Felix Rivera: The theater heartthrob faces a new challenge

The theater heartthrob faces a new challenge
DIRECTLINE By Boy Abunda

Felix Rivera plays a Fil-Am in Spelling Bee

Theater heartthrob Felix Rivera takes on a new challenge as Chip Tolentino in Atlantis’ The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

As Fil-Am boy scout and spelling champion Chip which was originated on Broadway by Jose Llana, Felix says, “As intelligent and athletic as Chip is, he has yet to discover and deal with some of the realities of puberty which surprise him during the show.” Although Felix has performed in numerous musicals, Spelling Bee brings him new challenges. He explains, “The challenge with Avenue Q, aside from puppetry, was differentiating two roles. For Spelling Bee, the challenge is to create an organic character of a boy in puberty without trying too hard to act like a kid and end up irritating the audience.”

Also featured are Cathy Azanza, Pheona Baranda, Johann dela Fuente, Rycharde Everley, Carla Guevarra-Laforteza, Noel Rayos, Thea Tadiar Everley and Joel Trinidad.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is the Tony Award winning Broadway musical comedy about six adolescents vying for the top spot in a competitive county spelling bee. The kids are a lovable, disparate group of outsiders for whom the spelling bee is a way “to not feel rotten.” As the competition moves forward, there is a series of emotional highs and lows, and contestants sing and dance through these ups and downs. There’s also a group of grown-up characters who haven’t quite grown up, members of the audience and surprise celebrity guests. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee has music and lyrics by William Finn and a book by Rachel Sheinkin.

The Manila run of Spelling Bee marks Atlantis Productions’ 10th anniversary and is directed by Bobby Garcia, musical staging by Chari Arespacochaga, set design by Tuxqs Rutaquio, lighting design by Johnsy Reyes, costume design by Twinkle Zamora, vocal coaching by ManMan Angsico and musical direction by Jojo Malferari. Spelling Bee runs from March 20 to April 4 at Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati. For tickets, call Atlantis Productions at 892-7078 or 840-1187.

(Source: Philstar.com)

Tickets to the MARCH 27 (Friday), 8 p.m. show now available!

Ticket prices:
- Center orchestra - Php 1300
- Side orchestra - Php 1100
- Loge - Php 900
- Loge (Side & back row) - Php 700
- Balcony - Php 500

For reservations, call 0906-3414559 or email snazztastic.schizzle@gmail.com.