Teatru Kapampangan artists sing the finale of Pope Francis The Musical during the presscon last Tuesday at the HAU.
Photo by Ashley Manabat
ANGELES CITY – It was a gathering of prominent business personalities, local talents, the members of the clergy including Archbishop Emeritus Paciano “Apu Ceto” Aniceto, the ArtiSta.Rita and the media for the launching of the musical on the life of Pope Francis at the Javier Building of the Holy Angel University here last Tuesday.
Led by visionary musical director and composer Andy Alviz, the group was made of prominent socio-civic personalities among them Tess Laus, Abong Tayag, and Carmen McTavish and Fathers Deo Galang, Ted Valencia, Homer Policarpio, Vic Lusung, Jon Bartolome and Aries Maniago.
“I Love Pope Francis: The Musical” is the latest artistic collaboration of Alviz and writer- lyricist Randy Del Rosario, the same partnership which gave birth to the culturally rejuvenating ArtiSta.Rita zarzuelas and the highly-acclaimed musicals Ima, Beauty Parlor, Perry the Musical, Ciniong and Tulauk: A Lenten Musical.
Based on the life of Pope Francis, the project itself is the first undertaking credited to Aniceto as Archbishop Emeritus, according to Alviz. Pope Francis, the musical is the maiden theatrical venture of Teatru Kapampangan which is composed of the ArtiSta.Rita, Kapampangan priests and lay artists headed by its president Fr. Deo Galang and spiritual advisers Bishop Ambo David and Aniceto.
The play’s executive producer is Laus; production managers are Cindy Lapid and Rhoda Mercado; and executive directors Teresita Guanzon, Butchie Lagman, Dr. Leleng Santiago, Rina Alarcon, Bondee Dinio, Corito Tayag, Vina Tayag, Doren Tayag, McTavish, Dr. Victoria Segundo, Dr. Elen Mangahas, Frieda Dizon and Siobe Co. Pope Francis, the musical has 24 original songs that tell his life from the point of view of a fictional Filipino youth ministry.
The musical begins with the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI and flashes back to Jorge Mario’s holy calling up to his unexpected ascent to the papacy and his fictional visit to San Felipe, a parish that symbolizes the Philippines.
The musical shows the Supreme Pontiff not only as an unprecedented global figure of inspiration and humility but also as a subject of opposition and bashing.The musical is co-presented by the HAU in cooperation with the San Miguel Corp. and will have its initial run at the HAU Theater on November 29 and on December 12 and January 10, 2015 all starting at 7:30 pm.
The musical is timed for the coming visit of Pope Francis to the country in January.
