Markki Stroem Plays An Unscrupulous Talent Manager Who Will Exploit The Conjoined Twins In The Broadway Musical, 'Side Show'

MARKKI STROEM is a multi-media actor-singer who does films, TV shows, corporate hosting and stage musicals. He makes it a point to do theatre once a year, like “Next to Normal”, “Camp Rock”, “Carrie”, “Kung Paano Akong Naging Lady”, “Jersey Boys” and now, “Sideshow”, produced by Atlantis Theatrical and to start showing at RCBC Theatre Makati starting August 31.

Written by Bill Russell and music by Henry Krieger, “Sideshow” centers on conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton (played by Gab Pangilinan and Kayla Rivera) who try to overcome their being attached to each other and make a name for themselves in showbiz. Markki plays the role of Terry, a talent manager who exploits the twins. “Dinala ko sila sa showbiz, sa vaudeville,” he says. “May pagka-kontrabida yung role ko rito as I try to make Daisy fall in love with me just to persuade them to be managed by me.”

Does he enjoy doing theatre? “Very much, since I started with Repertory Philippines as a child actor when I was only 6 years old. I also enjoying doing live performances more, as the response of the audience inside the theatre is spontaneous. Sa soap, ngaragan ang taping, e ang dami ko pang events. I do hosting and singing kasi in corporate shows at kapag napagod ka sa taping, nawawala ang boses mo.”

After “Sideshow”, he’ll shoot a movie for Regal, the film version of “Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady”. “I will play the Bazooka Man, kasama ko sina Solenn Heussaff and Sam Milby, directed by Avid Liongoren of ‘Saving Sally’.”

He’s also a mentor in an online talent search, “Super K Star”, a contest for singers, along with Jay-R and KZ Tandingan. He also has a new single coming up, ‘Beautiful Tragic Memory’. “I did it in collaboration with Moira de la Torre. We’ve already shot the music video,” he adds.

Their director in “Side Show” is comparatively new, Steven Conde. How is he? “Magaling siya. He’s my co-actor in ‘Jersey Boys’ and has done straight plays before. This is his first musical and he’s an actor’s director as he’s very good in motivating us, all his actors.”

What play would he like to do later? “I saw the straight play ‘The Curious Incident of a Dog in the Night Time’ in London and I really want to play the lead role of Christopher John Francis Boone before I get too old. He’s a teenage mathematician na autistic, with Asperger’s or savant syndrome. He investigates the death of a neighbor’s dog and uncovers a lot of truth about himself and his parents in the process. It won 7 Olivier Awards and 5 Tony Awards including best play and best actor. I’m really hoping someone will stage it here soon.”

Get your tickets for “Side Show” at Ticketworld 891-9999.
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