Atlantis Productions stages 'Nine'

MANILA, Philippines -  Atlantis Productions has scored a casting coup for its upcoming star-studded production of the Tony Award-winning musical Nine, which opens Sept. 21, Friday, at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati.  It has gathered a once-in-a-lifetime cast of movie stars, musical theater icons, recording artists and rock stars.

Leading the cast of Nine as filmmaker Guido Contini is The Dawn lead singer and musical theater favorite Jett Pangan.  The role of Guido was originated on Broadway by Raul Julia, played in the revival by Antonio Banderas and in the film version by Daniel Day Lewis. Jett marks his 10th year of performing with Atlantis Productions, and Nine is his biggest and most challenging role to date. 

Menchu Lauchehgco-Yulo, known as the First Lady of Philippine Musical Theater, once again joins Jett as his devoted wife, Luisa Contini, after their phenomenal turns as husband and wife in the critically acclaimed musical Next to Normal. Menchu won her first Aliw Award for Best Actress for Next to Normal. She was last seen in Atlantis Productions’ critically-acclaimed production of God of Carnage.

Multi-awarded film, television and stage icon Cherie Gil takes to the stage once again as the fabulous film producer Liliane Le Fleur.  She sings the show-stopping Folies Bergeres.  She was last seen on the Atlantis stage in the critically acclaimed play Doubt. 

Eula Valdez, one of the country’s finest film and television stars, takes on the role of Claudia Nardi, film star and muse to Guido Contini.  She sings one of the loveliest songs from the show titled Unusual Way.

Acclaimed musical theater performer Carla Guevara-Laforteza plays Carla Albanese, Guido’s neurotic mistress who hopes for a more permanent place in Guido’s life. Carla has appeared with Atlantis in Manila and Singapore as Kate Monster in Avenue Q and Olive in Spelling Bee.

Returning to the stage after her acclaimed performance as Vanessa in In The Heights, international stage star Ima Castro now plays Sarraghina, the prostitute who teaches a young Guido Contini the ways of the world.  Famous worldwide for her heartbreaking portrayal of Kim in Miss Saigon, Ima sings Be Italian, one of the show’s most famous songs.

Bossa nova siren Sitti Navarro returns to the musical theater stage as our Lady of the Spa, who narrates Guido’s journey in Italy’s most luxurious spa where he is hiding from the world.  Sitti was last seen onstage in Atlantis’ staging of Spring Awakening. Yanah Laurel, musical theater’s “it” girl, plays Stephanie Necrophorus, film critic-turned-associate producer to Liliane Le Fleur, who never was a fan of Guido’s films.  Yanah has performed with Atlantis in Hairspray, Spring Awakening, Legally Blonde and Disney’s The Little Mermaid.  She is musical theater’s most promising young star.

One of musical theater’s most accomplished performers Jay Glorioso returns to the stage after her triumphant turns as Abuela Claudia in In The Heights and Mdme Armfeldt in A Little Night Music (in Manila and Singapore) for Atlantis Productions.  She won an Aliw Award for Best Supporting Actress for both shows.  In Nine, she plays Guido’s mother who visits him from beyond the grave.

Also featured in the cast as Guido’s many admirers are Mikkie Bradshaw, Reg Claraval, Princess Virtudazo, and Japs Treopaldo. Warren David Saga and Ethan Paras alternate as Little Guido.

Adding to the landmark production is set design by Tony Award-winning designer David Gallo, who has designed sets for Broadway’s The Drowsy Chaperone, Memphis, Xanadu, Company, Throughly Modern Millie and, most recently, The Mountaintop with Samuel L. Jackson and Angela Bassett.  He will be assisted locally by Lex Marcos and Lawyn Cruz. Costume design is by New York-based Filipino designer Robin Tomas who recently launched his line Tomas. Choreography by Cecile Martinez, lighting design by Jay Aranda, musical direction by Ceejay Javier, and vocal direction by ManMan Angsico.

Director Bobby Garcia says, “Nine is a musical that I have loved since my childhood and something that I have wanted to do for many years. Now the time has finally come, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to have assembled what I believe is the definitive cast and creative team for Maury Yeston’s stunning piece of musical theater. I myself cannot believe the stars aligned as they have and that all the pieces fell into place so effortlessly. Needless to say, I don’t think it will ever happen again as it is extremely difficult to get all these people in the same room at the same time so this production of Nine will really be a once in a lifetime event. I am so proud to be a part of it.”

Based on Italian director Federico Fellini’s comic masterpiece of biographical filmmaking, 8 1/2, Maury Yeston’s sultry and enchanting musical follows the life of world-famous film director Guido Contini as he prepares his latest picture and balances the numerous women in his life. Nine is the winner of five Tony Awards including Best Musical. Nine continues Atlantis Productions’ highly successful 2012 Season which has included In The Heights, Rock of Ages, God of Carnage, and will end with the Asian Premiere of Disney’s Aladdin in November.

Nine runs from Sept. 21 to Oct. 7 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati.  For tickets, call Atlantis Productions at 892-7078 or Ticketworld at 891-9999.