/20 - TWO Weeks Left!
by BWW

(Dec. 20 9:30 AM) - There's just TWO short weeks left to go in voting for the 2011 Philippines Awards and here is the latest update! Have you voted yet, and helped to spread the word to support your favorites in the hopes that they will be the recipients of a 2011 BroadwayWorld Philippines Award? There is no time to waste, click on the voting link and make your opinion count! Below are the stats so far as of Monday December 19, 2011. Voting ends at midnight on 12/31 so time is running out.

NEXT FALL Opens Repertory Philippines’ 75th Season, 1/13-2/5
by Oliver Oliveros

(Dec. 17 8:20 AM) - Repertory Philippines (Rep.), the country’s premier English-speaking theater company, is celebrating 45 years in business by opening its 75th season with New York University Tisch School of the Arts alumnus and playwright Geoffrey Nauffts’ Broadway dramedy NEXT FALL, a moving story of a gay couple whose religious differences add tensions and contradictions to their five-year romantic relationship. Rep.’s staging of NEXT FALL runs from January 13 to February 5, 2012 at Onstage, Greenbelt 1, Makati City; evening performances are on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., and matinee performances are on Saturdays and Sundays at 3:30 p.m.

CATS Launches National Tour in Savannah
by BWW News Desk

(Dec. 13 1:09 PM) - Produced by CATS-Eye, LLC, CATS launches a national tour this month in Savannah Georgia. With original direction by Trevor Nunn and choreography by Gillian Lynne, this is the CATS credited with the British invasion of Broadway. CATS celebrated its 30th anniversary on May 11, 2011, holding its place as the longest continuously touring Broadway musical in history.

BWW Philippines Awards Update 12/13 - Have You Voted?
by BWW

(Dec. 13 7:31 AM) - There's just a few weeks left to go in voting for the 2011 Philippines Awards and here is the latest update! Have you voted yet, and helped to spread the word to support your favorites in the hopes that they will be the recipients of a 2011 BroadwayWorld Philippines Award? There is no time to waste, click on the voting link and make your opinion count! Below are the stats so far as of Monday December 12, 2011.

Michael Jackson’s IMMORTAL CD Soundtrack Out Now; Philippine Residents Get a Chance to Win a Trip to Los Angeles to See IMMORTAL
by Oliver Oliveros

(Dec. 7 12:51 PM) - Ivory Music & Video, the exclusive licensee of Sony Music in the Philippines, has a neat Christmas treat for Cirque Du Soleil and Michael Jackson fans in the Philippines: the music company has just announced that the highly anticipated deluxe double CD soundtrack for Cirque du Soleil’s tribute to the late Michael Jackson, IMMORTAL World Tour, which opened in Las Vegas at Mandalay Bay Resort last weekend, is now available in music stores nationwide. Ivory Music & Video has also launched its Facebook-based photo contest whose winner will win a trip for two to Los Angeles to see IMMORTAL – simply take a photo of you and your friend holding the IMMORTAL CD and email to mj@pongr.com.

BWW Philippines Awards Update 11/29 - Have You Voted?
by BWW

(Dec. 1 11:19 AM) - There's just 4 weeks left to go in voting for the 2011 Philippines Awards and here is the latest update! Have you voted yet, and helped to spread the word to support your favorites in the hopes that they will be the recipients of a 2011 BroadwayWorld Philippines Award? There is no time to waste, click on the voting link and make your opinion count! Below are the stats so far as of Tuesday November 29, 2011.

HEDDA GABLER Starring Lara Fabregas Closes Today
by Oliver Oliveros

(Nov. 25 5:00 AM) - I just have to write about Lara Fabregas; she’s my kind of a leading lady of the theater: enigmatic, elusive, complex, sultry, and divine. If she were to star as Hedda Gabler, the original, quintessential “desperate housewife” in Henrik Ibsen’s 1890 play, in the big city, which versatile and accomplished actresses Cate Blanchett and Mary-Louise Parker did in 2006 and 2009, respectively, I’d be the first to fall in line for show tickets. Alas, Ms. Fabregas’ much-awaited stage comeback after almost seven years is happening back home in Manila. At times like these, I wish I were a bridge that could stretch across the Pacific.

Photo Flash: Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID Opens in Manila
by Oliver Oliveros

(Nov. 24 5:09 PM) - Manila-based theater company Atlantis Productions Inc.'s Asian premiere of Disney’s The Little Mermaid could have been a spectacular float addition in today’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in Times Square.