Sci-Fi Thriller “The Nether” Closes Red Turnip’s 4th Season

Press Announcement:

Fresh off the critical success of their last outing, the family comedy-drama Tribes, Red Turnip Theater is ready to take audiences into a different theater experience with the sci-fi thriller THE NETHER.

Ever since making their debut four years ago, Red Turnip has already made quite the dent in the local theater scene. By sticking to their vision of producing contemporary straight plays, this young company has almost single-handedly paved the way for the straight play to find equal footing in a landscape formerly dominated by the musical. Younger companies have sprouted and followed suit and there are now more text-driven plays getting produced than ever before. Each of the Red Turnip’s eight productions has gone on to top critics’ lists and garner awards and nominations from both the Aliw and Gawad Buhay Awards, making this company the go-to for outstanding plays that both entertain and move.

Their Fourth Season’s grand finale is THE NETHER, a sci-fi crime drama about the dilemmas of living in a virtual world. Written by Jennifer Haley and winner of the 2012 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, this thrilling play explores the ethical questions and moral consequences of living out one’s hidden desires and fantasies. Set in the not-so-distant future, this haunting thriller made its West End and Off-Broadway debut back in 2015 and has been produced across the U.S. and Europe.

THE NETHER is a play for our times. It is relevant; it is provocative. In the play, life is spent more and more in The Nether, a virtual paradise so interactive that it engages all the senses--a tempting haven to retreat from a bleak world. But the main conflict begs the question: In a computer-generated space, is there no room for ethics and morality? THE NETHER isn’t just about Virtual Reality, but Reality itself.

Jenny Jamora (Cock, The Vagina Monologues, A Little Night Music) returns to the Red Turnip stage to take on the lead role of Detective Morris, an investigator of The Nether’s online offerings.

THE NETHER boasts a powerhouse ensemble led by legendary actors Bernardo Bernardo (Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis, El Filibusterismo, Katy!) and Bodjie Pascua (3 Stars and a Sun, The Tempest Reimagined, Waiting for Godot). Making their Red Turnip debuts, young actresses Alba Berenguer-Testa (Annie) and Junyka Santarin (GMA 7’s Pyra) alternate in one of the play’s pivotal roles. Screen actor TJ Trinidad (Saving Sally) joins the cast after an accomplished theater debut as Bruce in last year’s The Normal Heart, which garnered him a Gawad Buhay nomination for Best Featured Actor.

With a stellar cast and creative team, this Red Turnip production is sure to electrify with its one-of-a-kind story and give audiences the complete theatrical experience this groundbreaking new company is known for.

THE NETHER opens March 10 and runs all weekends until April 9. Tickets at www.ticketworld.com.ph or www.redturnip.com.ph.

Venue: The Power Mac Center Spotlight Theater

             Circuit, Makati

             (Level 2, Circuit Lane, A.P. Reyes Avenue, Makati City)

Directed by: Ana Abad Santos

Lighting Design / Technical Direction: John Batalla

Set Design: Ed Lacson, Jr.

Sound Design: Teresa Barrozo

Costume Design: Faust Peneyra

UP-PGH Enjoys a Soothing Treat from PPO

Press Update:

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra treated hospital patients, caregivers, health workers and visitors to a free concert at the Atrium of the UP-Philippine General Hospital in Manila recently. Billed as “Himig ng Buhay”, the event was organized by the Philippine Cancer Society (PCS) for the benefit of cancer patients, caregivers, medical workers. With the aim “to synergize the soothing orchestra music with the somber atmosphere of a medical facility,” the free concert was made possible through the efforts of UP-PGH director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi, Cultural Center of the Philippines president Raul Sunico and CCP board trustee Nick Lizaso.

Under the baton of Maestro Herminigildo Ranera, the PPO played a variety of classical and contemporary works, among them, Georges Bizet’s Carmen Suite No. 1, Hooked on Classics (Medley), Broadway Tonight (arranged by Bruce Chase), Jacob de Haan’s Concerto D’Amore, Ryan Cayabyab’s Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika, Aegis in Symphony Overture (arranged by Jedrick Itugot), VST Medley by Obeth Sarreal, and 2015 Playlist arranged by Derrick Atangan. (Photo by Orly Daquipil)

Ochanine Returns for PPO February Concert

Press Update:

FORMER Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra music director Olivier Ochanine conducts the PPO on February 17, 2017 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines' Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater) at 8:00 pm.

Program for the concert features P.I. Tchaikovsky’s “March Slave”, J. Haydn’s “Symphony No. 88 in G” and D. Shostakovich’s “Symphony No. 10”.  

Olivier Ochanine is the 1st Prize Winner of the 2015 Antal Dorati International Conducting Competition in Budapest, Hungary, in which he surpassed nearly 120 other conductors from 23 countries; the prize leads to further performances in Europe.  In addition, he is winner of the prestigious The American Prize (2015) in the Professional Orchestra Conducting division.  Olivier is also 2nd Prize Winner in the 2015 London Classical Soloists International Conducting Competition, where he conducted the orchestra in various Beethoven symphonies.  Regularly praised for his charisma on and off the podium as well as for his breadth of orchestral repertoire, Olivier was the youngest Music Director of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra in the orchestra’s history.

A native of Paris, Olivier Ochanine began music studies in France.  He continued music studies in the United States, and expanded his focus to orchestral conducting, taking up graduate studies and attending master classes with some of the best conducting mentors.  He obtained his Master’s Degree in Conducting from the University of Southern California (USC), where he was given the Conducting Department Award in 2003.  In 2009, he began his Doctoral Studies in Orchestral Conducting at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music under Mark Gibson. A flutist and bassist, Olivier earned his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Kentucky. He has also played as bassist for the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra.

Olivier’s term with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra started with the 2010-2011 performance season. Under his leadership, the orchestra has performed numerous Philippine premieres. In the Philippines, Olivier is an active clinician, leading chamber music masterclasses at schools; he has also led conducting masterclasses for the Cultural Center of the Philippines.  As part of his outreach mission, Olivier serves as head visiting conductor for the Orchestra of the Filipino Youth, a program geared toward talented youth that stem from severely unfortunate financial backgrounds.

For inquires, please call the CCP Marketing Department (832-1125 local 1806), the CCP Box Office (832-3704) or Ticketworld at National Bookstore (891-9999).

Ballet PH Spreads Its "Wings" with Swan Lake on Feb 24 to March 5

Press Update:
As a fabulous fitting finale of Ballet Philippines’ 47th season entitled “Wings”, come and watch the new staging of “Swan Lake”, the most famous and legendary ballet adored by audiences all over the world for over a hundred years. On March 4, “Swan Lake” will be celebrating the 140th anniversary of its premiere.

“Swan Lake” is set to open on February 24 at the CCP Main Theater (Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo) at 8:00 PM. Other performance schedules are as follows: February 25 at 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM, February 26 at 3:00 PM, March 3 at 8:00 PM, March 4 at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM, and March 5 at 3:00 PM.

This year’s “Swan Lake” boasts three extraordinary pairings for Odette/Odile and Prince Siegfried: multi-awarded guest artists Candice Adea and Joseph Phillips, BP principal dancer Denise Parungao and company member Garry Corpuz, and soloists Jemima Reyes and Victor Maguad in their first lead roles in a classical ballet.

Set to Tchaikovsky's beautiful and moving score, The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Yoshikazu Fukumura are set to perform the music live during the gala nights on February 24, February 25, and March 3.

The February 25, 7:00 PM performance is an International Gala featuring guest stars Candice Adea (formerly of Hong Kong Ballet and BalletMet) and Joseph Phillips of the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theatre. Both artists have garnered multiple awards in international ballet competitions, including the Helsinki IBC, and the Jackson IBC.

“’Swan Lake’ is regarded as the summit of achievement in the theater for every major classical ballet company,” says Ballet Philippines artistic director Paul Alexander Morales. “Nowadays so many versions and interpretations of the ballet are available online, so audiences will likely have their own ideas of what ‘Swan Lake’ is and what it should be like. It is our challenge to come up with an entirely new experience of this ballet.”

Based on Germanic folk tales coupled with Russian traditions, “Swan Lake” weaves drama and dance together in an unparalleled spectacle. The ballet tells a timeless story of magic, love, and forgiveness through the ingenious choreography of Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov. It centers around Odette, a princess under a curse that traps her in swan form during the day, and Prince Siegfried, an idealistic royal under pressure to find a suitable bride.

Ballet Philippines has previously staged the full-length “Swan Lake” in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1989, 1991, and 1994. The 2017 production marks the company’s 8th restaging to date. Ballerinas who have brought the dual role of Odette/Odile to life on the BP stage include the likes of Maniya Barredo, Kelly Cass, Toni Lopez Gonzalez, Valentina Kozlova, Yoko Morishita, Guo Peihui, Cecile Sicangco, Ester Rimpos, and Anna Villadolid. Notable Siegfrieds include Medhi Bahiri, Fernando Bujones, Wes Chapman, Nonoy Froilan, Serge Lavoie, Robert Medina, Brando Miranda, and Zhang Weiqiang.

“Swan Lake” is restaged by Nonoy Froilan after Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov. Set designer Ohm David shall combine grand scale and psychological intimacy. His magnificent designs pit Edwardian splendour against the spectral beauty of the white acts. James Reyes’ dramatic costumes shall emphasize the contrast between human and spirit worlds, in shimmering fabrics and designs to create a magical setting.

From the first yearning bars of Tchaikovsky’s score, “Swan Lake” shall beckon you to another world. This timeless and enchanting tale filled with magic, manipulation, and eternal love will surely melt countless hearts, stir the soul, and send tingles down the spine. “Swan Lake” - the ultimate night at the ballet.

Connect to Ballet Philippines online through the following social media networks:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/balletphilippines

Twitter: @balletph

Instagram: @balletphilippines

YouTube: balletph

To join in the Ballet Philippines conversation, use our official hashtags: #balletph, #swanlakeballetph

For tickets, call Ticketworld at 891-9999.