Best Musical 2011 Nominees: MyFABE Theater Awards

I started watching local theater, seriously again this year.  I saw thirteen different plays and musicals this year and from those, I have come out with my own MyFABE Theater Awards for 2011. 

I have mulled over this list for the past 11 months and in my opinion, these are the five best musicals for 2011.

BEST MUSICAL

Care Divas

In the Heights

Next to Normal

Sweet Charity

Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah

The winner will be announced on December 31, 2011.

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Best Actress - Musical 2011 Nominees: MyFABE Theater Awards

I started watching local theater, seriously again this year.  I saw thirteen different plays and musicals this year and from those, I have come out with my own MyFABE Theater Awards for 2011. 

I have mulled over this list for the past 11 months and in my opinion, these are the five best performances by an actress in a musical for 2011.

BEST ACTRESS MUSICAL

Ima Castro - Aida

Nikki Gil - Sweet Charity

Menchu Lauchengco - Next to Normal

K-la Rivera - In the Heights

Eula Valdez - Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah

The winner will be announced on December 31, 2011.

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Lin Manuel Miranda in Manila!

I saw the local version of In The Heights last year and we really did a fantastic version of the show, capturing the spirit of the immigrants trying to make their way in American society. I saw that the writer and the actor who played the lead in the original Broadway production was actually in Manila, and the video above shows that he was indeed, in the curtain call of the production last week. Would've been great to see him but oh well, wrong timing for me! Alabanza is my favorite song from that musical. In a way, it's some kind of prayer for me whenever I feel I need God's help!

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MyFABE Theater Awards: Nominees For Technical Categories

I started watching local theater, seriously again this year.  I saw thirteen different plays and musicals this year and from those, I have come out with my own MyFABE Theater Awards for 2011. 

I have mulled over this list for the past 11 months and in my opinion, these are the five best performances for each technical category -

BEST SONGBOOK

Care Divas

In the Heights

Next to Normal

Sweet Charity

Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah

BEST SCRIPT

Vincent de Jesus - Care Divas

Russell Legaspi - The Valley Mission Care

Joey Paras - Bawal Tumawid Nakamamatay

Floy Quintos - Fake

Pat Valera - Mga Lobo Tulad Ng Buwan

BEST LIGHTING

39 Steps

In the Heights

Mga Lobo Tulad Ng Buwan

Next to Normal

Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

39 Steps

Care Divas

Fake

Sweet Charity

Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

39 Steps

Fake

In the Heights

Mga Lobo Tulad Ng Buwan

Sweet Charity

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY

Care Divas

In the Heights

Sweet Charity

William

Zsa Zaturnnah

The winners will be announced on December 31, 2011.

Best Supporting Actress - Musical 2011 Nominees: MyFABE Theater Awards

I started watching local theater, seriously again this year.  I saw thirteen different plays and musicals this year and from those, I have come out with my own MyFABE Theater Awards for 2011. 

I have mulled over this list for the past 11 months and in my opinion, these are the five best performances by an actress in a supporting role in a musical for 2011.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS MUSICAL

Pinky Amador - Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah

Wilma Doesnt - Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah

Bea Garcia - Next to Normal

Jay Glorioso - In The Heights

Tex Ordonez - In The Heights

The winner will be announced on December 31, 2011.

Theatre Review: "In The Heights" Not So Farfetched from the Pinoy American Dream!

I didn't know that I would put my Spanish language skills into use while watching In the Heights - a Tony award winning play whose main characters are immigrants from the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. I think 20% of the musical was either sung or spoken in Spanish. Even the voice over during the break and before the show began, was in Spanish! "Descanso por quinze minutos!" "Que calor" "Amame, besame, llamame" - anyone with a basic working knowledge of Spanish would certainly appreciate the musical and now I know I can confidently interact with Latinos based in New York - although as the musical states - even Dominican and Puerto Rican Spanish have major differences! My friends who work in Spanish language call centers would know that best.

Anyhow, it was great to see Jackie Lou Blanco and Calvin Millado on stage again! They both did wonderful turns as a couple whose daughter was undergoing a personal crisis. Also, it was a welcome sight to see Nyoy Volante rap - and he can rap really well! He's a natural! So don't be fooled by all the acoustic music he has limited himself on doing. He can actually do much more than sing a forlorn love song! And he can act too - since he's actually played Usnavi, the lead character of the musical.

Felix Rivera and Ima Castro are wonderful and excellent as always. However, the revelation in the musical for me is the girl who played Nina and her name is K-La Rivera. It's the first time I've seen her in any of the local musicals and she's quite refreshing to watch - a pretty face with a damn pretty voice too!

My favorite sequences was the part where they dance the salsa and the merengue, what else! Nothing like energetic Latin dancing to celebrate life!