By Ibarra C. Mateo
Friday, October 10, 2008
Philippine Star

The conversion from a pop idol-romantic balladeer to a respected bona fide theater performer is an extremely exacting expedition. Many dreams have been cruelly crushed during the risky journey as passion and packaging are not enough to propel and sustain a legitimate stage career.

And when you are as famous and as connected as Christian Bautista, who must metamorphose into a respected bona fide theater performer — meaning one who can genuinely act, sing and dance at the same time — the pilgrimage becomes even more chancy because of the proverbial high expectation from his audience and colleagues. Failing is not part of the scenario. Or near-success acceptable.

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FUNFARE By Ricardo F. Lo
Philippine Star
Wednesday, October 8, 2008

I should thank Girlie Rodis for insisting that I watch West Side Story last Sunday at the Meralco Theater, complete with a “bait” of two VIP tickets. Actually, Girlie didn’t have to because I really wanted to watch the musical produced by STAGES, with Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo as director (and Gerard Salonga as musical director).

I watched it with Ibarra Mateo (stay tuned for his review soon in The STAR) and I thanked Girlie for being “insistent.”

Before the three-hour musical began, Carlo Orosa, discoverer-manager of Christian Bautista who is playing the male lead Tony (Richard Beymer in the movie version by Rodgers & Hammerstein), sat beside us and told us that, remember, it was Menchu who played Maria (now with Karylle and Joanna Ampil alternating) back in 1981 when West Side Story was first staged here by Repertory Philippines. “That was the year Christian was born,” volunteered Carlo.

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By Nickie Wang
Contributor
Manila Standard Today
Aug. 30, 2008

Think of putting top-notch actors, talented and creative people, and a moving love story in one stunning venue like the Meralco Theater. What you get is a world-class stage production.

One of the most highly anticipated productions in the local performing arts is the Manila re-staging of West Side Story featuring Christian Bautista to play the lead role Tony, and Karylle and Joanna Ampil to share the plum role of Maria.

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By Dot Ramos Balasbas-Gancayco
Monday, August 25, 2008
Philippine Star

2008 must be another lucky year for Christian Bautista. Aside from the success of his new album, titled Captured under Warner Music Philippines which was launched earlier this year, he has been chosen by Stages to play the dream role of Tony in the upcoming Philippine production of the world-famous Broadway musicale West Side Story, in which he also gets to perform opposite two brilliant and very beautiful artists: London-based-and-honed stage actress Joanna Ampil and Karylle, otherwise known as the daughter of Zsa Zsa Padilla.

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Christian as Tony and Karylle as Maria (also played by Joanna Ampil)

MANILA, PHILIPPINES. STAGES’ production of the landmark musical “West Side Story,” opening on Sept. 5 at Meralco Theater, is a highly anticipated revival in Asia, which precedes a new Broadway production in 2009. The local production features a stellar cast of pop artists and international thespians Christian Bautista, Karylle, Joanna Ampil, Rowena Vilar, Pam G, Jake Macapagal, Jeff Singson, and Gian Magdangal; stage direction by Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo; and musical direction by Gerard Salonga with the FILharmoniKA orchestra.

In Manila, “West Side Story” was first staged by Repertory Philippines in 1981 where Yulo played the role of Maria; paired up with Cocoy Laurel who essayed the role of Tony. Audie Gemora, who is now “West Side Story’s” executive producer, played the “Jets” gang leader Riff at that time.

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