‘Karmen 1949,’ Postwar Manila Reimagining of Bizet’s ‘Carmen,’ to Be Staged This November
Areté is set to stage Karmen 1949, a reimagining of Georges Bizet’s opera Carmen set in postwar Manila, from November 13 to 22 at the Doreen Black Box Theater, Areté.
The production serves as the final offering of Areté’s Sa Parang ng Digma season.
Set in 1949, four years after the Battle of Manila, Karmen 1949 takes place inside a damaged theater, where the image of Carmen remains on a faded movie poster. As the music begins and the curtains rise, the familiar tragedy unfolds against the backdrop of a city recovering from war.
The story follows Karmen, a young woman determined to live on her own terms. Drawn to Jose, a Philippine Constabulary officer, she enters a relationship that soon exposes the divide between them. While Jose longs for a love he can hold on to, Karmen refuses to surrender her freedom. Their desire eventually gives way to jealousy, obsession, and conflict.
The cast features Roxy Aldiosa as Karmen, Bryan Homecillo as Jose, Angeli Benipayo as Micaela, Ivan Nery as Camillo, Brian Sy as Zuniga, Noel Rayos as Lillas Pastia, and Tarek El Tayech as Garcia.
Jaime del Mundo directs the production, with Farley Asuncion serving as musical director and translator and Angeli Benipayo as assistant director and co-translator. Joining them on the creative team are Eric V. Dela Cruz for dramaturgy, D Cortezano for technical direction and co-set design, Sarah Facuri for set design, Jethro Nibaten for lighting design, Kabaitan Bautista for sound design and recording engineering, Carlo Pagunaling for costume and makeup design, Brian Sy for fight choreography, Pat Ong for photography, and Rio Reyes for graphic design.
Karmen 1949 runs for two weekends, from November 13 to 15 and November 20 to 22, 2026. Performances are on Fridays at 8 PM and Saturdays and Sundays at 3 PM and 8 PM.
Tickets are priced at ₱2,000, with free seating, and are available through Areté’s ticketing platform.
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