
Following the successful run of the award-winning musicals
American Idiot and A Christmas Carol, the 21 motley crew of Newsies is making
its stage debut next month in Manila. Winner of Tony Award and Drama Desk
Award for Best Choreography and Best Original Score, the 2012 award winning
musical originally produced by Disney Theatrical Productions, the group
responsible for the massive stage adaptation of such musicals Beauty And The
Beast, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid and The Lion King, hailed as the most expensive
Disney Theatrical Production ever to be staged, will be produced by Globe LIVE
and will be presented by 9 Works Theatrical. Globe the number one
telecommunication network in the country earned the rights for the local
production, the first company in the Philippines to be trusted by Disney. The
premiere theater company, 9 Works Theatrical will once more showcase
their talents as they bring this live onstage at the Globe Iconic Store
Bonifacio High Street Amphitheater this coming July.
The cast and creative team of the local production of
Newsies, faced members of the press at a conference held at Ibiza Beach Club on
the afternoon of the 30th day of May. The 4,000 sqm classy, cozy and chic
entertainment and dining venue opened on Easter Sunday, on the 16th day of
April 2017. Originating from Movenpick Hotel Mactan Island in Cebu, the
Ibiza Beach Club was a hip and hop ambiance for the said press meeting.
Strategically situated at the 6th level of the newly opened 29-storey office
tower, W City Centre in the heart of Bonifacio Global City, the club is definitely
bringing entertainment, events and dining in a different and experience
level. Theater fans, guests and members of the press savoured and chilled
with a signature 7-course meal served in an authentic Balearic-inspired
featuring vegetables, meat and seafood marinated with Balearic sauces.
From salads, grilled salmon, Tiger Prawns and New Zealand lamb, indeed a
sumptuous meal was a delightful treat to yours truly. Another fine dining
experience.

Joe Caliro, Creative Marketing and Multimedia Business
Senior Adviser and Executive Producer of Globe LIVE said in excitement that
Newsies is the follow up after the hit show, I Dare To Dream, their first
partnership with Disney. He was amazed and overwhelmed because Disney granted
the rights for the local production of the musical. He believed that
there is so much talent in the Philippines, with proper and extensive training,
a truly world-class act can be achieved. Caliro revealed that A Christmas Carol
will have a repeat performance this coming November. Caliro's team were the
people behind for bringing Wicked and the upcoming production of West Side
Story, The Sound Of Music and The Lion King to Manila. With these
accomplishments I can't help myself to personally thanked and credited him when
I had the chance to speak to him after the program at the press conference.
Robbie Guevarra, a veteran thespian is once again trusted to motivate and
direct the show, following the smash hit, A Christmas Carol. His creative ideas
will be seen soon, as he accepted to interpret this piece differently. He said
that Disney strictly and specifically instructed them not to copy the blocking
and the set design in the previous productions worldwide. Changes, alterations
and arrangements in the book of Harvey Fierstein, music of the Tony and Oscar
winner Alan Menken and lyrics of Jack Feldman is not allowed, which means
same lines and sounds are exactly the same from the Broadway production which
will be delivered and sung in the Manila production to fansies expectators. PJ
Rebullida, award winning Gawad Buhay choreographer of American Idiot will be
spearheading the 6 hours a day, 6 weeks Training Ground, a program
dedicated to enhance and maximize the ensembles potential in acting, voice and
dance - a triple-threat required by this demanding musical. Physicality,
tenacity and flexibility is at stake, for dance routines in ballet,
hip-hop, jazz, tap, contemporary, folk and even
gymnastics. These were predominantly evident in the videos played at the
conference from audition, casting and training. Staging this production that
ran for two years with 1,005 performances in Broadway is quite a challenge for
the creative team. With very impressive staging of musicals from the past, 9
Works Theatrical is the perfect theater company to mount this production
locally.

Traditionally and historically speaking, stage musicals were
being adapted to film after a commercial and critical success, before, during
and after the run. But Disney Theatrical is doing the other way around. They
are adapting the film version to stage version, Newsies was another piece to be
included in their hall of fame. Walt Disney Pictures produced the film
version in 1992 which stars Batman himself Christian Bale, Bill Pullman, Robert
Duvall, David Moscow and Ann Margret. It was then adapted to stage which
premiered at the Paper Mill Playhouse in 2011 and had its Broadway debut in
2012. Unlike the film version that received mixed reviews, the stage
version on the other hand, received positive reviews. Set in 1899, Newsies
tells the story of the real-life newsboy in New York City.
Leading the cast as Jack Kelly is Gian Magdangal a
television, film and theater actor whom I saw last time in the local production
of West Side Story. This will be a good comeback for him after three year
hiatus in Manila theater scene. He never fails to impress me onstage and
his engagements with Hongkong Disneyland and Universal Studios Japan will
surely and vividly be obvious in his role. Danielle Chopin will have her first
stage debut in the Philippines as Katherine Plumber. Two time Gawad Buhay Best
Actor Awardee Jef Flores, tagged as the "it-boy of Philippine Theater,"
last seen in the recently concluded repeat performance of Godspell playing
Jesus will play the role of Davey. Daniel Drilon who appeared in the
local production of Fun Home will appear as Les and alternating is Tory Cortez
who was seen in last year's production of A Christmas Carol. Luis Marcelo as
Crutchie will also be making his professional theater debut. Greg Dulcie,
playing the role of Joseph Pulitzer who appeared in shows in the US, Canada and
Japan. Recording artist, singer, host and theater royalty Pinky Marquez will portray
Medda Larkin. Raymund Concepcion, film and theater veteran is set to play
double characters as Teddy Roosevelt and Nunzio. Ariel Reonal,
another Gawad Buhay Awardee will be seen in multiple portrayals as
Wiesel,
Mr. Jacobi and the Mayor, who was seen in multiple productions in
both local and international shows such as American Idiot, A Christmas
Carol and Miss Saigon. Franz Imperial as Snyder, the Warden of the Juvenile
Center, was part of A Christmas Carol and casted at the opening of Hongkong
Disneyland, Universal Studios Singapore and DreamWorks Movie Animation Park.
Alex Diaz, Star Magic Circle talent and Myx VJ will be making his theater debut
being one of the Newsies. Joni Galeste also from A Christmas Carol and Melissa
Bell who worked as a dancer in Tokyo Disney Sea, Hongkong Disneyland and The
Wizarding World Of Harry Potter Universal Studios in Osaka were both casted as
Bowery Beauties.

Supporting cast includes Anton Posadas, Ian Ocampo,
Erick Arenas, Stephen Viñas, Ronelson Yadao, Jim Ferrer, Jordan
Bartolome, Mark Anthony Grantos, Chesko Rodriguez, Jon Abella, Kendrick
Evasco, Vyen Villanueva, Jan Mayo MC dela Cruz and Clark dela Riva. The
highlight of the program was the preview excerpt performance of the whole cast
of Newsies. Though it was just a glimpse performance of the said musical, I'm
excited and overwhelmed to catch this production in full.
Globe Iconic Store Bonifacio High Street Amphitheater in
Bonifacio Global City met the demand and the technical elements for the
staging, the choice venue by the executives of Disney Theatrical. All
performances for the month long of July is slated at 8pm. Schedule of
performances: July 7 - 9, 14 - 16, 21 - 23 and 28 - 30. For
tickets, go to
go.globe.com.ph/newsies or
www.ticketworld.com.ph or
call them at 891-9999.
Official Hashtags: #GlobeLive9WTNewsies and #CreateHeadlines
Facebook and YouTube: GlobePH
Twitter and Instagram: @enjoyGlobe
Facebook: 9WorksTheatrical
Twitter and Instagram: @9WTonline
Text and Photos by Gilbert Kim Sancha