Catriona, Sam announce engagement

By Iza IglesIas ManilaTimes.net

MISS Universe 2018 Catriona Gray and actor Sam Milby announced their engagement on Thursday, February 16, several weeks after the two have been teased about tying the knot soon.

On their respective Instagram pages, the couple posted the same picture of the two of them about to share a kiss while holding a pair of latte cups in which the words “Mr. Milby” and “Future Mrs. Milby” were written.

“Living in an answered prayer with my best friend. I love you, fiancè (eeeeee) [emojis],” Gray said in the caption of her IG post. Milby, for his part, captioned his post with these words: “I (FINALLY) put a ring on it! I love you my forever koala… now my fiancé [heart emoji].” Gray, then commented with a sweet reply.

Following their announcement, celebrities, friends and supporters flooded their pages with congratulations and best wishes.

Hours after announcing their engagement, Gray shared more engagement photos with Milby on Instagram, which were taken by freelance photographer Jerick Sanchez. This time, her oval-cut engagement ring was seen more prominently.

“Our best chapter yet. [heart emoji] @samuelmilby,” she said in the caption.

Gray and Milby, who opted to keep their romance private, confirmed their relationship in May 2020 after the latter posted a polaroid photo of them on his Instagram account.

Speculations of an earlier engagement hounded the couple especially after Gray posted a picture of them in a sea setting in Australia last December, which she captioned, “Today made me the happiest.” Milby, too, was asked in several interviews if he had thought of getting married soon, replying that Gray was the one for him. n

Celeste on first acting job, life after Miss Universe

By NathalIe M. toMada Philstar.com

Island,” “Over The Moon,” “Talladega Nights,” “The Light of the Moon,” “Raising Christopher” (writer/producer/ actor). He has appeared on Broadway via “The King And I” (Lincoln Center - Grammy Nomination), as well as OffBroadway with “Little Shop of Horrors,” “Here Lies Love”

(Public Theater - Theatre World Award, Lortel nomination), and “Soft Power” (Public Theater - Drama Desk, Lortel, Grammy Nominations); His other stage credits include “Soft Power” (Ahmanson Theatre); “Tartuffe,” “Woyzeck,” “Fuddy Mears” (Clarence Brown Theatre); “Romeo and Juliet,” “Richard III,” “Midsummer” (Utah Shakespeare Festival); “The Taming of the Shrew” (North Carolina Shakespeare Festival).

Ricamora receieved the 2016 Human Rights Campaign Visibility Award and the 2017 Equality California Award. Find Conrad Ricamora on Twitter/ Instagram: @Conradricamora.

Both actors received Lucille Lortel Award nominations for their performances at the Public Theater off-Broadway. Ricamora previously reprised his role in the show’s Seattle Rep production.

Jose Llana said, “This is a dream: to be a Filipino actor, playing a Filipino character, telling a crucial part of Filipino history, which is also part of American history. I’m honored to return to Here Lies Love. We built a family creating this show 10 years ago, and now we get to do it again on Broadway. See you on the dance floor!”

For his part, Conrad Ricamora said, “Working on Here Lies Love allowed me to embrace my Filipino heritage––all that Pinoy pride! This is a huge moment for increasing representation on stage, and I’m so excited and proud to bring this revolutionary show to Broadway.”

An international casting search is now underway for the remaining company of 20+ actors.

Ticket information

As the official card sponsor of “Here Lies Love,” American Express® card members have Early Access to exclusive presale tickets before the general public, from Monday, March 13 at 10 a.m. EST through Monday, March 20 at 9:59 a.m. EST at Telecharge. com.

Presale tickets for “Here Lies Love” are available exclusively to Audience Rewards® members from Monday, March 20 at 10 a.m. ET through Wednesday, March 22 at 9:59 a.m. ET. It’s free and fast to join at www.AudienceRewards.com.

Audience Rewards is the Official Rewards Program of Broadway, providing membership benefits and rewards for more than 2.7 million members and representing more than a quarter of all Broadway tickets purchased through Ticketmaster and Telecharge. Free and easy to join, Audience Rewards allows buyers to earn Show Points on every ticket purchase, to be redeemed for free tickets, theater collectibles, unique experiences, and more. Founded in 2008 by a unique coalition of prominent theater owners, including Nederlander, Shubert, and Jujamcyn, major national presenters, and key performing arts centers from across the country, Audience Rewards has offered members first access presales to more than 100 Broadway shows and 200 VIP experiences and events, which have included a meet and greet with Jake Gyllenhaal, a walk-on role in Rock of Ages, a cooking class with Gavin Creel & Celia Keenan-Bolger, celebrity Q&As, backstage tours and much more. Tickets are on sale to the general public beginning Monday, March 27 at 10 a.m. EST online at Telecharge. com or by phone at 212-2396200.

For information on groups of 10+, contact Broadway Inbound at broadwayinbound. com or call 866-302-0995.

More information about the wide variety of standing and seating options available throughout the theater’s reconstructed space will be announced soon. Sign up now at HereLiesLoveBroadway. com for early access to tickets.

Additional show information

From its world premiere at The Public Theater in 2013, “Here Lies Love” has enjoyed popular and critical acclaim. The show returned to The Public in 2014-2015, debuted at London’s Royal National Theatre in 2014, and most recently opened at Seattle Repertory Theatre in 2017.

The creative team for Here Lies Love on Broadway includes three-time Tony Award® nominee David Korins (scenic design), Tony Award® winner Clint Ramos (costume design), Tony Award® winner Justin Townsend (lighting design), M.L. Dogg & Cody Spencer (sound design), and three-time Tony Award® nominee Peter Nigrini (projection design), with casting by Tara Rubin CSA, Xavier Rubiano CSA, Gail Quintos and general management by Foresight Theatrical. Additional creative

CELESTE Cortesi shared that she would love to explore the world of showbiz after her first acting experience in Mars Ravelo’s Darna. The surprise appearance in the series finale last Feb. 10 was quick to trend on social media.

The Miss Universe Philippines played the role of Kevnar, the Queen of Marte, who showed up before the titular character Darna (played by Jane de Leon) to thank her for keeping the planet safe and protected.

“It was a surprise for my fans and I’m happy I did it,” Celeste told The Philippine STAR and a few other members of the press in a chance interview on Monday, February 13.

“It was such a good opportunity because Darna is one of the most iconic characters in the Philippines, and it was my national costume in the Miss Universe. The script was in

Photo from Instagram/@celeste_cortesi

Tagalog and not even an English word. But I managed. I had like three days to really study. It was a very fun experience. It was very challenging actually. It was my first time to do, like, a whole script in Tagalog and a script in general as I’ve never really done acting,” she said.

“It was just a few days before

(that JRB Creative Production offered the role) and I was also very surprised but I really took the challenge. It was my first acting experience. It was my first experience acting in Tagalog. I’m really grateful. I just did my best as I always do. I hope more doors will open.”

She was also grateful for the chance “to work with very professional and talented people.”

“That’s the most important thing for me. The fact that I have so much to learn and so much to explore and I’m really looking forward to what’s going to happen after Miss Universe.”

Joining showbiz fully could be the next step for the Fil-Italian beauty and she’d welcome it. “I would love to. Honestly, now, I’m really exploring. I’m looking forward to my next step. I’m learning to speak Tagalog so I’m very focused on that. I have time to learn,” she shared.

“I’m really just excited about what’s to come. I want to grow,