MiG Ayesa meets Tom Cruise in Rock of Ages rehearsals

Fil-Australian singer and Broadway actor MiG Ayesa is back in the Philippines, this time to perform in the musical Rock of Ages with Vina Morales, Nyoy Volante, Calvin Millado, Aiza Seguerra and Jett Pangan.

MiG reprises the role of rock star Stacee Jaxx, whom Tom Cruise originally played in the Broadway musicals movie adaptation.

MiG says meeting Tom in one of their Rock of Ages shows was a great highlight.

When I did the US tour, we were playing in Los Angeles and it was Tom Cruises first day of rehearsals for the movie. They met up with me after the show and had photos taken. So, that was a great highlight for me and to see him play the role, MiG said at the press conference of Atlantis Productions Rock of Ages at Sir Boys Restaurant in Quezon City on Wednesday, June 6.

MiG is more than excited to see Tom playing Jaxx in the movie adaptation. He told the press that he and Tom talked about their character, which MiG described as unique and someone who lives in his own world.

In a way, we talked about it after the show. I wanna leave it to the director to explain the character because thats his job. My job is already done. One thing we talked about was Stacee. You can never go too far because Stacee lives in his own world, he makes his own reality, MiG shared.

Does he think the Rock of Ages musical will be affected if the movie adaptation is not as good?

The movies gonna be an amazing version because it has amazing people in it. It has amazing A-listers who dropped everything to be part of Rock of Ages, such as Tom Cruise, MiG replied.

Totally different production

Coming from the Rock of Ages US tour from 2010 to 2011, MiG is excited to perform with the incredibly talented Filipino cast in a totally different production.

Even though Ive done the show in the States, coming here in the Philippines, its a whole different form, whole different animal we have here, he said.

MiG is all praise for fellow actors, describi! ng them as one big family serious with their craft.

First of all, they are all incredibly talented. We have a lot of heart here because many of them have long known each other. Its a whole family having a great time. Of course, this is a serious business, theyre all professionals, he said.

Performing before Filipino audiences makes everything more special for MiG. And he feels privileged to be part of Manilas Rock of Ages.

Playing to Filipino audiences with the Filipino cast is something you cant ignore. More people around the world realize Filipinos are incredibly talented. I feel very privileged to be part of this project.

MiG did theatre productions before the CBS reality series Rockstar INXS made him a big star. He always travels for different projects and loves coming to the Philippines.

Start of Phl career? Does Rock of Ages signal the start of his career in the Philippines?

Well, I certainly hope so, MiG said smiling.

Im at this stage where anything is possible. Doing this job here in the Philippines is truly unexpected and out of the blue. It has become one of the great choices of my career. I certainly hope that this is not the end of it.

Rock of Ages features '80s hits I Want to Know What Love Is, Dont Stop Believin, and We Built This City.

Produced by Atlantis Productions, Rock of Ages runs from June 15 to July 8 at Carlos P. Romulo Theatre, RCBC Plaza, Makati.

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