Resorts World Manila's The Sound of Music Press Conference

One of the reasons I grew up loving musical theater is the 1965 film The Sound of Music. As a child I used to pop the tape inside the VHS to sing along with the Von Trapp Family Singers. So on the 9th of September 2011, when I got invited to attend the press conference of its much-awaited stage version happening at Resorts World Manila’s Newport Performing Arts Theater, I braved the rain, flood, pocket-burning cab fees, and my unfamiliarity of going to the venue just to get a first glimpse. What's impressive about the Newport Performing Arts Theater, aside from its 1,500 seating capacity, is its huge Euro LED screen measuring an astounding 30m x 8m.

After Public Relations Manager Archie Nicasio (pic above) gave his opening speech, it was time for a sneak performance from the cast. First up was none other than Joanna Ampil as Maria. Boom went the screen!

Talk about the hills becoming alive with the sound of music, with Ampil's heartfelt notes, along with the bright visuals (designed by Director Paul Soriano) provided by the LED screen, making any diehard musical fan teeter with glee. The Captain, played by Audie Gemora entered with Edelweiss, followed by the seven children doing their cute Do-Re-Mi's. At this point, it was impossible not to feel overwhelmed by the amount of talent onstage, the superb lights and sound system and, yet again, that blasted LED screen, which Resorts World VP for Marketing Jeff Evora is very proud of.

Tanya Manalang and Philstage Gawad Buhay awardee Marvin Ong then performed as Liesl and Rolfe, respectively, with the popular Sixteen Going on Seventeen. Curtains brought down (still awed by the LED) and hands were clapped. A raffle, and it was off to the Q&A portion.

Lots of questions were asked. For the record: there are still no plans of a cast recording, while Jeff Evora plans to stage the musical for street children, and Sir Gemora, who is definitely no stranger to The Sound of Music, likened acting to a bottle of mineral water.

For international stage actress Joanna Ampil, the character Maria, a "saintly" nun, is a breath of fresh air after portraying Kim and Fantine, two well-known prostitute roles.

The musical's director, Roxanne Lapus, was keen enough to share how she made full use of the technology available to them in order to mount a show without any hang time due to set changes. According to her, the musical will utilize revolving sets, well-designed backgrounds, and near-accurate costume and props in order to bring the pre-World War II Austria on the big stage. Audie Gemora and Jeff Evora, on the other hand, reiterated that the Philippines has the world's best actors and actresses, and that this production of The Sound of Music is as Filipino as it can get by not relying on foreign powers to be staged.

Lapus teased that her favorite part so far are the singing of the nuns which, to her, sounded like it was lifting you up to heaven. Fans of the original movie have plenty of reasons to see this, and those who have little knowledge of it ought to give it a shot. With Gemora, Ampil, Pinky Amador, Cris Villonco, and the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra involved, it looks like Lapus does have the best people available (out of almost 400 auditionees, by the way). The short performance at the beginning, however, still left much to the imagination, and I'm still skeptical as to how reliant the entire production would be on the LED technology. Nonetheless, because we love this musical since we were kids, my sister and I have already agreed upon a show date.

To see videos of the event, check out Freelance Production's Youtube page here.

The hills will come alive starting October 15, 2011,. Tickets for Resorts World's The Sound of Music cost P1,000 (balcony), P1,300 (deluxe), P1,700 (premiere) and P2,000 (VIP). For inquiries, you may call the Resorts World Manila Hotline at 836-6333 and 908-8833 or TicketWorld at 811-9999.