Aicelle ascending

SANTOS. From “Katy!” to “Rak of Aegis.”

Aicelle Santos is the first to admit that musical theater has opened doors for her and given her an exciting new platform to showcase her prodigious voice—from the iconic songs of “Katy!” (“Minsan Ang Minahal Ay Ako,” “Balut” and “Awit Para Sa ‘Yo”) to Aegis’ lung-busting videoke staples (“Basang-Basa Sa Ulan,” “Luha”) via Peta’s much-buzzed-about jukebox musical, “Rak of Aegis,” which wraps up its 41-show run on March 9.

“Doing theater is like being in school—ang sayang matuto,” she texted us shortly after we met her at the press con arranged for her by GMA 7, which has just renewed her contract.

Aware of Aicelle’s potent thespic gifts, we expect substantial roles to come her way after her recent supporting stint on “Love & Lies,” the action-drama series topbilled by Richard Gutierrez, and a followup to her solo debut album, “Make Me Believe.”

Fresh from the career-boosting raves she earned for portraying the teen and young-adult Katy dela Cruz in the Aliw Award-winning hit stage musical about the bodabil queen, Aicelle is now cast in “Rak of Aegis” as Aileen, who uploads her performance videos on YouTube in the hope of getting discovered by Ellen DeGeneres. She badly wants to leave the flood-drenched slums where she and her family live!

Second lead role

What has she learned from “Katy!” that has been useful in her second lead role? Aicelle shares, “Aileen and I are similar, because we’re both dreamers. ‘Katy!’ has taught me how to pace myself—and to always be on my toes. Sir Nes (NUT, the director of ‘Katy!’) kasi doesn’t like sluggish delivery (claps rhythmically).”

It’s the Valentine weekend. What are her favorite romantic movies? Aicelle shares, “The Mandy Moore starrer, ‘A Walk to Remember,’ makes me yearn for a man who would do everything to make me happy. I also like ‘50 First Dates,’ because every girl wants to be courted everyday, to remind her of how much she’s valued. In ‘10 Things I Hate About You,’ I can relate to the statement, ‘the more you hate, the more you love.’ And ‘The Notebook’ proves that genuine love can conquer all!”

Which love songs would she like to record or sing in a concert? She replies, “I’d like to perform ‘Make Me Whole,’ for the guy who will complete me. I’d also sing Beyoncé’s ‘Crazy in Love,’ because I go crazy when I’m in love—but, I want the guy to serenade me with Eric Benet’s ‘The Last Time.’”

Taste in music

What should a man do to catch her attention? Aicelle’s quick reply: “I like someone who’s smart, mature and talented—someone who appreciates my taste in music. He should have a nice smile, and be mabango and God-fearing. I don’t like men who are big talkers and vain—they turn me off!”

The singer-actress swears she’s loveless these days. What has she learned from her recent heartbreak? She discloses, “You have to love yourself first! Don’t give him everything—you need to leave something for yourself!”

Aicelle adds, “My parents didn’t like my ex-boyfriend, and I fought hard to keep him! Matagal kaming war ni Mommy—in the long run, I realized she was right, after all! (Laughs)”