Monday, February 20, 2012

Ateneo blueREPERTORY celebrates 20 years with Bare: A Pop Opera


February 29, 2012, 8:00 PM
March 1, 2012, 8:00 PM
March 2, 2012, 8:00 PM
March 3, 2012, 3:00 & 8:00 PM
March 7, 2012, 8:00 PM
March 8, 2012, 8:00 PM
March 9, 2012, 8:00 PM
March 10, 2012, 3:00 & 8:00 PM
T.E.A.T.R.I.N.O.
The Promenade, Greenhills
San Juan

The Ateneo blueREPERTORY, in celebration of their 20th anniversary, re-stages Bare: A Pop Opera as their 2011-2012 season finale offering. Setting their sights on a bigger audience, this production will be staged at T.E.A.T.R.I.N.O at Promenade in Greenhills from February 29, 2012 up to March 10, 2012. While maintaining a cast composed mainly of members of the Ateneo blueREPERTORY, this staging boasts of a production team made up of professionals making this a huge step for this theater company based in Ateneo de Manila University.

Bare: A Pop Opera, with book, music and lyrics by Jon Hartmere Jr. and Damon Intrabartolo, centers on Jason and Peter, two high school seniors who are in love but are trying to keep their relationship a secret from their friends, classmates, parents and the rest of the Catholic school that they go to. The show was originally staged on Hudson Theatre in Los Angeles, California back in October 2000 and has also been staged Off-Broadway a few years after in 2004. Ateneo blueREPERTORY first staged this back in 2009 to a sold out audience during its entire three week run.

Bibo Reyes and Jaime Barcelon

For this re-staging, the leads are Jaime Barcelon playing the role of Jason and Bibo Reyes who is reprising the role of Peter. Maronne Cruz and Cassie Manalastas play the role of Ivy and Nadia respectively. Orange Sanchez and Franco Chan alternate the role of Matt. Other cast members are Mark Bernardo, Jenny Jamora, Rem Zamora and the ensemble consisting of Jussy Peña, Mikah Franco, Mica Fajardo, Raisa Tabusalla, Jian Kho, Gabriel Perez, Lara Antonio, Luigi Du, CJ Francisco, Bernice Reyes, and Dar Uy. Ana Abad Santos directs this production once again.

I’ve had the chance to see a sneak peek of this production and the chrous impressed me with their singing after just a couple of measures into the scene. It is remarkable to note that there isn’t really a music/theater program over at Ateneo de Manila and that the members of the Ateneo blueREPERTORY are taking different courses, with some totally unrelated to the arts. As I’ve said earlier, the production team is made up of people who have already worked in various theater productions before. All this and the fact that the show will be held outside the campus is a testament that the company is moving forward to make its presence felt as another theater company to be reckoned with. Clearly an impressive feat for a campus based company.

Part of my preparation prior to watching this was listening to the recording of this musical. Rock rhythms dominate the tracks although there are some surprises like the songs in triple meter and a rave track as well. I was very amused with the gospel tinged numbers included in the musical that promise to be memorable highlights in this production. And making me more excited is knowing that there will be a live band accompaniment headed by music director Joseph Tolentino. There are cello and flute parts in the recording and I am very curious if there will be an actual cellist in the band. I am pretty sure that there would be a flutist since there was one during the sneak peek. Hearing the music, seeing a peek and general curiosity since this will be my first time to see an Ateneo blueREPERTORY production now make me count the days until Bare: A Pop Opera opens.

Ateneo bluREPERTORY

Bare: A Pop Opera  is sponsored by Big Better Burgers, Cerealicious, Cha Dao Tea Place, Freeform Printing, Intersection Bar and Cafe, Mile Hi Diner, Sicilian Express, and Tunog at Liwanag sa Teatro. Media partners include BusinessWorld, Click the City, Manila Bulletin, Monster Radio RX93.1, Philippine Daily Inquirer, and Philippine Paradise Pages. Bare: A Pop Opera is also brought to you by Angel's Pizza Pasta Combo, Boardwalk, Energizer, Evans, Figlia, Folded and Hung, Jockey, Sbarro, and 101 New York. Special thanks to Aperture Society and Jonathan Matthew Salon.

The artistic and creative team is composed of  Onyl Torres (Musical Director for Vocals), Abi Sulit (Assistant Musical Director for Vocals), Joseph Tolentino (Musical Director for Band), Carlon Matobato (Choreographer), Leeroy New (Set Designer), John Batalla (Lights Designer and Technical Director), Jethro Joaquin (Sound Designer), and Raven Ong (Costume Designer).

The production staff is composed of Tomik Tendero (Company Manager), Nina de Leon (Production Manager), Loraine Macatangay (Co-Head Stage Manager), Tricia Javier (Co-Head Stage Manager), Wrench Canicosa, Meg Yatco, Nick Fortuna, Claude Flores (Stage Managers), Rosa Leon Lumagbas (Costume Stylist), Jie Dela Paz (Assistant Technical Director), KL So Chan (Costumes Technical Director), Kina Casino (Lights and Sounds Technical Director),  Claude Flores (Set and Props Technical Director),  Asami Kobayashi (Logistics Head), Abbey Manliclic (Finance Head), Aina Pacificador (Documentations Head), and Chiz Jardin (Front-of-House Head).

The marketing, sales and publicity is led by Toots Tolentino (PR & Publicity) with Gala Sanchez, Aldrich Alcantara and Luis Marcelo (Promotions and Marketing) and Jojit Lorenzo (Photography).

Bare: A Pop Opera is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized performance materials are supplied by Theatrical Rights Worldwide (TRW), 570 Seventh Avenue, Suite 2100, New York, NY 10018.

For tickets and inquiries:
Chiz Jardin (0916) 578-7618, nicojardin12@yahoo.com
Luis Marcelo (0917) 502-5847

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