A taste of Broadway

It was the way that the actors in the Atlantis Production of Next To Normal were referred to that got me dreaming. They were called the Original Manila Cast. So I thought, wouldn’t it be nice if the original Manila cast of a musical got the chance to record a soundtrack album. It will be a thrill getting hold of the CD and reading the credits. Next To Normal Soundtrack by the Original Manila Cast. Nice.

But merely pipe dream. Although we have a very active theater community, I do not see that happening any time soon. That is given the present state of the music industry, which is really in a bad way. No way a producer would put up the funds to do an album of songs from the theater and hope that people would buy the product. But dreams have a way of coming true, not in the way initially envisioned but somewhat close, close enough to assuage the thirst of wanting to hear Filipino talents sing those songs they do so well on stage.

Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, who must be one of the finest theater actresses of this generation got to do just that recently. She made her recording debut with Light, an album produced by Atlantis director Bobby Garcia. The title cut is one of the songs in Next To Normal where Menchu played the lead role of the mentally-disturbed Diana. Bobby and Menchu were probably also dreaming of doing a cast album. But since that is not possible at the moment, they came up with Light, which is made up of songs from musicals that Menchu appeared in.

Light is one of the songs from Next To Normal, which had a very successful run last month at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium at RCBC Plaza in Makati. The Original Manila Cast, which includes Jett Pangan, Jake Macapagal, Felix Rivera, Bea Garcia and Markki Stroem is featured with Menchu in the inspiring number. There is also I Miss The Mountains, which I believe is the best song from the musical. Menchu does it beautifully and is a great way to open the CD.

Then because Menchu was Evita in Evita, there is the Latin-tinged Buenos Aires; she was Fantine in Les Miserables, so she has included the poignant Come To Me; she was Fosca in Passion and the Witch in Into The Woods so there is a medley of Loving You and Children Will Listen. It goes on up to the moving Meadowlark from the Baker’s Wife and the wistful Something Good from The Sound Of Music. And then you start wishing there were more. Maybe next time. For now though check out Light, it is a refreshing respite from the songs we get nowadays and a glimpse of theater music from the talented Menchu.

Nicktoon meet and greet

Here is a groovy way for kids to get their summer vacation off to a fun start. Meet and greet your favorite Nicktoon Characters at Nickelodeon’s Nick World. All they have to do is be at the Bonifacio Global City Open Field behind the NBC Tent at 2 p.m. on April 9. The event is presented by Toy Kingdom and Zoobies, plus Abbott Grow, Goody Gulp Chocolate Milk Drink by Spongebob SquarePants, Koala’s March, Selecta and Skechers Kids. Also thanks to Nickelodeon and BGC. Admission is free, so all that you kids have to do is just be there in the line when Nick World opens and be ready for all the fun things happening inside.

There will be a storytelling session about the adventures of Dora The Explorer. Diego will also be there in his own animal show with his furry friends. Kid martial arts experts will show off cool moves with Aang of Avatar. The new Nick show The House Of Anubis will have a special screening. There will be dancing like Tori Vega of Victorious to the tune of Make It Shine. And everyone can run, stick, jump and play at the Jellyfishing Trampoline of Spongebob, the A-dora-Ball inflatable or the Planet Sheen’s Giant Slide.

The fun-filled afternoon will also feature games like Ni Hao; Kai Lan’s Chopsticken Relay; Penguins of Madagascar Crooked Path, Fanboy and Chum Chum’s Masked Musical Chairs; Dora’s Sombrero Pass; and Diego’s Animal Rescue Relay. There will be lots of prizes for the winners and everybody will get the chance to meet Kai Lan, Dora the Explorer, Boots, Diego, Aang and out of sandy bottom, everybody’s favorite yellow fellow and his best friend, SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star.