Broadway's 'Godspell'
is heaven-sent for its cast
Article by Mark Kennedy,
Associated Press Drama Writer
Nov. 5, 2011
One was waiting tables at
a Times Square seafood restaurant. Another was in Disney films and on tour
with the Jonas Brothers. A third had performed at Carnegie Hall, but wondered
when she'd land theater's biggest prize.
All three George Salazar,
Anna Maria Perez de Tagle and Celisse Henderson are overjoyed to be
making their Broadway debuts this month in a revival of Stephen Schwartz's
"Godspell."
"For me, it's a dream come
true," says Perez de Tagle while the others nod.
The trio is part of a 10-person
cast that stars Hunter Parish, whose credits include
Showtime's "Weeds" and Broadway's "Spring Awakening,"
as Jesus but also has plenty of young performers making their first foray
onto a Broadway stage. The hip musical retelling of the New Testament's Gospel
of Matthew opens Monday at the Circle in the Square Theatre.
The Tony-nominated score features
the songs "Day by Day,""Turn Back, O Man,""Prepare Ye the Way" and "Light
of the World" and the story updated with modern jokes, including
references to Kanye West and Occupy Wall Street hits an infectious,
hopeful tone.
"Godspell," which was an
off-Broadway and Broadway smash in the 1970s and was made into a film in
1973, has been a mainstay of church groups, high schools and colleges ever
since. Performers such as Jeremy Irons, Zach Braff, Gilda Radner, Madonna,
Queen Latifah, Alice Ripley and Jon Hamm were in productions as young people.
In an interview deep below
the theater, Salazar, Perez de Tagle and Henderson laugh and joke as they
describe how they each took very different paths to end up singing and dancing
together.
"One
of the most beautiful things about being in this group is that everyone involved
is so unbelievable grateful to be here, for one reason or another," says
Salazar, 25.
The three are also soaking
up media attention: They've been on "Late Show With David Letterman,"
photographed for Vanity Fair and were transformed into cartoons for a recent
Broadway-themed episode of "South Park."
Salazar, who hails from Kissimmee,
Fla., was serving drinks and dinner at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. in Times
Square when he got a call this summer about the "Godspell" auditions. No
problem, he thought: He had been in the second national tour of "Spring
Awakening" and had stored up a few go-to songs.
But there was a catch. His
manager said producers of the musical were also asking performers to prepare
their own improvised take on a Bible parable. And Salazar had little time
to prepare his audition was the next day.
"Here I am with shrimp on
trays and drinks in my hands, and I'm going, `When am I going to do this?'"
he recalls.
Three months and five auditions
later including a nerve-racking one in front of Schwartz, who also
composed the music and wrote the lyrics for "Wicked" Salazar learned
he had landed a role when his phone rang.
"I lost it. I was a sweaty,
crying mess in the hallway on the ground. It was a moment I will never forget,"
he says. In honor of that moment, Salazar says he'll be wearing special Nikes
on opening night featuring the number "08-26" Aug. 26 the day
he was cast.
Perez de Tagle, the baby of
the group at just 20, was flying into New York for a promotional event from
her home in Los Angeles when her manager suggested she go to the "Godspell"
audition.
Video: Anna Maria Perez
de Tagle leads the Godspell cast in "Day by Day" followed by Fil-Am actor
George Salazar, leading "Light of the World" on the David Letterman Show
on CBS TV, Nov. 1, 2011
She had begun her career on
stage in regional productions of "Cinderella,""The Wiz" and "The King and
I" and lately had appeared on the Disney Channel's series "Hannah Montana,"
and in such films as "Fame" and "Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam." Last year,
she toured with the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato.
But her heart was on stage,
even if she wasn't familiar then with "Godspell.". Multiple callbacks
included flights back and forth from Los Angeles made that dream possible
and now she has happily moved to New York and started a new life.
"This whole journey, with
these amazing people, is honestly the best thing that ever happened," she
says, her voice cracking with emotion. "I'm different now. And it's all because
of them."
Henderson's route has been
the longest and most tortured. She was one of three actors in an earlier
production of "Godspell" performed at New Jersey's Paper Mill Playhouse in
2006. It was to make the jump to Broadway two years later, but the economic
crash made that impossible.
A native of Oakland, Calif.,
27-year-old Henderson has amassed varied credits: She was seen off-Broadway
in "In Transit"; had a recurring role on "The Electric Company"; was in a
national touring company of "Wicked"; and released her debut album "Show
and Tell" last year. But Broadway was elusive. Until now.
"It's sort of come in a beautiful
time in my life. I've been working in the business since I was 17," she says.
"Now it's become the best thing that's ever happened to me."
The three stress how fun and
close the cast has become, a feeling perfectly in tune with a musical that
is about 10 people who are reclaiming their joy. "It's not like work for
us. It's playing," says Perez de Tagle. "It's just so much fun."
"There are no egos, there
are no personality clashes. Everyone works so well together and we have so
much fun," adds Salazar. "We hope that there's a real long healthy run because,
I don't want to stop working here."
LOS
ANGELES Darren Criss did not disappoint the press. He was charming,
eloquent, smart and funny when we finally caught up with him at the Four
Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles.
It was his first time to meet
the Hollywood Foreign Press Association members and Darren immediately teased,
Did we all do our homework? Shall I pass on a quiz or something?
What Darren was probably not
expecting was the day turning out into a Filipino Day as we asked
Philippine-related questions to the half-Filipino, half-Irish Glee
star who plays Blaine Anderson in the award-winning TV musical. His mother
is from Cebu and his father has Irish ancestry.
We asked this San Francisco-born
actor what were some of the things that struck him the most the first time
he went to the Philippines. I have been to the Philippines a few times
and obviously, I think growing up in a western environment and going to a
Third World country there are some obvious differences that will strike any
person from the United States, he said. But I have family there
so it is never where you are, it is who you are with. So being with my family
tends to lean you toward the side where you are enjoying yourself.
I love the Philippines.
It is a very warm and inviting place. I think Filipinos are somewhat infamously
embracive of other people with Filipino blood so I sort of am lucky in that
sense. But I always enjoy myself. It is good to see family and obviously
going back there now is a different story. It is strange to go to any country.
It is strange to walk around the United States having this kind of magnifying
glass on me at all. It is very strange but once again, it could be worse
because it could be for something that I was not proud of. God forbid that
I was involved in a project that I did not like, a character that I did not
like, or a story I disagreed with. It is something that I think is actually
quite lovely and I am happy to speak about it. If there is some kind of
magnifying glass, thank God it is Glee and not something that
I dislike. So, the Philippines is a lovely place and I am very proud to say
that I have some heritage there. It is pretty cool. Not a bad place to visit
too. Its beautiful.
As for his favorite Filipino
stars, the talented 24-year-old replied, I dont know. It is a
bizarre culture because in many countries like the Philippines, Thailand
and South Korea, there are many places that have these sub-cultures of huge
pop culture there that just growing up in the United States you never hear
about so I am not like twisting my mustache or avoiding the pop culture there.
That is just the way it goes so I really could not name a whole lot of people.
There are people who
have crossed over to the United States obviously, Charice and the fact that
she was on Glee I was well aware of. And of course, one of my
favorites, Miss Lea Salonga. If you are half a Broadway fan we know her body
of work and we have recently become friends which is nuts to me but she is
a lovely woman and a prime example of sort of breakthrough Filipino talent
that I think kind of transcends the pond between us. And yeah, sure, I will
say Lea because I am sure she will hear this at one point.
When our German colleague
teased that he had a German question, not a Filipino question, Darren wittily
replied, No, I was just going to say, it is actually quite appropriate
because most of my family is like the United Nations because my family is
in the Philippines and everybody moves out from the Philippines to many other
countries so my family in the Philippines is actually a Bavarian. They are
all from Munich. They live in Manila but it is a German-Filipino like. I
am just telling you my whole family is all over the place. There is not a
country here that I dont have family in or that I have been to.
Even in Africa, our colleague
from South Africa, kiddingly asked.
Yes I will marry into
Africa, Darren gamely replied.
Life outside
Glee
Darren will be seen next January
taking over the Broadway role of Daniel Radcliffe as J. Pierrepont Finch
in the revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
as well as appearing in the romantic comedy, Imogene, with no
less than Annette Bening, Matt Dillon and Kristen Wiig as Imogene.
Of his Broadway debut, Darren
said, Well, I grew up as a theatre fan and was inadvertently been preparing
for something like this my whole life, whether or not I knew I was going
to do the show. Its a show I am very familiar with. I have always been
a Frank Loesser fan and I never thought in a million years I would ever do
the show, much less on Broadway. But I have been preparing myself in a sort
of fantasy way.
When you talk to yourself
in the mirror and think of what you are going to do one day, so I did not
know what happened but here we are and I am just familiarizing myself with
music and obviously. I am doing quite a bit of homework for a three-week
run. You have to hit the ground sprinting so thats kind of all on me.
For all intents and purposes, I am sure I could dally about until rehearsal
in December. But then, it wouldnt really be worth anyones while
so my preparation is mainly just being as completely familiar with every
facet of the show before I even step foot into rehearsal.
As for doing
Imogene, Darren exclaimed, I dreamed of pursuing music
and acting in some way, shape or form but never in my wildest dreams would
I have thought that it would have fallen into as perfect a place as
Glee. So for me, I grew up wanting to do great indie films with
great people, people that I admired and really just would love to surround
myself with. So Imogene was a prime example of that where I was
like, this is just unbelievable when I found myself sitting in a room with
Matt Dillon, the venerable Annette Bening and Kristen Wiig!
Formerly a Manila journalist,
Los Angeles-based Janet Susan R. Nepales is a member of the Hollywood Foreign
Press Association.
E-mail the writer at
jrnepales_624@yahoo.com for your comments or questions.
Los Angeles, CA (September 21, 2011) - In the pilot episode of the
newest American talent search "X-Factor" which debuted on the Fox Network
on September 21st, a 14-year old singer by the name of Ellona Santiago rocked
the audience and wowed the judges resulting in unanimous and resounding "yes"
votes from judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, Antonio "L.A." Reid and Nicole
Scherzinger (Fil-Am lead singer of the PussyCat Dolls). Many asked, wondered,
is she Filipino? Well, as a matter of fact, she is!
Watch video: Ellona Santiago
Audition on "X-Factor USA")
Two years ago, after the
Philippines was hit by successive mega-typhoons "Ondoy" and "Pepeng," then
12-year old Ellona volunteered her services and joined 40 other California-based
performers in the benefit concert "Handog Sa Bayan" to help raise funds for
the typhoon victims. The 4-hour concert, broadcast via live streaming on
the internet, was spearheaded by Jet Montelibano of Creative Concepts
International which featured, among others, Filipino artists including Florante,
Mon David, Bernardo Bernardo, Louie Reyes, Fe de los Reyes, Joni Feliciano,
Djhoanna Garcia, Pinky de Leon, Michael de Mesa, Patricia Javier, musicians
Tateng Katindig and Ner de Leon, and non-Filipino Kevyn Lettau, popular American
jazz singer and former lead vocalist of Sergio Mendez.
Hands down, at "Handog Sa
Bayan," Ellona blew the audience away with her mega-powerful rendition of
"The Power of One," (a dramatic ballad originally performed by Donna Summer
as theme song of the film "Pokemon: The Movie 2000.") No question about it.
It was unanimous. This little girl with the big voice definitely has what
it takes to make it. She will be going places. It was just a matter of time.
In X-Factor USA, she still
has a long way to go with so many more hurdles to overcome. But having made
it through the first round, and with flying colors at that, is already a
major feat in itself. More importantly, win or lose, her marked appearance
and well-applauded performance in the competition is only the beginning of
countless opportunities that will open many more doors for this awe-inspiring
bundle of talent that seems poised to make waves on the global front.
About X-Factor USA
(from www.thexfactorusa.com)
Since its debut in 2004, The
X Factor has remained the U.K.'s #1 program for the
last seven years, peaking with an audience of 21
million for its 2010 finale. The format swiftly broke similar records around
the world, where local versions have consistently rated #1. The series has
received numerous honors worldwide, and more than 100 million records have
been sold by artists launched through the series, including over 90 #1 singles
and albums and 150 Top Ten records.
In a departure from other
singing competition series, the first time contestants audition for the x
factor judges, Simon Cowell, Antonio "L.A." Reid, Paula Abdul and Nicole
Scherzinger, they will do so in front of an audience of thousands - raising
the stakes and increasing the pressure to impress not only the judges, but
also a potential legion of fans. This will be the ultimate test to prove
they have the vocal ability, charisma and stage presence that it takes to
win an unprecedented $5 million recording contract with Syco/Sony Music.
About the Judges of X-Factor
USA
Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell has worked with
artists selling more than 200 million albums and delivering more than 180
No. 1 records. Britains Got Talent in 2009 launched the global singing
career of Susan Boyle. Her debut album sold over 8 million units in six weeks,
making it the worlds biggest-selling album of 2009 and the fastest-selling
album in history and a total of 20 million records to date. In 2009, Cowell
was named No. 1 in Hollywood Reporters Top 50 Most Powerful in Reality
TV and Entertainment Weeklys Top Entertainer of the Year. In 2010 Simon
Cowell was awarded Variety Internationals Humanitarian Award for his
extensive charitable work, The Rose dOr Golden Jubilee Award and
BAFTAs Special Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution
to the entertainment industry and development of new talent. He also appeared
on Time Magazines list of Most Influential People in the World and
was awarded the International Emmy Founders Award. Syco, with offices in
London and Los Angeles, is a global music, television and film production
joint venture between Simon Cowell and Sony Music Entertainment. Syco Television
owns and produces the BAFTA Award-winning THE X FACTOR, which has topped
the charts around the world.
Paula Abdul
Paula Abdul is one of the
most-recognized pop singers and choreographers in film, television, video,
stage and live tours. Her celebrated work in choreography includes Emmy-winning
contributions to The Tracey Ullman Show and Emmy-nominated
choreography for the Academy Awards, as well as Abduls own performance
on The American Music Awards. Other triumphs include her
award-winning work with Janet Jackson, which garnered two MTV Video Awards;
and working with such music legends as Aretha Franklin, George Michael, Luther
Vandross, INXS, Heart and Prince. Abduls favorite memory is dancing
alongside her idol, Gene Kelly, in a celebrated and acclaimed commercial
campaign. Abduls choreography contributions in feature films include
the Academy Award-winning American Beauty, working with Cuba
Gooding Jr. on his Academy Award-winning performance in Jerry
Maguire and transforming Val Kilmer into Jim Morrison in Oliver
Stones The Doors. Abduls music career encompasses
worldwide album sales exceeding 50 million records, two No. 1 albums, six
No. 1 singles, a Grammy Award, seven MTV Awards, two Emmy Awards, two
Peoples Choice Awards and two Kids Choice Awards. She has also
been honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and inducted into
Nickelodeons Kids Choice Hall of Fame. Abdul served as a judge
alongside Simon Cowell for eight seasons on the hit series AMERICAN IDOL.
Nicole Scherzinger
Nicole Scherzinger was born
to a Filipino father and a Hawaiian/Russian mother in Honolulu, Hawaii, and
grew up in Louisville, KY. She is former lead singer of The Pussycat Dolls
when asked to join the group after appearing on the TV show
Popstars as part of the group Edens Crush. The groups
debut album, PCD, went double-platinum in America, sold over
9 million copies worldwide and featured the hit songs Dont
Cha, Buttons and Stickwitu. Following the success
of PCD, Scherzinger recorded a series of duets and guest vocal
appearances with P. Diddy, 50 Cent, Timbaland and Vittorio. The second Pussycat
Dolls album Doll Domination, has sold over 5 million copies to
date and contains the hits When I Grow Up and I Hate This
Part. In 2009, Scherzinger wrote and recorded an adaptation of A.R.
Rahmans Jai Ho (from the film Slumdog
Millionaire), which went to No. 1 in 17 countries. Recently, Scherzinger
won the 10th season of Dancing with the Stars and starred in
Rent at the Hollywood Bowl. Scherzinger is scheduled to release
her debut album Killer Love. The first single Right
There (featuring 50 Cent) is available digitally on May 17th, in advance
of the album release this summer.
L.A. Reid
Antonio "L.A." Reid, former
Chairman of Island Def Jam Music Group and one of the most influential names
in music today, will join Simon Cowell on the judging panel of THE X FACTOR,
the highly anticipated singing competition series debuting this fall on FOX.
Throughout his career, Reid has launched some of the biggest acts in music,
including Jay-Z, Mariah Carey, Justin Bieber, Kanye West, The Killers, Bon
Jovi, Pink, Usher, Jennifer Lopez and Rihanna. With a diverse roster of talent,
33 No. 1 hits and three Grammy Awards, Reid is one of the industry's most
respected and successful executives, as well as one of the most talented,
creative and formidable forces in music.
MANILA, Philippines
Filipino-Canadian singer Maria Aragon finally hit the stage with Lady Gaga
during the latters sold-out concert at the Air Canada Centre on March
3 (US time).
The 10-year-old YouTube star
and her idol performed an acoustic piano number of the latters latest
hit, Born This Way, quite similar to Marias toned-down
version of the song which was uploaded on YouTube two weeks ago.
With Maria sitting on Gagas
lap, the youngster did the lead vocals, reported the Canadian Press.
Although she donned a simple
outfit---leather jacket, black sparkling pants, and a white hat---the orange
monkey stuffed toy hung around her neck was seemingly reminiscent of Gagas
peculiar fashion taste.
According to tweets, Lady
Gaga baptized Maria with Lady Maria From Winnipeg.
Her family, including her
parents Veni and Menchie Aragon, as well as her brother J.V. and sister Rojuane
were reportedly in the audience to watch Marias ultimate
performance.
Maria came on board the concert
after Gaga personally invited her for a duet during their phone chat in a
Winnipeg radio show last Feb. 18.
From a normal Grade 5 student
at the Isaac Brock School in Winnipeg, Maria is now regarded as the Little
Lady Gaga following the avant-garde artists fateful tweet of
the link of Marias Born This Way" cover last Feb. 17. The video,
which was uploaded Feb. 16, has now registered over 17 million views.
Seemingly striking while the
iron is hot, various media organizations have invited the YouTube sensation
for interviews and performances on their shows. Some of her notable appearances
include Ellen DeGeneres talk show Ellen and ABCs
Good Morning America.
Her sister Rojuane, who has
uploaded 70 other videos on YouTube, filmed Marias performance of
Born This Way. In her interview with Torontos The Star,
Rojuane recalled that it only took three days for her little sibling to learn
and perform her cover on keyboard.
Monday, Maria started
to learn the song; Tuesday, she practiced; Wednesday, after school, I filmed
it, she said.
The same The Star report stated
that the Aragon family migrated from the Philippines 14 years ago. Maria
is the youngest among Veni and Menchies four children.
Lady Gaga wants to
have a duet with Fil-Canadian Maria Aragon
By ROWENA JOY A. SANCHEZ
February 21, 2011
MANILA,
Philippines - Latest YouTube wonder Maria Aragon might not just meet pop
singer Lady Gaga soon---she might even perform a duet with her idol.
The invitation came from Lady
Gaga no less, who surprised the 10-year-old Filipino-Canadian promising star
with a phone call during the latters interview on Winnipeg radio station
Hot 103 last Feb. 18, upon learning that Maria will be flown to Toronto (by
Virgin Radio) in March to watch her show there.
Oh maybe you're just
gonna have to come onstage with me and sing that song. What do you think?
Gaga asked Maria, referring to her cover of Born This Way, which
now reached more than 7.8 million views since it was uploaded on YouTube
on Feb. 16.
Lady Gaga herself saw
Marias video, and was deeply touched by her rendition that she took
to Twitter on Feb. 17 to declare the child sensation as the future
along with the link of her performance, thus catapulting Maria into instant
stardom.
Maria excitedly accepted
Gagas offer, saying, with tears in her eyes, "That would be really
cool!"
Prior to this, Lady Gaga exchanged
hellos with Maria, who was stunned hearing the singer-songwriters
voice. "Hello my gorgeous Maria who is so beautiful and so famous all over
YouTube," she said sweetly.
Gaga was apparently struck
not only by Maria's beautiful voice and being joyful to
watch. The hit singer-songwriter revealed that she watched the YouTube
clip---sent to her by her friend, celebrity blogger Perez Hilton---when she
had a bad day.
Every once in a while,
whether people believe it or not, I have a very bad day. And I was not having
such a good day... and when Perez sent me the video of you singing 'Born
This Way,' I was so overjoyed that I began to cry. I was so happy,
she related while Maria listened, teary-eyed.
Gaga was also grateful to
Maria for reminding her of her musics purpose.
This industry is very
difficult to women sometimes and they want to tear us down and tear us apart.
And I worked on Born this Way' for so long and I knew that the world
would rip it to shreds when it came out.
But when I saw you,
so young and so beautiful, singing those words so purely, it reminded me
of why I wrote the song in the first place and it reminded me why I make
music. So thank you so much for making my day better and thank you so much
for reminding me of why Im so passionate about what I do. And never
give up on your dreams Maria," said Gaga.
Apparently star-struck, Maria
only managed to say thank you so much before her tears finally
fell. Lady Gaga seemingly attempted to break the ice by asking Maria if she
has any question for her.
Where do you get your
outfits?" queried Maria, making Gaga (and the other people in the radio booth)
laugh.
Gaga responded that her often-out
of this world outfits are made by her really close friends who are
really talented just like you (Maria), a collective she calls the Haus
of Gaga.
Maria got a taste of her possible,
forthcoming duet with the Grammy winner when they sang a part of the chorus
of Born This Way on the radio show.
I think were gonna
do a good duet there Maria, Gaga said after their short impromptu
performance.
Towards the end of their first
phone chat, Maria, still crying, thanked Gaga and expressed her love for
her music.
Dont cry. I love
you too. Thank you for believing in me. I will always believe in you. I promise
you, Maria, when you grow up and become a big superstar, that I will still
be there clapping for you in the audience next time, said Gaga.
Maria, a Grade 5 student at
Isaac Brock School in Winnipeg, has also been reportedly invited to appear
on ABCs Good Morning America next week. She also caught
the attention of TV host Ellen DeGeneres, who re-tweeted Gagas post
about Maria, remarking, Thank Gaga I saw this. Young Filipino
talents have already performed on Ellens show such as Charice and Rhap
Salazar.
HARLEM, NEW YORK
Lianah Sta. Ana won the Child Stars of Tomorrow grand championship
for kids at the Apollo in Harlem, New York Wednesday night.
Organizers said, in its
almost 76 years of existence, this is the very first time a Filipino has
ever won the Super Top Dog prize at the Apollos Amateur Night.
Lianah said, It was
hard, but it was also fun it was hard because theres so many
talents that its hard to compete with.
Lianahs mother, Nailah
Sta. Ana added, To win all four levels of competition and to win the
finals, shes the first Filipino to do that straight from the
Apollo historian.
The Apollo Theater is known
as the place Where stars are born and legends are made.
The legendary venue has
launched the careers of icons, many of them started out as amateur night
winners like Lianah. Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Lauryn Hill and then 9-year-old
Michael Jackson and The Jackson 5 in the late 60s to name a few.
Another Filipino-American
who made history and made it to the Top Dog Grand Finals in the
adult category is Hawaii native Matthew Suyat.
Suyat said he is more than
happy he made it this far. Its rough! The Apollo is rough but
it is what it is, the more people that you bring the better it is for you,
said Suyat.
Lianah said she will be
donating part of her $2,000 prize money to her favorite charity in the
Philippines.
Lianah is also set to grace
and ride the Apollos first ever Top Hat float at the Annual
Macys Thanksgiving Parade on November 25, 2010.