![]() What were your initial thoughts and trepidations, if any, about playing such a revered public figure? Ninoy Aquino is an icon and national hero. ![]() And being compared to David Byrne and Elvis Costello?! Jesus. So it’s cool to hear he liked what I did. I like the way he talks about craft in addition to just reacting to shows. That’s awesome! I love reading Ben Brantley’s reviews. Ha! I didn’t read the reviews! I heard we got generally good reviews but didn’t hear any specifics until you mentioned it. What was your reaction when you read the reviews-The New York Times’ Ben Brantley (“A very good Conrad Ricamora”) and Vogue’s Adam Green (“The terrific Conrad Ricamora looks like a cross between Elvis Costello and Byrne himself”)? Jose Llana shone as Ferdinand Marcos, of course, but it was also gratifying to watch Conrad, Ruthie (it is tough to fill the Imelda’s larger-than-life shoes, so to speak, but Ruthie does that nicely) and Melody Butiu (memorable as Estrella Cumpas, Imelda’s childhood nanny) and the rest of the talented cast. ![]() The show (ticket information on ) has already scooped multiple nominations from the Drama League and Outer Critics Circle Awards. While the show is a sobering eye opener for the new generations about the misdeeds of the Marcoses, it is, ironically, also an exhilarating experience. “Here Lies Love,” propelled by Byrne and Fatboy Slim’s pulsating music, Alex Timbers’ inventive direction, David Korins’ highly creative scenic design (the actors, audience and stages move in various combinations around the room, which is done a la disco club, throughout the show) and Clint Ramos’ costumes, has been extended for a third time, to June 30. To its credit, the “Here Lies Love” cast, not just Conrad, and the show itself, have been winning praises since it opened at The Public Theater in New York City last month. Conrad, a California native, said, “It’s a huge honor to be in the same sentence as Tom Hanks and Ruthie, and fellow Philly actor Rob McClure!” LOS ANGELES-Vogue raved about him as being “terrific.” The New York Times found him “very good.” Conrad Ricamora, Filipino-American actor currently generating acclaim as the late Ninoy Aquino in David Byrne’s hit off-Broadway musical on Imelda Marcos, “Here Lies Love,” exclaimed about the pressure of playing the national hero: “If I thought about playing Ninoy the icon and national hero every day, I wouldn’t be able to get out of bed in the morning!”Īs I write this, Conrad, Ruthie Ann Miles, who plays Imelda in “Here Lies Love,” Tom Hanks (for his play, “Lucky Guy”), Rob McClure (“Chaplin”) and several others have just been named by Theater World Awards among the winners for outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway debut performance in the 2012-13 theatrical season. I’ll take it.” photo by Joan Marcus/The Public Theater CONRAD Ricamora is being compared to Elvis Costello and David Byrne.
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