JOSH SANTANA, a singer who forayed into acting as Carol Banawa’s leading man in the ABS-CBN soap, “Bituin”, some years ago, is back. He tries theatre for the first time in Atlantis Productions’ latest Broadway musical, “Aida”. “I play Mereb, a black slave in the Egyptian palace, so they’ll put black make up on me,” he says. “I serve the prince, played by DJ Myke Salomon, who falls in love with Aida, a Nubian slave. It will turn out kababayan ko pala si Aida and I’ll be the one to reveal na she’s actually a princess in Nubia. I’m really excited kasi ngayon lang ako nag-try ng theatre and I’m enjoying it. It’s my co-singer OJ Mariano, who urged me to take the audition and I’m glad kinuha ako ni Director Chari Arespacochaga who said my voice is really meant for theatre. Pero nahirapan din ako sa transition from just plain singing to doing it with acting on stage na iba ang projection. Buti my co-stars helped me, lalo na si Ima Castro who plays Aida. I have one solo number, one duet, and some production numbers with the ensemble cast.”
Josh has released an album of Spanish songs and will be doing a big project after “Aida” that he won’t reveal yet. Also in “Aida” are theatre stars Alys Serdenia, Jimmy Marquez, Delphine Buencamino, Sonjia Calit, Carlos Canlas, Raymund Concepcion, Johann de la Fuente, Jenny Jamore and Kakki Teodoro who’s Ate Maya of “Batibot”. “Aida” starts its run at RCBC Carlos Romulo Theatre in Makati this Friday, June 24. For tickets, call Atlantis at 892-7078.
