The cast of ‘The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber’

MANILA, Philippines -- Fans of the music of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber (yes, he was knighted by the Queen of England Elizabeth II in 1992) will certainly have a great musical moment Friday at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) when the spectacular production opens its 13-day Manila run. The show is in celebration of the musical genius of Webber, easily the greatest composer of his time, creating more than a score of hit musicals, the music of which still appeals to worldwide audiences.

Presented by Citibank, “The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber” features some of Australia’s finest musical talents who’re on their first visit to Manila, thus the excitement they expressed when we interviewed them in Sydney, Australia recently.

The cast whose rich and splendid voices audiences would be listening to starting tonight at the CCP is composed of Blake Bowden, Alinta Chidzey, Andrew Conaghan, Michael Cormik, Trisha Crowe, Delia Hannah, Kisrten Hobbs and Shaun Rennie.

Bowden studied drama with the NIDA Young Actors Studio, is a graduate of The McDonald College of Performing Arts and also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Sydney University. He has appeared in various musicals in London, Australia and New Zealand (among his theater credits being “Dirty Dancing,” “The Boy from Oz” among others) and toured with “West Side Story” and “Never Say Never.” He was also a part of “Jekyll & Hyde” production in Korea.

Chidzey trained at the Centrestage Performing Arts School in 1994, after which she won a scholarship to attend the Victorian College of the Arts and graduated in 2001. She made her stage debut in 2002 via the Australian tour of “Mama Mia!” In 2006, Aita won the Green Room Award for “Best Featured Ensemble in a Musical for Leader of the Pack.” She played the lead role of Anita in the 2010 tour of “West Side Story.”

Cormick, who we consider the lead talent in “The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber” and who we believe will charm Manila audiences with his consummate talent in singing and acting, toured throughout Australia in the 10th anniversary production of “Mama Mia!”

He has starred in “The Rocky Horror Show,” “The Woman in White,” “Cats.”

Crowe has performed in various musical, dramatic and dance related productions including “Cymbeline,” “Twelft Night,” “Oliver,” “Eureka,” “Sunday In the Park,” and has also appeared in many solo concerts with the Sydney Symphony.

Hannah has just completed the Australian tours of “Cats.”

Hobbs completed a Bachelor of Arts in Music in 2008. Last year, she toured Taiwan with “Jekyll & Clyde.”

Rennie created the role of Pepper at age 18 in the original Australian cast of “Mama Mia!” and most recently was seen as Munkustrap in the Australian and Asian tours of “Cats!”

Lunchbox Theatrical Productions headed by James Cundall, David Atkins Enterprises, All Youth Channels and Concertus, in association with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Really Useful Company Asia Pacific, brought to Manila “The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber.”

‘OMG’ supports walks against hunger

The United Nations World Food Program (UN-WFP) held its annual “Walk the World” event, making the Philippines one of 80 countries to participate in this cause. “Walk the World” is one of the major activities organized by UN-WFP in line with its target of halving the worldwide proportion of people suffering from hunger by 2015.

Representatives and youth volunteers from Oh My Gulay (OMG) actively supported this anti-hunger race. The OMG campaign likewise aims to combat “hidden hunger” (i.e. malnutrition) – particularly among underprivileged Filipino families and children – by encouraging them to develop vegetable plots in their schools and homes.

Apart from OMG, other partners and concerned agencies led by UN-WPF Ambassador KC Concepcion took part in waling the world to raise funds and to increase awareness about the fight against hunger and malnutrition.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings for Friday, June 24, go to Ruffa Gutierrez, John Lloyd Cruz, publisher Jonny Dayang, US-based writer Janet Susan Rodriguez, Christian Patrick Castillo, Lily Lim, Rica del Rosario, Kristine Fernandez, Cornelia R. Gomez, Abraham de Vera III, John James Vargas, Nina Theresa Bravo, Col. Juanito G. Lagasca, Palmolive Palma, Toronto-based Vic Austria, and Cecille Villareal… Happy wedding anniversary to Rep. Mickey Arroyo and wife Angela… Belated b-day greetings to Josemarie Lagana (June 9)…