On Your Feet! (9 Works Theatrical)

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Emilio Estefan (Jason Canela) and his band Miami Sound Machine already have an established presence within the Latino community of Florida when he meets Gloria Fajardo (Molly Langley). A combination of mutual attraction and recognition of talent bind them together. While her grandmother Consuelo (Pinky Marquez is encouraging of her musical inclinations, her mother Gloria (Ayen Laurel) is dismissive, owing to her own regrets over a stalled career when she fled the oppressive regime in Cuba. While Gloria is hands-on in her role in the family as big sister to Rebecca (Jani Magadia) and caring daughter to her bedridden war veteran father Jose (John Joven Uy), soon she will have to make a decision whether to prioritize family or her burgeoning career. When Emilio decides to put her front and center of their band, she is thrusted into a world of fame and demanding touring schedules, culminating in a life-changing accident that forces her to reevaluate her life.

Yemaya (9 Works Theatrical)

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Jesus (Tommy Alejandrino) lives in a small town by the beach with his elderly parents. He spends most of his time playing dominoes with coconut vendor Tico (Herbie Go) as well as accompanying his uncle Jelin (Anthony Falcon) to town where he gets an impromptu initiation about the differences of life between his small town and the big city. There he meets grocery store owner Lila (Sheenly Gener) who reluctantly takes her in as he promises to buy her store one day. He also meets barrio lass Maya (Sheena Belarmino) who claims the sea deity Yemaya (Wenah Nagales) to be her mother but is really a human smuggler, helping people from their town reach America by boat for a certain fee. Disillusioned by his life on the island, Jesus, whom Lila now calls Mulo, tries to convince Maya to take him to America with her on her next boat trip, believing his future awaits him there.

A Christmas Carol (9 Works Theatrical)

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Before the Grinch stole Christmas, forever alone and bitter old man Ebenezer Scrooge (Arnel Carrion) had been terrorizing London with his obnoxious anti-Holiday tirades, making him quite unpopular in his neighborhood. But then again, every individual thought to be a villain has an interesting story to tell. One night, Scrooge is visited by three ghosts. The Ghost of Christmas Past (Franco Laurel) makes him relive the memories that have been haunting him for the longest time, giving a couple of reasons as to why he is acting the way he does. The Ghost of Christmas Present (Lorenz Martinez) shows him the lives of the people surrounding him as well as their challenges and aspirations. The Ghost of Christmas Yet To Be (Carmelle Ros) provides a sneak peek of future death and how the world will move on despite the fact. The next morning, Ebenezer wakes up with a change of heart. Is it too late?

The Bodyguard (9 Works Theatrical)

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Superstar Rachel Marron (Christine Allado) is in need of a new bodyguard. Her manager Bill Devaney (John Joven-Uy) approaches veteran security guy Frank Farmer (Matt Blaker), who initially refuses before reluctantly accepting the job. He is then introduced to the glitzy world of showbiz where he spots threats not just against Rachel but to her sister Nicki (Sheena Lee Palad) and son Fletcher (Elian Santos) as well. As her publicist Sy Spector (Tim Yap) ramps up her visibility as a much needed push for her Oscar campaign, Rachel also receives threats via letters from a crazed fan who is obsessed with her, getting close without them noticing and even stealing one of her costumes. It doesn’t help that she feels suffocated by the restrictions placed upon her by her new bodyguard. Given the abundance of time they spend together, sparks begin to fly, but can he really be her protector and lover at the same time?

Liwanag Sa Dilim (9 Works Theatrical)

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Elesi (Anthony Rosaldo) becomes an orphan once again with the death of both of his adoptive parents, sparking more frustration and curiosity within him regarding his biological parentage. When he is given a necklace and a small propeller toy with a green light, both tagged as the only items he had on him when he was found as a child, he is later swept into a time travel frenzy taking him back to the 1800’s, in the fictional world of Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere. There he meets Crisostomo Ibarra (Vien King) and his fiance Maria Clara (Alexa Ilacad) as well as the crazy lady of the town Sisa (Rita Daniela). As Elesi is fascinated by his new timeline, he decides to stay put and befriend his new acquaintances. He also discovers a few more secrets along the way with the help of his time travel device, including one that might just give him answers about the missing parents he has been searching for.

Himala Isang Musikal (9 Works Theatrical)

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The rural town of Cupang has seen better days. With drought, poverty, and sickness plaguing the villages, everyone is looking for a miracle. They find that miracle in Elsa (Aicelle Santos). Heading back home one afternoon, the barrio lass is blinded by a white light and claims to have witnessed an apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who she claims tells her to become an instrument of healing. Soon, Elsa becomes a faith healer and is now the talk of the town, with tourists and sick people all over the country coming to her shrine to see her in hopes of being cured. Her mother Saling (Bituin Escalante) is reluctant, but the women of the town are persuasive. With the help of her best friend turned disciple Chayong (Neomi Gonzales), she becomes the town’s messiah, but not everyone is happy with such turn of events.

Lungs (9 Works Theatrical)

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Man (Jake Cuenca) and Woman (Sab Jose) reflect on whether it would be responsible for them to procreate and introduce another human being to the world. She cites publications as well as her PhD papers on how adding another baby to the planet’s booming population would eventually contribute to the world’s dwindling resources. He is puzzled and seems regretful to have asked. As the two exchange points of view regarding interweaving themes such as parenthood, childbirth, as well as timely issues such as climate change, the couple discover things about one another that they won’t necessarily like. Will their similarities triumph for them to end up as proud parents of their own child or will their differences overcome everything they have shared so far and lead to a bad breakup?

Eto Na! Musikal nAPO! (9 Works Theatrical)

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Manila, 1970’s. A group of friends try to live a normal university life despite the declaration of Martial Law. Rick (Mark Bautista) juggles studies, music, and relationship with his girlfriend Anna (Rita Daniela). Sonny (Alfritz Blanche) deals with his girlfriend Jane’s (Marika Sasaki) impending migration to the United States. Playboy Butch (Jobim Javier) courts FilAm Michelle (Sab Jose), who is in a relationship with a campus jock. Future doctor Ray (Jep Go) defends his love for music against his dad’s stern focus on his pre-med ambitions. As personal issues start to meddle with group dynamics, the task of representing the group at a national songwriting contest falls in the hands of Jaime (Jef Flores), Donnie (Jon Abella), and Bobby (Vyen Villanueva), but will success be enough to pave the way to mend the cracks that are now defining their friendship?

They're Playing Our Song (9 Works Theatrical)

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Award winning composer Vernon Gersch (Lorenz Martinez) agrees to collaborate with quirky lyricist Sonia Walsk (Nikki Gil). Rapport is not achieved at once given how their personalities seem to be exact opposites. He is uptight, workaholic, and always on time. On the contrary, she is always late, jovial, and recycles theater costumes to serve as her daily wardrobe. They go on a series of friendly dates in hopes of getting to know each other but always end up bickering or quarreling because of their differences. And Leon, her constant ex. But once she begins to write her lyrics on which he would base his melody, the resulting music itself becomes the glue that binds them together. Still, the question remains. Will their healthy professional relationship suffice to assure harmonious existence in the personal life that they would like to share?

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (9 Works Theatrical)

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Charlie Brown (Robbie Guevarra) tends to over analyze things and seems to be in some sort of a life crisis which is a bit unusual for a five year old kid. The good thing is that this quirk of his applies mainly to simple dilemmas a kid would usually have. He has a beagle named Snoopy (Lorenz Martinez) who talks, has frequent mood swings, and mounts impromptu concerts over something as simple as his bowl of dog food. Sally (Sweet Plantado) is the smart aleck of a sister who has a knack for challenging her teacher over the low grades that she gets. Her friend Lucy (Carla Guevara-Laforteza) dreams of becoming a queen someday, and has her eyes on Schroeder (Tonipet Gaba), the aspiring musician who uses any information related to Beethoven as a punch line. Completing the group is Linus (Franco Laurel), the thumb sucking genius who also happens to be Lucy’s younger brother, and is in a special relationship with his blanket.

Sweet Charity (9 Works Theatrical)

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Charity Hope Valentine (Nikki Gil) is a dance hall hostess who seems to have nothing but bad luck when it comes to love, but still maintains a cheerful demeanor in life much to the chagrin of her dancer friends who see her as some sort of insufferable naive girl. En route to some lecture which she thinks she needs to turn her life around, she gets trapped in an elevator with claustrophobic bachelor Oscar (Kris Lawrence). Is he the answer to her prayers, or just another heartbreak waiting to happen?

The thing about Nikki Gil is that you could see her just enjoying her role. Do you sometimes notice how some theater actors tend to grandstand during a musical number that somehow they cease to be the characters they are portraying and instead become just singers for a while as if in a solo concert? This does not happen to Gil. What you see is the character singing, not the actor. She does not need to hog the spotlight because she nails her character, mannerisms and all. Members of the audience are also convinced, the proof of which are the plenty of cheers and applause they give every time she drops a one-liner or does something wacky. She also looks good in wigs. She should consider starring in a Cathy Garcia Molina movie.

The Wedding Singer (9 Works Theatrical)

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The opening number (It's Your Wedding Day) is full of energy and 80's dance moves, and it is wonderful that way. However, it seems to lack the oomph to get the audience excited for the following scenes. The opening number of the second act is way more enticing, and starts with a picture perfect scene given the appropriate lighting and the crisp corporate look of the ensemble. It is a mental image that just sticks.

TV does not do Gian Magdangal justice. This guy can sing and his voice suits mellow and rock without trying too hard. Iya Villania is no Lea Salonga but she can definitely carry a tune. These two's duets are so pleasing to the ears, the blending is perfect and neither one is out-sung. It is also a good thing that Villania is able to get rid of her Aussie accent here.

Rent (9 Works Theatrical)

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The thing about Rent is that it has universal appeal. It is all about the message, and the songs. When the actors start singing the tunes their faces disappear and you just hear the music, because in reality you are one of those characters, trying to find a meaning for your own life.

La Vie Boheme has a different appeal when seen onstage. It has that certain magic that the onscreen version seems to have been unable to capture. It is more engaging, perhaps owing to the fact that it is performed here live, and the candidness of it all makes it one of the most memorable musical numbers of the show. On the other hand, Angel's Today 4 U seems to lack the appeal of the onscreen version, although the choreography and energy seems all the same. Strange. It is really not good to compare the two. Both mediums seem to have an advantage of its own over the other.