The main basis for the Top 10 Philippine Male Theater Performers is the fan base garnered from the number of likes on Facebook and number of followers on Twitter. Some of the performers listed have established a strong following on Twitter. Others have earned likes on Facebook
10. Mig Ayesa – 3,530 Facebook likes; 2,786 Twitter followers
Previous works: Burn The Floor; Annie
Claim to Fame: We Will Rock You; Rock of Ages
He first found global fame as one of the finalists of the reality singing competition “Rockstar: INXS”. He eventually returned to musical theater after finishing as the show’s runner-up. Prior to joining the reality show, he was already gaining a foothold in the Australian theater scene through “We Will Rock You”, a hit musical featuring Queen’s greatest hits. He then reprised his role as Stacie Jaxx in the Manila edition of the hit musical “Rock of Ages”. This made him more worthy of getting included in the Top 10 Philippine Male Theater Performers.
9. Nyoy Volante – 6,754 Facebook likes; 9,475 Twitter followers
Previous Works: In The Heights, Legally Blonde The Musical, Kanser
Claim to Fame: Rent, Rock of Ages, Shrek The Musical
Most fans still remember Nyoy Volante as that acoustic singer that can steal your heart away. The ability to make girls swoon with that lovestruck stare was a skill he found useful in “Rent” and later “Rock of Ages”. But it’s obviously not enough as if he surprised everyone upon accepting the role of Donkey in “Shrek The Musical”. If you wanted to keep your place among the Top 10 Philippine Male Theater Performers today, find ways to shy away from conventional leading men roles once in a while. It worked for him.
8. Ricci Chan – 559 Facebook likes; 18.4K Twitter followers
Previous Works: Temptation Island (CCP Version), All About Men: Penis Talks 1, All About Men: Penis Talks 2
Claim to Fame: ZsaZsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal, Rent
He gave life to pseudo-karaoke musicals like “All About Men: Penis Talks 1” and “All About Men: Penis Talks 2” (alternate title: “All About Men: Penis Talks Reloaded”). Ricci Chan has his spot reserved in the list of Top 10 Philippine male theater performers so far for his memorable portrayal of street percussionist Angel in “Rent”. His role in “ZsaZsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal” as Ada’s best friend/wise-cracking sidekick Didi is as memorable as your wittiest gay friend. Snap, snap!
7. Kuya Manzano – 23,097 Facebook likes; 12.2K Twitter followers
Previous Works: (Opera) Dona Francisquita, Luisa Fernanda, Carmen; (Musicals) Seussical, Peter Pan, The Fantasticks
Claim to Fame: (Opera) Noli Me Tangere; (Musical) Marco Polo: An Untold Love Story
Originally from opera productions, Kuya Manzano’s love for Broadway musicals eventually paid off upon switching genres. Most of the musicals he got into were from Repertory Philippines. That opera background eventually helped the moment he assumed the role of Crisostomo Ibarra in one of the first performances of the opera version of “Noli Me Tangere” at the University of the Philippines. He was last seen in “Marco Polo: An Untold Love Story”. It was a production he already joined before as Baron Tegan. Upon getting called back to audition, he was cast as the fictional version of the Mongolian emperor, Kublai Khan. The kind of versatility he possesses secures his place among the top 10 Philippine male theater performers.
6. Gian Magdangal – 628 Facebook likes; 119K Twitter followers
Previous Works: Kaos, Footloose, The Little Mermaid, Once On This Island
Claim to Fame: The Wedding Singer, West Side Story
Most television viewers may remember him now as one of the mainstay performers of the defunct Party Pilipinas. He was also one of the finalists for the first season of Philippine Idol. But he was already into musical theater prior to gaining a spot in the reality TV show. He is one of the reasons why theater afficionados went out of their way to see him in Adam Sandler’s title role in The Wedding Singer. He got included into Rent as well, proving that his pop idol charm has transcended into musical theater indeed and into the top 10 Philippine male theater performers today.
5. Guji Lorenzana – 4,615 Facebook likes; 138K Twitter followers
Previous Works: Legally Blonde, Believe The Pop Musical
Claim to Fame: Grease
From getting into a boy band (Boys Voiz) to modelling, Guji Lorenzana was one half of the Lorenzana siblings that joined the Blind Auditions for The Voice of the Philippines Season 1 (the other half is Grace). With a budding career as singer-actor, musical theater becomes a sensible career option. He receive positive reviews about his portrayal of Danny Zuko (hair grease and all) in 9Works Production of “Grease”. It would be exciting to see how far can he go now that he is in the top 10 Philippine male theater performers today.
4. Tom Rodriguez – 115121 Facebook likes, 275K Twitter followers
Previous Work: The Addams Family The Musical
Claim to Fame: Aladdin
From being a member of the boy band Boys Voiz to becoming a housemate in Pinoy Big Brother Double Up to becoming a massive TV star in the gay-themed primetime soap “My Husband’s Lover” (MHL), the public often forgets that he got into musical theater too. He surprised everyone else including his own family upon joining the cast of Atlantis Productions’ “Aladdin”. They never heard him sing before, not even in his PBB stint. More than a year after MHL concluded, fans still call him “beh” (short for “baby”, the term of endearment that his character, Vincent Soriano, used in the soap). And he should return to musical theater to further imprint his stature among the top 10 Philippine male theater performers. If “Hair” gets staged on Philippine shores, he should audition seeing that taking off his undies will not be a problem for him.
3. Markki Stroem – 289K Facebook likes, 141K Twitter followers
Previous Works: Camp Rock The Musical; Carrie The Musical
Claim to Fame: Next to Normal
Markki Stroem found fame first as a finalist on Pilipinas Got Talent. He melted hearts, caused panties to drop and pushed ovaries to implode with his crooning voice. His musical theater debut, Atlantis Productions’ “Next to Normal” turned out to be a strong start for his first professional theater gig. His only other gigs involving theater are school plays. Soon other roles in the same theater company followed. No wonder expectations are high for him as an actor now that his next musical will be in Tagalog – Dalanghita Productions’ “Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady: The Musical” running from May 7, 2015 to June 7, 2015.
How long can Stroem keep his spot among the top 10 Philippine male theater performers? The best way to find out is by seeing “Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady: The Musical” in the flesh. Click here to buy tickets.
2. Sam Concepcion – 421,151 Facebook likes, 1.46M Twitter followers
Previous Works: N.O.A.H.; High School Musical; Ragnarok; Peter Pan and the Time Machine; Mr. Noah’s Big Boat; First Name; Sino Ka Ba, Jose Rizal?
Claim to Fame: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe; Peter Pan
As a kid, Sam Concepcion was almost a regular in musical plays staged by Audie Gemora’s Trumpets Productions. He then bagged the top prize at the singing competition “Little Big Star”, winning over early favorite Charice Pempengco. Television gigs and endorsements later, he was seen in the film “I Do Bi Doo Bi Doo” – a musical that celebrated the songs of Apo Hiking Society. Sealing his name among the top 10 Philippine male theater performers today with his experience spanning years, he bagged the title role in “Peter Pan” and made it his own.
1. Christian Bautista – 23,357 Facebook likes; 2.29M Twitter followers
Previous Works: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe; Joseph The Dreamer; West Side Story; Ghost The Musical
Claim to Fame: Cinderella; The Kitchen Musical
After enjoying international success as a pop star crooner, musical theater is still something Christian Bautista loved doing. He got into “The Kitchen Musical”, a TV series in the tradition of Glee. It featured him as one of the chefs singing while cooking. Top 10 Philippine male theater performers is where Christian Bautista is at. His stint as the Prince Charming in Resort World Manila’s “Cinderella” served as the icing on the cake. Pun intended.
