Stages feels that their very own talent Christian Bautista perfectly fits the role of Tony in the musical play West Side Story, since the singer is tall, handsome, and has the makings of a perfect romantic leading man.
Hindi naman ikinaila ni Christian na may pressure sa kanyang part bilang male lead ng isang napakalaking musical play gaya ng West Side Story. Inamin niya ito during the press conference of West Side Story last night, June 26, at Centerstage on Tomas Morato, Quezon City.
"Ako po talaga, medyo pressured because it's my first time as a lead sa isang musical. And everyone has amazig talents. ‘Tapos yun nga, there's the dancing and then, there's Joanna Ampil that I haven't really worked with... Kay Karylle, medyo kumportable na ako. But with Joanna, I'm sure she's gonna bring everyone to a higher level again because she's that professional. Pero we help each other out and we calm each other. So I'm sure we can bring out our best."
Ang maganda lang daw, nagkaroon na si Christian ng pagkakataon na makilala si Joanna when he went to London and watched the West End production of Les Miserables. In fact, sa pagpapalitan ng e-mails ng executive producer ng West Side Story na si Audie Gemorania , nagpadala pa raw ng picture ang theater actress ng picture nila ni Christian sa London.
Kuwento ni Christian, "Well, I went to London for a show sa West End, nandoon ang lahat ng musicals. We watched Les Miserables kasi kakilala nga ng mga taga-Stages si Joanna Ampil and she played Fantine. Ang galing! Napakagaling!
"So we decided to meet her at the back stage and took pictures. But we never talked about West Side Story. Talagang we just congratulated her na ang galing-galing nga, it's a pride of Filipino."
Ibang level na raw ang naisip niya when he heard that Joanna will be alternating with Karylle as Maria.
"Kailangan sa pagkanta, sa pag-arte, mag-match kami. At yun nga ang pinaghahandaan ko. I'm doing voice lesson, acting lesson," sabi ni Christian.
Although he was sporting a Josh Groban hairstyle at the presscon, ayon kay Christian ay hanggang rehearsal lang daw puwede yung ganoong hairstyle. Kung meron man daw siyang dapat ibalik, ito ay yung ala-Josh Groban singing voice na kailangan sa musical play nila.
Christian is a regular performer in ABS-CBN's ASAP ‘08 while Karylle is a mainstay of GMA-7's SOP. Pero welcome para kay Christian ang napagsama ang both networks sa musical play na ito.
"Ako kasi, I love working with different kinds of people. Different ideas are exchanged, friendship are found. At yun nga, kahit minsan may rivalry ang mga network, natutuwa kami... whoever, never a rivalry between the artists. So maganda rin na ang Stages, isa yun sa gusto nilang ipakita that we can work together," pahayag ni Christian, na produkto ng Star In A Million.
Habang ginagawa raw nila ang West Side Story—that will run from from September to October 2008 at the Meralco Theater—wala raw muna silang ibang major projects na puwedeng gawin.
"Siguro po, if ever, mga one day show lang na hindi na kailangan ng rehearsal. Yung mga abroad, wala muna po. Wala munang mga major concerts."
Ayon kay Audie, bagamat pareho nang involved sina Christan at Karylle, wala muna raw dapat isipin na personal relationship ang dalawa since ang West Side Story ay modern-day retelling of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet sa upper west side of New York City instead of Verona. At siyempre, most part talaga will require kissing scenes by the two.
Napa-"ows!" halos lahat ng entertainment press nang itanggi ni Christian ang sinabi ni Audie na "involved" pa rin siya.
Aniya, "I'm not involved. Nagkamali lang si Kuya Audie. Yes, I'm single right now and I'm not seeing anyone now. I am concentrating on West Side Story," depensa agad ni Christian sa akala ng marami na sila pa rin ng kapwa niya singer na si Rachelle Ann Go.