Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo: Making the Local Theatre Experience More Exciting

with Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo

Mama with Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo

I actually sat near her last Saturday during the last show of 9Works Theatrical's You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown.  I first saw Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo in Next to Normal last year, when I decided to experience local theater again, and just like thousands who saw her performance, we all came away from the theater holding our hankies - and of course, marveling at her exemplary performance!

I have learned since then that she has been the current guiding for for our local Repertory Company and I'm happy to say that the last three Repertory shows I've seen - 39 Steps, Next Fall and Leading Ladies, have been some of the best theater experiences I've had this past year!  I am actually excited and really looking forward to their current season.  I will be watching Jeckyll and Hyde two weeks from now.  The book is one of my all-time favorites, so I'm really curious how it turns out as a musical.  Well, under Menchu's careful guidance, I'm sure it's going to be another very entertaining show!

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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 Director - 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 directors of a musical in 2011.

BEST DIRECTOR (MUSICAL)

Bobby Garcia - Next to Normal

Robbie Guevarra - Sweet Charity

Maribel Legarda - Care Divas

Maribel Legarda - William

Chris Millado - 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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1st MyFABE Theater Awards: Best Actress in a Musical

Not only did they have to act, they had to sing as well!  These five fine singing actresses are nominated for Best Actress in a Musical.  Ima Castro was a veritable tour-de-force in Aida.  Nikki Gil was quirky and sugary in Sweet Charity.  Menchu Lauchengco was heart-wrenching in Next to Normal.  K-la Rivera was a breath of fresh air in In the Heights while Eula Valdez was a wonder woman in Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah.

BEST ACTRESS MUSICAL

Ima Castro - Aida

Nikki Gil - Sweet Charity

Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo - Next to Normal

K-la Rivera - In the Heights

Eula Valdez - Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah

And the award for Best Actress in a Play goes to...........Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo in Next to Normal!

Moi avec Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo apres le presentacion!

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 Actor - 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 actor in a supporting role in a musical for 2011.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR MUSICAL

Ricci Chan - Care Divas

Miguel Hidalgo - Care Divas

Gabe Mercado - Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah

Felix Rivera - Next to Normal

Josh Santana - Aida

The winner 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.

Best Actor - 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 actor in a musical in 2011.

BEST ACTOR (MUSICAL)

Vincent de Jesus - Care Divas

Melvin Lee - Care Divas

John Moran - William

Jett Pangan - Next to Normal

Myke Salomon - Aida

The winner will be announced on December 31, 2011.

Theatre Review: Grief Cuts You Like A Knife in 'Next to Normal'

Well, I think this will be the last Atlantis Production I'll be watching this year. I'm not so sure about catching Little Mermaid since I'm not really into "kids material" although I love the songs of that movie.

Anyhow, it's not easy to watch Next to Normal, since it deals with death and grief and a woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown! However, the cast led by Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo makes the grief so palpable, you'd hear sniffles around you especially in the last few dramatic scenes! Menchu, in my opinion, has given the best performance by an actress among all the musicals I've seen this year. Everyone in the cast was great! I didn't know The Dawn's Jett Pangan could act! Well, his singing was clear and full of emotion! The daughter, played by Bea Garcia is cute as a button and she did fine as well! My favorite theater actor, Felix Rivera is on top of his game here, as he always is, and since I was near the stage, I could really hear how nice and high his voice was since he did a lot of second voice and high notes! It was so beautiful to hear! Well, easily the cutest among an already goodlooking cast is Markki Stroem, and it didn't show that he was a neophyte in theater acting amidst a very talented cast! He could act and sing at the same time! I don't know why they don't give him more projects on that channel!

Anyhow, except for Jett Pangan, I got pictures again with the very affable cast! Aside from PETA, the Atlantis Production cast are the most approachable among the theater groups in the city. Well, include the Dulaang CCP also in that list! They were also quite kwela! It just makes theater watching more interesting since you get to interact with the cast just right after the play

Theatre Review: Atlantis' Production's Next to Normal is Gut-Wrenching and Superbly Performed

The themes of the musical Next to Normal are quite dark and depressing and frankly, it is a subject which is a bit alien to me right now - although, I was also there in that place about twenty years ago - so watching it was a bit difficult. 

However, the performances were all superb and topnotch, I could even daresay that we are much better than the ones who originated the roles (but don't tell the Broadway producers!)  Jett Pangan and his voice is a true gift from God!  (I am not worthy, I am not worthy!!)  I was in the front seat and I could see how he sings very effortlessly and he acts along with it too.  He has a poignant scene in the very end (with the equally fabulous Felix Rivera) and this is the first time that two men in a scene - almost made me cry!! I was just really holding back because I was in front and I was too embarrassed but a lone tear did roll down my right eye!  It's a very emotional scene because the transition from focusing on Menchu Lauchengco's character to Jett's was too drastic and sudden for me and that scene was really moving!

Menchu does most of the emotional scenes here so I think she should be very tired after every performance.  She didn't hold back today.  She's such a joy to watch since you can see the emotions etched on her own face as she's trying to grapple with the maelstrom of feelings that someone coping with depression feels.

Bea Garcia is cute and she has a wonderful voice.  She plays Natalie, the daughter, trying to cope with her Mom's depression.  She's definitely one of the best young actresses in theater that I've seen lately.  And she can act too!

I did review Felix's performance in my other blog - and so with Markki!  Just go to fabe-lous.blogspot.com.

Well, we all have been to a dark place at least at one point in our lives.  What we see in this musical are people coping with a loss so tragic, we wouldn't want to wish it on our enemies.  It does end positively though - for what is life without hope to extinguish the darkness!