14 Philippine Showbiz Today
14 Philippine Showbiz Today
May 22 - June 7 , 2018
What does the future of
Philippine theater ( and entertainment !) look like ? It ’ s not hard to imagine that it ’ s going to look a lot like the young cast of The Lion King .
JJ Dolor , 12 ; Uma Martin , 9 ; Omar Uddin , 10 ; Sheena Bentoy , 9 ; Gabriel Tiongson , 12 ; and Kyle Napuli , 11 , are the Filipino kids cast in the first-ever international tour production of Disney ’ s The Lion King . Super promising , plucky and lucky , these kids alternately play the Young Simba and Young Nala roles in the musical , which is now down to its last week at The Theatre of Solaire Resort & Casino , after being extended thrice by its producers . They will be joining the show ’ s next run in Singapore and then South Korea , after the Manila leg comes to a close on May 27 .
The Lion King is presented by Michael Cassel Group and Concertus Manila in association with Disney Theatrical Productions . Copresenting sponsors in Manila are Globe and Visa .
What can kids like you learn from The Lion King ?
Kyle : Always chase your dreams . Always go for the truth and never give up !
Uma : Always follow your heart and don ’ t let anyone get in your way . Just go for your dreams .
Sheena : Have faith in yourself always !
JJ : Never give up and don ’ t let anybody discourage you . Omar : Always be brave . Gabriel : Things can hurt but you can ’ t run from it , you have to face it !
Did they ever feel nervous or scared to be part of such an acclaimed production ? “ No !” they all chorused . Instead , “ very blessed ,” “ very thankful ,” “ very excited ” and “ very happy ” were how these bright young things described their stint in the megahit musical . A little bit nervous , yes , but mostly excited , they further claimed .
Here are excerpts from the fun and laughter-filled chat with Kyle , Uma , Sheena , JJ , Omar and Gabriel :
How did you prepare for the musical and for your roles as the Young Nala and Young Simba ?
Kyle : I watched the movie so many times like I learned the music !
Uma : I learned the music , I listened to what they were saying and I was just trying to be prepared .
Sheena : I researched some things about Young Nalas who I know , like how does Young Nala act and like , what her potential is .
JJ : I did some research on the Internet and what Simba ’ s character is , like how he acts .
Omar : I just rested and waited for the start of the rehearsal . I got prepared , and I went to singing schools .
Gabriel : Mostly the same with
Pinoy kids on being part of The Lion King change their lives !
Omar , I just rested a lot ( laughter ). What ’ s the most fun and most difficult part of doing the show ?
Kyle : Probably incorporating lion movements in performing and listening to the actors . It was difficult but it was also fun .
Uma : For the fun part , it was meeting the cast , meeting the director , meeting people from different countries . But for the difficult part , it was learning the movements of the lion cub and how to be fierce like Young Nala .
Sheena : The same as their opinions . Because being Young Nala is really hard . The difficult part is really to be fierce . The fun part was meeting the whole cast and having fun !
JJ : The most difficult part , at first , was when I rode the ostrich for the first time and the most fun part or the most exciting part was getting
lifted up in the song Can ’ t Wait to be King
Ȯmar : Difficult part … when they lift me because I can ’ t find my balance , because they ’ re just holding my feet not my back . The most fun part was meeting the international production here in the Philippines . Right in front of me !
Gabriel : Me , the most difficult and most fun part was the emotional baggage of Young Simba . It ’ s really fun to integrate what you ’ re doing there . But it ’ s also really hard to stay there
Ẇhat ’ s the best advice given to you by your older co-actors ?
Kyle : My favorite was , be always in the moment and listen to your coactors .
Uma : Always be truthful and imagine yourself with that character , what would you do if you were that character .
Sheena : Be confident with yourself !
JJ : It was to be honest , always be truthful , and also sharing the story to the audience .
Omar : Always listen and yes , same as them . Always be truthful .
What can fellow kids learn from The Lion King ?
Kyle : Always chase your dreams . Always go for the truth and never give up !
Uma : Always follow your heart and don ’ t let anyone get in your way , just go for your dreams .
Sheena : Have faith in yourself always !
Gabriel : Never give up and don ’ t let anybody discourage you . Omar : Always be brave . Gabriel : Things can hurt but you can ’ t run from it , you have to face it !
If you were to play another Disney character , what would that be ?
Kyle : I would want to be Anna in Frozen .
Uma : I would like to be Elsa in Frozen .
Sheena : I would like to be Arielle in The Little Mermaid .
JJ : I ’ d like to be , hmm , can I say two ? I ’ d like to be Big Simba and Sebastian from The Little Mermaid .
Omar : I ’ d like to be Aladdin in Aladdin the Musical , and I would be the genie .
Gabriel : I would be the same with him , or Ursula ! What was your first acting role ? Kyle : I was Becky in A Little Princess and I was eight years old that time .
Uma : I was Lottie in A Little Princess and I was like , six years old .
Sheena : This is my first show and I ’ m really happy because it ’ s international and it ’ s the No . 1 musical .
JJ : This is my first show , same as her ( Sheena ), I ’ m really happy and excited ‘ coz it ’ s international and I got the role when I was 11 and now I ’ m 12 . I saw the ( ad ) for auditions in a newspaper . I tried to audition and got the part ! To God be the glory , I got it
Ȯmar : For me , I was seven years old and my first role was in Emperor ’ s New Clothes . I was the narrator there .
Gabriel : I was Tiny Tim in Scrooge and I was nine . Yes , I always wanted to be an actor . I was born into it . What do you love about acting ? Kyle : Inspiring the audience and seeing their emotions make me wanna do more because it inspires me , too .
Uma : I like seeing the smile on their faces .
Sheena : Same as them … and telling the story . If I tell the story , and they feel it , it means we ’ ve accomplished our role .
JJ : Making the people happy . Like , what the people in the front row do . When the giraffes come down and I can ’ t wait to be king , I can see their smiles and I ’ m like , “ Okay ! Let ’ s do this !”
Omar : For me , what I love most about acting is when I see the people so surprised by it .
Gabriel : I love telling the story of whatever play I ’ m at to the audience .
What do you want to be when you grow up ?
Kyle : I want to be both an actress and a veterinarian !
Uma : I would like to be an actor still and a baker at the same time . Sheena : I ’ ll stick with actor . JJ : When I grow up , I want to be an actor and a naval fighter pilot .
Omar : Me , I ’ ll stick to being an actor and at the same time , a policeman . Gabriel : I ’ m sticking to acting . Can you tell us a bit of your family and musical background ?
Uma : Well my mom , not my dad , when she was in college , she used to do singing . And she does like radio , she does voice , that ’ s why she got into singing .
Sheena : My family is only a musician , like they love music .
JJ : When my mom was in high school I think , she voices what ’ s in the mall , uhm , the time check . She was also a radio DJ .
Omar : My mom was a musical actress , too , but now , I don ’ t know .
Gabriel : My mom is Sweet Tiongson she plays a lot of stuff . She ’ s with The CompanY . So I was born into acting .
How do you feel about performing in Singapore and South Korea next ?
Kyle : I ’ m super excited because I haven ’ t been to Singapore and South Korea . I was so excited when I knew that we were going there .
Uma : Can ’ t wait to get to these places ‘ coz I get to try new things and what they do .
Sheena : I was really excited ! I ’ ve been to Singapore , and I ’ m really happy to make an adventure again and to come with my friends .
JJ : I ’ m really excited at the same time , thankful to God , without Him I couldn ’ t have done anything of this . I also liked it because I ’ ve never been to Singapore , ever . ●
- N . Tomada , PS