Top artists of Pinoy heritage in NY gala

LOS ANGELES—For the first time, an all-Filipino-American concert will be staged at the Lincoln Center in New York. Top talents, from Lea Salonga to T.V. Carpio (currently appearing in “Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark”), who have conquered Broadway and various stages around the globe, come together for what is shaping up to be one of the most exciting and significant Fil-Am shows in recent years.

This rare opportunity to watch the finest of our international artists happens on Nov. 7 at the prestigious Alice Tully Hall. That it’s for a noble cause—to raise funds for the projects of the Philippine Development Foundation USA (PhilDev), a nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating sustainable social and economic growth in the Philippines—makes the gala even more special.

“PhilDev Celebrates Broadway: Suites by Sondheim,” as its title suggests, honors Stephen Sondheim, who was hailed by The New York Times as “the greatest and perhaps best-known artist in the American musical theater,” owing to his work, including “West Side Story,” “Gypsy,” “Sweeney Todd,” “Company,” “Sunday in the Park with George” and “Into the Woods.”

Over 30 musical theater stars

Aside from Lea and T.V., the impressive cast includes over 30 musical theater stars, among them Joan Almedilla, Alan Ariano, Emy Baysic, Angel Desai, Ali Ewoldt, Rona Figueroa, Lydia Gaston, Adam Jacobs, Jose Llana, Orville Mendoza, Paolo Montalban, Emily Morales, Jennifer Paz, Diane Phelan and Catherine Ricafort. These talents had tackled lead roles in productions like “Miss Saigon,” “Les Miserables,” “Mamma Mia,” “Company,” “West Side Story,” “Nine,” “The King and I,” “Spelling Bee,” “The Flower Drum Song,” “South Pacific” and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”

Sharing the spotlight are company members Aaron Albano, Ester Barroso, Billy Bustamante, Liz Casasola, Karl Josef Co, Marc dela Cruz, Ariel Estrada, Albert Guerzon, Joanne Javien, Brian Jose, Jaygee Macapugay, Mel Maghuyop, Jake Manabat, Adam Marcelo, JP Moraga, Lora Nicolas, Enrico Rodriguez, Chris-Ian Sanchez and Melissa Singson.

The two key figures who conceptualized and are coproducing this ambitious project are Victor Lirio, artistic director and founder of Diverse City Theater Co., and Ronna Reyes Sieh, a trustee of PhilDev (formerly Ayala Foundation, USA). Victor, who is also an actor, director and producer, was behind Lea’s successful Carnegie Hall debut and the first New York Fil-Am theater festival. Music director is Tom Myron, who has worked with the likes of Marilyn Horne, Rosanne Cash and the New York Pops, and does scores for indie films.

Philanthropist Loida Nicolas Lewis, also a PhilDev trustee, said of the show: “We are thrilled to be presenting a one-of-a-kind and historic concert event… There are millions of Filipinos back home who are in dire need of assistance.” More information about the gala is on www.phildev.org.

Below are excerpts from our e-mail interview with Victor Lirio:

How did you get Stephen Sondheim’s permission to use his work? Is he attending?

We [set out to] produce an event that would give the PhilDev constituencies a very unique and New York experience. We are in one of the world’s major theater capitals, so I proposed an evening of Sondheim’s music with a cast of Filipino-American artists. The board of trustees loved the idea. I drafted a program entitled “Suites by Sondheim” and attached it to the letter I wrote to Mr. Sondheim.  In less than three weeks, I received this response, dated June 16, 2011: “Thank you for your letter. I am delighted that you want to devote an evening to my work. I am personally delighted to give you permission…”

Unfortunately, Sondheim will be in England on a book tour in November (for his recently released “Finishing the Hat”). In his letter, he also said: “Please forgive me (I cannot attend). And thank you so much for the compliments.” We are sending him a DVD of the concert.

This first all-Filipino-American concert at the Lincoln Center is groundbreaking. What are your thoughts on this?

Last year I produced, through our company Diverse City Theater, the first Fil-Am theater festival, “The Pearl Project,” at Theatre Row featuring original plays written by, and featuring, Filipino artists. It was a convergence of over 20 Fil-Am playwrights, directors and actors in a play festival.

For PhilDev’s gala this year, we are taking the same idea in the realm of musical theater—a first—but on a bigger stage. This concert marks the first time the best of Fil-Am musical theater artists, who made their mark on Broadway and across the globe, will share the stage.  They will be singing the music of an iconic American lyricist and composer, a living legend. Sondheim has never been expressed by Fil-Am voices together in a show like this.

How challenging was it to round up all these talents for a single night, especially since these are performers with various commitments?

I have worked with 99 percent of the cast, either as an actor or in a directing capacity. Most of them are my friends. I obviously share with them the reasons that I am passionate about the cause of PhilDev. Some of them are returning for the second year; some attended the (Tropical Storm) “Ondoy” benefit concert that Lea, Ronna and I did in October 2009, which was funneled through PhilDev (still Ayala Foundation USA at the time). Lea and I first spoke about this Lincoln Center event earlier this year in March, in a Mexican restaurant in Los Angeles. For other members of the cast, it took a single phone call or e-mail, some over several glasses of wine! It was effortless and completely altruistic.

Assembling all these talents under one roof during rehearsals and on the gala night itself—are you having sleepless nights already?

Yes, but not due to stress. It is work that I love. Putting this program together has given me tremendous joy and creative fulfillment. To be given the opportunity to breathe life into Sondheim’s work is a privilege. I get to explore and investigate the scenes or events that motivate these incredible songs. I am learning tremendously about the depth of the human psyche through Sondheim’s lens. He is a prolific writer and musical genius. I love his worlds, characters and lyricism. More importantly, I get to work with my friends for a great cause!

I am finished with the book for the show; we have sent them to the actors. The brilliant Tom Myron, our music director, is writing original arrangements and custom-made orchestrations for this concert. The arrangements are tailor-made for the actors. We have a total of 24 numbers.

And because we have performers who are from Manila, LA, Chicago and New York … actors who are currently out-of-town on performing gigs (Orville Mendoza just opened “The Rocky Horror Show”), we have created and organized an online library where we post all materials (sheet music, MP3s/tracks of piano vocal accompaniments, etc.).  We are providing the singers with their materials for the concert now so that they have ample time to learn and study them. You want them informed and prepared prior to rehearsals. We have a topnotch cast… so I have no worries at all.

There have been many nights when Tom and I stay up until 2 a.m. chatting about mash-up arrangements and listening to MP3 drafts. Tom e-mails them to me, I listen, and then I give my feedback. He makes revisions, we send them to the actors and then they give their feedback. It is very much a collaborative process. I love it! One thing I am amazed by is the technology that makes the streamlining of this creative process possible and efficient. It is quite astonishing! I wondered how Rodgers and Hammerstein did it during their time.

What are some of the numbers that make this gala a must-see?

There has never been an event quite like this. Everyone is going to be magnificent! Lea will sing some of the iconic Sondheim songs that have been popularized by the likes of Bernadette Peters, Patti Lupone, Barbra Streisand, etc. Jose Llana, Paolo Montalban and Adam Jacobs will be glorious leading men in their respective numbers from such shows as “Company,” “Saturday Night” and “Sunday in the Park with George.”

We have three of the first five Kims in “Miss Saigon” on Broadway (Lea, Rona Figueroa and Joan Almedilla). The same women have played Fantine in “Les Miserables,” and two of them (Lea and Rona) have played Eponine—to this day, they are the only two Asians to have ever played the part on Broadway.

We are also featuring a new generation of Fil-Am artists making their mark on Broadway such as T.V. Carpio, Angel Desai and Catherine Ricafort, among many others. The Filipino talent in theater is immense. And there is one specific number in the second act that highlights them.

This concert will present Sondheim’s diverse music styles as they evolved over the past 50-plus years. It is a must-see because it boasts many of the best artists on Broadway—and they are Filipinos—for a great cause.

It’s an evening of Sondheim’s work, yes, but given the Filipino cast, will there be Filipino numbers?

Not within the two-act Sondheim set. But, we will punctuate the evening with a Tagalog song for the finale ultimo with the entire cast and special guests, The San Lorenzo Ruiz Choir. This song celebrates the essence of the Filipino spirit—our race, our music.

Which numbers are you looking forward to, personally?

The program was meticulously crafted over a period of more than two months. Each number will be a unique and special experience for the audience. I am so excited! I am looking forward to every single number.

The encore number will be epic and unexpected. It will be another first. And that is all I can say about it now.

Why is it more important than ever to support this gala, and consequently, PhilDev’s projects in the Philippines, especially in these uncertain, turbulent economic times?

Art brings communities together. Many of us still have strong ties back home, so we need to unite and help build a new economy and better future for our homeland. On Nov. 7, we propose unity, hope and celebration of excellence. Filipino artists have been significant contributors in raising our global profile and cultural perception. And we are sharing our time and creative spirit once again this year to help raise much-needed funding for PhilDev’s programs. It is vital.

E-mail the columnist at rvnepales_5585@yahoo.com.