WATCH: Talented ‘Annie’ kid stars sing ‘Tomorrow’

Vernise Tantuco

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WATCH: Talented ‘Annie’ kid stars sing ‘Tomorrow’

Alecs Ongcal

Isabeli Araneta Elizalde and Krystal Brimner are set to star in Resorts World Manila's production of 'Annie' in September

MANILA, Philippines – Annie and her orphan friends are taking the stage this September in Resorts World Manila’s production of the musical, starring Krystal Brimner from Honor Thy Father and newcomer Isabeli Araneta Elizalde.

The two 10-year-olds were chosen out of 500 auditionees and are joining 12 other kids in the cast.

 

Krystal, who starred opposite John Lloyd-Cruz in the 2015 Metro Manila Film Festival entry Honor Thy Father, said that performing live onstage is more challenging than shooting a movie.

“A movie and a stage performance is different, because [in] a production, there’s no takes and cuts… there’s no room for mistakes. And you gotta go on, even if you got wrong in a line, you just have to continue,” she explained to the press on Tuesday, May 31.

“It’s more nervous-ing on stage,” said the young Filipino-Scottish actress to the amused media. “Because it’s like a big book. It’s a big story, so I have lots of lines since I’m the lead role, so it’s nervous-ing.”

On the other hand, this is Isabeli’s first major role, but she has starred in her school plays in the past. Isabeli is the daughter of Bianca Araneta and Juan Elizalde.

“Well, my parents and I were all proud, we were all proud when I got the role. And my mom started sending messages to all our relatives that I got the role,” shared Isabeli, giggling.

Aside from height, age, and talent, director Michael Stuart Williams said that Isabeli and Krystal were chosen because some of their traits were similar to Annie’s: “They were the ones that had the most personality for it. If you can tell, Isabeli is very plucky, she’s got a very strong personality, right? Si Krystal naman (Krystal, on the other hand), there’s a gentleness to her, a nurturing quality to her. And both characteristics are very strong in Annie.”

Isabeli and Krystal are following in the footsteps of Lea Salonga, who played the title role in the first Manila production of Annie in 1980.

Aside from the kids, actors Michael de Mesa, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Jill Pena, and Mako Alonso will play the adult characters in the play.

Annie is set to open on September 30 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Resorts World Manila.

What do you think of Krystal and Isabeli’s performance? Will you be catching Annie when it opens in September? Let us know in the comments! – Rappler.com

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Mayuko Yamamoto

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Vernise Tantuco

Vernise Tantuco is on Rappler's Research Team, fact checking suspicious claims, wrangling data, and telling stories that need to be heard.