BREAKING:
"Due to adverse factors related to marketing, promotions and the political climate for the forthcoming mid-year elections, M. BUTTERFLY announces that the last leg of its national tour will be in Cebu from March 14-17.
The succeeding shows in
Davao (Mar. 28–31), Manila (May 8–19) and Baguio (May 30–June 2) are cancelled.
JHETT TOLENTINO and FRONTROW ENTERTAINMENT would like to thank everyone who supported M. BUTTERFLY National Tour 2019."
One of the most ambitious and most talked about productions in the Philippine theater scene in 2018, M. Butterfly, returns this year embarking on a six city national tour ofIloilo , Dumaguete,
Cebu , Davao ,
Manila , and Baguio .
"Due to adverse factors related to marketing, promotions and the political climate for the forthcoming mid-year elections, M. BUTTERFLY announces that the last leg of its national tour will be in Cebu from March 14-17.
The succeeding shows in
Davao (Mar. 28–31), Manila (May 8–19) and Baguio (May 30–June 2) are cancelled.
JHETT TOLENTINO and FRONTROW ENTERTAINMENT would like to thank everyone who supported M. BUTTERFLY National Tour 2019."
One of the most ambitious and most talked about productions in the Philippine theater scene in 2018, M. Butterfly, returns this year embarking on a six city national tour of
 |
| Jhett Tolentino and RS Francisco |
Presented
by Tony and Grammy Award winning producer Jhett Tolentino and FRONTROW
Entertainment, M. Butterfly has wowed
audiences, including the playwright himself, David Henry Hwang, during its
initial 2018 run and has bagged the Best Actor for RS Francisco, Best Director
for Kanakan Balintagos, and Best Play trophies at the most recent Aliw Awards.
 |
| Aira Igarta |
RS
Francisco, who has become synonymous with Song Liling, now alternates the role
with Aira Igarta for the upcoming tour. Igarta, a kurogo in the previous run, went on a limb and bravely asked if he
could read for the role of Song Liling during the auditions for the initial run.
Although he served as an understudy back then, he never got the chance to
perform his dream role onstage. But now, Aira is not just scheduled to perform
half of the performances in this run, but he also shares top billing with RS as
well.
Theater veteran and Miss Saigon alum Jenine Desiderio joins the cast as Helga marking her first ever non-musical stage role. Returning and reprising their roles for the tour are French actor Olivier Borten as René Gallimard; Scottish Norm McLeon as Manuel Toulon, American Lee O'Brian as Marc/Pinkerton, Mayen Estañero as Suzuki/Comrade Chin/Shu Fang; and Maya Encila as Renée/Pin Up Girl.
 |
| Soprano Jasmine Salvo |
The
new opera singer for the tour is soprano Jasmine Salvo, who burst into the
scene when she won Second Prize at the Asean Vocal Competition in Singapore
last October 2018. The kurogos
composed of Pheith Ina Ballug, Ullyses Basa, and John Paul Ortenero now welcome
Franco Ferrer and Sasa Cabalquinto to their ranks.
The
creative team of M. Butterfly is
composed of producers Jhett Tolentino and RS Francisco, set designer Ohm David,
costume designer Eric Pineda, lighting designer John Batalla, sound designer
Jethro Joaquin, music director Joed Balsamo, and choreographer Carissa Adea.
 |
| The cast of M. Butterfly |
The
beneficiaries for this tour include Iloilo Prima Galaw, Philippine National Red
Cross Iloilo Chapter, The Children of Cebu Foundation, Silliman University
Culture and Arts Council, the Arts Council of Cebu Foundation, Love the
Children Foundation, House of Hope Foundation, Halfway Home for the Boys, and
St. Louis University Culture and Arts
Center
 |
| Cast, creative, and production team of M. Butterfly |
Here
is the performance schedule of the M.
Butterfly 2019 National Tour:
SM
City Iloilo , Cinema 6
February 14, 2019 , 7:00 PM
Dumaguete
Luce
Auditorium, Silliman University
SM
Seaside City Centerstage
SM
Lanang Premier, Cinema 6
Maybank
Performing Arts Theater
