Atlantis Productions in the eye of a storm

Atlantis Productions knows what it is to be in the eye of a storm. No, it has nothing to do with disgruntled, unpaid actors or unhappy sponsors. It’s because the head of Atlantis Productions, director Bobby Garcia has continually managed to stage successfully controversial productions.

Atlantis Productions first stirred the waters with the staging of Rent Manila. Starring JM Rodriguez, Calvin Millado, Michael de Mesa, Bituin Escalante etc., Rent Manila was the hit musicale of 1999. SRO crowds watched the musicale every night for six weeks.

Next, Atlantis Productions staged the award-winning play How I Learned to Drive. Starring Carlo Ledesma, Chari Arespacochaga and Tammi Monsod, How I Learned to Drive is a heart-rending play that tackled incest and more. As expected, How I Learned to Drive was a blockbuster hit.

Jesus Christ Superstar was the next musicale in Bobby’s theatrical calendar. The staging of JCS raised a lot of eyebrows in the industry as it cast Wolfgang frontman Basti Artadi as Jesus Christ and Dessa who alternated with Anna Fegi as the female Pontius Pilate. The production design was also stylized. Because of this, Atlantis Productions’ Jesus Christ Superstar sparked another wave of intrigues and seats were filled every night.

But Atlantis Productions has also made a name for itself in foreign shores as well. Only this year, together with the Singapore Repertory Theater (SRT), they staged Rent Singapore with a mixed Filipino and Singaporean cast. Because of the theme that the musicale tackles, Rent was slapped with an NC-17 rating in Singapore and the given grant given to the SRT was withdrawn. Nevertheless, Rent Singapore opened to commercial and critical acclaim. A number of Singaporean press writers even declared that Rent Singapore was better than the Broadway version!

But Bobby Garcia isn’t resting on his laurels. In fact, as early as now, he has revealed plans that Atlantis Productions will soon start rehearsing for the raucous, raunchy musicale Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Written by John Cameron Mitchell, Hedwig and the Angry Inch tells the hilarious story of a tragic, internationally-ignored glam-rocker who experienced a botched sexual operation.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch will open in August. For interested sponsors and show buyers, call Atlantis Productions at 810 7316 or log on to www.musicmanila.com.

Tropical Ice Boracay Escapade

Vacationers in the scenic island of Boracay had a grand drinking spree when Tropical Ice Flavored Sparkling Water gave out free samples of the refreshing fruit-flavored drink during its four-day sampling event dubbed Tropical Ice Boracay Escapade.

Le Soleil de Boracay, represented by resident manager Peejay Reyes, and Sea Wind and Waling Waling Resort, had grand make-overs as colorful streamers and banners of Tropical Ice decorated their facades and beach areas as scantily-clad ladies paraded the area.

With temperature rising at such a feverish level, Tropical Ice Flavored Sparking Water provided the much-needed relief. It became an instant hit among the high-end crowd that included celebrities Rachel Alejandro, Jon Santos, Marvin Agustin, and Rica Peralejo, among others. Tropical Ice Boracay Escapade crew composed of Nyanne Atentido, Brian Martin, Ria Macatangay with VPs, Pam Pamintuan and Rey Yao of Masterminds Asia, the advertising agency of Tropical Ice, even gave out freebies such as shirts and caps and loads of thirst-quenching Tropical Ice to lucky Boracay vacationers in the sampling event right at the beach.

Definitely, Tropical Ice is the "official drink" of the summer season. It is healthy, tasteful and a good alternative to softdrinks and bottled water. Resorts, bars and restaurants all over Boracay and in the nearby islands now carry Tropical Ice after it made a big splash.

Tropical Ice Flavored Sparkling Water is fruit-flavored carbonated water which comes in three different flavors: Raspberry, Green Apple, and Currant in hip and handy 400 ml. plastic bottles.

Tropical Ice is produced and distributed in Metro Manila by Gas Beverages and Seltzer, Inc. (GBSI) headed by Chairman of the Board, Jovino B. Lorenzo who also joined the Tropical Ice Boracay Escapade with wife Khana Lorenzo. Tropical Ice is distributed in Boracay by Tourist Center Store with Henry Chan as Operations Manager.