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."

Darren Criss talks about the Philippines, Charice and Lea Salonga
HOLLYWOOD BULLETIN by Janet Susan Nepales
Manila Bulletin, October 24, 2011

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. It’s beautiful.”

As for his favorite Filipino stars, the talented 24-year-old replied, “I don’t 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 don’t 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. It’s 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 that’s kind of all on me. For all intents and purposes, I am sure I could dally about until rehearsal in December. But then, it wouldn’t really be worth anyone’s 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.

Filipina Teen Ellona Santiago Makes the Cut in Simon Cowell's "X-Factor"
by Edith Montelibano

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.

Watch video: Ellona Santiago in 'Handog sa Bayan'

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. Britain’s 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 world’s 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 Reporter’s Top 50 Most Powerful in Reality TV and Entertainment Weekly’s Top Entertainer of the Year. In 2010 Simon Cowell was awarded Variety International’s Humanitarian Award for his extensive charitable work, The Rose d’Or Golden Jubilee Award and BAFTA’s Special Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the entertainment industry and development of new talent. He also appeared on Time Magazine’s 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 Abdul’s 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. Abdul’s favorite memory is dancing alongside her idol, Gene Kelly, in a celebrated and acclaimed commercial campaign. Abdul’s 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 Stone’s “The Doors.” Abdul’s 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 People’s Choice Awards and two Kids’ Choice Awards. She has also been honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and inducted into Nickelodeon’s 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 Eden’s Crush. The group’s debut album, “PCD,” went double-platinum in America, sold over 9 million copies worldwide and featured the hit songs “Don’t 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. Rahman’s “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.

Fil-Canadian Maria Aragon takes the stage with Lady Gaga
By ROWENA JOY A. SANCHEZ
March 4, 2011

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino-Canadian singer Maria Aragon finally hit the stage with Lady Gaga during the latter’s 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 latter’s latest hit, “Born This Way,” quite similar to Maria’s toned-down version of the song which was uploaded on YouTube two weeks ago.

With Maria sitting on Gaga’s 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 Gaga’s 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 Maria’s 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 artist’s fateful tweet of the link of Maria’s “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 ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

Her sister Rojuane, who has uploaded 70 other videos on YouTube, filmed Maria’s performance of “Born This Way.” In her interview with Toronto’s 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 Menchie’s 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 latter’s 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 Maria’s 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 Gaga’s offer, saying, with tears in her eyes, "That would be really cool!"

Prior to this, Lady Gaga exchanged hello’s with Maria, who was stunned hearing the singer-songwriter’s 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 music’s 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 I’m 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 we’re 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.

“Don’t 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 ABC’s “Good Morning America” next week. She also caught the attention of TV host Ellen DeGeneres, who re-tweeted Gaga’s post about Maria, remarking, “Thank Gaga I saw this.” Young Filipino talents have already performed on Ellen’s show such as Charice and Rhap Salazar.

A Historical Win for Pinay Teen Singer at the Apollo Theater
by Don Tagala, ABS-CBN North America Bureau
Oct. 28, 2010

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 Apollo’s Amateur Night.

Lianah said, “It was hard, but it was also fun… it was hard because there’s so many talents that it’s hard to compete with.”

Lianah’s mother, Nailah Sta. Ana added, “To win all four levels of competition and to win the finals, she’s 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 60’s 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. “It’s 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 Apollo’s first ever “Top Hat” float at the Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade on November 25, 2010.