NEW OPM MUSICAL “GEE-GEE AT WATERINA ANG MUSIKAL”

Press release

In line with the 4^th season of Artist Playground, the stage is all set to open the company’s first Original Pinoy Musical “GEE-GEE AT WATERINA ANG MUSIKAL” on August 18, 2018 – 8 pm at Arts Above, Artist Playground II, 112 West Venue Bldg., West Avenue, Quezon City.

Roeder Camanag/Norman Penaflorida

GEE-GEE AT WATERINA ANG MUSIKAL will feature an all-new original music composed by Jesse Lucas, based from the story, book and lyrics by J. Dennis C. Teodosio, and will be directed by Andrew de Real and choreography by Lezlie Dailisan .

The roles of GEE-GEE AT WATERINA will be portrayed by Roeder Camanag as Waterina, a ‘comfort gay’ during Japanese Occupation in the Philippines and one of Gee-gee’s Golden Gays. Norman Penaflorida will essay the role of Gee-Gee, an entertainment actor, radio host and a councilor of Pasay City.

            The ensemble of Gee-Gee at Waterina are as follows: Bench Ortiz, Joseph Dela Cruz, Nel Gumalog, Romeo Palma Jr., and Sean Nolasco.

SYNOPSIS

Waterina eagerly waits for his gay politician friend, Gee-Gee. He soon arrives, bearing with him a check – the payment for the film rights to the life story of Waterina, the soon-to-be-famous “comfort gay”. 

As the two mull over the prospects of their newly acquired wealth, they launch into a comfortable tirade of each other’s flaws and frailties. In the midst of the teasing and mockery, they are faced with a question: how does one measure his worth?

Waterina distresses, “Would the people cry or laugh when they watch my movie? Would they feel pity or admiration? Would they think the movie is worth their money? Who would I be to them? An aging homosexual?  Just that?”

In the final assessment of his life’s worth, Waterina swears that he is what he is: no more, no less. He again contemplates on the check, only to be distracted by the sight of a beautiful young man with a radiant smile.

SYNOPSIS

Dala ni Konsehala ang isang tsek. Super excited namana si Waterina, ang pamosong comfort gay noong Japanese Occupation. Sa rooftop ng isang seven-storey building, pagninilayan nila ni Waterina ang kabayaran sa kuwento ng buhay niya.

Sa pagitan ng mga litanya, laitan, at landian, masasalamin natin ang isang katotohanan paano nga ba nasusukat ang naging silbi o kabuluhan ng ating mga buhay.           Kung iisipin, may subyang nga sa himutok ni Waterina kay Gee-gee. “Yong mga manonood ng pelikula” ng buhay ko, matatawa kaya sila o maiiyak? Maaawa kaya sila o hahanga? Paglabas kaya nila ng sinehan, pakiramdam kaya nila sulit ang ibinayad nila o hindi? Ano kaya ako sa kanila? Matandang bakla? Gano’n lang? Sa kabuuan, ito ay isang kakatwa at nakakatuwang kwento ng tamis at pait,  pagtanggi at pagtanggap, pagpapakumbaba at pagmamalaki, pag-iisa at pagkakaibigan, datung at bagets na may beautiful smile!

GEE-GEE AT WATERINA was first presented at the CCP Virgin Labfest in 2005. A short film version was produced for Cinemalaya in 2006.

J. Dennis C. Teodosio writes for TV, cinema, print, advertising, and the stage. He was a fellow in the UP Likhaan (for poetry in Filipino, 1996, and for one-act play in Filipino, mid-career, 2007) and the Iligan National Writers Workshops (for one-act play in Filipino, 2002). He was one of the scholars of the 1st ABS-CBN2/Ricky Lee Course in Soap Writing and was part of the Star Cinema Concept Development Group.

His works were anthologized in “Likhaan Journal 10” (UP Press, 2016), “Transfiksyon” (UP Press, 2014), “Mga Piling Dula mula sa Virgin Lab Fest, 2005-2008: Unang Antolohiya,” (CCP, 2009), “Ladlad 3: An Anthology of Philippine Gay Writing” (Anvil Publishing, 2007), “Writing to the Future: Poetika at Politika ng Malikhaing Pagsulat”, (UP-ICW & NCCA, 2008), and  “Writing to the Music of Pestle-on-Mortar: The 9th Iligan National Writers Workshop,” (MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology, 2003).

He garnered prizes from the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature (screenplay, teleplay, one-act play, and essay), NCCA, Gawad Ka Amado, the PBBY-Salanga Writer’s Prize, Gawad Teatro Bulawan, CineManila International Film Festival, Star Cinema, Viva Films, Philippine Pink Film Festival, Film Development Foundation of the Philippines, Film Academy of the Philippines, the Aliw Awards, Migration Advocacy & Media Awards, China-Southeast Asia-South Asia TV Arts Week, and the Asian TV Awards.

He has 40 stage plays to his credit. His Virgin Lab Fest portfolio includes 11 works, namely: ‘Gee-Gee At Waterina’ (VLF1, 2005), ‘Baka-Sakali’ (VLF2, 2006), ‘Payb Siks’ (VLF2, 2006), ‘Bagahe’ (VLF3, 2007), ‘Pobreng Alindanaw’ (VLF3, 2007, independently produced), ‘Gumamela’ (VLF4, 2008), ‘Asunto’ (VLF4, 2008, dramatic reading), ‘Salise’ (VLF5, 2009), ‘Carmi Martin’ (VLF6, 2010), ‘Totong Hilot’ (VLF8, 2011, full-length play), and ‘Rosas’ (VLF14, 2018).  He was commissioned to write by Gantimpala Theater Foundation, PETA, Tanghalang Pilipino, and Artist Playground.

Currently, he is based in Yangon, Myanmar. He develops and writes TV series and programs for Forever Group Co., Ltd. and designs and conducts training programs for Myanmar Media Development Center. In 2014, he founded the Yangon-based independent film group, ‘The Creative Playground’. He was challenged to write, direct, and produce short Myanmar features (narrative and documentary).  His short Myanmar features were screened and recognized in film festivals in Yangon, Manila, and New Delhi (Human Rights Human Dignity International Film Festival, Youth Film Festival, Wathann Film Festival, CCP Independent Film & Video Competition, and Jeevika Asia Livelihood Documentary Film Festival).

He and his M take care of a cute brown poodle named Jade.

Jesse Lucas ……

Andrew De Real is a writer, comedy director and entrepreneur known for Hay, bahay! (2016), Bossing & Ai (2017) and Stardancer (2007).

Roeder Camanag is a two-time ALIW Best Stage Actor and recognized by the prestigious film critics group with multiple URIAN nominations. A former member of Tanghalang Pilipino’s Actors Company, he has performed in over 100 plays and musicals. He is currently a board member of the Gantimpala Theater Foundation and the artistic director of Artist Playground and the Valenzuela City Center for the Performing Arts. He has facilitated acting workshops for Tanghalang Pilipino (2003-2010) and Gantimpala Theater Foundation (2004-2012).

Norman Penaflorida is a theater actor, event host, production designer, entrepreneur, event and image stylist of THE CLOSET.

The Artistic Team of GEE-GEE AT WATERINA ANG MUSIKAL is led by Andrew De Real (Director), Roeder Camañag (Artistic Director), Jesse Lucas (Composer /Musical Director), Leslie Dailisan  (Choreographer), Luis Galang (Lighting Designer) and Reynoso Mercado (Production Designer).

The Production Team of GEE-GEE AT WATERINA ANG MUSIKAL is led by Kimberly Claire Somoza (Production Manager), Joselito “Toots” Tolentino (Publicist), Rowena Jarito (Stage Manager), Jayson Batoto (Deputy Stage Manager), Melanie Lao (Lay-out Designer), Jayson Santos and Kimberly Claire Somoza (Photographer), Christian Silang & Beaulah Mae Saycon (Assistant Stage Managers), Wenzel Kyne Fernandez (Assistant Lighting Designer) and Glenn Caspe (Spinner).

For further inquiries, please call or send SMS to Ms. Kimberly Somoza at 0975-9193179.

BINONDO A TSINOY MUSICAL SET TO OPEN JUNE 29

Press release

SYNERGY 88, Rebecca Chuaunsu Film Production (RCFP) and Fullhouse Asia Production Studios, Inc. proudly presents BINONDO, A TSINOY MUSICAL directed by Joel Lamangan and written by Ricky Lee with Gershom Chua and Eljay Deldoc.

            BINONDO, A Tsinoy Musical’ tells the story of how LILY, a Filipina night club singer in pre-Martial Law Manila, and AH TIONG, a mainland Chinese scholar returning to Cultural Revolution-era Beijing, embark on a journey of great love and heartbreak that begins one fated, moon-lit night during the Mid-Autumn Festival of 1971 in the heart of Manila’s Chinatown.

            LILY, a hopeless romantic, finally finds her unlikely great love in AH TIONG, a cynic about destiny, during this night of one of the fullest moons ever recorded and on the birthdate of Ge Lao, the Old Man Under the Moon or the Chinese Deity of Love. Vying for LILY’s heart as well is CARLOS, a local Chinese childhood friend of hers who is finally pushed to confront his feelings for her with the arrival of this stranger set on stealing her heart. A triangle centered on different ways of loving and receiving love forms the crux of this story.

Spanning two decades and two countries, the musical explores how love overcomes even times of racial prejudice and political turmoil and endures years of waiting and absence, only to grow deeper and change the lives of everyone who dares to put their hearts on the line.

The schedule of performances are as follows: June 29 at 8pm; June 30 and July 1 at 3 and 8pm; July 6 at 8pm; July 7 and 8 at 3 and 8pm.

           

Venue: Theatre at Solaire

BINONDO, A TSINOY MUSICAL shall feature the country’s multi-talented

artists from film, TV, stage namely Shiela Valderrama Martinez and Carla Guevara

Laforteza (Lily); Arman Ferrer and David Ezra (Ah Tiong); Floyd Tena and Noel

Rayos (Carlos); Yela Laurel (Jasmine); Ashlee Factor (Ruby); Ima Castro (Mrs.

Dela Rosa); Ana Feleo and Jennifer Villegas (Lourdes); Kay Balajadia and  

Jennifer Villegas (Mrs. Chua); Dondi Ong (Mr. Chua); Russell Magno (Mr. Zhang);

Elizabeth Chua (Mrs. Zhang); Jim Pebanco, Lorenz Martinez. Khalil Kaimo, Ellrica

Laguardia, Rhapsody & Tuesday Vargas (Koro); Jonel Mojica (Ge Lao); Philip

Deles & Ivana Billanueva (Swing);

The ensemble are as follows: Carlos Derriada, Cheeno Macaraig, Claire

Borja, Daniel Cruz, Dusty Suarez, Janine Tolentino, Joseph Billeza, Joseph

Puducay, Julia Chua, Paul Clark, Precious Sementilla, Rence Aviles, Randy Rey,

Romcel Brinquiz, Roy Sotero, Ryan Caraan, VJ Cortel, Xander Pineda, and Zyruz

Imperial

           

The artistic team of BINONDO, A TSINOY MUSICAL are as follows:

Joel Lamangan (Director ), Rebecca Chuaunsu (Original Story / Producer),   

Ricky Lee, Gershom Chua, Eljay Castro Deldoc (Story / Libretto), Von De Guzman

(Music), Douglas Nierras (Choreography), Joey Nombres (Light Design),       

Otto Hernandez (Production Design / Technical Director).                                   

           

The production team are as follows: Gina T. Godinez (Creatives/ Line

Production), Maricel Santos (Production Manager), Lani Tapia (Stage Manager),

Rice Ramos (Asst. Production Manager), Froilan Dabalus & Christaliza Dabalus

(Dance Masters), Therese Arroyo & Celine Bugcat (Associate Production

Designers),  Nikki Borbon, Bing Galla, Reynaldo Balaran, Henrick Jueco &

Ronaldo Alim (Production Staff), Reynan Jalos, Leo Asetre, Jayson Busa,

Jay-Ar Talanay Cruz (Assistant Stage Managers); Jenny Uy Estrope (Production /

Marketing Coordinator); Sonny Aniceto (Graphic Artist);   Christine de Los Santos,

Sherry Gocheco, Hepzibeth Ting (Marketing / RCFP staff).

For tickets, call TICKETWORLD 8919999.

Ticket prices:

Orchestra center: PHP 2500

Orchestra side  PHP 2000

Loge or gold premium side PHP 3000

Balcony center PHP 1000

Balcony side PHP 500.

            For further inquiries, please contact:

REBECCA CHUAUNSU 09189169357 & 09173012445.

Email: rebeccachuaunsufilmproduction@yahoo.com

AUDITIONS FOR BINONDO: A TSINOY MUSICAL

Auditions is now open casting for the forthcoming BINONDO: A TSINOY MUSICAL to be directed by Joel Lamangan. The musical is written by Ricky Lee with music by Von de Guzman and choreography by Douglas Nierras. Auditions will be on February 8-9, 2018 from 10AM to 5PM at Douglas Nierras Powerdance Studios, Unit B 4/F ICITE Building, Eastwood City Libis, Quezon City.

Prepare a Tagalog song and 1 dance. For more information, contact Ms. Rebecca at +63 918 9357/ +63 917 301 2445 or Chriz S. Zabala at +63 917 9004 6778 . For more updates about the tsinoy musical Binondo, follow this blog and like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook. Written below is the synopsis and character sketches of the musical.

PREMISE

‘BINONDO: a Tsinoy Musical’ tells the story of how LILY, a Filipina night club singer in pre-Martial Law Manila, and AH TIONG, a mainland Chinese scholar returning to Cultural Revolution-era Beijing, embark on a journey of great love and heartbreak that begins one fated, moon-lit night during the Mid-Autumn Festival of 1971 in the heart of Manila’s Chinatown.

LILY, a hopeless romantic, finally finds her unlikely great love in AH TIONG, a cynic about destiny, during this night of one of the fullest moons ever recorded and on the birthdate of Ge Lao, the Old Man Under the Moon or the Chinese Deity of Love. Vying for LILY’s heart as well is CARLOS, a local Chinese childhood friend of hers who is finally pushed to confront his feelings for her with the arrival of this stranger set on stealing her heart. A triangle centered on different ways of loving and receiving love forms the crux of this story.

Spanning two decades and two countries, the musical explores how love overcomes even times of racial prejudice and political turmoil and endures years of waiting and absence, only to grow deeper and change the lives of everyone who dares to put their hearts on the line.

MGA TAGPUAN

UNANG YUGTO – 1971, Chinatown at Mendiola Manila PH, Shenzhen Harbor at Beijing Labor Camp CN

IKALAWANG YUGTO – 1971-1986, Chinatown Manila PH, Beijing Labor Camp at University Housing CN

CHARACTER SKETCHES

LILY (25/40)

-Filipina, hopeless romantic, laking Chinatown dahil sa factory ng mga Chinese nagtrabaho ang mga magulang niya noon kaya sanay na siya sa kulturang Tsino, hindi nakatapos sa college dahil namatay ang ama sa barilan sa loob ng isang club at kinailangan niyang tumulong sa ina na kumita ng pera, namasukan bilang kahera sa Divisoria bago natanggap bilang isang singer sa The Lotus Club sa Binondo, halos araw-araw bumibisita sa altar ni Ge Lao (ang Diyos ng Pag-ibig, o ang matandang nananahan sa mukha ng buwan) para humiling na makita na niya ang lalaking nakatadhana para sa kanya 

AH TIONG (27/42)

-mainland Chinese, iskolar ng Beijing University na katatapos lang ng PhD sa Amerika, pragmatic kaya hindi naniniwala sa great love o destiny kundi ang pag-ibig ay isang duty na kailangang bigyan ng commitment, tanggap niyang may nakatakda na sa kanyang aasawahin pagbalik sa Tsina, nadaan sa Pilipinas para magbakasyon ng 2 linggo bago umuwi sa Tsinang nabalitaang nabalot na sa gulo ng Cultural Revolution

CARLOS (26/41)

-local Chinese, kababata ni LILY, anak ng may-ari ng factory na pinagtrabahuan ng mga magulang ni LILY noon, lumaking malapit sa mga kaibigang Pilipino, nagsimulang maging aktibista mula college kaya sinasama-sama niya si LILY tuwing may kilos-protesta, nasanay nang tinutulungan si LILY gaya ng pagpapapasok dito sa The Lotus Club na pagmamay-ari ng kaibigan ng pamilya nito, para sa kanya ang pag-ibig kahit magsimulang simple ay pinipili at ginagawang great

JASMINE (26/41)

-mainland Chinese, kasamahan ni AH TIONG sa Beijing University at anak ng malalapit na kaibigan ng mga magulang nito, ang babaeng itinakda para kay AH TIONG hindi lamang dahil malakas ang mga magulang ni JASMINE sa Communist Party kundi dahil lumaki rin siyang kilala na ng pamilya, para sa kanya ang pag-ibig ay desisyon na tanggapin ang isang tao nang buong-buo

RUBY (15)

-Chinese-Filipina, anak nina LILY at AH TIONG, lumaking alam ang katotohanan na hindi si CARLOS ang tunay niyang ama kaya mas mamahalin pa niya ito at isusumpang ayaw nang makita pa si AH TIONG, pinalaking Chinese ng mga magulang ni CARLOS matapos sila tanggapin mag-ina, testigo sa sakripisyo ng inang si LILY na pumayag na maging halos ghost/miyembrong walang boses sa bahay ng mga CHUA kapalit ng magandang buhay para sa kanya, matututunan mula sa halimbawa ni CARLOS na ang pag-ibig ay debosyon at ang paghahangad ng ikabubuti ng minamahal 

MATANDANG TSINO/GE LAO

-matandang Tsinong nagbabantay sa altar ni Ge Lao (ang Diyos ng Pag-ibig para sa mga Tsino, o ang matandang nananahan sa mukha ng buwan), kilala na si LILY dahil sa halos araw-araw na pagbisita ng dalaga upang hilingan ang estatwa, sa totoo’y siya ang incarnation ni Ge Lao sa lupa upang makahalubilo ang mga tao

LIDER NG KORO, at sina KORO 1, 2, 3, at 4

-mga miyembro ng Koro na magsisilbing mga tagapagkwento ng musical at gaganap sa iba’t-ibang mga karakter sa dula (hal. mga waiters sa club, reporter ng balita, lider ng mga rally, mga miyembro ng Philippine Constabulary, mga miyembro ng Red Guard, atbp.), mga alipin ni Ge Lao sa pagtatakda ng tadhana, makukulit, witty, at madalas comic relief ng mga eksena

MRS. DELA ROSA (50)

-nanay ni LILY, mapagmahal, boto kay CARLOS na maging kasintahan ang anak dahil matagal na niyang napansin na may pagtingin ang binata dito, tututol sa umpisa sa pagmamahal ng anak kay AH TIONG na estrangherong aalis at baka hindi na bumalik, may malubhang sakit kaya parating nangangamba para sa kinabukasan ng anak na dalaga sakaling maiwan na niya ito

MR. CHUA (53)

-tatay ni CARLOS, hindi mapagsalita kaya wala masyadong relasyon sa anak kahit mahal niya ito, tutol sa pagsama ng anak sa mga rally dahil para sa kanya sadyang magkaiba ang mga lannang (local Chinese) at mga hwanna (barbaro/pej. for Filipino), itatakwil ang anak nang bulagain siyang bitbit-bitbit nito ang anak ng dating mga pahinante na buntis

MRS. CHUA (49)

-nanay ni CARLOS, maaruga at halos i-spoil ang anak para bumawi sa pagka-distant ng asawa, tradisyunal din ang paniniwala ukol sa pagkakaiba ng mga lannang at hwanna pero hinahayaan ang anak na sumama sa mga kilos-protesta dahil alam niyang ito lang ang makakapagpasaya dito, pipilitin ang asawang tanggapin muli ang anak at ang asawa nitong si LILY lalo na’t may supling na silang dadalhin (si RUBY) na palalakihin niyang halos bilang sariling anak at bilang Chinese

MR. ZHANG (58)

-tatay ni AH TIONG, propesor ng sosyolohiya sa Beijing University, boto kay JASMINE para sa anak, magiging biktima ng pang-aabuso ng mga Red Guard—ipaparada at ipapahiya nila siya bilang kontra-rebolusyonaryo at iiwang nasa bingid ng kamatayan matapos ng parada

MRS. ZHANG (51)

-nanay ni AH TIONG, propesor ng sikolohiya sa Beijing University, boto kay JASMINE para sa anak dahil alam niyang mabuti itong babae at mas lalo na dahil ang mga magulang lang ni JASMINE ang nakatulong sa asawa niya matapos itong pahirapan at ngayon naman ay para mapalaya rin ang anak pagkatapos itong hulihin pag-uwi ng Tsina

I REMEMBER A BOY AN ORIGINAL MUSICAL REVUE FEATURING CLASSIC OPM HITS

Press release

AN ORIGINAL MUSICAL REVUE FEATURING CLASSIC OPM HITS SET ON NOV. 11 - 12

When the going gets tough, where do you get your strength?

Artist Playground’s Playlist TRACK 2 proudly presents I REMEMBER A BOY - an original musical revue featuring OPM’s most classic hits on Nov. 11 – 12 at Arts Above located at West Venue Bldg., 112 West Avenue, QC.

Made by Millenials, for Millenials, AP’s Playlist, Track 2: I Remember A Boy, is about a group of friends who reunite at a cafe they once frequented when they were still college students. They shall recall how their friendship came together, how they fell in love and fell apart. While reminiscing on their past - remembering the best and worst memories - they unearth feelings which were once laid to rest.  With ties severed and hearts broken through the years, will this short reunion allow them to rekindle old flames and begin anew?

This fresh yet nostalgic story of love and friendship that transcends time will be featuring six young, experienced and talented performing artists: Kathleen Francisco, Cathrine Go, Philippe Go, Joe Henson, Mariella Laurel and Miko Manguba.

With musical direction by award-winning Jesse Lucas, I REMEMBER A BOY will relive to the younger audience the beautiful and meaningful melodies of classic OPM hits dating from the 70s to the 90s.

I Remember A Boy is presented by the ALM Foundation, co-presented by South Hub Productions, Hues n Cues Lighting Design and Mismo Studio, with its major sponsors: Elle Battung and Sandstone Productions; and minor sponsors: Andrea Zubiri Photography, Nina Carlos Makeup.

Show Dates and Schedule:

November 11 (Saturday) : 7PM- 9:30 PM

November 12 (Sunday) ) : 7PM- 9:30 PM

Ticket Price: Php 800.00, inclusive of one (1) drink;

Php 600.00 for students, senior citizens and PWD, inclusive of  one (1) drink

Tickets are available at Ticketworld. At https://goo.gl/rkihRE

PROMO: Buy 5 Get 1 Free, for regular priced ticket (Php 800) until Nov 5, call Kim at 0975 919 3179

The Cast

Kathleen Francisco as Shayne

Cathrine Go as Kate

Philippe Go as Eero

Jose Henson as Carlos

Mariella Laurel as Ellie

Miko Manguba as David

Production Team
Director: Mariella Laurel
Musical Director: Jesse Lucas
Writer: Ayu Martinez
Artistic Director: Roeder Camanag
Choreographer: Gerhard Krysstopher Pagunsan
Technical Director: Juan Carlo Martin Pacheco
Lights Designer: Joseph G. Matheu
Sound Designer: Willy Munji
Production Designer: Mia De Leoz
Production Design Team: Isabel Daza and Micah Andrea De Leon
Production Managers: Kimberly Claire Somoza (Artist Playground) and Mariella Laurel (South Hub Productions)
Marketing Manager and Artistic Consultant: Kathleen Francisco
Stage Manager and Asst. Production Manager: Tasha Guerrero

Photoshoot Team
Make Up Artist and Hair Styling: Nina Carlos (Nina Carlos Makeup)
Photography: Andrea Zubiri (Andrea G Zubiri Photography)
Layout and illustrations: Elle Battung

Video Shoot Team
Director/Director of Photography: JB Estrada
Assistant Director: LJ Flores

#APPlaylist
#IRememberABoy
#ArtistPlaygroundPlaylist

CareDivas Returns With Original Cast this July

I first watched CareDivas last February the 14^th. I was told that this was one of PETA’s productions with reruns besides Rak Of Aegis. CareDivas tells about five OFWs transgenders who juggles work between caregiving and Sing & Dance act in Israel.

Besides the comedy, there are realities shown here about situation of OFWs abroad regardless of gender preference. This is why POEA is giving passes to OFW families for this latest run of CareDivas. In addition to this, the original cast is reunited for this run including Jerome Napoles.

CareDivas will run for the whole month of July. The original music is composed by Vince De Jesus. This is also part of PETA’s 50^th year. For more musical productions, follow this blog and like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook.

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

Ephesus Teatron Stages "ONCE UPON A MATTRESS"

Once Upon The Mattress is a musical adaptation from Jay Thompson, Marshall Barer and Dean Fuller’s book of the same name which is based from Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale of The Princess and The Pea.

With music by Marshall Barer, the 1959 musical was the stage debut of Carol Burnett. Following her footsteps, it was also staged by Sarah Jessica Parker and Jane Krakowski. Now, it will be locally staged by Ephesus Teatron Group, Inc.

The production is intended as a mobile which can be accessible to schools give them a theater experience. Traditionally, theater productions are considered expensive and staged in a specific location where the theater guild is based. For Ephesus, they want to bring it to a general public.

The name Ephesus is an ancient city in Turkey and is considered the center of performing arts during the Greco-Roman World. Once Upon The Mattress will be staged in Tanghalang Yaman Lahi Theater, Emilio Aguinaldo College in Ermita, Manila on one weekend only from January 20 to 22 with two performances daily at 3:30 and 7:30 P.M.

Sweet Samaniego-Buchanan is the president and artistic director of Ephesus. She performed in musicals at Repertory Philippines and gathered most of her colleagues in this ensemble. She went abroad for performance that when she went back after many years out of the country, she missed performing here which is why she formed Ephesus.

An excerpt during the press launch

Once Upon The Mattress is a parody musical of the Princess and the Peas. You might expect it with sexual innuendo or hint but it is toned down for younger audience especially since the target audiences are the campuses in the vicinity.

Clockwise from left: Yanah Laurel, Raymund Concepcion, Nino Alejandro, Carla Guevarra-Laforteza, Milay Guinid, Ayam Eckstein.

I got to watch an excerpt/song numbers from this musical and I already got hooked. If you are into medieval period with knights, kings, queens, princes, princesses, jesters, minstrels and damsels, then this is the musical for you. Cast includes Carla Guevarra-Laforteza, Cara Barredo, Nino Alejandro, Hans Eckstein, Chino Veguillas, Milay Guinid, Raymond Concepcion, Arion Sanchez, Steven Hotchkiss, Onyl Torres,  Alex Dagalea, Yanah Laurel, Sweet Samaniego-Buchanan, and more. Directed by Steven Conde.

For more musical productions, follow this blog and like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook.

Musical Feature: Mula Sa Buwan

My first encounter with the story Cyrano de Bergerac was from the movie Roxanne. Instead of the traditional French Renaissance era, it was set in a modern day U.S.  I later found out that it was an adaptation when a Tagalog version was played by Dolphy in the right timeline.

Nicco, Boo, Director Pat. KL, and Fred.

It is also the same with the musical adaptation Mula Sa Buwan. The story was set in 1940’s Manila before the Japanese occupation. Cyrano is now one of the soldiers enlisted in the early days of ROTC where the young men are tested for their love for country.

For those who are not familiar the story, Cyrano is a person who can almost do anything.  But his only flaw was his nose which was deforming long. In traditional productions, his nose was similar to the Japanese spirit called tengu. What he lacks in looks, he can make it up of poetic words. When the love of his life Roxanne got attracted to Christian because of his looks, Christian seeks Cyrano’s help because of his poetic tongue.

This is the second time it is going to be staged. Title character was played by Nicco Manalo and Boo Gabunada. It is the first time Boo is playing the part.  Boo says both of them will wear one prosthetic nose per performance. For Nicco, who is playing the part for the second time, the challenge was to make the prosthetic nose won’t get off during performance. He has to put in on 90 minutes before performance. Nicco adds that his version of Cyrano was not like a skilled fighter but a tough one. He can take on someone taller and look straight in the eye if he has to.

Fred Lo and Edward Bezonia alternates as Christian and KL Dizon plays Roxanne. Music by William Elvin Manzano and direction by Pat Valera. Watch Mula Sa Buwan in Irwin Theater, Ateneo De Manila University, Katipunan, Quezon City from December 2 to 4 with 6 performances at 3PM and 8PM.

For more musical stage productions, follow this blog and like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook.

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.

3 Stars and A Sun review

Francis Magalona may be gone but he is alive because of his music and those who understand his message. The message of FrancisM's songs also came to life because of PETA's latest musical production, "3 Stars and A Sun".

After the success of Rak Of Aegis, PETA once again compiled the music of one of the Philippines' respectable music icon and rap pioneer and made a story out of it. Just like Rak Of Aegis, I never expected these specific rap songs can tell a story. Thanks to the writing of Rody Vera and Mix Villalon.

The story takes place in a possible future after a nuclear holocaust that made the Filipinos fled to a domed shelter called Stormdome. The surviving Filipinos were subjected to mind wipe when the democratic government falls and the rise of a new dystopian society. The next generation that follows has no idea about their true heritage.

Living inside the Stormdome, the dystopian society has two existing factions. Those who live in Lumina is the one who governed and the working class in Diliman. The status quo is the theme of the story.

It is also interesting that Francis M's songs fit right in the story and the society. Just like Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady, it is also has sci-fi element to it. But the best part of the production was how relevant and timely this story is in Philippine's current events. This is probably the best time to consider this coming election.

I like how they designed the set. It is combined of futuristic and post-apocalytic with a touch of steam punk. The sci-fi element is not far off.

"3 Stars and A Sun" opens at PETA starting February 4 until February 7. A tip before watching. Be sure to sing the National Anthem up to the end so you can understand how significant it is to the story. For more musical productions, follow this blog and like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook.