The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
Silliman University’s (SU) Cultural Affairs Committee’s Ampalaya: The Musical is set to be staged at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ (CCP) Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo on July 15.
Inspired by Palanca award-winner Augie Rivera Jr.’s short story for children Alamat ng Ampalaya (Tale of the Bitter Gourd), Ampalaya: The Musical is described by the CCP in a statement as a musical that “celebrates Philippine culture through music, dances, games and values.”
“It explores issues like the ugliness of envy and greed and what it does to people, and embracing and nurturing one’s gifts and strengths,” it added.
The musical originated as a short play that debuted in Boston, Massachussetts, in 2000. The full-length version debuted at SU’s Claire Isabel McGill Luce Auditorium on September 19, 2014. Its most recent run was at the same venue last July 3 to 6.
The musical features many of the local thespians and singers of Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental province. Longtime Philippine Educational Theater Association member Dessa Quesada-Palm directs the musical, with the music provided by New York-based guitar virtuoso and conductor Michael Dadap and his co-lyricist Patty Yusah. Other members of the production team are musical director Dr. Elizabeth Susan Vista-Suarez, set designer Lex Marcos, costume designer Carlo Pagunaling, choreographer Angelo Sayson and technical director Barbara Tan-Tiongco. TMM
Ampalaya: The Musical will be staged at 3 and 8 p.m. on July 15. Tickets are now available at the CCP Box Office (Tel. No. [632] 832-3704) and Ticketworld (Tel. No. [632] 891-9999 or its website). For more information, call Silliman University at (035) 422-4365 or 0917- 3235953, or send an e-mail to cac@su.edu.ph or silliman.cac@gmail.com.