Nyoy Volante glad controversy with ex-gf Nina simmered down

NYOY VOLANTE says he turned down the pivotal role of Uznavi, the Latino narrator in the Broadway musical “In the Heights” when it was first offered to him by Director Bobby Garcia. “I was doing ‘Hairspray’ for him when he told me about it. I felt hindi ko kaya kasi most of the songs are rap, which is not my forte kasi mabilis ang delivery at ang hahaba pa ng lyrics, e hindi rin ako magaling mag-memorize. But he wouldn’t take no for an answer so I took it na lang as a challenge. Now, I’ve memorized na all the songs and enjoying ako.”

Nyoy has done other musicals before like “Dreamgirls”, “Rent” and “Legally Blonde” but he considers “In the Heights” the most demanding of all. “I’m the owner of a bodega where all the characters congregate and we do song and dance numbers with salsa, merengue and soul music flavour. On Broadway, the role was originally played by the composer himself, Lin Manuel Miranda, and he’s a genius. I’m paired here with Ima Castro and I’m glad to work with such a powerful performer.”

Nyoy is happy that the controversy involving him and ex-GF Nina is over after he revealed in a previous interview that he was actually paying Nina’s folks. “Hindi na sila sumagot after that so tapos na,” he says. He also enjoyed working as the musical director of Jovit Baldivino’s concerts and is doing a new album that he hopes to release before the year ends. To find out more about his gigs, you can visit his website at nyoyvolanteonline.com. For tickets to “In the Heights” shown at RCBC Theatre Makati starting September 2, call Atlantis, 892-7078 and 840-1187.