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American producer and writer Barbara Oleynick admitted she was impressed when she heard the Filipino talents who auditioned to become part of her stage play The Miracle of Fatima The Musical.

Oleynick is set to bring her interpretation of the miraculous event in Fatima, Portugal, on October 13, 1917. Also called the Miracle of the Sun, the event gathered a large crowd in response to a prophecy made by three shepherd children named Lúcia Santos, and siblings Francisco and Jacinta Marto. The prophecy was that the Virgin Mary would appear and perform miracles on the said date.

On its Philippine run, The Miracle of Fatima The Musical will feature all-Filipino talents, who were personally handpicked by Oleynick.

“Unbelievably talented,” she said when asked about the Filipino actors after they were introduced at a media conference held recently.

She continued, “I just said to them in my many years of casting the show and holding an audition, I have a whole four to five months to get something I got yesterday. In one setting, I can cast the show. You heard the children, aren't they breathtaking?

The three young visionaries will be portrayed by two sets of young actors: Fatima Marie Mislang and Elia Ilano for Lucia; Sophia Marie Banaag and Ramjean Entera for Jacinta; and Prince España and Kian Co for Francisco.

Oleynick also expressed appreciation to supporting actors who attended the media conference despite the last-minute invitation.

She said about her all-Pinoy cast, “The talent here is stellar, absolutely stunning. These children, I worked with them via Zoom. We have maybe a total of eight hours rehearsal, that's all we had.

“The cast that you saw performed, they were at the auditions yesterday. Then, I woke up at 1:00 in the morning and said I'll just invite them and see if some of them want to join us. Then, people came. I think, it's because of their passion and they were grateful that we're doing this.”

Joining the young actors are Terrence Guillermo, Bem Sabanal, Radhni Tiplan, Bryant Aunor, Jerome Fugoso, Elinor Acorda, Jassy Calupitan, Malou Canzana, Sherryl Ilano, Karl Tiuseco, Joselito Reyes, Mary Grace Sy, Alex Payan, Amikah Brigette Aunor, Maria Krischellei Robles, John Nicolas Gamboa, Randy dela Cruz, Cielo Marie dela Cruz, Crystal Fae Manalac, and Matthew Joseph Escalante.

Oleynick looks forward to presenting The Miracle of Fatima The Musical to thousands of Filipinos. In fact, for the first time, she said they're planning to use holograms and 3D mapping for the Philippine shows.

“We're taking this to a whole new level. I am serious, we want the miracle of the sun over the audience. We want them to look up and experience what the children see,” the American playwright and producer said.

The Miracle of Fatima The Musical is set to premiere in Manila on October 13, 2024 (exactly 107 years ago when the Miracle of the Sun phenomenon happened), running every Wednesday to Sunday until December 22, 2024.

Meanwhile, check out these Kapuso actors who became part of theater productions: