‘The Addams Family Musical’ opens today

Eula Valdes and Arnell Ignacio as Morticia and Gomez Addams

The Broadway family musical, “The Addams Family,” is a must-see play that touches the very core of family life as a father keeps from his wife the secret divulged by their daughter.

The play is directed by Bobby Garcia whom Arnell Ignacio and Eula Valdes described as sweet yet meticulous at work.

“With him, you feel the irresistible urge to rehearse! We have been rehearsing for three weeks now, Monday to Friday starting at 10 in the morning up to 5 in the afternoon. The play is so beautiful,” Arnell said.

He added that “stage acting calls for a lot of responsibility. One cannot just miss a rehearsal or be late. Your performance must always be at its peak at any given time.”

Eula concurred. Though she would come from a taping of her tele-drama, she would arrive at the rehearsal for “The Addams Family” fully alert. “I cannot afford to miss the joy of rehearsing. Every rehearsal of a scene is always a new one for me, hence, it is always exciting.”

The other cast members are Aliw Award nominee K-La Rivera as Wednesday Addams, opposite LA-based singer Ryan Gallagher as Lucas Beineke; recording artists Jimmy Marquez and Nyoy Volante alternates as Grandma, with theater veterans Jamie Wilson as Uncle Fester, Carla Guevara as Alice Beineke opposite Calvin Millado as Mal Beineke.

More actors in “Addams:” Ikey Canoy, Warren Saga, Anton Posadas, Reg Claraval, Japs Treopaldo, Milai Impeial, Mikkie Bradshaw, Jill Pena, brothers Altair and Mako Alonso, Hans Eckstein, Johann dela Fuente and Bibo Reyes.

Wednesday Addams confesses to her father Fomez Addams that she has fallen in love with a sweet, smart man, and begs her father to not reveal it to her mother. It makes the story run like a roller-coaster with so many twists of comedy.

Produced by Atlantic Productions, “The Addams Family Musical” opens tonight, Nov. 15, at the Meralco Theater. The show runs till Dec. 1.

• • •

Sheila Francisco used to be the proverbial Fat Lady of the musical theater world. Now, she cuts a svelte figure and glows with health

The Proverbial Fat Lady Is Fat No More

Sheila Francisco used to be the proverbial Fat Lady in the theater world. Her full figure – in addition to her clear, big voice – had earned her such unforgettable roles as Bloody Mary in the Royal National Theater’s production of “South Pacific” in London and Jadis the White Witch in “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.”

Sheila revealed being obese was a condition that ran in her family. Since she was young, she had always been on the heavy side (to be specific, the XL or XXL, or size 26 in the clothes department).

But Sheila had a wake-up call: at one point, she already needed a cane to be able to walk: “I weighed 260 lbs. and my height is 5’2” – the pressure was really too much for my knees. I could not even do the grocery anymore.”

Then, at a mall, she was introduced by a friend to someone who lost 40 lbs. in just three months after going through the Cohen’s Lifestyle Program, said to be a rapid weight loss and wellness solution through nutrition based on a person’s unique blood profile.

As she had done in many musical plays, Sheila found herself in a soliloquy (“I asked myself, is this how I’d want to live forever? And I realized, other people will have to take care of me, and I will be a burden to my loved ones.”), then the turning point: She signed up for the program.

It paid off: On her first weigh-in, or a month after going through the program, she lost 19 lbs. She even reveals, “I actually cried, and got hooked. The first two weeks were the hardest, but after that, the body adjusts and it’s not that difficult anymore.”

At first, many of her acquaintances were a little worried how the weight loss would affect her voice. On the contrary, she says, the weight loss has improved her voice quality and widened her range: “I can reach higher notes now with much ease.”

Even better, her 130-140 lbs. body now has opened her life to better and more roles. “Before, I had never been considered to play the leading lady. I was always the sidekick, or the nemesis,” says she.

These days, Sheila is busy playing the Queen in a new production of “Cinderella” at the Resorts World Manila. “I am wearing a corseted dress, and it comes with a pretty defined waist!”

Sheila definitely glows with her newfound appreciation of her body, and reveals enjoying wearing heels and wedges, and shopping for clothes sized 8 to 10, adding, “I was blown away seeing my collarbones!”

• • •

National Week For The Gifted And Talented 2013

The Philippine Center for Gifted Education, Inc. (PCGE, Inc.) headed by Dr. Leticia Ho wishes to announce the National Week for the Gifted and Talented 2013. Mga Bagong Rizal Leadership Training will be held from Nov. 22 to 24 at White Knight Hotel, Casa Manila, Intramuros, Manila at 6 p.m.

It will be highlighted by Mga Bagong Rizal Awards night/PCGE 3rd Anniversary/opening of the National Week for the Gifted and Talented 2013 on Nov. 24 at Casa Blanca Ballroom, Casa Manila, Intramuros, Manila. The search, “Mga Bagong Rizal: Pag-asa ng Bayan,” which started last 2011 in the sesquicentenary celebration of the national hero’s birthday, was organized by PCGE, Inc., a non-profit organization devoted to raising public awareness about giftedness and the education of gifted people.

• • •

Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, Nov. 15, go to my dear friend Lita A. Luga, Fe Barrias, Sharon Lim-Dulay de Joya, Engr. Albert Leonido, Teresita Ely Bailey, Kris Lacaba, Teddy Casino, Bong Suntay, Marivie Macugay, Larry Inocando, Nathalie Nicole M. de la Cruz and Tristan Reese Eugenio…

‘The Addams Family Musical’ opens today

Source: Mb.com.ph (November 15, 2013 at 12:00AM)

Continue...