Another great musical production, the Waitress, hitting its international premiere in Manila at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City this coming November 9, 2018. The show, which continues to perform for sold-out audiences on Broadway and across the USA, is also set to debut at London's West End in 2019 and in Australia in 2020.

This musical production is based on the beloved film by Adrienne Shelly and it features music and lyrics from 6-time Grammy nominee Sara Bareilles ("Love Song," "Brave"); and a book by Jessie Nelson. The show made history by having Broadway's first all-female creative team.



Waitress tells the story of a pie maker named Jenna who, despite the mundanity of her life, finds comfort and reckoning in the simple magic of baking. With the help of her two friends Dawn and Becky, she dreams of a way out of her loveless marriage and musters the courage to change her life for the better.

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One of the award winning international musical theatre star Joanna Ampil leads the show as Jenna. Some of her West End musical performances are Miss Saigon, Les Miserables, Avenue Q and Jesus Christ Superstar. She also played as Candida in the recent film Ang Larawan has won her numerous Best Actress Awards locally. Jenna will be her first role back in the local theatre scene after her stint as Grizabella in the international tour of Cats.

Another character in the musical is Becky, the sassy waitress and lovable friend of Jenna, which will be played by Bituin Escalante. One of the influential figure in OPM, Bituin has also made rounds in the theatre scene since 1999 and she said during our interview with her that before singing it was theater. She has starred in numerous Tony-winning shows in roles such as Joanne in Rent, Effie White in Dreamgirls, and Asaka in Once on this Island. Her recent performance as Aling Saling in Himala: The Musical has earned her critical acclaimed.

Maronne Cruz completes the trio characters in Waitress as plays the role of the neurotic and eccentric character of Dawn. Maronne is no stranger to musical theatre. She has appeared in numerous productions including Jeannie in Hair, Gabbi in Sa Wakas, Josephine in Ako Si Josephine, and Stepsister Joy in Cinderella.  She has also appeared in the indie film Mariquina as Monet and, most recently, performed in the hit musical Ang Huling El Bimbo.

Joe's Pie Diner would not be complete without the men of the show and joining the ladies are Bibo Reyes as Dr. Pomatter, Nino Alejandro as Ogie, George Schulze as Earl, Dean Rosen as Cal, and Steven Conde as Joe.

Waitress also features Luigi Quesada, Gerhard Krysstopher, Luis Marcelo, Emeline Celis Guinid, Teetin Villanueva, Sarah Facuri, and Jillian Ita-as.

It is under the direction of Bobby Garcia, Choreographed by Cecile Martinez, Set Design by Tony Award winner David Gallo, Lighting Design by Aaron Porter, Musical Direction by Farley Ascuncion, Costume Design by Raven Ong, Sound Design by Josh Millican, Hair and Make-up Design by Johann dela Fuente and Vocal Coaching  by Manman Angsico.

The international premiere of Waitress will run from November 9 to December 2 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati. For tickets, contact Ticketworld at (632) 891-9999 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph.

When The Force Awakens at Gateway Mall's cinema with the seventh installment of the Star Wars series, Manila got hit by heavy traffic... and it's hard. And Toto experienced that right before going to see the launching of this new cinema with astonishing Dolby Atmos technology. It was just great that the Force was much stronger in making me watch the movie.

Dolby Atmos is not new to me because I have featured it on www.grabtechdude.net but what's interesting is that the place is much nearer. So for those who are wondering how does this Dolby Atmos differs, here are some of the facts and things they say about it.

SPIT or the Silly People's Improv Theater and the PETA Theater Center proudly present the Manila Improv Festival 2013 as they celebrate their 11th year anniversary which will run from June 25 – 30, 2013.

Kwento Ni Toto's correspondent Justin was able to attend a press conference of the said event and was able to know the details about SPIT's 11th year anniversary. So, for this year there theme is entitled “Follow Your Feet”, an improvisational theater concept which also ties in with the art form's return to PETA – the group that first introduced the improvisational theater to the country in the early 70s. As SPIT takes more ground on a new decade of laughter and innovation, the group decided to take bolder step in sharing the art of improv to bigger audiences through the festival and its partnership with PETA Theater Center.

As the artistic director of the festival and founder of SPIT, Gabe Mercado, shares the vision of the festival “SPIT was founded back in June 2002, because I saw the need for a new kind of comedy – one that differed from the usual stand-up comedy routines that we are used to seeing on TV and comedy bars. Improv appealed to me because of its grounding on truth, the magic of spontaneity, and the fun that on-the-spot creation brings about. We hope events like these help build the improv community of the country and the region.”

Acoustic singer, TV and movie star and versatile theater actress Aiza Seguerra has been reaping critical acclaims for her musical theater performances. Recently, she has been awarded by Aliw Awards the Best Featured Performance in a Musical trophy for her stint as hippie Regina in the local staging of Rock of Ages.

For the readers who love to watch theater shows and acts, the Silly People's Improv Theater or SPIT will be having the MANILA IMPROV FEST 2012: The First Philippine International Improv Festival from June 28 to July 1 at the College of St. Benilde and at Quantum Cafe as part of their 10th anniversary celebration.

If you want to know more about the group and their upcoming event, here's their press release spitting out what's in it that celebration and what will people expect from the event.

Press Release
Silly People’s Improv Theater (SPIT), the county’s premiere improvisational theater troupe, will be celebrating its tenth anniversary by mounting the MANILA IMPROV FEST 2012: The First Philippine International Improv Festival, from June 28 to July 1 at the College of St. Benilde and at Quantum Cafe.

Founded by actor Gabe Mercado in June 2002, SPIT differs from the usual stand-up comedy routines as its performances fully involve the audience. SPIT performs scenes, songs and games completely based on audience suggestions, just like in the popular British and American show, “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”

Celebrating ten years of bringing their brand of improv theater to Metro Manila, SPIT is mounting the MANILA IMPROV FEST 2012, which will feature performances from improv groups from Cebu, Bacolod, Xiamen, Beijing, Hong Kong, Taichung and Los Angeles alongside SPIT.


The MANILA IMPROV FEST 2012 will also have workshops conducted by some notable improv practitioners, including Gabe Mercado, Gabby Fernandez of Bacolod’s Kinengkoy Comedy Express and internationally-renowned improv teachers Shaun Landry, Artistic Director of Oui Be Negroes and founder of The West Coast Improv Alliance, and Tom Farnan who has performed with The Second City, Annoyance Theater, IO and ComedySportz of Chicago and The Second City in Las Vegas.

The De La Salle - College of St. Benilde shall be hosting the Master Class Improvisation Workshops for long-time improv practitioners who wish to further hone their craft.

Performances shall be held at 8pm on June 28 and 29, 7pm on June 30 and 4pm on July 1, at Quantum Café at 9590 Kamagong St. corner Bagtikan St. in Makati City. Tickets for the performances are at 400 pesos.

For more information on the Manila Improv Fest 2012, Follow SPIT on Facebook (www.facebook.com/spitmanila),Twitter (www.twitter.com/spitmanila), and on their website (www.spitmanila.com)

You may also contact Tetel De Leon at 09152952033 for reservations.