A Little Princess Closes REP’s 2016 Season
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At the cusp of its 50th anniversary, Repertory Philippines, popularly known as REP, is proudly closing the 2016 season with a grand musical production that will surely touch the hearts of audiences no matter what age.
REP presents its year-end musical A Little Princess, from November 18 to December 18 at the OnStage Theater in Greenbelt 1, Makati.
Gaby Padilla as Sara
A Little Princess is based on the popular children’s novel written in 1905 by Frances Hodgson Burnett and acclaimed as one of the top fifty best children’s books ever written. The musical adaptation was written by Brian Crawley and set to music by Andrew Lippa. Jillian Ita-as and Maria Gabriela Gil Padilla lead the cast of REP’s A Little Princess as Sara Crewe, a young girl who grew up in West Africa with a great big imagination. Sara is sent to boarding school in London by her father, wealthy and renowned adventurer Captain Crewe who is played by REP veteran actor, Noel Rayos.
Noel Rayos plays Capt. Crew
She is forced to leave sunny Africa and the kindhearted people who raised her, most especially the caring Aljana who is portrayed by REP’s very own Cara Barredo. Life in the boarding school becomes difficult for Sara when she attracts the envy of the other girls like the snobbish Lavinia played by Jo Mari Logdat (who also alternates with Padilla for this role), and the cruelty of wicked old headmistress Miss Minchin played by Mary Patrice Pacis and Roselyn Perez.
Patrice Pacis as Miss Minchin
Even though circumstances in school get tough, Sara uses her powerful imagination to transform the gloomy boarding school into a place of mystery and magic. She befriends the petite scullery maid Becky, little Lottie, and the lovely teacher Miss Amelia. Things take a turn for the worst after it was reported that Captain Crewe died on his journey to Timbuktu and was stripped off his fortune.
Sara loses her privilege as the unofficial princess of the school and is forced by Miss Minchin to work as a serving girl. However, no matter how much Miss Minchin tries to starve and abuse her, Sara manages to rise above it all by always being kind and loving.
Sara finds comfort in little Lottie and Ermengarde amidst the struggles and tough circumstances in her school.
REP’s A Little Princess is directed and choreographed by highly respected theater director Dexter Santos, who is the Director of the Dulaang UP School of Performing Arts and Literature, with musical direction by critically acclaimed musical arranger and composer Ejay Yatco.
With a poignant story that resonates with any audience, charming characters played by a brilliant mix of veterans and upcoming young theater actors, and lively and colorful musical numbers, REP’s A Little Princess is a terrific musical that will surely teach the young and young at heart the true meaning and value of kindness, fun, love and laughter.
Watch excerpts from the musical here!
For inquiries, you may call REP at 843.3570, and Ticketworld at 891.999 or log on to www.ticketworld.com.ph.
For more details about what’s happening in the Manila theater scene, please view our Theater Calendar.
