The Nicole Kidman starrer “Moulin Rouge” presented to the public a musical made up of modern pop songs not expected to go in sync with its visual extravagance. Yet songs such as “Like A Virgin,” “Your Song” and “Roxanne” appearing in the film also featuring Ewan McGregor and Jim Broadbent made it appealing like never before.

That same strength is bound to be felt in a local stage musical presentation called “Believe, The Pop Musical.” The show, with an original script and delightfully unpredictable mix of thespians-singers as cast, is happening today, Oct. 6, 8 p.m. at the Music Museum in San Juan.

Described as a show mixing the drama of theatre and energy of a musical concert, “Believe,” being an inspiring tale about the power of love, already had its successful staging last July in Cebu, prompting its producers to bring the act in Manila.

“Maybe we can say this is an indie version of ‘Moulin Rouge,’” says the smiling faced Isabella who is one of the featured performers along with Filipino-by-heart Keith Martin, Guji Lorenzana, Radha, among others.

The musical play offers these actors portray characters who are facing challenging and universal issues like mortality, identity, and self-esteem. A “spirit” comes in whimsical guises, touching people and situations in the hope of love’s triumph over fear.

Some of the familiar pop radio hits differently arranged and included among the play’s repertoire are Evanesence’s “Bring Me To Life,” Boyzone’s “No Matter What,” Michael Jackson’s “She’s Out Of My Life” and Martin’s famous hit “Because of You.”

During its recent media launch, Martin did a nice number with Cebu pride Benjie Layos, the pop musical’s lead character, and Marq Dollentes, co-director of the project. Isabella engagingly performed the theme song of the show while Lorenzana sang his rendition of Daughtry’s “Home.”

“We’re doing this not to preach. But to enlighten people in an entertaining way,” imparts Layos who shares Cebuano roots with another one from the cast – Mae Ann Araneta.

A production of One World of Music and Light and presented by the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology, “Believe” has deep connection with its non-performing director Bill Ramos who is obviously so into it. Having revealed that his production team did make revisions to even polish more the script and sequences for the Music Museum staging, he shares, “I want the audience to find themselves their own meaning of believing.”

Ramos also mentioned the thing about the production getting the breaks and seeing everything fall into place to make “Believe” possible, from script to casting to the performances. He and his actors agree on a positive note that the timing to stage such a pop musical is perfect considering the negativity hovering the present social scenario like political turmoil, shocking deaths of influentially admired people, and the recent typhoon onslaught that shattered so many.