Atlantis Productions stages ‘Carrie’ and ‘The Addams Family’

MANILA, Philippines - With critically-acclaimed productions of Piaf and Rock of Ages, Atlantis Productions continues its 14th season with two very different musicals: the legendary musical Carrie and the hit Broadway family musical comedy The Addams Family featuring an all-star cast.

Carrie — based on the modern classic by Stephen King, with music by Academy Award Winner Michael Gore, lyrics by Academy Award winner Dean Pitchford, and a book by Lawrence D. Cohen (who wrote the screenplay of the Brian de Palma film) — tells the tragic story of a misunderstood high school teenager named Carrie White with extraordinary telekinetic powers. Terrorized by her oppressive religious fanatic mother and bullied by her classmates, Carrie’s violent rampage of revenge remains one of the most terrifying stories of all time.

Headlining the cast of Carrie are Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo as Margaret White, Markki Stroem as Tommy Ross, Yanah Laurel as Sue Snell, Sheila Valderrama-Martinez as Miss Gardner and Mikkie Bradshaw as Carrie White.

Bobby Garcia, who directs both Carrie and The Addams Family, says, “I have been in love with Carrie since I first saw it at the Virginia Theatre in New York 25 years ago.  It has a rich and authentic Broadway pop score and a powerful story. I am thrilled to be working closely with the authors of the musical on this new adaptation of their work and can’t wait to begin rehearsals with this amazing cast. I suspect it’s going to be a frighteningly good time.”

Atlantis is also working closely with Michael Gore, Laurence D. Cohen and Dean Pitchford, the writers of the musical, to do a 4-track CD single of songs from Carrie featuring the original Manila cast.

The Addams Family is a smash-hit Broadway musical comedy for the whole family that brings the darkly delirious world of Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester, Grandma, Wednesday, Pugsley and, of course, Lurch to spooky and spectacular life. This magnificently macabre new musical comedy is created by Jersey Boys authors Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice, Drama Desk-winning composer/lyricist Andrew Lippa.

The Addams Family musical features an original story, and it’s every father’s nightmare. Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family. A man her parents have never met. And if that weren’t upsetting enough, she confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he’s never done before: keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents.

Heading the star-studded cast is film, television and stage actress Eula Valdes, last seen on the Atlantis stage as Claudia in Nine. Now Eula takes on the iconic role of Morticia Addams, made famous in the hit films by Anjelica Huston.

Kla Rivera, who received an Aliw Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical for her musical theater debut in Atlantis’ In The Heights as Nina and then played the feisty Princess Jasmine in Disney’s Aladdin to critical acclaim last year, is set to play the teenage “Princess of Darkness” Wednesday Addams. She reunites onstage with her leading man from Aladdin, Tom Rodriguez.

Tom set hearts on fire and received critical acclaim for his professional musical theater debut in the title role of Disney’s Aladdin last year.  He is now setting hearts on fire on the hit TV series My Husband’s Lover opposite Dennis Trillo. In The Addams Family, he plays Lucas Beineke, Wednesday Addam’s sweet and good-natured boyfriend, who triggers a series of unforgettable and hilarious events when he proposes to her. A complete casting announcement for The Addams Family will be made soon.

Garcia says, “It has always been a great way for us to end the year and start off the holiday season with a family musical comedy.  And this year The Addams Family is that show. It’s wacky, zany good fun that really celebrates and sends up the Broadway musical comedy form. And it is perfect for the entire family. Snap! Snap!”

Atlantis will also soon be announcing its 2014 season, which marks the 15th Anniversary of the prolific theater company.

Carrie runs from Sept. 20 to Oct. 6 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati while The Addams Family runs from Nov. 15 to Dec. 1 at the Meralco Theater. Select shows are now available for show-buying and fundraising opportunities.

For information, call Claire of Atlantis Productions at 892-7078.