Mark Bautista Wants To Return To London For Rerun Of 'Here Lies Love' And Also To Study Formal Acting

MARK BAUTISTA is both excited and challenged to feel the role of Nico, which was originally played by Christopher de Leon, in the stage version of "Bituing Walang Ningning". "Playing a role na ginampanan ng isang accomplished actor like Christopher de Leon puts a lot of pressure on me," he says. "But I welcome it kasi feeling ko, it's an affirmation na actor na rin nga ako. I'm thankful that playing the Cherie Gil role is Cris Villonco, na nakasama ko na before in the very first stage musical I did, 'Noli Me Tangere', where I played Crisostomo Ibarra and she was Maria Clara. She was very helpful to me then and alam kong magkakatulungan kami uli ngayon dito sa 'Bituing Walang Ningning'. We'll both help the newcomer chosen to play the lead role of Dorina, si Monica Cuenco, to make sure magiging successful talaga on stage ang 'Bituing Walang Ningning' that was such a huge blockbster as a movie."

He's just hoping that the play's run in June at the Newport Theatre in Resorts World will not coincide with the re-run of the musical he did at the National Theatre in London, "Here Lies Love", where he plays Ferdinand Marcos and got rave reviews for his performance. "It ran for six months and they said it will return this year, depende kung may bagong venue na makukuha. Sana huwag mataon sa theatre run ng 'Bituing Walang Ningning' kasi I'd really like to have the chance to reprise my role there."

Mark continues to cherish his stint in London where he had the chance to rub elbows with Oscar winners Helen Mirren ("The Queen") and Eddie Redmayne ("Theory of Everything", and Oscar nominees Benedict Cumberbatch ("Imitation Game") and Rosamunde Pike ("Gone Girl"). "It's a humbling experience meeting them kasi they're good because they all studied acting," he says. "Ako, I never studied acting formally so, given the chance, I'd like to go and study acting and theatre production at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London where most top British actors studied."

Aside from "Bituing Walang Ningning", Mark will also have a solo concert at Newport Theatre on May 29 that will show his rise to stardom from being a runnerup to Sarah Geronimo in "Star for a Night" more than ten years ago up to his success as leading man in London's "Here Lies Love". This will be directed by Freddie Santos and with Louie Ocampo as musical director.