Not as easy as you think

From left: Sharon Cuneta, Bamboo, Sarah Geronimo and the author

It seems to be the season for auditions these days. Atlantis Theatrical’s auditions for “Matilda” have just concluded, as have the Blind Auditions of “The Voice Teens (TVT).”

I imagine huge sighs of relief from every young person who advanced to the next stage, and even bigger sighs from the loved ones who came to support these young talents. And I am happy to report that “TVT”
is giving us so much life, because the teens who auditioned for us are extremely talented. This show is the gift that keeps on giving.

The process of auditioning is arduous and grueling, testing talent and stamina, as well as patience and perseverance. Many actors, singers and dancers go to audition after audition, pounding the pavement in all sorts of weather, hoping to hear that they got the job. So, when they do get that much-awaited “yes,” it feels all the more sweet.

The callback
Last week, I wrote about my daughter Nicole’s first day at the “Matilda” auditions, revealing that she, her cousin Carmen, and a few other young ones got that precious callback slip. What would happen next for her would test her resolve, as well as our own.

All the kids who got called back got a song to learn, depending on the role they were up for. Each assigned song tested their abilities. If you were asked to learn “Revolting Children,” it was all about speed and clarity, getting as many words out as cleanly as possible while projecting emotional intensity.

If you got “Quiet,” there should be contrast in the emotion from the more wordy sections to the more peaceful ones, and focus then would be tested. Additionally, each child was given script pages to learn
and deliver.

The purpose of these assignments is the same: to find out who is most prepared and ready to move on to the next round.

And this was quite possibly the most severe cut made, as less than half of those originally called back were asked to return the following day.

Finals
Lastly, those who made it past the second round had one more hurdle to overcome: choreography. “Matilda” is a classic song-and-dance musical, which means that every person in the show, child or adult, has to be able to move well.

Choreographer Cecile Martinez, assisted by Jim Ferrer, would put the kids through their paces, with Carla Guevara-Laforteza warming them up first to get their bodies ready.

The kids would learn their appointed dance in larger batches, then in smaller groups for director Bobby Garcia to watch. Again, more cuts would be made, until they reached the final tally of 19: Three young ladies taking turns in the role of Matilda, and two groups of eight kids playing various roles, including Lavender, Bruce, Nigel, Alice, Hortensia and Amanda in alternating performances.

Allow me to congratulate all the kids who made it into the company, and all the parents who helped get them that far. A final cast announcement will be made soon enough, and I shall share that list with you when the time comes.

My husband Rob and I did everything that we could to prepare Nicole for this experience of auditioning for a musical. At the end of the day, Rob told Nic, “If you were really prepared, if you did your best with your song and your line reading, that in itself is a success.”

Additionally, for me, I’m only too glad that now, she has truly gained an appreciation for just how difficult the process of auditioning is, a process I’ve seen and experienced from both sides of the casting table (or in “The Voice,” from my seat in that red chair). It’s a sacrifice for everyone involved, but one worth undertaking, if only for the lessons learned.

My dear, sweet daughter, whatever the result, know that Mommy and Daddy are already so proud of you.

Notes from the red chair
Our Blind Auditions have just concluded, and yes, we’re all exhausted. However, our fatigue has been worth it because the level of talent we saw was flabbergasting. All genres, different kinds of music and outsized musical gifts.

Yes, there are weapons (sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t), heartfelt pleas, head-to-head battles between coaches. But beyond the great moments that you’ll see, at the end of it all, it’s about the singing.

We’ve all had so much fun filming this first season of “The Voice Teens,” and the sixth season overall of this talent search
—and it’ll show. We invite you to sit back and relax as we give you more Filipino talent to be amazed by.

This is “The Voice.” And I’m so proud to be a part of it.