The Silliman University through its Cultural Affairs Committee, in cooperation with the Cultural Center of the Philippines, brings to Manila audiences for the first time an original new musical billed as Ampalaya The Musical on July 15, 3:00pm and 8:00pm at the CCP Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater).
Ampalaya is a musical theatrical performance which 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. This is achieved through catchy melodies, colorful costumes and animation, which are sure to delight all audiences and take them back to a happy journey revisiting their childhood days. It is based on the award winning children’s story Alamat ng Ampalaya (The Legend of Ampalaya) written by Augie Rivera, Jr. with original music by renowned New York-based guitar virtuoso Maestro Michael Dadap.
The Orchestra Sin Arco (Orchestra of Plucked Instruments) performs under the baton of Michael Dadap. The play is directed by Dessa Quesada-Palm of the Philippine Educational Theater Association, with musical direction by Dr. Elizabeth Susan Vista-Suarez and choreography by Angelo Sayson. The musical features many of Dumaguete’s local thespians and singers.
The musical began as a short play, which debuted in 2000 in Boston. The full-length version debuted on September 19, 2014 at the Claire Isabel McGill Luce Auditorium in Silliman University. Ampalaya had its recent Dumaguete run at the Luce Auditorium last July 3 to 6, 2015.
The event is presented by the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Dumaguete City Tourism Office, CocoGrande Hotel, Philippine Airlines, Lorenzo Shipping Corporation, Bayview Park Hotel Manila, and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.
Tickets are available at the CCP Box Office, and Ticketworld. For more information, contact the Silliman University at (035) 422-4365 (landline), 0917-3235953 (mobile), or email (cac@su.edu.ph or silliman.cac@gmail.com).
