West Side Story Manila Stages Casting Coup
Joanna Ampil as Maria Gibbs Cadiz called the casting of West End star Joanna Ampil a “coup” that makes West Side Story Manila a “must see” since this is the very first time that the celebrated musical theatre actor is going to share her talents with her fellow Filipinos, having been based abroad ever since she was cast as Kim in Ms. Saigon when she was only seventeen. (Joanna Ampil will be alternating with Karylle in the role of Maria.)
Secret Negotiations Having seen the interview of Gibbs with Joanna Ampil while she was in Manila earlier this year, I deduced that there were already secret negotiations between West Side Story Manila producer, Stages, and Joanna Ampil.
So I cornered STAGES President Audie Gemora during the West Side Story Manila sales launch on 21 May 2008 so that he could relate how Stages made the casting coup.
Joanna Ampil Dropped on Our Laps Humbly, STAGES President Audie Gemora clarified that Stages cannot take credit for the casting coup because Joanna Ampil got wind of the West Side Story Manila production, and emailed whether she could send in a video of her audition, since she is currently playing Fantine in London’s West End production of Les Miserables and can’t make it to the Manila auditions.
Audie recounts how he was flabbergasted by the question, and said, “Hell, yes!!!”
Even then he felt duty bound to remind her that they could never match her West End rates, but Joanna Ampil immediately brushed his concerns aside. Audie surmised that she just wants to fulfill her dream of performing for her countrymen, as well as her dream of playing Maria in West Side Story.
Joanna Ampil Sings Think Of Me Joanna Ampil sent a video audition, and a cut from her CD— Think of Me from Phantom, plus a picture of her and Christian Bautista when he watched her in Les Miz last year.
While listening to Joanna sing Think of Me, STAGES President Audie Gemora was blown away with the ease that she hit her high notes, particularly because Maria has to hit the high C effortlessly.
To listen to Joanna Ampil’s CD version of Think of Me, please visit Gibbs Cadiz’s blog. He has also uploaded other cuts from her CD like All I Ask of You from Phantom of the Opera, Out Tonight from Rent and I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables.
West Side Story Manila’s Opening Night To Be Graced By West End Star The opening night of West Side Story Manila will be graced by West End star Ms. Joanna Ampil, who will be playing Maria opposite Christian Bautista’s Tony.
West Side Story Manila Opening Night Date
05 September 2008 (Fri) 8pm
West Side Story Manila Venue
Meralco Theater Ortigas Center
West Side Story Manila Ticket Prices
Balcony Side Php 500
Balcony Center Php 700
Orchestra & Loge Side Php 1,000
Orchestra & Loge Center Php 1,200
How to Buy West Side Story Manila Opening Night Tickets
For Cash On Delivery (delivery within Makati and Ortigas Central Business Districts) ticket purchases, please send your email address (so that we can send the details) to Lorna Lopez thru:
(email) cranegoddesscorp[at]gmail[dot]com
(Globe) 0917.9256505
(Sun) 0922.3875729
(By the way, this is my first time to upload a video that I totally took all by myself, and with no edits! I would like to thank the vloggers whose work I’ve been viewing on the blogosphere. Thanks for the inspiration!!! 
)
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First Dance Rehearsal of West Side Story Manila
West Side Story Manila Auditions Tips
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Hairspray Manila on November-December 2008
yehey, vlogger ka na din! go go go!
thanks for the mention, as always, lorna. 
You’re welcome, Gibbs! And thanks for the encouragement!
Joanna Ampil - from West End to West Side. Hihihi:)
Good title! Will use it somehow, someday, somewhere…
Hmm real-time mode ang video blog. Hehehe
Hi Lorna! Am selling tickets to the opening night of The West Side Story and was wondering if I can re-post your entry on my multiply page just to help promote the show to my friends? Will give full credit to you for the entry.
If you can help me promote / sell tickets to the opening night’s show as well, I would also appreciate that!
I remember reading about Avenue Q from your blog before I went to watch– it was an awesome show! 
Who’s playing Anita? Bernardo?
Hi Lorna,
I was just watching your videos now. Thank you for all of your background info and exclusive interviews, as usual.
Sharing my review of Opening Night of WSS yesterday: http://3xhcch.multiply.com/reviews/item/130
Hi again Lorna
Thank you for your comments on my review!
I sort of got confused when I read the column of Ms. Rina Jimenez in the Inquirer. She credited Pam G as the Anita on opening night. I thought it was Rowena Vilar. Who was it really?
I’m afraid you will be reading an erratum in the future from Ms. Rina Jimenez stating that it was Rowena Vilar who performed on opening night, and not Pam G as originally written.