ATENEO BLUE REPERTORY stages KUNG PAANO AKO NAGING LEADING LADY

Press release

“KUNG PAANO AKO NAGING LEADING LADY”

ALL SET TO OPEN ON APRIL 19

The box-office hit “Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady: The Musical” is back on stage fully re-imagined and revamped through the fresh eyes of rip-roaring millennials. This pun-filled musical extravaganza brims with Carlo Vergara’s acerbic wit, flamboyant production numbers, and superhero-supervillain action sequences that pack a punch.

Tongue-in-cheek comedy, family drama, romance and live action converge in Ateneo Blue Repertory’s 25^th Anniversary Season Finale. They partner with Dalanghita Productions in bringing to life the famed comic book world of Zsazsa Zaturnnah, but this time focusing on new characters.

“Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady” tells the story of a lowly labandera, Mely, and her young and wild sister, Viva, who struggle to fulfill their dreams in a world that gives a premium to foreign super heroes with white skin and well-educated barako men who always get the job. They seem to fight to be favored in a society that has no room for them.

When Mely lands a job as the maid for Fuwerza Filipinas, she steps up to this unique challenge for the sake of her family. However, her sibling relationship with Viva becomes more complicated when an unsettled past keeps coming back and a forbidden romance happens amidst an ongoing war between Fuwerza Filipinas, the superheroes, and Kayumanggilas, the supervillains. "Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady" is a journey about compassion, heroism, and redemption.

“Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady” ushers in a new artistic team led by Issa Manalo Lopez, Director, who recently performed politically charged pieces “I” and “Colonized”. With additional lyrics and composition by Kevin Maske, an Ateneo alumna and awardee of Loyola Schools Awards for the arts and music, he comes in as Musical Director of Vincent de Jesus’ original music. Delphine Buencamino, who has essayed the role of Apolinario Mabini in Tanghalang Pilipino’s “Mabining Mandirigma” and has also choreographed Tanghalang Ateneo’s “Janus Silang at ang Tiyanak ng Tabon”, UP Dulaang Lab’s “Oresteia”, Ateneo Entablado’s “Desaparesidos”, and PETA’s “3 Stars and a Sun” directs movement as Choreographer. J Laspuña, whose previous soundscape collaborations include “Disco1081”, “I”, and “Kapit” does Sound Design.  Carlo Tabije and Ben Padero, the award-winning Production Designers of the film “Heneral Luna”, creates the highly imaginative Set and Costumes. Joseph Matheu, Lighting Designer and Co-Producer of Twinbill’s “Asher Lev”, does the Lights Design.

            The cast boasts of up and coming talented young actors of Philippine theatre. Natasha Cabrera, who previously played Viva in the musical’s commercial run, comes back to the production to play Mely – (Maid of Fuwerza Filipinas). She shares the role with EJ Pepito of PETA’s “3 Stars and a Sun”. Jerome Fugoso plays Senyor Blangko (Lead Super Villain of Kayumanggilas). Ateneo blueREP’s Kassandra Barnes and Ashe Uy alternate as Viva (Mely’s younger sister), Hans Braga as Leading Man (Newest Member of Fuwerza Filipinas), and Arianna Norton as Madre de Dios (Lead Superhero of Fuwerza Filipinas).

            Lending support is a mix of theatre professionals and fresh young actors. These include Dulaang UP’s Sheryll Ceasico (Nanay, Mely and Viva’s mother), Ateneo blueREP’s Celine Bengzon (Nena Babushka) and Monica Lopez Gamboa (understudy), Nikki Cadiz (Windang Woman), Shawn Landayan (Popoy Pusakal), Johnason Wei (Bazooka Man), Wrench Canicosa (Marakas Marko), Maia Dapul (Itak-Atak) and Senanda Gomez (understudy), Jason Tan Liwag (Jeryc Sans Rival) and Ale Reynoso (alternate), Rando Torregosa (Henyotik).

            The ensemble is composed of Joyce Buen, Miko Insame, Bryan Mendoza, Rion Cairus Reyes, Joseph Matthew Tuazon, Lexi Cruz, Erin Locsin, Jason Cabrera, Titus Villanueva, Wynken Gelito, and Kyla Maegan Frencillo.

            The production aims to foster learning by partnering professionals with creative student team members such as Ateneo blueREP’s Marcel David and Jamie Gutierrez (Assistant Directors), Chab Ocampo (Dramaturgy), Alex Masucol (Assistant Musical Director), Evee Raypon (Assistant Choreographer), and Pilar Matoto (Assistant Sound Designer).

The production team is composed of Alicia Florentino (Head Stage Manager), Patricia Tan Palanca (Stage Manager), Twinkle Liboon and Mikee Alvero (Production Managers), Luis Yatco and Charlene Odeste (Assistant Stage Managers), Miko Castro (Head Technical Director), Jesse Lim (Set Technical Director), Danielle Teo (Set Technical Director Deputy), John Paul Manlapaz (Props Technical Director), King Morales (Lights Technical Director), Zerah Alba (Sounds Technical Director), and Gayle Mendiola and Tenny Cayco (Costumes and Makeup Technical Directors).

            Heading the committees are Russ Santos (Chief Finance Officer), Stephanie Escuadro (Front-Of-House Head), JM Munar (Corporate Relations Head), Mitchie Cabrera (Public Relations Head), Jeff Pascual (Documentations Head), Pocholo Comsti and Niño Constantino (Logistics Head), Chris Cancio (Design and Publications Head), Jamie Gutierrez (Art Director), Tara Oppen (Special Projects Committee Representative), and Fifi Santelices and Adrian Chio (HR Representatives).

            “Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady” is set to open on April 19 and will run for two weeks until April 30, 2017. The show starts promptly at 8 p.m. (Thursday-Sunday). Matinee shows (Saturday-Sunday) start at 3 p.m.  The show will be at Rizal Mini Theater, Faber Hall, Ateneo de Manila University.

For ticket inquiries, please contact Stephanie Escuadro at 09568452030 or reserve through blueREP’s website: bluerepertory.org/tickets

            Connect to Ateneo Blue Repertory online through the following social media networks:

Facebook:    www.facebook.com/blueREPERTORY

Twitter:          @_blueREPERTORY

Instagram:    @blueREPERTORY

THE ADDAMS FAMILY: AN AMERICAN MUSICAL ALL SET TO OPEN ON NOV. 9

Press release

In line with its silver anniversary, the Ateneo Blue Repertory goes creepy and topsy-turvy as they present “The Addams Family: An American Musical” with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa and book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice for its Newbie Production.

Set in the Addams family home in the middle of Central Park, The Addamses are once again at their graveyard doing what Addamses do, but something has gone horribly wrong, or worse—horribly right. Charming little Wednesday who once poisoned her little brother for a ride in the ambulance is in love-- with a boy from Ohio. The question of “Will Wednesday stay loyal to the darkness inside of her, or is this the end of the Addams family as we know it?” will haunt the audience as they go through the family’s wills and woes.

            The leading cast of THE ADDAMS FAMILY are as follows: Bryce Palafox – Gomez Addams; Arianna Norton – Morticia Addams;  Trisha Balan and Ashe Uy– Wednesday Addams; Janine Idquival – Pugsley Addams; Jolo Fernando and Michael Ubamos – Fester Addams; Mar Argente – Grandma Addams; and Adrian Chio – Lurch.

The supporting cast of THE ADDAMS FAMILY are as follows: Don Mabalot and Anthony Peralta – Lucas Beineke; Kirk Kierulf – Mal Beineke; Sofia Santelices – Alice Beineke; and Alexa Prats – Alice Beineke.

The ensemble of THE ADDAMS FAMILY are as follows: Polo Buenafe – Conquistador Ancestor; Matthew Fernandez – Caveman Ancestor; Sari Avedillo – Soldier Ancestor; Lulay Santiago – Puritan Ancestor; Yanni Bunagan – Saloon Girl Ancestor; Adrie Amante – Courtesan Ancestor; Tara Oppen – Flapper Ancestor; Jam Binay – Indian Ancestor; Frances de Guzman – Cousin Helga; Shawn Landayan – Aunt Herman; Lexi Cruz – Acrobat Ancestor; and Migs Lim – Gambler Ancestor and Grim Reaper.

            THE ADDAMS FAMILY: AN AMERICAN MUSICAL is under the direction of Darrell Uy, a blueREP alumnus holding a degree in BS Management Engineering from the Ateneo de Manila University. Working with the Ateneo Blue Repertory, he was the assistant director of the company’s run of Urinetown: the Musical alongside Missy Maramara in 2015 and Breakups and Breakdowns by Joel Trinidad, also in the same year. Mr. Uy has also worked with the Ateneo Fine Arts Department as assistant director in multiple productions, including Authorial Intent (2015), Purgatorio (2016), and Iphigenia and Other Daughters (2016).

            Alongside Darrel Uy, is the Artistic Team composed of Mia Fortugaleza as Assistant Director, Abi Sulit as Musical Director assisted by Nicole Chiang and Senanda Gomez, Evee Raypon assisted by Marcel David for choreography, Kayla Teodoro as Set Designer, Miguel Panganiban as Light Designer, and Mikka Espino for costumes and makeup whose teams will help bring the dead back to life.

            Watch the Addams family in action as they face a massive threat to their family’s name. Join the Ateneo Blue Repertory in this year’s newbie production as we test the notions of ‘normalcy’ in our day-to-day lives and be with us as we hold our family first and family last.

            THE ADDAMS FAMILY: AN AMERICAN MUSICAL will run from November 9 - 23, 2016 at the Rizal Mini Theater, Ateneo de Manila University. Tickets will cost Php 300 each. During weekdays, shows will be at 8 pm; on Saturdays, the production is scheduled to begin at 3 pm and 8 pm. For ticket inquiries, please contact Rion Reyes at 09175089706.

            The production team of THE ADDAMS FAMILY are as follows: Kassandra Barnes – Production Manager; Pia Ronquillo – Assistant Production Manager; Jesse Lim – Head Technical Director; Mikee Alvero – Heas Stage Manager; Steph Escuadro – Assistant Head Stage Manager; Rion Reyes – Front-of-House Head; Mikka Espino and Kyla Frencillo – Costumes & Makeup Technical Directors; Miko Castro – Lights Technical Director; Pilar Matoto – Sounds Technical Director; and Isyan Sandoval and Mine Sandoval – Set & Props Technical Directors.

The committee heads of THE ADDAMS FAMILY are as follows: Johnason Wei – Chief Finance Officer; Justine Narciso – Design and Publications Head; Gab Mesina – Design and Publications Art Director; Pam Villareal – Logistics Head; Czarina Tiongson and Ar-j Castelo – Documentations Heads; Maia Dapul – Corporate Relations Head; and Clarisse Infante – Public Relations Head.

You may also visit Ateneo Blue Repertory’s official website: http://www.bluerepertory.org and follow its accounts on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blueREPERTORY, Twitter: @_blueREPERTORY and Instagram:bluerepertory. 

ATENEO BLUE REPERTORY PRESENTS “REAL-LIFE FAIRYTALES”

Press release

A MUSICAL SCENE-CYCLE FROM SEPT 20 – OCT. 1

Ateneo Blue Repertory presents “Real Life Fairytales”, a blueREP original play,  forit’s 25th Season Premiere.  Real-Life Fairytales is a series of six unique vignettes about how fantastical real life can be, or alternately, how fantasy isn’t so different from real life. Contemporary issues such as mental health, body image, and drug use are examined through the lens of the magical and unusual.

This musical scene-cycle is written and musically directed by a homegrown blueREP talent, EjayYatco; who is a composer, musical director and pianist. In 2013, he represented the Philippines in the World Championship of the Performing Arts where he made it to the top 3 and took home a gold and three silver medals. He was also nominated twice for Best Musical Direction and once for Best Music at the BroadwayWorld.com Awards. Lastly, he composed and arranged music for well-known companies such as City of Dreams, PNB, Resort's World, Bonanza Foods, Pepsodent, Pepsi, SM, Arlington and IBPAP.

Alongside EjayYatco, Real-Life Fairytales is directed by Missy Maramara who is a renowned instructor in the Theater Arts Program of the Ateneo's Department of Fine Arts. She holds an MFA in Drama (Performance) from the University of Arkansas (Fayetteville), through the International Fulbright Scholarship program. Since her return to the Ateneo in 2014, she has directed several plays: blueREP's "Urinetown", Upstart Productions' "Gruesome Playground Injuries", Ateneo Fine Arts' "Iphigenia and Other Daughters", "Authorial Intent" and "The Sound of a Voice". Aside from drecting, she has also served the theater community through performing in several productions. The most recent are Ateneo Fine Arts' "Purgatorio", Dulaang UP's "The Dressing Room", Ikarus' "It's April What Are We Doing Here", and New York United Solo Festival's "Clytemnestra".

Real-Life Fairytales is choreographed by Franco Ramos who recently graduated on full academic scholarship (ENTRACA) from De La Salle - College of Saint Benilde under the school’s AB - Technical Theater Program. He is entering one of his first solo ventures into musical theater choreography with Real Life Fairytales. He previously choreographed for Here & Thereafter, a Party Worth Crashing production featuring the songs of Kerrigan and Lowdermilk. He also previously co-choreographed for Ateneo Blue Repertory's Shared Spaces alongside Mica Fajardo.

Experience the extraordinary world that these talented individuals have envisioned. Join them and the Ateneo Blue Repertory this September for their Silver Anniversary’s Season premiere, which seeks to bring urgency, honesty, and even just a little bit of magic to our own reality.

Real-Life Fairytales will run from September 20, 2016 to October 1, 2016 at the Fine Arts theater, Gonzaga Hall, Ateneo de Manila University  and tickets will cost Php 250 each. You may also contact Mine Sandoval at 09358768970 for inquiries and reservation.

 For more inquiries, you may check our facebook page Ateneo Blue Repertory, and our twitter and Instagram at @_blueREPERTORY.