Rachelle Ann Go and Erik Santos in ‘The Little Mermaid’

MANILA, Philippines -- After the hit musical “Next to Normal,” Atlantis Productions is set to stage other exciting musical presentations, among them Elton John/TIM Rice’s pop rock musical “Aida” and Disney’s Broadway musical “The Little Mermaid.”

Starring Rachelle Ann Go in the title role, “The Little Mermaid” will be staged at the Meralco Theater in November. She will have as leading man Erik Santos, who’s making his debut in a musical.

Rachelle Ann is the perfect choice to play the Little Mermaid, as she possesses all the qualities of Ariel – spunky, adventurous, kind, generous, and a dreamer. Rachelle Ann also has one of the most beautiful voices we have ever heard. It’s the first time that she’s co-starring with Erik, with whom she’ll have kissing scenes.

Rachelle Ann was the grand winner of “Search for a Star” in 2004. She also won a silver medal that same year at the Shanghai Music Festival. She currently appears on GMA-7’s Sunday noontime show “Party Pilipinas.”

“The Little Mermaid,” based on the classic Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, is the sparkling new Disney musical that has made a big splash on Broadway. Some of Disney’s most popular songs are featured in the show, including “Part Of Your World,” “Kiss The Girl,” and the Academy Award-winning Best Original Song “Under The Sea,” from the renowned songwriting team of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman. The stage adaptation also features 10 new songs by Menken and Glenn Slater, plus a book by Tony award-winning playwright Doug Wright.

Atlantis Productions’ Bobby Garcia and Chari Arespacochaga, who will direct “The Little Mermaid,” went to Hawaii last year to take an Asian Puppetry workshop for use in scenes under the sea.

The complete cast of “The Little Mermaid” will be announced shortly.

The staging is made possible through a licensing agreement with Music Theatre International.

Rookie wins new Chevy Aveo

The 1st National Finals of the 10th SM Bowling Cup was held recently at SM City Fairview and hereunder are the results:

Vener Sales, a relatively new bowler from SM Bowling Center Fairview, won a brand-new Chevrolet Aveo LT by outscoring Nancy Frianeza 230. Vener, a southpaw who works for GMA-7, topped the field of 24 National Finalists, which consisted of a mix of veteran and new bowlers, including previous SM Cup champions George Ongkeko, Audi Castro and Renier Pasquin.

Nancy, also of SM Bowling Center Fairview, earned the right to challenge Vener by out-striking Yuyek Chavez and Robert Plucena in the very exciting previous shoot-out match. She bowled five strikes in a row in her last four frames to come from behind and scored 239 to earn a crack at the Chevrolet Aveo, got to 2nd place and received P100,000 cash prize while Yuyek Chavez ended up 3rd place and took home the P50,000 cash prize.

Robert Plucena of SM North EDSA looked very sharp as he convincingly disposed of Nelson Chavez of SM Fairview and Beth Ngo of SM Cebu with a high 231 game in the first match of the shoot-out. But somehow he could not get the needed strikes on the next match as Nancy poured on her strikes.

The next car to be given away will be Chevrolet Cruze both for the 2nd and the 3rd National Finals in September and December of this year.

• • •

Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, June 17, go to former Sen. John Osmeña, Dada Lorenzana-Santiago, Juliet Cadiente, Jet Montelibano, Nieves Racelis, Carlo Celis, Ma. Theresa Obsina, Elsie Abacajan, David Zion Baldia, Jenara R. Newman, Prof. Marieta Escorpizo, Nene Fenix, Tessie Naidas-Dungca, John Kylle Martinez Lacaran, Bernard and Shiela Lopez, Nydie Aguilar-Hinampas of Saudi Arabia, Mrs. Lilia Recto and Biboy Arboleda of ABS-CBN... Happy wedding anniversary to Chito and Joy Gonzalez… Every weekend (Friday and Saturday from 10 p.m.to 12 a.m., Diamond Hotel offers Late Night Weekend Buffet where friends and families can indulge in after a theater show, concert or movie. While you dine to your heart’s delight with a wide range of midnight chows (including appetizing Chinese dishes), an in-house DJ plays chill music that complement the relaxed, laid-back ambiance of the chic and classy Corniche Restaurant…