‘Lapulapu’ and ‘Noli Me Tangere’ Musicals to be Staged Soon
Lapulapu: Ang Datu ng Mactan, which was shot at the Metropolitan Theater (the MET) and streamed online last October, is set to be staged soon with a live audience.
At yesterday’s virtual press con held by the NCCA, NCCA Chairman and Lapulapu: Ang Datu ng Mactan Artistic Director said during the Q&A, “Hindi pa po tapos ang ‘Lapulapu’. Ang ‘Lapulapu’ po, ako lang ang sole na nakapanood. Napakaramot ko. Kaya iyan po ay kailangan ulitin sa entablado. Iyan po ay walang nanonood. Iyan po ay ginawa namin online. So in other words, it defeats the idea of an audience, which to me is the magical thing between the performer and the audience.“
“Nung pinanood ko po ng kabuuan iyung ‘Lapulapu’, ako lang po ay nag-iisa. I don’t mind telling you that I was in tears because gusto ko po na mapanood ng marami,” he adds. “So ito po. Kailangan po namin ulitin iyan, at pinagpaplanuhan na po namin. Kami ay mag-memeeting na na mailabas iyan sa bandang Abril with an audience. I don’t know kung kami po ay papayagan na pero pinaplano na po namin, ‘nung grupo at mag-memeeting na kami para maipalabas.”
The musical featured Arman Ferrer in the titular role, Andre Tiangco as Ferdinand Magellan, Red Nuestro as Rajah Humabon, Cara Barredo as Reyna Juana, Natasha Cabrera as Babaylan, Paw Castillo as Enrique de Malacca, Matthew Barbers as Juan Sebastian de Elcano, Al Gatmaitan as Antonio Pigafetta, and Ivan Niccolo Nery as Papa Alexander XI and Padre Pedro de Valderrama.
Ensemble members included Joshua Bajado, Jan Lloyd Celecio, MC Dela Cruz, Kirby Dunnzell, Jiny Jane Ferrer, Liway Gabo, Francis Gatmaytan, Mark Anthony Grantos, Maila Habagat, Mary Joy Herosa, John Neil Licuanan, Marynor Madamesila, Louise Meneses, and Brian Moreno.
No word yet on whether the upcoming staging will retain the same cast.
The other members of the creative team included Dexter M. Santos (director), Nicolas B. Pichay (librettist), Aaron Veloso (theater director), Krina Cayabyab (musical director and arranger), Stephen Viñas and Kenneth Torres (choreographers), , Adriana Agcaoili (creative director), Gino Gonzales (production designer), Dennis Marasigan (lighting director), Rars Corpus (sound engineer), GA Fallarme (video designer), Dong Calingacion (technical director), CJ Andaluz (TV broadcast director), and Norman Penaflorida (hair, make-up, and tattoo design), with special participation by Catriona Gray (NCCA Arts Ambassador) and historical annotation by Xiao Chua.
Lizaso also mentioned that there are plans to restage Noli Me Tangere: the Opera at the MET. No details yet on the date and casting. Its was most recently staged at the CCP Main Theater last June 2019 for a limited run.
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