While ABS-CBN assembled its bevy of celebrities for its annual, highly publicized dress-and-glam-up festival known as the Star Magic Ball, the palatial Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) played host to an event of even grander and genuinely international scale.
A mostly Filipino-American crowd gave a standing ovation and rave reviews to “Noli Me Tangere, the Musical” at its opening performance August 23 at the Aratani Theater.
Teatro Pilipino USA is staging a one-night-only performance of the musical “Noli Me Tangere” in Los Angeles this August, with the English supertitles provided by Palanca-award winner Chynna Roxas.
Sunset at Harbor Square induces euphoria—we don’t need a lot of money to enjoy what the night has in store: a symphony orchestra at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) just across this cluster of bars and restaurants; and, later after the concert, back to Harbor Square for a few drinks.
Ryan Cayabyab pauses, trying to remember the year he first performed at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), which he describes as a mecca for young music students like him in the 1970s. He recalls the early musicals he joined in, but has difficulty pinpointing particular dates. He laughs at this senior moment.
The ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra unveils its first Spotlight Series with “The Music of Ryan Cayabyab” on May 3, Saturday, 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., at the CCP’s Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo Theater.
In an interview months ago, director Nonon Padilla said he would challenge any member of the audience to have a dry eye once “Lorenzo,” a rock opera on the indio Lorenzo Ruiz who died for his faith in 17th-century Japan, closes its curtain.
While a Filipino worker languishes in an Arab jail, awaiting execution, he decides to spend his days doing a play about another Filipino from a different century who also left the Philippines and suffered in another country: Lorenzo Ruiz.
The reprimands and raves from his colleagues have died down, and to Felix “Nonon” Padilla’s mind, he has said his final piece.
Calling all Filipino playwrights here and abroad. Write a musical play and if it’s good or great, you stand a fighting chance to win one million Filipino bucks.
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