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Shiela Valderrama Martinez ends 2024 with a busy schedule

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Shiela Valderrama Martinez

Leah C. Salterio

“Part of My World,” the title of Shiela Valderrama-Martinez&#x27;s concert Thursday night, the second in the CCP’s “Triple Threats” series, holds a lot of meaning for the singer-actress. It was the song she rendered in her very first professional audition.“My concert will be a journey of my career, so I’m inviting my audience to see and be a part of my world,” Valderrama-Martinez told ABS-CBN News. “I’m a Disney girl through and through. I’ve done a number of Disney Princess roles in the past.“I was among the pioneer vocalists of Hong Kong Disney shows and the past two years, I’ve performed at the Disney Orchestra Concerts abroad.”The last quarter of the year is never less busy for Valderrama-Martinez before she ends 2024.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1729145347335IMG_7245.jpg" style="width:633px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Shiela Valderrama-Martinez."/><span style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">Shiela Valderrama-Martinez.After wrapping up the 9 Works Theatrical musical, “Once On This Island” in September, Valderrama-Martinez embarked on a performance tour for “Rama Hari” before her “Triple Threats” concert at the CCP. </div>“We closed ‘Once on This Island’ last September 29 at the RCBC Theater and I just have to say that I was thrilled to do this production because the character of Erzulie, whom I played, has always been in my bucket list of roles.“Then we left for the Visayan tour of ‘Rama Hari’ last October 2 for about two weeks. Performances were in Dumaguete at Silliman University and Bacolod at St. La Salle University.”Valderrama-Martinez was excited because in this recent run of &quot;Rama Hari,&quot; she did dual roles, playing Sita and Kaikeyi.“It was my first time to visit Dumaguete and I’ve always wanted to perform at Silliman University, that’s why I looked forward to that,” she said. &quot;Plus I got to visit Bacolod again, my hometown.”“After that, I start shooting the Netflix series &quot;Buy Bust&quot; by director Erik Matti,” Valderrama-Martinez added. “After my concert, the other series, &quot;Bag Man&quot; that we just wrapped up filming, will be aired this year, as well. It’s also ‘Ber’ months so I’m gearing up for the busy events season.”In September next year, Valderrama-Martinez announced she will reprise her role of Fosca in Stephen Sondheim’s “Passion,” with its affecting themes of love, betrayal, manipulation and obsession.Valderrama-Martinez was surprised and excited after she was offered to perform for the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) “Triple Threats” series on October 17.“It’s an honor to be invited and be given this grant by the CCP,” Valderrama-Martinez said. “This was something I hoped someday would do and it happened.“Amazing. I’m so grateful to Sir Dennis Marasigan, Sir Ariel Yonzon (of the CCP) and the entire CCP artistic team and Board for choosing me and for this wonderful opportunity.”The last time Valderrama-Martinez did a solo musical concert was at The Ruins in Bacolod, produced by Stages, her talent management outfit. She also did “That Fair Lady” for One Night Stand, the first show held in their El Pueblo branch.Valderrama-Martinez’s concert director, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, was her personal choice. “Menchu was the first person I thought of to direct my concert the minute I got the invite,” Valderrama-Martinez admitted.“Menchu is the First Lady of Philippine Theater and one of the first ones to do the CCP ‘Triple Threats’ concert series. In Menchu’s words, she has seen me grow up in the business and witnessed my career.“She’s a role model for us following the leading lady footsteps, so who better to direct my concert, right? Not to mention she’s a brilliant director, very hands-on and meticulous. She also gathered a fabulous team to work with us on this concert. So I know I’m in good hands.”Valderrama-Martinez and Lauchengco-Yulo have done quite a few shows together, all the way from “Secret Garden” in 2001, to “Godspell” and several events and concerts.“Menchu has a vision that I trust, but she’s very collaborative, which is great,” Valderrama-Martinez said. “I have a ‘yes’ girl mentality when work. I try before I say I can’t do it. Mench constantly reminds me to say what I want or say if I’m not comfortable.”Working as musical director for “Part of My World” is Rony Fortich, who brainstormed with Valderrama-Martinez to finalize her set list for the concert.“Just like Menchu, Rony was the MD I first called when I got invited,” shared Valderrama-Martinez. “Rony and I have known each other and worked together a long time.“We worked in Disney, he has worked as musical director in many of my shows, including my solo concert at The Ruins. So he knows my personality, my voice and range.“We brainstormed for the set list. Songs that I love, songs that they felt would fit the show and that suits my voice. It’s funny because when we were finalizing the line-up, Rony had these little pieces of paper with all the titles while we discussed and debated the order of the songs.“That was me, Rony, Mench and Tita Luna Inocian, who is my show writer. It was like a puzzle the sequencing: which song would musically flow, would fit the story thread of the show, would make sense blocking wise and we had to factor in the wardrobe change and plotting the vocal endurance.”Valderrama-Martinez’s set list for her “Triple Threats” concert will be a surprise. She will perform with an 11-piece orchestra.“Orchestral arrangements will be done by JC Celeste,” offered Valderrama-Martinez. “I will be singing with guests who are my best friends in the industry. My incredible leading men – Arman Ferrer, Floyd Tena and David Ezra – my fellow leading ladies Carla Guevara-Laforteza and Yanah Laurel.”The Anthology choir led by her good friend John Mojica, as well as her husband Lorenz Martinez and daughter Simone Martinez, will also be part of the show.Valderrama-Martinez’s “Part of My World” goes onstage October 17, Thursday at the CCP Blackbox Theater.<div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2024/7/25/ccp-s-triple-threats-feat-carla-guevara-laforteza-moved-to-aug-11-1148" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">CCP&#x27;s Triple Threats feat. Carla Guevara-Laforteza moved to Aug. 11</a></div><div> </div>