Jose Llana is Ferdinand Marcos to Ruthie Ann Miles’ Imelda Marcos in David Byrne’s “Here Lies Love,” a “nontraditional” musical which will have its world premiere at The Public Theater in New York on April 2. Jose, who starred opposite Lea Salonga in “Flower Drum Song,” feels working with the Talking Heads cofounder and Oscar-, Golden Globe- and Grammy-winning composer is the coolest gig he has ever landed.
In this interview with the lead stars of the coming play “Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story on Stage,” Bryony Whitfield and Gareth Bailey discussed the journey they took to prepare for their respective roles.
Oh, the things you find in Facebook! Not long ago, I found myself in the midst of some interesting online conversation with very passionate local theater folks about the state of lighting design in our country (I didn’t join in until late, so there might have been a few things deleted before I got [...]
It’s pretty obvious that the lead actors of “Dirty Dancing” have strong chemistry onstage and off. Like war buddies or a long-married couple, Bryony Whitfield and Gareth Bailey freely joke about each other without remorse, or fear of retaliation.
Acclaimed pianist Ang Li will be featured in two shows at the Peta Theater Center on March 20. Ang Li, ranked among the world’s top 30 pianists during the 2009 Cliburn Competition, performs the music of Chopin and Liszt, as well as Chinese folk songs adapted for solo piano. “From China to Chopin, Ang Li [...]
First, it was Aicelle Santos’ charmingly unaffected portrayal in Spotlight’s “Katy” revival that blew us away. In Rep’s restaging of Marc Camoletti’s farcical “Boeing Boeing,” the performance that impressed us the most was turned in by Carla Dunareanu. In Peta’s “D’ Wonder Twins of Boac,” the standouts were Cris Villonco and Gail Billones.
One look at Epy Quizon and screen legend Mona Lisa couldn’t help exclaiming: “You look exactly like Dolphy.”
What a great way to start the week! On this fine Monday morning at the rehearsal hall of New York City’s National Opera Center, the full cast of “Ragtime” finally met. It was a moment I had been waiting for.
Two of the lead players in Spotlight Artist Centre’s hit restaging of “Katy” who got exultant ovations from theater lovers were TV-film stars, Tirso Cruz III and Epy Quizon.
Looking back on my careers in theater, radio, print, TV and film, I have retroactively realized that I was blessed with the official and unofficial mentorship of some of the finest teachers a young talent could ever hope to have. My thanks to all of them!
In the midst of a great war between mortals and monsters, a serpentine creature falls for a man, leading to the birth of a new civilization.
The cast and production staff of the current revival staging of “Katy!” at the CCP Little Theater worked really hard to get the musical in shape for its Press Night last Jan. 16— so, they were relieved when the show was given a standing ovation by the SRO audience!
