"Zsazsa Zaturnnah the Musical… 'Yun Lang!" is All Set for March 17 - April 2 Performances

Are you ready to watch the latest musical theater treat from Ateneo Blue Repertory (blueREP)?

Presented by Rizal Library, and Co-Presented by Areté, Zsazsa Zaturnnah the Musical... 'Yun Lang! is a cult classic comedy based on the graphic novel by Carlo Vergara, with Music and Lyrics by Vincent A. DeJesus, and Stage Adaptation by Chris Martinez.

The show deals with otherworldly proportions about what it means to be queer in the Philippines. Sometimes, in the end, it takes something out of this world to bring you the truth of who you are, the range of what you can do, and the love that's been right beside you this whole time.

The cast includes award-winning performer, singer, actress, entrepreneur, and social media influencer Kim Molina as Zsazsa; Phi Palmos, Adrian Lindayag, and Shaun Ocrisma as Ada; Joshua Cabiladas, Almond Bolante and Robert Bradley Hao as Didi; Juan Carlos Galiano, Jude Matthew Sevilla and Elian Dominguez as Dodong; Kakki Teodoro, Anyah de Guzman as Queen Femina Suarestellar Baroux; Carlin Maximo, Jelena Evangelista, Dani Tan, and Heart Romeo as Amazonistas; Kyla Rivera as Aling Britney, and other members of the Ateneo Blue Repertory as ensemble.

Zsazsa Zaturnnah the Musical… ‘Yun Lang! is also composed of a talented pool of artistic team members with the direction of Philippine Theater Actors Guild (TAG) President Missy Maramara; musical direction of music composer and writer Vincent A. DeJesus; production and costumes design of Tata Tuviera; choreography of Franco Ramos; technical direction of Adriane Ungriano; lights design of D Cortezano; graphic design of Ralf Borja; and illustrations of Rio Reyes.

The show will run from March 17, 2023, to April 2, 2023, at the Doreen Fernandez Black Box Theater, Areté, Ateneo de Manila University.

For ticket inquiries, please contact Dani Villa (09171394640), or send an email to bluerep.house@gmail.com

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Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady gives the millennial feels

Box-office musical based on Carlo Vergara's comic book Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady is one of my favorite local productions in the theater scene. When it played two runs at the PETA Theater Center and Onstage, the soundtrack was playing for weeks on my playlist. The amazing lyrics and visual effects topped with amazing actors and actresses, KPANLL etched its mark on my memory and heart.

This year, a young group of thespians will adapt the musical and gets a reimagining on the life of Mely being a housemaid of the most trusted superheroes, the Fuwerza Filipinas. Falling in love with Leading Man while saving the world from the villainous Kayumanggilas. Ateneo Blue Repertoy group offers KPANLL as their finale performance with this spectacular production and will run for 2 weeks, from April 19 to 30.

Ateneo BlueRep's creative team led by director Issa Manalo Lopez, known for her performances in politically-charged pieces I and Colonized. Kevin Maske adds new lyrics and songs from the Vincent de Jesus originals. Delphine Buencamino gives her take on the choreography. J Laspuña, whose previous soundscape collaborations include “Disco1081”, “I”, and “Kapit” does Sound Design.  Carlo Tabije and Ben Padero, the award-winning Production Designers of the film “Heneral Luna”, creates the highly imaginative Set and Costumes. Joseph Matheu, Lighting Designer and Co-Producer of Twinbill’s “Asher Lev”, does the Lights Design.

The cast boasts of up and coming talented young actors of Philippine theatre. Natasha Cabrera, who previously played Viva in the musical’s commercial run, comes back to the production to play Mely – (Maid of Fuwerza Filipinas). She shares the role with EJ Pepito of PETA’s “3 Stars and a Sun”. Jerome Fugoso plays Senyor Blangko (Lead Super Villain of Kayumanggilas). Ateneo blueREP’s Kassandra Barnes and Ashe Uy alternate as Viva (Mely’s younger sister), Hans Braga as Leading Man (Newest Member of Fuwerza Filipinas), and Arianna Norton as Madre de Dios (Lead Superhero of Fuwerza Filipinas).

For ticket inquiries, please contact Stephanie Escuadro at 09568452030 or reserve through blueREP’s website: bluerepertory.org/tickets

Connect to Ateneo Blue Repertory online through the following social media networks:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/blueREPERTORY
Twitter: @_blueREPERTORY
Instagram: @blueREPERTORY

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Ateneo BlueRep's 13

i remember adjusting to high school as i see new faces and face new characters in my life. i had a set of friends but never thought of having the best. these scenes came back to my memory as i saw 13 -- Ateneo Blue Repertory's season opener.

the story is about Evan Goldman who moved in to New York and torn about the circumstances as he approaches his Bar Mitzvah. it is when a Jewish child is called to be a man. new to his environment, he tries to blend in with a couple of other people of his age in ways that would be "cool." when conflicts on friendship and relationship arises, he discovers that being cool is just simply being himself and appreciate the things he currently has.Ateneo BlueRep brings out the message to everyone especially those who are having the same personal crises like Evan had. 13, composed of RJ Santillan as Evan, Bernice Reyes as Patrice, David Mercado as Archie, Roxci de Leon as Lucy, Raya Esteban as Kendra, Darrell Uy as Brett including more casts in their vibrant, unaltered presentation of 13. each character depicts many of the people in our lives and broadens out the understanding of each cast internally. doing their homework producing this musical, the characters also helped them to make the changes in their own selves for the better.

the colors and the story line will definitely catch your attention. for a 2-hour musical, i didn't get bored. i also didn't get up during the break because of a special entertainment they provided. it's something to watch out.

director Christopher De Venecia (9WT: You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Little Shop of Horrors)intentionally put 13 to pilot the season and put older-than-13 actors to bring more value and help the cast imbibe their own character. this is to give another "attack" from the original which was played by actual 13-year-olds. together with musical director Reb Atadero (Bare, Rizal X) and choreographer Mica Fajardo, the technical aspects of the musical are amazing escpecially the chorus. the ensemble blended nicely and i think it is very well-casted. each cast delivered his role very good.

13 the musical by Ateneo Blue Repertory stages today at the Fine Arts Theater of Ateneo De Manila University until August 11. you can follow updates from Ateneo Blue Repertory by following @_blueREPERTORY on Twitter and liking https://www.facebook.com/13musicalblueREP

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Ateneo BlueRep's BARE: A POP OPERA review

Ateneo Blue Repertory makes their debut show outside of the campus with the 2012 rendition of Bare: A Pop Opera at Teatrino in Greenhills, San Juan City. the show runs from March 1 - 10, 2012 with 3PM and 7PM shows. this is directed by Ana Abad Santos based on the book by Jon Hartmere, Jr. and Damon Intrabartolo.

this is a story of 2 students, Jason and Peter, who are closet lovers inside a Catholic school. Peter (Bibo Reyes) may have wanted to get out of the open but Jason (Jaime Barcelon) stops him from doing so. alone, they do what they have to do -- express their love to each other. Jason really loves Peter but he struggles to protect his manly image. he is chased by girls and he doesn't want to disappoint his parents.

Bibo Reyes (Peter) and Jaime Barcelon(Jason)

to cut the story short, everything will be out in the open. with proper timing and acceptance of themselves, things will eventually work out right.

if you're going to watch the musical, the ensemble is good and there's a quite good set-up on the stage. cathedral-like, giving you the idea of Catholicism and being dogmatic of these types of schools. quite contrary to what's happening on our characters, where this kind of relationships happen. Ateneo, a known Catholic school in the Philippines, had embraced on this reality and i think it's a good decision to give BlueRep the liberty in choosing their productions and their students as well. substance comes first, if i may put it that way.

the songs are also nice. and you have to watch our for Sr. Chantelle and the Virgin Mary. Rem Zamora is powerful! his characters burst out the best lines i heard in the musical. praise be to him!

our main characters, Bibo and Jaime also did well. though i cannot find much of that chemistry portraying the lovers Peter and Jason. they can sing and act all right, however i think passion and engagement between them should be improved. Ivy (Maronne Cruz) and Fat Nadia (Cassie Manalastas) are also two ladies that can give out their character well.

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