Cheer factor: Musical series keeps people entertained at theme park

“ENCHANTÉ Christmas: The Musical” Photo courtesy of Enchanted Kingdom

STA. ROSA, Laguna – “We cultivate and train talents. We want them to be world-class,” said Enchanted Kingdom president and chair Mario Mamon, who is supported by a production team led by musical director Tats Faustino.

Mamon said he tries to get in-house talents as much as possible. “In fact, one-third of the production is employed by EK,” he told Inquirer Entertainment during a recent Media Appreciation Day held at the theme and amusement park here. “We keep guests entertained with new musical presentations every couple of months.”

This was the rationale behind the creation of “The Enchanté,” a musical series conceptualized in 2008 by Faustino and his wife Babic, now head of EK’s entertainment and creative division.

This year, “Enchanté: Mulan” ran for the whole month of February, followed by “Enchanté: Under the Sea,” from May to June. To celebrate Philippine Independence Day, EK presented “ Enchanté OPM” in July. Currently being staged at the EK Eldar’s Tent is “Enchanté Christmas: The Musical.”

“Enchanté” is a French term which means “it’s nice to meet you,” explained Mamon.

To add flavor to the shows, EK also hires professional talents like those who appear in variety and talent programs on TV, said Mamon.

He added that the Zion Show, made up of the acrobatic husband-and-wife team of Isaac and Jocelyn Velasco, are performing at EK all weekends of December. The duo is hailed as the 13th Hall of Famer of the reality talent show “Talentadong Pinoy” on TV5.

Also performing at EK’s Bandstand is young saxophonist and clarinet player Ian Jacinto, grandson of musician Ramon “RJ” Jacinto, as well as singer Aiza Seguerra and MYMP.

The Media Appreciation Day, which was part of EK’s 16th anniversary celebration, began on Dec. 17 at 4:30 p.m. with welcome remarks from Mamon, his wife and EK chief operating officer Cynthia Mamon, and public relations head Anna Marie Periquet. EK ambassadors Eldar the Wizard, Princess Victoria and Little Miss EK Colleen Fiorella Mercado greeted members of the entertainment press and their families.

Several newspapers were feted for their “invaluable contribution through the active publication of press releases” and for making EK No. 1 in terms of media exposure share in 2011.

The program ended with a short performance from the cast of “Enchanté Christmas: The Musical.”

“We take extra effort in conceptualizing our shows because we want to add value for money,” shared Mamon. “We plan to do this for 16 more years. I always remember what Walt Disney, everyone’s idol in the amusement industry, said after 10 years of Disneyland in California, that development in Disney never ends. It’s the same here in Enchanted Kingdom; every month, every year, once we come up with something new, we will implement it.”

E-mail [email protected]