Mabining Mandirigma is back on its 30th theatrical season of Tanghalang Pilipino

Armand Ferrer as Emilio Aguinaldo | (c) Kurt Copon

Tanghalang Pilipino is on its 30th theatrical season and for its mid – season offering is the acclaimed and multi – awarded Mabining Mandirigma a steampunk musical from Dr. Nicanor Tiongson’s narrative entitled “Mabining Mandirigma (The Gentle Warrior)”.

Liesl Batucan as Apolinario Mabini (c) Kurt Copon

It is the first in Philippine theater to have a woman play the role of Apolinario Mabini. “The play is about a great man, Apolinario Mabini, with a vision and mission for a free and united Filipino people, which were not realized during his time, and which remain to be an elusive dream until now”, according to TP’s Artistic Director, Nanding Josef.

It is a steampunk musical foregrounding the intellectual heroism of Apolinario Mabini, who in the second phase of Philippine revolution, displayed an uncommon vision, a warrior’s spirit, and a principled revolution, as he struggled against all odds to enjoin his countrymen to go beyond considerations of class, clan, economic gain, and personal ambition, so they could think and act as citizens of one nation.

David Ezra with Ensemble | (c) Kurt Copon

Steampunk is incorporated in the production to make it appeal to contemporary audiences. It repurposes the expressions of the Victorian era and engages them with the current. “The production repurposes the politics and aesthetics of turn of the century Philippines and engages it with current notions and issues”, says director Chris Millado.

Mr. Millado states, “What new meanings will come forth as Mabini’s life and times collide with the restlessness of the present? How can Pure Reason stand up against Brute Power? This is what propels Mabining Mandirigma.”


ARTISTIC STAFF:
Chris Millado (Director)
Dr. Nicanor Tiongson (Librettist)
Manny Pambid (Dramaturg)
Joed Balsamo (Composer, Supervising Arranger, Musical Director)
TJ Ramos (Sound Designer, Co – Arranger, Sound and Mixing Engineer)
Denisa Reyes (Choregrapher)
Toym Imao (Set Designer)
James Reyes (Costume Designer)
KatschCatoy (Lighting Designer)
GA Fallarme (Video Projection Designer)

Venue: Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater)
Ticket Prices: Orchestra Center – PHP 1,500.00
         Orchestra Sides – PHP 1,000.00
Performance Dates: December 2, 2016 – December 18, 2016
Fridays 8PM / Saturdays 3PM & 8PM / Sundays 3PM