How Filipino talent continues to bring magic to HK Disneyland
By Rony Fortich
Philippine Daily Inquirer
RONY FORTICH, now on
his seventh year as music director of Hong Kong Disneyland
In 2005, I was one of hundreds of
Filipinos auditioning for a job at Hong Kong Disneyland.
I didn’t have to dance or sing, but the
nerves and nausea were still there. You see, my audition for musical director
was to run the audition, as Disney executives observed. It involved sight
reading, teaching songs and working with the singers.
Among them was Ralion Alonso, theater
actor and TV personality. I remember nervously whispering to him and other
friends that day: “Hey guys, this is my audition too!”
JC Santos
Luckily, I didn’t have to wait too long
before I found out that I had gotten in. And so did Ral. We were all excited,
but truth is, nobody back then really knew what to expect from the job. We just
knew we were gonna have fun.
Who knew that fun would be just the tip of
the castle? The job would change our lives.
Grand
Opening team
The Grand Opening team, as we called the
group that opened Hong Kong Disneyland, had many talented Filipinos from many
different dance groups, theater companies, and orchestras.
THE GOLDEN
Mickeys—which, from the opening of Hong Kong Disneyland in 2005, has included a
good number of Filipino cast members. That’s Pheona Baranda in the center
foreground.
Dancers were from Power Dance, Ballet
Philippines and Hotlegs, among others. Musicians came from the University of the
Philippines, University of Santo Tomas, Manila Philharmonic Orchestra,
Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra and popular jazz bands like Ugoy Ugoy.
Vocalists came from all around too,
including companies like Repertory Philippines, Atlantis Productions and
Trumpets. I had worked with many of them in my time in the Manila theater scene,
and I was thrilled to see them everyday at work.
On board in 2005 were two of Manila’s
finest leading men of the theater, Noel Rayos and Roy Rolloda. I had worked with
belters Jinky Llamanzares and Tex Ordonez in the Manila production of
“Dreamgirls.” Thespians Pheona Baranda and Shiela Valderrama were also part of
that opening team. They kicked things off and soon, others would follow.
Ralion
Alonzo
Over the next seven years, other familiar
faces from Manila’s theater scene would lend their voices to the entertainment
world of HK Disneyland. Leading ladies Cris Villonco and Maita Ponce and theater
heartthrob Felix Rivera have all essayed roles on the “Golden Mickeys” stage.
Kakki Teodoro of “Batibot” fame sang and danced in the “High School Musical”
show.
Theater-pop artists like Anna Fegi joined
the cast of the “Festival of the Lion King,” and Raki Vega was in the “Golden
Mickeys,” too. Their performances, along with those of the other Filipinos in
the shows and parades all over the theme park, have earned much praise from
Disney executives, guests from all over the world, and fellow Filipinos.
Their success is quite a tribute really to
the Filipino dance groups, theater companies and orchestras that had prepared
them all so well.
Felix
Rivera
Incredible memories
But recognition is only part of what draws
hundreds of performers every year to Disneyland auditions. Walt Disney said, “My
business is making people, especially children, happy.” And that’s it. That’s
the key.
When your job is not only doing something
you love to do, but making incredible memories for kids, young and old, to take
back home, to look back on, to share—that’s the real fun. You put your marquee
name aside for a while and become a Disneyland cast member, the heart of which
is much more than just performing. It’s changing other people’s lives.
For any cast member who has had a great
day at work, there is for sure a guest who has gone home with a smile. And for
any guest who has had an incredible day at Hong Kong Disneyland, there is for
sure a Filipino cast member who has played a part in that.
And that, in a word, is magical.
The author is on his seventh year as music
director of Hong Kong Disneyland.
