The Fantasticks by Repertory Philippines

I was planning to watch “The Fantasticks” by Repertory Philippines last Saturday. Unfortunately I was late and got sidetracked by the great Greenbelt sale. Plan to catch the show this saturday, will write more about my experience next week. In the meantime, below is a synopsis of the play taken from the website of Repertory Philippines.

	Synopsis
	The Fantasticks, the world’s longest-running musical, is a captivating and simple romantic comedy about a boy, a girl, two fathers and a wall. The audience uses its imagination to follow El Gallo as he creates a world of moonlight and magic, and then pain and disillusionment, until the boy and girl find their way back to one other.In a clever reverse of the Romeo and Juliet story, two fathers put up a wall between their houses to ensure that their children fall in love, because they know that children always do what their parents forbid. After the children do fall in love, they discover their fathers’ plot and they each go off and experience things in the world. They return to each other and the love they had, having learned from the world, bringing to life a funny and quite touching story of innocence, and of knowledge.

Attached is a link to give you a brief preview of the show (the link is a tribute to the show performed by Lamb’s Players Theater based in Coronado, California.)

Some quick details on the show:

Dates Showing: July 3 to July 26, 2009. 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays, 330pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

Venue: Onstage, 2/F Greenbelt 1, Ayala Center Makati City.

Ticket Prices: Orchestra Center P600, Orchestra Side P400, Balcony P300 (only Orchestra Center has reserved seating) You can buy tickets by calling Repertory Philippines at 887-0710 or through ticketworld.

See you at the show!

A Marriage Proposal at Our Spelling Bee Show!

I watched Spelling Bee during the first run and really enjoyed the play. Thus I decided to buy the July 4 8pm show and found myself laughing much harder this time around.

What made July 4, 2009 8pm show of Spelling Bee so special?

1. Three (3) celebrity guest spellers instead of the usual two (2). The soprano Anna Fegi, newscaster Mari Kaimo, and the crowd favorite Tessa Prieto Valdes.

2. Perfect day. Perfect weather. Very good crowd who laughed heartily at the witty jokes.

3. The special event for the night – a marriage proposal was done at our Spelling Bee show!

Finally the big secret is out!

It has been very challenging for me to suppress my excitement in sharing the marriage proposal plan for the July 4 8pm showing of Spelling Bee with friends and ticket buyers. I’m glad it pushed through and today we have one very happy couple.

Here’s how it happened.

I received an email from one of my ticket buyers one day asking if I can secure the exact seats they had when they watched Avenue Q because he plans to propose that night at the show. They first met watching Avenue Q and from there the romance blossomed. I gave them the exact seats and emailed Atlantis Productions if it was possible to incorporate the proposal to the show.  On the same day I got a reply from Atlantis, prayer answered, director Bobby Garcia said Y-E-S and agreed to the idea. Later on I found out Sherilyn wanted to be one of the spellers for the show, so I relayed this to Atlantis and the plan was hatched.

Below is a summarized transcript of what transpired during the proposal. You can also check out the video below.

On the night of the show, Sherilyn Sy, the last guest speller to leave the stage was called back up the stage after the curtain call.

Vice Principal Panch: “Apparently we just had a complaint from the school board that one of the spellers we eliminated spelled the word correctly. We’d like to rectify the situation, we’d like to call on stage now, Ms Sherilyn Sy.”

(clapping of hands from audience)

Rona Lisa Peretti: “…Also to make sure that everything is completely above board, we are getting up here a guest word announcer, his name is Mr. Charles McJilton. Mr. Charles McJilton are you here? Please come on up stage.”

(clapping of hands from audience)

Charles: “Did you read my name?”

Rona Lisa Peretti: “Yes of course, you’re the guest pronouncer.”

(Chip Tolentino hands over microphone to Charles McJilton)

Charles: The word is “MARRY”.

(There are some gasps from the audience.)

Charles: A year ago, in those seats… I’m so in love.

(Audience starts cheering and clapping)

Charles: “If you can’t spell the word I’ll give you a sentence. It is my great pleasure spending the rest of my life waking up to you…” “…I’ll be a happy happy man.”

(Audience continues to cheer. Charles gets something from his pants pocket)

Charles: “My father gave this ring to my mother twenty years ago, thirty years ago. I’d like you to pass it on to our children. Will you marry me?”

(After all the gasps, some people cried, after the question was popped everyone in the audience cheered loudly and clapped. Sherilyn stood speechless, overwhelmed by what’s happening. But you guessed it, the answer was…)

Sherilyn: “YES”

(Sealed with a kiss amidst the roaring cheer of the audience and standing ovation from the cast)

And that was how the show ended, happily ever after. People were smiling, laughing or crying (tears of joy) from the grand finale they just witnessed. The atmosphere was very light, celebratory, and joyful. After the show, my friends, family, and even my ticket buyers all commented on how much they enjoyed the show from the witty lines to the celebrity guest spellers we had. It was a fun saturday night. But to be part of that special wedding proposal moment made that night’s show simply unforgettable.

Thank you to all those who watched and supported the show last July 4, 2009! I hope you enjoyed the show as much as I did.

Thank you to Atlantis Productions for allowing the proposal to happen and for creatively incorporating it in the show!

Lastly, my warmest congratulations to Charles and Sherilyn!

Backstage with cast of Spelling Bee and the very happy couple

P.S. Backstage I was able to interview Sherilyn very quickly. Did she have any clue on the proposal? The answer was “no”. She was completely taken by surprise. It was truly a night to remember.

Spelling Bee Date Winners 2

Congratulations to:

FRANNYWANNY &    I’M A NARNIAN

the 2 lucky winners of 1 Orchestra side seat each for “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee!”

You can claim your ticket at the ticketbooth before the event. Doors open at 7:30pm so come early!

A big thank you to everyone who linked back to my site!

Spelling Bee Manila Teasers

Found some videos in youtube to give everyone a preview of what to expect in Spelling Bee Manila this coming 4th of July, 2009 (Saturday) 8pm show.

No two shows are alike as each show features different celebrity and guest spellers. The jokes change and this makes Spelling Bee Manila such a hilarious play to watch.

The posts below feature the following:

• Youtube link 1 – Guest Speller: Jett Pangan
• Youtube link 2 – Guest Speller: Lea Salonga
• Youtube link 3 – Meet the Cast of Spelling Bee Manila

Enjoy watching!

If interested buy your tickets now at www.spellingbeemanila.weebly.com

Win Tickets for a Spelling Bee Date 2! (CLOSED)

With the encouraging comments received from the first promo, I’m giving everyone more chances of winning tickets for the Spelling Bee show.

(see review of “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” here)

For this promo, there will be two winners of one (1) Orchestra side seat each for the Spelling Bee show on July 4, 2009 8pm. (whichever is your preference based on seat availability)

Here are the guidelines:

1. Write about the contest in your blog / social networking sites.
   
2. Make sure to link your post to the blog website www.spotlightmanila.wordpress.com
3. Each working link corresponds to one raffle entry. So the more links you post, the more chances of winning!
4. Leave a comment informing me of your post.
5. Buy your tickets now to still get good seats! Should you win, I’ll just refund the amount of one ticket.

Note:

1. Contest ends on July 3, 2009 6pm. Winners will be announced on July 3, 2009 11:59pm. (Manila time for both)

2. Two lucky winners will be drawn randomly from the people who will be able to join this promo. Except for the previous winner, links from the comments section of “Win Tickets for a Spelling Bee Date 1″ are included in this promo.

3. Winners can claim their tickets on July 4, 2009 730pm at Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium RCBC Plaza, Makati.

Spelling Bee Date Winner 1!

Thank you to all for joining this raffle.

Everyone who was able to post their links on the comments section were included in the draw.

I wrote everyone’s names on strips of paper, folded them, mixed them up and left everything to fate.

And fate decided…

The lucky winner for the two Orchestra Center tickets for 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee show on the 4th of July, 2009 8pm at Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati is…

FRED!!!

Fred // June 26, 2009 at 12:26 am | Reply (edit)

I posted about your promo here:

http://3xhcch.multiply.com/links/item/17/17

Congratulations Fred! You can claim your prize before the show on the night itself.  Gates open at 730pm.  See you!

To everyone who posted, thanks again for your comments. Don’t worry you’re automatically included in the next promotion.

Given the positive response from the contest, I will be giving away more tickets!

Watch out for “Win Tickets for a Spelling Bee Date 2!”

What are People Saying About Spelling Bee?

June 30, 2009 by eatlaughdiscover

Excepts from reviews:

This “Spelling Bee” does scale stylish comic heights with its improvised spiels introducing guest star spellers.
The lovely Agot Isidro, for instance, came onstage clad in fearsome stilettos. Whereupon Azanza-Dy announced: “Ms Isidro believes in the saying ‘The higher the heels, the better the speller.’”
The venerable actor-director Leo Rialp, for his part, was asked to spell elderly. When he gamely requested its use in a sentence, the reliably funny Trinidad tossed out this helpful tidbit: “The gentleman thought that by wearing jeans and stripes, he wouldn’t look elderly. He was wrong.”
Rialp was dressed in jeans and stripes. He got the word right, to cheers from the crowd.
By Gibbs Cadiz, Philippine Daily Inquirer

“I’m listening to the original broadway’s soundtrack for Spelling Bee and I must say that the Manila cast sounds waaaaaaaay better!!! …Will I go for the second run even after watching it twice already? YOU BET!!!”
by: GravityRulz

Anyadiva: “our celeb guests were christian bautista, isabella gonzalez and gina alajar! bongga, diba? sino sa inyo?”
Domileo: “geneva cruz and wency cornejo.. yung pina-spell kay geneva was PARADISE. then when she asked for a definition, HEAVEN daw! haha.. then when she asked for a sentence: Paradise, help me make a stand. Paradise, take me by the hand. Bwahaha”Bwahaha”
Comment by domileo

“I saw it last sunday; and it was sooo funny …They were hilarious, the jokes were spot on, and the adults trying to act like adolescent spelling nerds were really cool. There was a lot of audience interaction too. It actually started with the lady in the show greeting the audience as if we were actually watching a spelling bee. Also, in each show they put on, there’s a promised celebrity speller. We had Chiz Escudero – a politician running for the Philippine presidency. They actually introduced him as a kid vying for the role of student council president haha, so that was really clever. (If he does win…. it would be awesome to say we saw him dance and misspell in front of a live audience )”
by: cotang

Got to watch Spelling Bee’s preview show last night (March 18), and I SO LOVE IT! Casting was excellent, the humor was rollicking good, and I actually felt tense while the contestants were doing their spelling, hahaha. And Rajo, don’t bother bringing your dictionary with you. Just go with the flow, concentrate, and have fun fun fun!!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Rezzac’s comment on Rajo Laurel’s Blog

Watch the 8pm show on the 4th of  July 2009, RCBC Theater, Makati City.  Text 0920.928.7573 for ticket reservations. Visit Spelling Bee Manila for seat plan and details.

Win Tickets for a Spelling Bee Date 1! (CLOSED)

To celebrate the opening of my new blog, I’m giving away two (2) orchestra center tickets to one lucky winner for the Spelling Bee show on July 4, 2009 8pm.

(see review of “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” here)

Here are the guidelines:

1. Write about the contest in your blog.
2. Make sure to link your post to the blog website www.spotlightmanila.wordpress.com
3. Leave a comment informing me of your post.
4. Wait until June 30, 2009 11:59pm where I will announce the lucky winner of those two tickets.

Note:

1. Contest ends on June 30, 2009 6pm. Winners will be announced on June 30, 2009 11:59pm. (Manila time for both)

2. One lucky winner will be drawn randomly from the list of people who were able to post the links to their blogs.

3. Buy your tickets now to still get good seats! Should you win, I’ll just refund the money paid + upgrade you to orchestra center if loge/balcony tickets are bought.

4. Winner can claim their tickets on July 4, 2009 730pm at Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium RCBC Plaza, Makati.

25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee: Is this for you?

There is a re-run of the hilarious 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee this July 4, 2009 8pm at Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Salcedo Village, Makati.  Got to watch this musicale during it’s first run last March and kept laughing. It is basically about a spelling bee show with hilarious flashbacks from six adolescent overachievers vying for the achievement of a lifetime – The Spelling Bee championship.  The lines are very witty and the Philippine cast is really good; so good that they’ll be performing in Singapore after the re-run in the Philippines.  Watch out for different celebrity guest spellers for each show. Past celebrity spellers have featured Lea Salonga, Rachel Alejandro, Aiza Seguerra among others.

Who is this show for:

1. Stressed out workforce who just want to have a good laugh after a stressful week.
2. Parents who are trying to understand their children more.
3. Child at heart or those who want to reminisce on their good old school days.
4. Guys looking for a good date idea, conversation starter.
5. People who appreciate witty humor over slapstick comedy.
6. Pinoys who were never able to see a live spelling bee competition.
7. Those who want to try their luck at a live spelling bee competition.
8. Celebrity lovers who get excited seeing a celebrity in public. This time get to see them try their skill at a live spelling bee competition.
9. Friends who want to do something different on a saturday night.
10. Play enthusiasts looking for a good play or wondering how to reconcile a musicale production with a spelling bee competition.

Bottomline:  A good show you shouldn’t miss. Good shows like these are hard to come by

For more info on the show or to buy tickets, visit www.spellingbeemanila.weebly.com

Enjoy the show!