MANILA, Philippines—“Manhid: The Pinoy Superhero Musical” brings together not only talented actors, singers, and dancers, but critically acclaimed musicians too. Audiences will be treated to live music in each show, care of the Radioactive Sago Project. The iconic avant-jazz-pop group is taking over where the Eraserheads left off in 1991, as the production’s live band.
The Radioactive Sago Project’s perennially surprising stylistic excursions have earned them a cult following, from critics to art fans, even to discerning rock audiences.
The band is fronted by four-time Palanca Award-winning writer Lourd Ernest Hanopol De Veyra, along with alumni from the UP College of Music, two-time Gawad Urian awardee for Best Music, Francis De Veyra on bass, Jay Gapasin on drums, Junji Lerma on guitars, Pards Tupas on trombone, Arwin Nava on percussions, and Wowie Ansano on trumpet.
Eventually, the band added Roxy Modesto (tenor and baritone saxophone) and B-boy Garcia (turntables) to beef-up the lineup.
“We’re greatly honored to be performing alongside the Radioactive Sago Project,” says Ballet Philippines Artistic Director Paul Alexander Morales. “We had a great experience working with them during ‘Rock Supremo,’ so we are very eager to do so again.”
As the talent-studded cast of “Manhid” will be doing the singing for the show, frontman Lourd De Veyra’s involvement in the production is limited. His brother, Francis De Veyra serves as the production’s musical director, which he did for “Rock Supremo” as well. As a whole, the band brings a new vitality to the musical’s songs, which were originally performed in 1991 by the Eraserheads.
Before they went on to become one of the Philippines’ leading pop music groups, the Eraserheads started off as a little-known band in the University of the Philippines-Diliman. Composed of Ely Buendia on vocals, Marcus Adoro on guitars, Buddy Zapala on bass and Raimund Marasigan on drums, the members came together when the college bands Curfew and Sunday School merged.
As the band started performing original songs rather than covers, they soon earned a cult following in the university, which gradually spread outside the campus. The group disbanded in 2002, and last performed together in London in 2014. They released two new songs, “Sabado” and “1995” via Esquire Magazine’s September 2014 issue, their first release of new material in more than a decade.
“Manhid: The Pinoy Superhero Musical” will have a three-weekend run at the CCP Main Theater on February 20-22, February 27-March 1, and March 6-8, 2015.
Inspired from comic book super heroes of the 1960’s and the 1990’s, “Manhid” introduces a new generation of Filipino super heroes redefined for today’s times. Set in an alternate present day Philippines where the Edsa revolution failed, this musical features heroes and villains with superpowers, and a people sick with Kamanhiran (Apathy). “Manhid” is the final production in BP’s 45th anniversary season.
The cast is led by Sandino Martin as Bantugan, who recently won Best Actor at the Cinema One Originals Awards Night for his role in “Esprit de Corps”. He alternates with BP apprentice Mark Anthony Grantos. The female lead, Lam-Ang, is played by recent UP Diliman Theatre Arts graduate Teetin Villanueva, and award-winning Tanghalang Pilipino Actors Company member Regina De Vera. Also starring in this production are Gold Villar, Kim Molina, Jean Judith Javier, KL Dizon, Ronah Rostata, Fredison Lo, Ricardo Magno, JV Ibesate, and Mayen Estanero.
Ballet Philippines dancers also take on the challenge of portraying the roles of comic book heroes and villains. Featured are Jean Marc Cordero, Katherine Trofeo, Richardson Yadao, Earl John Arisola, Cyril Aran Fallar, Emmanuelle Guillermo, Timothy Paul Cabrera, Rita Angela Winder, Denise Parungao, Kazier Policarpio, Ma. Celina Dofitas, Victor Maguad, and Erl Emmanuel Sorilla.
The artistic and creative teams of “Manhid: The Pinoy Superhero Musical” are led by Paul Alexander Morales (Director and Choreographer), Alden Lugnasin (Choreographer), Francis de Veyra (Music Director), Zard Eguia (Set Designer), Victor Ursabia (Costume Designer), Roman Cruz (Lighting Designer), William Moraga (Pre-Production Designer) and the Radioactive Sago Project (Live Band).
For bulk reservations, show buys, and inquiries, visit www.ballet.ph or call Ballet Philippines at 551-1003. For tickets, call the CCP Box Office at 832-3704 or Ticketworld at 891-9999.
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