Maryknoll/Miriam College Alumni Association (MMCAA) presents Ballet Philippines’ “Tales of The Manuvu” on March 24
In celebration
of its 40th Anniversary, the Maryknoll/Miriam College Alumni Association
(MMCAA) is sponsoring a special matinee show of the restaging of one of Ballet
Philippines’ most celebrated productions, the original rock opera,“Tales of the Manuvu”, on Sunday, March
24.
Choreographed
and directed by National Artist for Dance and one of Miriam College’s (MC)
Amazing Alumni Achiever Awardees, Alice Reyes, “Tales of the Manuvu” is based
on the retelling of the origin myths of the Manuvu Tribe. Completing the MC
circle, the ballet will be staged at the Main Theater of the country’s premiere
home for culture and the arts, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP),
which is chaired by another MC Amazing Alumni Achiever Awardee, Margie
Moran-Floreindo.
This unique
adaptation of the Manobo creation story was the most monumental coup of Ballet
Philippines in the ‘70s. Not only did it bring together rock, opera, pop and
ballet on the stage, it also brought audiences from all walks of life to one
theater in a collective celebration of Philippine culture powered by the likes
of National Artist for Literature
Bienvenido Lumbera, Nonong Pedero, the Afterbirth band, Ernest Santiago and Monino
Duque. It starred another Maryknoll alumna, Celeste Legaspi, who popularized the iconic song from the
ballet, “Noong Unang Panahon”, as well as celebrated singers Hadji Alejandro,
Anthony Castelo and Boy Camara starred in the premiere, and Leah Navarro made
her debut performance in the production, which also featured Rey Paguio and the
UP Concert Chorus.
In this 2019 refresh,
Francis de Veyra provides new musical arrangements while Broadway theater
designer and multi-awarded filmmaker Loy Arcenas is lending his genius to the
creation of the mystical Manobo realm. Multi-awarded performers like the
Minstrel’s Ding Mercado, theater veteran couple Shiela Valderrama and Lorenz
Martinez, Poppert Bernadas (of Rak of Aegis fame) and Aicelle Santos - straight
from her Miss Saigon tour in Ireland,
will be joining this grand revival of “Tales of the Manuvu”, along withtop contemporary
singers Lara Maigue, Nar Cabico, and Reuben Laurente. The UP Concert Chorus
once again contribute their vocal support, with Radioactive Sago Project rocking
the house as the band.
Supported by San
Miguel, proceeds from this benefit show on March 24 will go to the Lumad Bakwit
School Manobos and other Lumads, and the MMCAA’s Project MMaria (Quick Response
to Emergencies) Initiative. Ticket prices range from Php300 to Php3,000
and are available via TicketWorld and the MMCAA office, where an exclusive 4+1
(Buy 4 get 1) 40th anniversary promo on Php3,000, Php2,500 and
Php1,500 tickets is available. For information, please email alumni@mc.edu.ph or call the MMCAA office at
930-6272 loc. 1187.
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