“The Band’s Visit” to Star Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo
Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo will be playing the lead role of Dina in Atlantis Theatrical’s staging of “The Band’s Visit.” The musical is the company’s first production for its 2020 season.
Originally performed on Broadway by Katrina Lenk, Dina is the beautiful and charismatic owner of a cafe who welcomes the band and arranges their lodging for the night. “I remember watching The Band’s Visit in New York and falling in love with the show,” says Lauchengco-Yulo. “I told myself, I hope it gets produced in Manila cause I would love to play Dina. And now it is happening.”
Lauchengco-Yulo last performed with Atlantis Theatrical in 2013 as Margaret White in “Carrie”, and in 2011 as Diana Goodman in “Next to Normal.” She was last seen by theater audiences in Full House Theater Company (where she also serves as co-artistic director) and Resorts World Manila’s “Ang Huling El Bimbo”, where she played the role of Joy, and in Upstart Productions’ “Company”, where she played the role of Joanne.
“The best part is working with Bobby Garcia as my director,” she adds. “I have always enjoyed working in Atlantis and I am glad that I have this opportunity again after seven years. It’s been way too long.”
Director Bobby Garcia says, “I am over the moon that we get to do The Band’s Visit as our first musical for 2020. It is a gentle, quiet musical about how life surprises us in many tiny ways. I fell in love with it when I first saw it.”
“I am also so excited to collaborate with Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo again after seven years. In this profession, you never know when you will work with people again. Everything needs to be right. The right show at the right time. I can’t wait to get into the rehearsal room and get to work with Menchu on what I have no doubt will be another unforgettable creation in her illustrious career.”
“The Band’s Visit” opened on Broadway in 2018 and won 10 Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Actress in a Musical for Lenk. Based on the film of the same name, “The Band’s Visit” tells the story of an Egyptian Police Band that arrives in Israel to play a concert. After a mix-up at the border, they are sent to a remote village in the middle of the desert. With no bus until morning and no hotel in sight, these unlikely travelers are taken in by the locals. Under the spell of the desert sky, their lives become intertwined in the most unexpected ways. Featuring music and lyrics by David Yazbek and a book by Itamar Moses, this Manila production will mark its Asian Premiere.
Further casting has yet to be announced.
“The Band’s Visit” will run from March 13 to 29, 2020 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City. For showbuying inquiries, email shows@atalntistheatrical.com or call 0917 8381534 for more details.
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