[Article] Bringing the jungle to the stage By Jasmine T. Cruz AFTER the successful run of The Full Monty, a daring comedy about a group of regular guys who decide to strip for money, Viva Atlantis Theatricals follows it up with a family-friendly production -- Tarzan: The Stage Musical. Singing sensation Rachelle Ann Go will play the role of Jane while Broadway star Dan Domenech will play Tarzan. Dan Domenech as Tarzan Based on the hit 1999 Disney animated film and adapted from the novel Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Tarzan is the story of a child orphaned in a jungle who is raised by gorillas. When he grows up, he encounters humankind and falls in love with Jane, the daughter of an English explorer. With music by Phil Collins and book by David Henry Hwang, the show was originally produced on Broadway by Disney Theatrical Productions. FIERCE SINGER A well-known singer who has several successful albums under her belt, Ms. Go caught the theater bug after watching Miss Saigon. “When I saw Miss Saigon in Canada three years ago I told myself that I want to try doing musicals,” said Ms. Go, in an e-mail interview with BusinessWorld. Her connection with the theater deepened when she starred in Atlantis Productions’ The Little Mermaid in 2011. “I thought it would be nice to do another Disney musical,” she said about Tarzan. “And I know I’m in good hands with director Chari Arespacochaga. What I love about musicals is that I get to play different characters and just explore.” The role poses several challenges for Ms. Go. “I’ve done some research about how to do the British accent and watched English films too,” she revealed. “Doing the accent is challenging for me and the hardest part is memorizing the lines!” What Ms. Go loves about portraying Jane is that the character is not the stereotypical Disney princess. “She is mature and a bit boyish,” she said. She also explained that the character’s fearlessness, adventurous spirit, appreciation for little things, and high ambitions are some of the things she can relate to. “The story is really heartwarming,” she added. “It talks about relationships and dreams.” A NEW FACE Though the Philippines is unfamiliar with Dan Domenech, this talented Puerto Rican actor has already stepped into the Broadway stage for Rock of Ages. He also appeared in US productions of Sister Act, Aladdin, Wonderland in Tampa, Rent and Altar Boyz. Glee fans will recognize him as he appeared in two episodes in the fourth season of the hit TV show, portraying Chase Madison, a co-worker of Kurt Hummel (Chris Colfer) at Vogue. The greatest challenge for Mr. Domenech is speaking like an ape when his character is interacting with humans, but at the same time allowing the audience to understand what’s going on in the scene. Not only does he have to speak like an ape, he also has to walk like an ape. “I get home with red knuckles every day,” he said, in an e-mail interview with BusinessWorld. Still, his love for theater helps him rise above these challenges. “There is a feeling you get performing in front of an audience that is very difficult to describe,” he said. “I am more comfortable performing in front of an audience of 1,000 people than a room of 10. I just feel at home on stage sharing my talents with people and hopefully creating some lasting memories for them.” FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY Calling Tarzan’s story “a classic,” director Chari Arespacochaga explained why the musical will be a treat for the whole family. In many of the scenes, Tarzan will look like he is “flying” as he swings from tree branch to tree branch, said Ms. Arespacochaga. “There is really nothing like live theater,” she said. “For the kids, to see Tarzan and Jane up close and performing, this for them will be quite thrilling. “The music and the orchestrations are also so specific to the show and will transport you to a different time and place,” she added. At the core of all this excitement is a heartwarming story, she said. “It reminds us that family is more than the family we are born to -- it is also the family we create when we choose our partners, when we choose our friends, when we choose to raise someone not born of us,” she said. “And that all these families are real.” Call VIVA Atlantis at 687-5853 local 661 or 673, 892-7078, or 840-1149; or TicketWorld at 891-9999 for tickets. source: shar.es/xmYUn
Posted on: Fri, 14 Jun 2013 12:36:38 +0000
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