Saturday Online Concert: Upstart Productions' 10 for 10

Celebrating its 10th year anniversary in the theater community, Upstart Productions proudly presents UPSTART 10 FOR 10, an online mini-concert fundraiser on May 9 – 8 pm at Facebook page – Upstart Productions.

UPSTART 10 FOR 10 shall feature ten artists namely Topper Fabregas, Rony Fortich, Jenny Jamora, Carla Guevara-Laforteza, Lorenz Martinez, Shiela Valderrama-Martinez, Jill Pena, Felix Rivera, Ice Seguerra, and Reuben Uy.

The repertoire will include ten songs from Upstart Production’s first musical, BREAKUPS & BREAKDOWNS by Joel Trinidad and Rony Fortich.

The show aims to solicit donations for the benefit of the theater professionals behind the scenes — stage managers, prop masters, dressers, set builders, and the unsung heroes, who have lost their means of livelihood during this current pandemic.

Continue to support the arts during this pandemic.

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DANI GIRL rerun - more emotional the second time around

The Sandbox Collective brings back the musical about hope, Dani Girl, which I felt more attached and the emotions are more intense despite its injected humor and musical elements in this masterpiece.

I have to commend the cast, Becca Coates (Dani), Lorenz Martinez (Raph), Shiela Valderama-Martinez (Mom), and Luigi Quesada (Marty) for a heartwarming and . Also kudos to Toff De Venecia, who dedicates his directorial talents on this necessary production.

I love the set even better on this rerun. When at the first run it allowed us to imagine na imagery of Dani and Marty's journey in battling cancer, now we are more visual and the journey has materialized. It is even more touching that Becca and Luigi gave more heart to the characters as far as I can remember.

Photo by Gian Nicdao

It's more hurting to feel Shiela Valderama-Martinez's sorrow as a mother as she assists on the fight and even when she accepts Dani's fate. Can't miss a tear with her on Act 2.

Lorenz Martinez as Raph, gives the entertaining angel companion as always. As an angel, or even a friend, it is essential to give hope and uplift the spirit to anyone who needs it. Raph is very comforting, as well as Marty, in Dani's life.

Photo by Gian Nicdao

Dani Girl: A Musical About Hope runs until September 1 2019 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City. You should also stay after the show to listen and participate in the forum in how to spread hope or help cancer victims cope with the disease.

For tickets, call TicketWorld at 891-9999 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph. #DaniGirlMNL

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50 Shades closes this weekend

It's very hard and sad to say bye-bye to my first musical for the year, 50 Shades! The Musical Parody. Definitely one of my favorites. And from March 18 to 20, 50 Shades will have 6 performances with a whole package by the riotous and amazing cast. Read my review [here].

Catch their hilarious and super-restricted show on these dates:

• Friday, March 18 at 8:00 p.m.
• Saturday, March 19 at 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
• Sunday, March 20 at 2:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m., and 8:00 p.m.

Since its Manila debut a month ago, the hilariously cheeky spoof of the erotic blockbuster novel “Fifty Shades of Grey” has been a smash hit with Filipinos. As its acclaimed run comes to a close, this sexy, one-of-a-kind production was successfully able to draw in its share of celebrity fans. These stars could not stopraving about 50 Shades! The Musical Parody:

• “It’s very very funny, really really hilarious! One funny funny show that you guys shouldn’t miss.”- Michael de Mesa
• “The show is so fabulously rude and it’s sexy. So much fun! If you just want to have a good time, this is the show to watch.”- Joanna Ampil
• “What can I say? I’m still laughing from ear to ear.”- Pinky Marquez
• "I didn’t expect it to be that much fun.”- Mark Bautista
• “The songs are really catchy and it was really fun to watch!" – Carla Humphries
• "Please come and watch 50 Shades! The Musical Parody. It's a great laugh!” –Epi Quizon
• “You guys should watch from start to finish! You will have a good time!” –Gian Magdangal
• "I got hungry after I saw this." -Omar Itay (BAWAL KUMONTRA!)

I want to share the video below which is one of my favorite songs. There's A Hole Inside of Me as performed by Brenna Wahl as Anastasia Steele.

THERE'S A HOLE INSIDE OF ME

Feeling empty? Let your inner hole be filled by the joy brought to you by the fun, sexy, and hilarious production of 50 Shades! The Musical Parody.“There’s a Hole Inside of Me” (featuring Brenna Wahl as Anastasia Steele) is just one of the eleven original songs featured in the adults-only hit show that will surely make you laugh out loud! Don’t miss the last three days of 50 Shades! The Musical Parody happening on March 18, 19, and 20 at the RCBC Theater. Tickets are available through TicketNet, Ticketworld, and SM Tickets. For more information, visit www.50shadesmanila.com

Posted by 50 Shades Manila on Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Tickets for the final weekend run of 50 Shades! The Musical Parody are available from Ticketworld, TicketNet, and SM Tickets. VIP tickets include premium seating for the show as well as a photo opportunity with the cast onstage after the performance. For more information, visit www.50shadesmanila.com or call (02) 470 6956. This show is not associated with, endorsed, or authorized by E.L. James or Vintage Books.

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50 Shades Manila heats up

Hope that you're more than ready, physically and emotionally, when you watch 50 Shades: the Musical Parody that's opening on February 12. The perfect Valentine event not just for couples out there but for the whole mature audience. Content is very much explicit but incredibly funny so you have to prepare a lot of tissues to wipe tears of laughter and who knows what else. LOL

The book club opens the our senses with the book and getting into the universe where we explore the mind of Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey in a lighter way. This twist disses the book and movie with the hilarious music, incredible and sexy cast comprised of foreign and our local artists that will make us ask for more with no inhibitions. Don't worry that even if you didn't read the book or no idea at all about 50 Shades of Grey, you will surely enjoy the Book Club, Anastasia, Jose and Katherine Kavanagh, most especially because of Christian Grey. But I'm still glad that all of the characters have equally shared the limelight and you'll love all of them.

50 Shades's music includes a lot of metaphors and directly mentions all dirty things you can imagine and you'll love it. Tunes are very catchy and memorable but you don't want to play it on loud speaker. You'll be clapping excitedly and laughing out loud on songs, especially "I Wanna F*" by Christian Grey.

50 Shades releases not only the inner goddess but also the alpha male and will leave you hungry for more. It will leave you imagining all possibilities but make sure to "focus" on what things should be done. Hahaha! Congrats to the cast and director Al Samuels who also wrote the hilarious songs. The local cast and creative team, continue to sprit some fun to the audience.

Running for "69" minutes with a 15-minute "quickie," 50 Shades the Musical Parody turns the temperature up from February 12 to March 5 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City. Presented by Vivre Fort Entertainment and 9 Works Theatrical.

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50 Shades! for Valentines Day

Here's how to spend your Valentine's Day: Invite your partner for some show that will help you set the mood and go all the way! I mean it literally and figuratively. As Vivre Fort Entertainment and 9 Works Theatrical bring the worldwide hit 50 Shades! The Musical Parody, based on the erotic novel of EL James following the story of Anastasia Steele into the secret world of Christian Grey.

The unlikely hit comes to Manila from February 12 to March 1 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium in RCBC Plaza in Makati City and it's something to be more excited about as they continue to count more than 1000 shows and great talents from the original off-Broadway, US, Canada, London, Australia and China runs will be joined by our premiere Filipino theater talents in this one fun and incredible show.

Featured in the company is a mix of international thespians, including performers from the Off-Broadway and Las Vegas productions of 50 Shades! The Musical Parody, plus some homegrown stage and screen talents. Leading the foreign artists are Brenna Wahl, Greg Kata, Chloe Williamson, Kaitlyn Frotton, Chris Hodgson, Casey Renee Rogers, and Isaac Saleh. Rounding out the cast are seasoned Filipino theatre stars Bituin Escalante, Karel Marquez, Lorenz Martinez, George Schulze, and Julz Savard. Watch these excerpts performed by these artists:

50 Shades the Musical Parody - Bituin Escalante
Bituin Escalante belts out a tune in #50ShadesManila. Watch here.
Posted by Ohmski on Saturday, January 16, 2016

50 Shades the Musical Parody - Open Your Book
You'll love the 50 Shades Book Club. #50ShadesManila
Posted by Ohmski on Monday, January 18, 2016

50 Shades the Musical Parody - There's A Hole Inside of Me
Karel Marquez joins the cast of 50 Shades Manila as Anastasia Steele. #50ShadesManila
Posted by Ohmski on Thursday, January 21, 2016

Al Samuels, who co-wrote and directed the off-Broadway, UK and US tour productions of the musical, will also direct the Manila production. Robbie Guevarra co-directs the show with musical direction by Onyl Torres and choreography by PJ Rebullida. Mio Infante creatively transports us to the Charlie Tango, the mansion and the Red Room of Pain with his stage design.

We have a good representation with our talents for 50 Shades, as director Al Samuels would describe. We are thankful for the selection and they are ready to give us a titillating and a very much enjoyable show.

Tickets are now available at SM Tickets, Ticketworld and Ticketnet outlets. Only limited tickets are available so secure your tickets now. For more information about the show, visit www.50shadesmanila.com or call (02) 470 6956.

Here are the ticket prices for 50 Shades! The Musical Parody:
VIP Front Row PHP 5000*
VIP PHP 4500*
Orchestra Center PHP 4000
Orchestra Sides PHP 3500
Loge PHP 2500
Balcony PHP 1500

* VIP Ticket is inclusive of Meet & Greet Opportunity with the Cast of 50 Shades! The Musical Parody. Please keep ticket and present during Meet & Greet session after each show.

This show is recommended for mature audiences only, ages 18+. Like the book series, 50 SHADES! The Musical Parody is surely not for those under the age of 18, but does not cross boundaries that would make general audiences squirm. All guests require a ticket, regardless of age.

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Get tittilated in laughter as Mr. Grey comes to Manila!

Have you read the book? Have you seen the movie? Well see Christian Grey closer as 9 Works Theatrical brings the hilarious musical in Philippine soil starting February 12, 2016 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City.

50 Shades! The Musical Parody is a parody of EL James' best-selling novel and 9WT co-produced with Vivrefort Entertainment, featuring mostly foreign actors in a funny adaptation of the novel. For the tour, they also feature our very own Karel Marquez, playing Anastasia Steele, Lorenz Martinez and Bituin Escalante.

50 Shades! the Musical Parody gets awesome reviews in the U.S. "Hilarious!" as by New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, Cosmopolitan and more. It is also regarded as "The play for your inner goddess, your book club and your mother-in-law can all agree on" by the New York Times. For me, I will just be expecting how the Red Room of Pain would look like and how they aim to please. LOL * sidenote: If you like to come in full Christian Grey effect, can you come in #GrabHeli?

This musical is strictly for mature audiences only, obviously, so no one below 18 years old may be admitted.

For tickets and inquiries, contact 0917.554.5560 • 586.7105 • info@9workstheatrical.com.
Show dates:
12Feb2016/FRI/8PM
13Feb2016/SAT/2PM, 5PM, 8PM
14Feb2016/SUN/2PM, 5PM, 8PM
19Feb2016/FRI/8PM
20Feb2016/SAT/2PM, 5PM, 8PM
21Feb2016/SUN/2PM, 5PM
26Feb2016/FRI/8PM
27Feb2016/SAT/5PM, 8PM
28Feb2016/SUN/2PM, 5PM

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Christopher De Leon produces LORENZO, a musical play on the first Filipino saint

less we've known about the first Filipino saint, LORENZO, a musical play will present the life of Lorenzo Ruiz in this Year of Faith.

Christopher De Leon, renowned actor and a lover of the arts, produces this masterpiece with the music of Mr. Ryan Cayabyab, written by Juan Ekis and Paul Dumol with the collaboration of Joem Antonio. my favorite actors Lorenz Martinez as Lorenzo and OJ Mariano as Laurence, who portrays the modern Filipino struggling at the soil from a foreign land. a call on the reflection of self and how we assess our relationship with God, Lorenzo will teach us on how to cling on faith in our own predicament.

set to play starting September 5, completing 14 shows until September 14, 1PM and 6PM at the 5th Floor, SDA Building of DLSU-College of St. Benilde, 850 Padre Ocampo St., Malate, Manila. tickets are available at Ticketworld or the official website www.lorenzorocks.com.

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NIKKI GIL and LORENZ MARTINEZ star in 9WT new rom-com

how do you fall in love? a few days before Valentine's Day, remember how you fall in love in 9 Works Theatrical's presentation, They're Playing Our Song. yes, and they're back with Nikki Gil and Lorenz Martinez playing the leads.

this musical is a musical with a book by Neil Simon, lyrics by Carole Bayer Sager, and music by Marvin Hamlisch. it's about Hamlisch and Sager's love story with Vernon and Sonia playing their parts. each had their own three-character chorus as their inner voices. 9PO accompanies their singing with their high-class playing as Robbie Guevara directs.

at first, i was not really aware that the song "Fallin'" came in this musical. and i've gotta watch out for Lorenz Martinez pairing up with Nikki Gil. if Lorenz got your funny bones tingling at Forbidden Broadway and Nikki Gil on Sweet Charity, it would definitely be a riot with them two on stage. plus, this would be extra special if you're watching it with your loved one. more fun with their inner voices: Anna Santamaria, Peachy Atilano, Jill Pena, James Stacey, Reb Atadero (9WT first-timer) and Noel Rayos.

for those who like to take the Valentine's in a fancy hotel, the Peninsula Manila will also give you a VIP treatment bringing you to see They're Playing Our Song musical also with the amenities they have. see the poster below for details.

so grab your dates and close the schedule starting February 8 to March at Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City. for ticket inquiries, call 586-7105 / 09175445560 or TicketNet office at 8919999.

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