AUDITIONS FOR BINONDO: A TSINOY MUSICAL

Auditions is now open casting for the forthcoming BINONDO: A TSINOY MUSICAL to be directed by Joel Lamangan. The musical is written by Ricky Lee with music by Von de Guzman and choreography by Douglas Nierras. Auditions will be on February 8-9, 2018 from 10AM to 5PM at Douglas Nierras Powerdance Studios, Unit B 4/F ICITE Building, Eastwood City Libis, Quezon City.

Prepare a Tagalog song and 1 dance. For more information, contact Ms. Rebecca at +63 918 9357/ +63 917 301 2445 or Chriz S. Zabala at +63 917 9004 6778 . For more updates about the tsinoy musical Binondo, follow this blog and like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook. Written below is the synopsis and character sketches of the musical.

PREMISE

‘BINONDO: a Tsinoy Musical’ tells the story of how LILY, a Filipina night club singer in pre-Martial Law Manila, and AH TIONG, a mainland Chinese scholar returning to Cultural Revolution-era Beijing, embark on a journey of great love and heartbreak that begins one fated, moon-lit night during the Mid-Autumn Festival of 1971 in the heart of Manila’s Chinatown.

LILY, a hopeless romantic, finally finds her unlikely great love in AH TIONG, a cynic about destiny, during this night of one of the fullest moons ever recorded and on the birthdate of Ge Lao, the Old Man Under the Moon or the Chinese Deity of Love. Vying for LILY’s heart as well is CARLOS, a local Chinese childhood friend of hers who is finally pushed to confront his feelings for her with the arrival of this stranger set on stealing her heart. A triangle centered on different ways of loving and receiving love forms the crux of this story.

Spanning two decades and two countries, the musical explores how love overcomes even times of racial prejudice and political turmoil and endures years of waiting and absence, only to grow deeper and change the lives of everyone who dares to put their hearts on the line.

MGA TAGPUAN

UNANG YUGTO – 1971, Chinatown at Mendiola Manila PH, Shenzhen Harbor at Beijing Labor Camp CN

IKALAWANG YUGTO – 1971-1986, Chinatown Manila PH, Beijing Labor Camp at University Housing CN

CHARACTER SKETCHES

LILY (25/40)

-Filipina, hopeless romantic, laking Chinatown dahil sa factory ng mga Chinese nagtrabaho ang mga magulang niya noon kaya sanay na siya sa kulturang Tsino, hindi nakatapos sa college dahil namatay ang ama sa barilan sa loob ng isang club at kinailangan niyang tumulong sa ina na kumita ng pera, namasukan bilang kahera sa Divisoria bago natanggap bilang isang singer sa The Lotus Club sa Binondo, halos araw-araw bumibisita sa altar ni Ge Lao (ang Diyos ng Pag-ibig, o ang matandang nananahan sa mukha ng buwan) para humiling na makita na niya ang lalaking nakatadhana para sa kanya 

AH TIONG (27/42)

-mainland Chinese, iskolar ng Beijing University na katatapos lang ng PhD sa Amerika, pragmatic kaya hindi naniniwala sa great love o destiny kundi ang pag-ibig ay isang duty na kailangang bigyan ng commitment, tanggap niyang may nakatakda na sa kanyang aasawahin pagbalik sa Tsina, nadaan sa Pilipinas para magbakasyon ng 2 linggo bago umuwi sa Tsinang nabalitaang nabalot na sa gulo ng Cultural Revolution

CARLOS (26/41)

-local Chinese, kababata ni LILY, anak ng may-ari ng factory na pinagtrabahuan ng mga magulang ni LILY noon, lumaking malapit sa mga kaibigang Pilipino, nagsimulang maging aktibista mula college kaya sinasama-sama niya si LILY tuwing may kilos-protesta, nasanay nang tinutulungan si LILY gaya ng pagpapapasok dito sa The Lotus Club na pagmamay-ari ng kaibigan ng pamilya nito, para sa kanya ang pag-ibig kahit magsimulang simple ay pinipili at ginagawang great

JASMINE (26/41)

-mainland Chinese, kasamahan ni AH TIONG sa Beijing University at anak ng malalapit na kaibigan ng mga magulang nito, ang babaeng itinakda para kay AH TIONG hindi lamang dahil malakas ang mga magulang ni JASMINE sa Communist Party kundi dahil lumaki rin siyang kilala na ng pamilya, para sa kanya ang pag-ibig ay desisyon na tanggapin ang isang tao nang buong-buo

RUBY (15)

-Chinese-Filipina, anak nina LILY at AH TIONG, lumaking alam ang katotohanan na hindi si CARLOS ang tunay niyang ama kaya mas mamahalin pa niya ito at isusumpang ayaw nang makita pa si AH TIONG, pinalaking Chinese ng mga magulang ni CARLOS matapos sila tanggapin mag-ina, testigo sa sakripisyo ng inang si LILY na pumayag na maging halos ghost/miyembrong walang boses sa bahay ng mga CHUA kapalit ng magandang buhay para sa kanya, matututunan mula sa halimbawa ni CARLOS na ang pag-ibig ay debosyon at ang paghahangad ng ikabubuti ng minamahal 

MATANDANG TSINO/GE LAO

-matandang Tsinong nagbabantay sa altar ni Ge Lao (ang Diyos ng Pag-ibig para sa mga Tsino, o ang matandang nananahan sa mukha ng buwan), kilala na si LILY dahil sa halos araw-araw na pagbisita ng dalaga upang hilingan ang estatwa, sa totoo’y siya ang incarnation ni Ge Lao sa lupa upang makahalubilo ang mga tao

LIDER NG KORO, at sina KORO 1, 2, 3, at 4

-mga miyembro ng Koro na magsisilbing mga tagapagkwento ng musical at gaganap sa iba’t-ibang mga karakter sa dula (hal. mga waiters sa club, reporter ng balita, lider ng mga rally, mga miyembro ng Philippine Constabulary, mga miyembro ng Red Guard, atbp.), mga alipin ni Ge Lao sa pagtatakda ng tadhana, makukulit, witty, at madalas comic relief ng mga eksena

MRS. DELA ROSA (50)

-nanay ni LILY, mapagmahal, boto kay CARLOS na maging kasintahan ang anak dahil matagal na niyang napansin na may pagtingin ang binata dito, tututol sa umpisa sa pagmamahal ng anak kay AH TIONG na estrangherong aalis at baka hindi na bumalik, may malubhang sakit kaya parating nangangamba para sa kinabukasan ng anak na dalaga sakaling maiwan na niya ito

MR. CHUA (53)

-tatay ni CARLOS, hindi mapagsalita kaya wala masyadong relasyon sa anak kahit mahal niya ito, tutol sa pagsama ng anak sa mga rally dahil para sa kanya sadyang magkaiba ang mga lannang (local Chinese) at mga hwanna (barbaro/pej. for Filipino), itatakwil ang anak nang bulagain siyang bitbit-bitbit nito ang anak ng dating mga pahinante na buntis

MRS. CHUA (49)

-nanay ni CARLOS, maaruga at halos i-spoil ang anak para bumawi sa pagka-distant ng asawa, tradisyunal din ang paniniwala ukol sa pagkakaiba ng mga lannang at hwanna pero hinahayaan ang anak na sumama sa mga kilos-protesta dahil alam niyang ito lang ang makakapagpasaya dito, pipilitin ang asawang tanggapin muli ang anak at ang asawa nitong si LILY lalo na’t may supling na silang dadalhin (si RUBY) na palalakihin niyang halos bilang sariling anak at bilang Chinese

MR. ZHANG (58)

-tatay ni AH TIONG, propesor ng sosyolohiya sa Beijing University, boto kay JASMINE para sa anak, magiging biktima ng pang-aabuso ng mga Red Guard—ipaparada at ipapahiya nila siya bilang kontra-rebolusyonaryo at iiwang nasa bingid ng kamatayan matapos ng parada

MRS. ZHANG (51)

-nanay ni AH TIONG, propesor ng sikolohiya sa Beijing University, boto kay JASMINE para sa anak dahil alam niyang mabuti itong babae at mas lalo na dahil ang mga magulang lang ni JASMINE ang nakatulong sa asawa niya matapos itong pahirapan at ngayon naman ay para mapalaya rin ang anak pagkatapos itong hulihin pag-uwi ng Tsina

CELINE DION ANNOUNCES LIVE 2018 TOUR TO PLAY IN MANILA

Press release

Tickets Go On Sale To The Public Beginning 18 January 2018

World-renowned singer Celine Dion has announced she will head overseas this summer with her highly anticipated LIVE 2018 Tour to perform in seven cities across the Asia-Pacific region. Scheduled to kick-off 26 June in Tokyo, the CELINE DION LIVE 2018 Tour will see Celine return to cities she hasn’t performed in for ten years, including Tokyo and Macao, and cities she will perform in for the first time ever, including Singapore, Jakarta, Taipei, Manila and Bangkok.

Tickets for CELINE DION LIVE 2018 in Manila will go on sale to the public beginning 18 January at 10 a.m. Members of TeamCeline will have access to purchase tickets before the public through an advance pre-sale from 16 January to 17 January. The tour is produced by AEG Presents and co-produced by Ovation Productions in Manila.

Tickets for CELINE DION LIVE 2018 Tour in Manila will go on-sale to the public beginning 18 January.

For tickets and information visit celinedion.com and smtickets.com.

 CELINE DION LIVE 2018 Tour Dates:

26 June                Tokyo                    Tokyo Dome                                                      

29 June                Macao                  Cotai Arena at The Venetian Macao                        

3 July                     Singapore            Marina Bay Sands Grand Ballroom           

4 July                     Singapore            Marina Bay Sands Grand Ballroom           

7 July                     Jakarta                  Sentul International Convention Center

11 July                  Taipei                    Taipei Arena                                                      

13 July                  Taipei                    Taipei Arena                                                      

19 July                  Manila                  Mall of Asia Arena                                          

23 July                  Bangkok               Impact Arena 

                                                   

One of the most immediately recognized, widely respected and successful performers in pop music history, Celine Dion has sold almost 250 million albums during her over 30-year career. She has earned five Grammy Awards, two Academy Awards and seven American Music Awards.  In 2004, Celine  received the Diamond award at the World Music Awards recognizing her status as the best-selling female artist of all time. In 2016, the Billboard Music Awards presented her with the lifetime achievement Icon Award.   Celine continues to break records with her ongoing Las Vegas residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace which has played over 1,000 shows to more than four million fans.

AEG Presents is one of the largest live music companies in the world.  The company is dedicated to all aspects of live contemporary music performances, including producing and promoting global and regional concert tours, music events and world-renowned festivals.  AEG Presents promotes more than 8,000 shows annually worldwide.  For more information, visit aegpresents.com.

BRUNO MARS AND CARDI B ARE DRIPPIN’ IN “FINESSE” ON NEW REMIX COLLABORATION

Press release

LISTEN TO “FINESSE”

https://Atlantic.lnk.to/FinesseRemixPR

WATCH THE “FINESSE” VIDEO

 https://brunom.rs/finessevideo

DOWNLOAD “FINESSE”

https://warnermusicgroup.app.box.com/s/cugqg2iewi2bzcer2sak3o2ibl8dqqli

DOWNLOAD ARTWORK

Global superstar Bruno Mars has teamed up with GRAMMY-nominated breakout hip-hop star Cardi B for a brand new remix of “Finesse,” from Mars’ GRAMMY-nominated blockbuster third album, 24K MAGIC. The remix is now available at all DSPs, with the high-energy companion video now streaming here.  

Mars rounded out an all-star year with six total GRAMMY nominations, including recognition in the ‘Big Three’ with 24K MAGIC (Album of the Year), the album’s title track (Record of the Year), and “That’s What I Like” (Song of the Year). Mars also received three nominations in the R&B category, including Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song for “That’s What I Like,” and Best R&B Album for 24K MAGIC. The 60^th Annual GRAMMY Awards will air January 28^th on CBS.

ABOUT BRUNO MARS

Five-time GRAMMY Award winner and 27-time GRAMMY Award nominee Bruno Mars is a celebrated singer, songwriter, producer, and musician who has sold more than 180 million singles worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time. Recently, his critically acclaimed and RIAA certified double-platinum album24K Magic marked his highest first week sales debut, remaining in the Top 10 on the Billboard 200 for an impressive 44 consecutive weeks. The lead hit single “24K Magic” is certified four times Platinum by the RIAA. Mars’ six-time platinum certified single “That’s What I Like” recently climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking his seventh Hot 100 chart-topper and his first No. 1 on the Hot R&B Songs chart, where it remained at the top-spot for 19 consecutive weeks.

Mars is the first artist to have two songs spend 24 or more weeks in the Hot 100’s Top 5 (“That’s What I Like” and “Uptown Funk”). He is the only artist in the past year to have both a four-time and six-time platinum single from the same album. Also, Mars is one of the few artists to have written and produced all of his No. 1 hits and has had a No. 1 song on the Hot 100 from each of his first three studio albums.

With seven Hot 100 No. 1’s, Mars is ranked No. 1 among male artists with the most Hot 100 No. 1s for this decade, extending his lead over Justin Bieber, Drake, Eminem, and The Weeknd. Mars has been traveling the globe on his massive 24K Magic World Tour, which sold more than 1 million tickets in a single day. In 2015, Bruno dominated music charts with the hit single “Uptown Funk,” which took home three GRAMMY Awards, including Record of the Year.

ABOUT CARDI B

GRAMMY nominated rap superstar Cardi B rounds out an all-star 2017 by releasing her next smash single, “Bartier Cardi” featuring 21 Savage. While Cardi is currently featured on several hit tracks – G-eazy’s “No Limit” ft. A$AP Rocky, Migos’ “Motorsport” ft. Nicki Minaj, and Ozuna’s “La Modelo” – “Bartier Cardi” marks the rapper’s official second single release follow up to this year’s breakthrough smash “Bodak Yellow.” Cardi B has recently been named as the third act – alongside The Beatles and Ashanti - and first rapper to have her first three entries in the Billboard Hot 100’s top 10 simultaneously.

“Bodak Yellow,” which is now certified TRIPLE platinum, had an astronomical rise this year – earning the coveted #1 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart for five consecutive weeks, making Cardi B the first female rapper to reach #1 without any accompanying acts since Lauryn Hill in 1998. Cardi B and “Bodak Yellow” have been featured on several “Best Of” lists including, Rolling Stone, New York Times, Washington Post, Time, Billboard and Vanity Fair, to name a few. Cardi was also recently named on of Forbes “30 Under 30.”

This year saw Cardi make a seemingly unstoppable series of appearances and live events including memorable performance of “Bodak Yellow” on Jimmy Kimmel Live in Brooklyn, during the MTV Video Music Awards pre-show ceremonies, the BET Awards post show, and multiple cover features – Fader Summer Music Issue, Rolling Stone, New York Mag – and most recently, Billboard’s “Year In Music” issue.

Cardi B has also made appearances on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon to perform “No Limit” alongside G-eazy. Recently, Cardi returned to The Tonight Show for her first late night interview.

As if that weren’t enough, Cardi B received nine BET Hip Hop Awards nominations and took home 5 wins (Single of The Year, Best New Hip Hop Artist, Hustler of the Year, Made-You –Look Award, Best Mixtape) as well as two top BET Awards nominations (for “Best New Artist” and “Best Female Hip Hop Artist”) and was among the highest profile celebrities seen at the recent New York Fashion Week, including visits to Rihanna’s Third Diamond Ball, a performance at the esteemed Alexander Wang’s WangFest party and Pat McGrath’s “Mothership” Vogue Ball.