Escape into world-class entertainment Newport World Resorts creates epic experiences by bringing out its all-Filipino hit musical back to the stage.
Last April 21, “Ang Huling El Bimbo” (AHEB) made its highly-anticipated comeback to the award-winning Newport Performing Arts Theater featuring a new cast, fresh choreography, stellar production, and iconic songs that struck a chord in the hearts of Filipinos. The show has a regular schedule every Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., and matinee performances every Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m. for April with new show dates recently added in May to accommodate more fans and theatergoers.
Newport World Resorts’ production outfit Full House Theater Company (FHTC) has pulled out all the stops to set the stage and prepare the cast during rehearsals. New members of the cast shared their epic experiences in bringing the show to life.
Even as a master of various crafts, award-winning artist Nino Alejandro, who plays Anthony, still has plenty of new things to learn from the acting workshops with FHTC Director Dexter Santos and Co-Artistic Director Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo. Alejandro shares, “The new experiences I had during our rehearsals were the daily acting workshops we got to do with the First Lady of Philippine Theater, Ms. Menchu Launchengco-Yulo. Also learning from and working with Direk Dexter has helped me sharpen and broaden my process.”
Before joining the cast of AHEB, indie folk artist Bullet Dumas recalled singing the ‘90s iconic track “Poorman’s Grave” in gigs. Now, audiences witnessed him perform it onstage as Emman. Given his familiarity with the piece, the challenge was to give it a new flavor.
According to him, “When something you thought was very much familiar with somehow surprises you again and again, you will love the process. It always felt like a Eureka moment whenever Direk Dexter Santos, Menchu Lauchengco Yulo, Myke Salomon, OJ Mariano, and my castmates help me realize different approaches to how Emman can tackle the song.”
Actor, singer, and host Anthony Rosaldo made his theater debut playing young Hector, one of the lead roles in the musical. Since the rehearsals, he knew AHEB is a difficult show to mount yet this brought a fun experience for him as a newcomer. “Coming in as a newbie in theatre, it is important that I kept my focus and really put in a lot of hard work during our rehearsals. The audience will see a very excited and enthusiastic young Hector,” Rosaldo says.
For more on “Ang Huling El Bimbo The Musical” and its show schedule, visit www.newportworldresorts.com.
