Rehearsals for Atlantis Productions’ highly anticipated staging of the Tony Award Winning Musical HAIRSPRAY are in full swing and I can’t wait to catch one of the rehearsals before the big opening soon!  You can also get tickets from Our Awesome Planet for the Nov. 22 show at 2pm. 

Image source http://www.thebachelorgirl.com/2008/1242/hairspray-manila-rehearsal-passes-raffle-for-bloggers/4/

It’s been a couple of months since I last watched a play and I’m itching to watch one soon.  I really enjoyed watching the movie version of Hairspray and it would be great to watch it up close and in flesh!

HAIRSPRAY is about Tracy who wins a spot on the local TV dance program The Corny Collins Show. The big girl with big hair and big dreams becomes a teen celebrity overnight. Soon Tracy finds herself pitted against the show’s reigning princess for the title Miss Teenage Hairspray 1962. Based on the John Waters film, Hairspray is the winner of eight Tony awards including Best Musical. It was recently made into a hit film starring John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer and Queen Latifah.

Like most Tracy Turnblads before her, Madel will be making her professional stage debut in Hairspray. She is a junior at Ateneo de Manila majoring in AB Political Science. Having performed in school productions including High School Musical. Madel is thrilled to take on her first major role. She says, “Girls like me don’t get opportunities like this! Honestly, I feel like I’m the modern-day Filipina version of Tracy. A big girl with big dreams. It’s a little scary to take on a role this big, but I’m really looking forward to taking on the challenge of playing a character with this much spirit and energy!”

HAIRSPRAY is directed by Bobby Garcia, Choreography by Cecille Martinez, Production Design by Gino Gonzales, Lighting Design by Shoko Matsumoto and Musical Director Archie Castillo conducts FILharmoniKA, who will perform the original Tony Award nominated Broadway orchestrations.

For tickets call Atlantis Productions at 892-7078, 840-1187 or Ticketworld at 891-9999.

Related Post:

Bachelor Girl: http://www.thebachelorgirl.com/2008/1242/hairspray-manila-rehearsal-passes-raffle-for-bloggers/

Frannywanny: http://www.frannywanny.com/2008/11/hairspray-comes-to-manila.html

Experience Mediterranean Cuisine at its Finest

Take advantage of Fab’s 2+1 offer from November 14 –30, 2008.  Available daily at Fab for lunch and dinner starting November 14.  Lunch tab is at PHP900++ while dinner is at PHP1000++.  Get 1 buffet meal FREE for every 3 persons availing of our lunch or dinner buffet.  Prices are inclusive of VAT and subject to local government tax and service charge.

Fab is located at Holiday Inn, One Asian Development Bank Avenue, Ortigas Center.  For inquiries, call 6337111 or visit their website at www.holiday-inn.com/higalleria

One Bar introduces… the biggest burger in town!

Big Buns of Burger (PHP850++) offers you 2 pounds of juicy beef burger topped with the freshest vegetables, crispy bacon, eggs and layers and layers of melt-in-you-mouth cheddar cheese.   Price is inclusive of VAT and subject to local government tax and service charge.

“We got the burger!  Who’s got the buns?”  The search is on for Manila’s hottest buns.  Strut your stuff and win PHP80,000 cash plus a feature in FHM as Bar One and FHM present “The Search for Manila’s Hottest Buns”  12 of the hottest girls will compete weekly.  Judge who has the hottest buns in Manila: November 8, 15, 22 and 29, 2008, 8pm onwards.

Grand final is on December 6, 2008.

Presented by One Bar, FHM.  In cooperation with RRJ.  One Bar is located at the 4^th level Holiday Inn Galleria Manila, One Asian Development Bank Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

(Image from Repertory Philippines website)

Catch a Christmas Carol on Onstage Greenbelt from November 14 – December 14, 2008. 

For more inquiries, visit Repertory Philippines website.

Belle de Jour Rendezvous: Power Me Up and 2009 Power Planner Launch

November 11, 2008 (Tues). 6:30 pm

Venue: Powerbooks Live, Greenbelt, Makati

Belle de Jour Rendezvous: Power-Me-Up Speakers:

Chiqui Escareal-Go (President of Mansmith & Fielders, Inc.): DISCOVER YOUR TRUE PASSION

Donna Cuna-Pita (former Fashion Editor, Cosmopolitan Magazine): BE YOUR OWN STYLE ICON

Marge Apacible (Chief Make-up Artist, The Face Shop): EXPOSE YOUR NATURAL BEAUTY

Related Posts:

1. Preview of Belle de Jour (http://www.janedchua.com/2008/10/27/preview-of-belle-de-jour-2009/)
2. Belle de Jour GC (http://www.janedchua.com/2008/06/24/belle-de-jour-gc/)
3. Belle de Jour and Planners (http://www.janedchua.com/2008/02/18/belle-de-jour-and-planners/)

Monday confirmed Friday’s evening plans upon receiving a package mail with invitation to CLEAR Black Night, A Halloween Dance Event at Taste Asia, Mall of Asia.  First heard at Aileen Apolo’s site.  Oct 31^st marks the last night of Halloween and what best way to cap it but celebrate the total blackness of night. 

My excitement doubled up recalling Bubba’s CLEAR moment (Video Link).  Bubba’s decisive line “I’ve made a CLEAR choice,” prompted me to try the CLEAR shampoo in the package.  The shower experience relaxed me as I’ve never smelled anti-dandruff shampoo this fragrantly good.

I arrived at 650pm, bumped into Fritz on the quick line and registered.  I keep looking around trying to spot if Dan is around.  You see, this Dan has been following me around for months!  No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t shake him off!  A carefully guarded secret I don’t want exposed tonight.  Most especially, while swimming in a sea of blackness, freestyle!  I definitely don’t want to be chained in fear or humiliation.

Back to the party, I took a moment to appreciate the whole fabulously attractive set-up.  I was here 2 weeks ago but this party venue completely transformed.  Seems like the evening swallowed the place and covered it with Night’s black beauty.  Cocktail tables dressed in black, with alternating candle or violet flower piece on top.  The long spread of mouthwatering food appeal to the appetite.  Gorgeous ladies roam the party grounds while some welcome you at the spanking entrance.  Spectacularly dimmed tunnel entrance leads to the main party area decorated with chandeliers of bubbles.  The event venue is deliciously flavored.  

I was bobbing to the music letting it enslave me.  Call it fits of paranoia but I thought I saw a shadow behind me.  He’d stalk me in silence.  Over my shoulder, I peeked.  Sigh.  Good, no signs of Dan.  He’d be lurking around the corner.  That’s fatal attraction at its finest –he’d make a scene and I’d surely die of embarrassment!

Past 9pm, Ms. Earth candidates glide in the room with their long legs and shapely figures.  I gulp nervously and almost fade into the background.  Towering ladies become center of attention in split seconds while you drown in oblivion.  I ran my fingers fidgety through my hair and afterwards somehow got empowered.  My hair is as long as shiny as theirs.  Smelling my hair, reminiscent of my calming shower, there was a surge of certainty.  I took a step forward, standing only at 5’5” (admittedly, with 3-inch heels of my favorite Aldo boots), I felt as tall as the Miss Earth candidates.   

A beautiful rainy day is wasted sitting indoors, watching raindrops tap the window. 

I’d take a drizzly walk in old streets of Vigan or Batanes, where people are utmost friendly.  Feel the calming sensation of standing in the rain while it touches your face along with these locals (I’d love to dance w/ them, arms chained, donning Plueys, “NY song” style).  Darkened sky lest forgotten as dazzling Plueys sashay puddles of Manila too.  Rain is the same wherever the destination.  But my favorite place to spend rainy days is next to a loved one.  Get wet with comfort, get soaked with love.  Experience laughter in the rain and start loving rainy days.

Related Links:

Our Awesome Planet

Our Awesome Planet

Plueys Manila

In July, Evan (Yoo Ho Suk) of Click B and VJ Isak visited the Philippines from Korea.  These are two pop icons that are well-liked by both Koreans and Filipinos alike.  I was really surprised to see the Manila Film Center filled with 70% more Filipinos than Koreans for the Pops in Seoul party.

A signed Pain Reliever Album of Evan (with a signed poster) is up for grabs.  Leave a comment or send an email to betweenbites@gmail.com answering the question:

Since it’s Halloween, what’s your favorite horror movie of all time and why?

It’s that simple!  Answer the question and stand a chance to win a much coveted signed CD of Evan.  All entries will be part of a raffle where one winner will be drawn.

Related Post:

http://www.janedchua.com/2008/07/15/july-5/

The Comedy Event of the Year

(Image from Ticketworld website)

Stand up comedian Russell Peters will have a show this Friday at NBC Tent.  He’s better known for comedy that speaks to immigrant communities around the world –Indian, Arab, Caribbean, Chinese, Filipino, Korean, Vietnamese, and other Southeast Asian communities.  Russell Peters is an Anglo-Indian who grew up in a white Canadian society.

Bubba has been insisting that we watch RP’s show on Friday.  Tickets as I can remember are at 5K and 3.6K.  You can catch some of his acts on You Tube.  Visit Russell Peters website for featured photos, videos and more at www.russellpeters.com