In the Philippine musical theater scene, Shiela Valderrama and Arman Ferrer are undisputed stars.
Shiela’s own career spans decades. Coming up through major musicals — Cinderella, Fame, Aladdin, The Secret Garden, and Passion among so many others — she has established herself as a versatile lead. Even in Filipino musical theater, she has been cast as Lily in Binondo: A Tsinoy Musical and Ligaya in Maynila sa Kuko ng Liwanag.
Arman began his journey in 2010 with Tanghalang Ateneo’s Walang Sugat as Tenyong before moving into larger professional productions, reprising that role with Tanghalang Pilipino at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). Since then, he appeared in roles in A Christmas Carol for 9Works and Mabining Mandirigma at the CCP. He took leading roles in original Filipino musicals including Maynila: Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag and Binondo: A Tsinoy Musical under Joel Lamangan’s direction. He likewise starred as the title character in Lapu Lapu at the Metropolitan Theater.
Most recently, both singers starred in Rama, Hari. Shiela as Sita, her dream role, and Arman opposite her as Rama. It was a production featuring works by five National Artists of Philippine theater: Alice Reyes (dance) led the concept, choreography, and direction, as she tapped four other National Artists, to include Ryan Cayabyab (music), Salvador Bernal (theater design), Bienvenido Lumbera (literature) and Rolando Tinio (theater and literature).
However, Shiela and Arman have their own share of solo projects, all worthy of acclaim on their own. Just last year, she launched her own solo concert entitled Part of My World. She has also performed internationally with Disney Orchestra concerts and staged her own solo concert recitals that touched on OPM, Broadway, and musical theatre standards. He has likewise appeared in concerts such as The Best of Opera at Resorts World Manila.
Through the years, the duo appeared together in a range of musicals and live performances — corporate events, benefit concerts, and themed shows. Late last year, they presented a full-length concert As We Are, for the first occasion as co-headliners, at the Maybank Performing Arts Theater, Globe Auditorium.
In As We Are, the setlist was the definite star. The concert opened with Broadway favorites such as “Tonight,” “I Dreamed a Dream,” “If I Loved You,” “Corner of the Sky,” “Take Me As I Am,” and “Last Night of the World.” These prime examples of classic musical theater writing brought nostalgia, as it established their tone and vocal clarity early in the evening.
This was followed by an Filipino pop series which included “Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika,” “Dadalhin,” “How Did You Know,” “Please Be Careful with My Heart,” “Bituing Walang Ningning,” and “Be My Lady.”
Shiela’s solo opened with “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “Wizard and I,” while Arman’s first solitary segment spotlighted on “Sometimes Somewhere,” which highlighted their mastery of the stage.
The program then shifted to a well-loved hummable Disney In the Philippine musical theater scene, Shiela Valderrama and Arman Ferrer are undisputed stars.
Shiela’s own career spans decades. Coming up through major musicals — Cinderella, Fame, Aladdin, The Secret Garden, and Passion among so many others — she has established herself as a versatile lead. Even in Filipino musical theater, she has been cast as Lily in Binondo: A Tsinoy Musical and Ligaya in Maynila sa Kuko ng Liwanag.
Arman began his journey in 2010 with Tanghalang Ateneo’s Walang Sugat as Tenyong before moving into larger professional productions, reprising that role with Tanghalang Pilipino at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). Since then, he appeared in roles in A Christmas Carol for 9Works and Mabining Mandirigma at the CCP. He took leading roles in original Filipino musicals including Maynila: Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag and Binondo: A Tsinoy Musical under Joel Lamangan’s direction. He likewise starred as the title character in Lapu Lapu at the Metropolitan Theater.
Most recently, both singers starred in Rama, Hari. Shiela as Sita, her dream role, and Arman opposite her as Rama. It was a production featuring works by five National Artists of Philippine theater: Alice Reyes (dance) led the concept, choreography, and direction, as she tapped four other National Artists, to include Ryan Cayabyab (music), Salvador Bernal (theater design), Bienvenido Lumbera (literature) and Rolando Tinio (theater and literature).
However, Shiela and Arman have their own share of solo projects, all worthy of acclaim on their own. Just last year, she launched her own solo concert entitled Part of My World. She has also performed internationally with Disney Orchestra concerts and staged her own solo concert recitals that touched on OPM, Broadway, and musical theatre standards. He has likewise appeared in concerts such as The Best of Opera at Resorts World Manila.
Through the years, the duo appeared together in a range of musicals and live performances — corporate events, benefit concerts, and themed shows. Late last year, they presented a full-length concert As We Are, for the first occasion as co-headliners, at the Maybank Performing Arts Theater, Globe Auditorium.
In As We Are, the setlist was the definite star. The concert opened with Broadway favorites such as “Tonight,” “I Dreamed a Dream,” “If I Loved You,” “Corner of the Sky,” “Take Me As I Am,” and “Last Night of the World.” These prime examples of classic musical theater writing brought nostalgia, as it established their tone and vocal clarity early in the evening.
This was followed by an Filipino pop series which included “Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika,” “Dadalhin,” “How Did You Know,” “Please Be Careful with My Heart,” “Bituing Walang Ningning,” and “Be My Lady.”
Shiela’s solo opened with “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “Wizard and I,” while Arman’s first solitary segment spotlighted on “Sometimes Somewhere,” which highlighted their mastery of the stage.
The program then shifted to a well-loved hummable Disney In the Philippine musical theater scene, Shiela Valderrama and Arman Ferrer are undisputed stars.
Shiela’s own career spans decades. Coming up through major musicals — Cinderella, Fame, Aladdin, The Secret Garden, and Passion among so many others — she has established herself as a versatile lead. Even in Filipino musical theater, she has been cast as Lily in Binondo: A Tsinoy Musical and Ligaya in Maynila sa Kuko ng Liwanag.
Arman began his journey in 2010 with Tanghalang Ateneo’s Walang Sugat as Tenyong before moving into larger professional productions, reprising that role with Tanghalang Pilipino at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). Since then, he appeared in roles in A Christmas Carol for 9Works and Mabining Mandirigma at the CCP. He took leading roles in original Filipino musicals including Maynila: Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag and Binondo: A Tsinoy Musical under Joel Lamangan’s direction. He likewise starred as the title character in Lapu Lapu at the Metropolitan Theater.
Most recently, both singers starred in Rama, Hari. Shiela as Sita, her dream role, and Arman opposite her as Rama. It was a production featuring works by five National Artists of Philippine theater: Alice Reyes (dance) led the concept, choreography, and direction, as she tapped four other National Artists, to include Ryan Cayabyab (music), Salvador Bernal (theater design), Bienvenido Lumbera (literature) and Rolando Tinio (theater and literature).
However, Shiela and Arman have their own share of solo projects, all worthy of acclaim on their own. Just last year, she launched her own solo concert entitled Part of My World. She has also performed internationally with Disney Orchestra concerts and staged her own solo concert recitals that touched on OPM, Broadway, and musical theatre standards. He has likewise appeared in concerts such as The Best of Opera at Resorts World Manila.
Through the years, the duo appeared together in a range of musicals and live performances — corporate events, benefit concerts, and themed shows. Late last year, they presented a full-length concert As We Are, for the first occasion as co-headliners, at the Maybank Performing Arts Theater, Globe Auditorium.
In As We Are, the setlist was the definite star. The concert opened with Broadway favorites such as “Tonight,” “I Dreamed a Dream,” “If I Loved You,” “Corner of the Sky,” “Take Me As I Am,” and “Last Night of the World.” These prime examples of classic musical theater writing brought nostalgia, as it established their tone and vocal clarity early in the evening.
This was followed by an Filipino pop series which included “Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika,” “Dadalhin,” “How Did You Know,” “Please Be Careful with My Heart,” “Bituing Walang Ningning,” and “Be My Lady.”
Shiela’s solo opened with “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “Wizard and I,” while Arman’s first solitary segment spotlighted on “Sometimes Somewhere,” which highlighted their mastery of the stage.
The program then shifted to a well-loved hummable Disney medley with “Go the Distance,” “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” “Reflection,” “I See the Light,” “Love is an Open Door,” and “A Whole New World,” with both artists embracing their elegant yet whimsical sides.
We appreciate the inclusion of Pinoy musicals — to give them the exposure they deserve — which drew directly from their shared theatrical history. Selections included “Iisang Tibok” from Rama, Hari, “Eternity” from Binondo, “Kumusta Ka” from Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag, and “Paalam na Pag-ibig” from Noli Me Tangere.
The intimate concert continued with the versatile gentleman’s “Someone to Fall Back On,” followed by a duet of “You Matter to Me,” before the accomplished lady of the evening returned with “She Used to Be Mine.”
A Christmas segment closed the show with “Pasko na Sinta Ko,” leading into an encore of “Seasons of Love” — wherein amidst applause and cheers, family and friends poured to the stage and sang along — which ended the evening on a collective note.
Backed by a single pianist, a dear friend in the person of EJ Yatco, who is a musical director by trade, As We Are signaled a step toward larger-scale concert productions for both performers.
In fact, the pair announced their upcoming pre-Valentine’s concert on 13 February, to be held at the same theater, promising an expanded program and production, and we already know the quality to expect, yet are still wanting for more.
¡Enhorabuena, Shiela and Arman!