Aug 042014
 
Mark Bautista (MNS Photo)

Mark Bautista (MNS Photo)

MANILA (Mabuhay) — Singer-actor Mark Bautista is playing former president Ferdinand Marcos in the upcoming London production of “Here Lies Love”, a musical inspired by his former First Lady Imelda Marcos.

This was announced by the UK-based The Public Theatre that is staging the musical at the newly refurbished Dorfman Theatre (formerly Cottesloe) starting October 13 through January 8 next year.

Also starring in “Here Lies Love” are Natalie Mendoza (Imelda Marcos) and Dean John-Wilson (Ninoy Aquino). Other cast members named are Gia Macuja Atchison, Lauren Chia, Christopher Chung, Julius Ebreo, Jim Ferrer, Li-Tong Hsu, Kok-Hwa Lie, Frances Mayli McCann, Aaron Jan Mercado, Martin Sarreal, Julie Yammanee, and Sunny Yeo.

Currently a mainstay of GMA Network’s weekend variety show “Sunday All-Stars”, Mark first became known when he made the grand finals of the reality talent search show, “Star for a Night” where he placed second to Sarah Geronimo.

Mark went on to have a successful career in both singing and acting on films and teleseryes. Among his OPM hits were “Baliw”, “Ako’y Maghihintay” (a duet with Sarah), “Sana’y Dinggin Mo,” “Kahit May Mahal Ka ng Iba” and “Bakit”.

In 2004, he was cast as the title character in a big screen adaptation of Mars Ravelo’s “Lastikman”, a role that was previously played by Vic Sotto and, later, Vhong Navarro.

Nine years later in 2013, Mark later received rave reviews in his theatrical debut in Viva Atlantis’ stage adaptation of “The Full Monty”.

With his casting in “Here Lies Love”, Mark follows to the West End another “Sunday All Stars” pillar and fellow Viva talent, Rachelle Ann Go, who is currently wowing audiences as Gigi Van Tranh in the revival of “Miss Saigon”.

Natalie Mendoza, who will portray The Imeldific One, is a Hong Kong-born Australian actress and musician best known for her performances in the British drama series “Hotel Babylon” and the horror thrillers “The Descent” and “The Descent Part 2”.

Dean John-Wilson, who will play Ninoy Aquino, was a semifinalist in Series 2 of “Britain’s Got Talent”. He also appeared in the UK productions of “Sister Act: The Musical” and “From Here to Eternity The Musical”.

In a report by Baz Bamigboye of TheDailyMail.co.uk, “Here Lies Love” director Alex Timbers travelled around the world to find his cast. Two members of the ensemble came from the Philippines, one from Hong Kong, two from Holland and the remainder from the UK.

Auditions in Manila were held early this month, which was also overseen by legendary alternative musician David Byrne who wrote the musical together with Norman Cook a.k.a. Fatboy Slim. (MNS)

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