#TheaterPH - REP steps boldly on to a new stage with a contemporary vision for beloved Broadway hit CAROUSEL
Repertory Philippines (REP) reopens its theater doors with a contemporary reimagining of CAROUSEL as it enters a brand-new stage. The well-known Broadway smash musical will perform at the Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez from November 26 to December 18, 2022, making it one of the first performances to take place at the newly opened black box theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
Carousel, which features music by Richard Rodgers and a book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, was a huge success right away, earning praise from both crowds and reviewers. The New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical went to the original show. Time Magazine hailed this musical as the greatest of the 20th century, and countless Tony Awards have been won for its several revivals. It tells the tale of a brief romance between millworker Julie Jordan and carnival barker Billy Bigelow and has some of the most classic and well-known songs in musical theater, such as If I Loved You and You'll Never Walk Alone.
Toff De Venecia, who is motivated to present a strong, fearless vision for the new generation of theatergoers, is the director of REP's CAROUSEL. A stellar cast, fronted by singer, actress, and OPM royalty Karylle Tatlonghari as Julie Jordan and sought-after theater leading man Gian Magdangal as Billy Bigelow, brings this wonderful musical masterpiece to life.
“Today, we stand on the shoulders of giants and take on the challenge of reimagining this classic musical for contemporary Filipino audiences,” De Venecia says. “Featuring new artistic voices and talent as well as post-modern perspectives, the team boldly dreams up what ‘the best musical of the 20th century’ might look like today. It’s a radical departure from previous iterations, even from what we set out to do in 2020. We draw inspiration from Filipino creativity and the words of the original choreographer and dancer Agnes de Mille – that is, ‘taking leap after leap in the dark.’ This will be the ultimate 21st century test for a 20th century text.”
De Venecia would have also directed CAROUSEL, which was initially scheduled to make its premiere in May 2020. Under the direction of Artistic Director Liesl Batucan-Del Rosario, it was slated to be the highlight of the REP 2020 theatrical season, which would have built upon the company's rich 53-year history and signaled the eminent theater company's transition to more progressive, dynamic, and culturally relevant theatrical productions.
“I am ecstatic for Repertory Philippines as we return to the live stage and bring the fulfillment of a promise to our REP audiences and communities. It is doubly exhilarating to be able to present CAROUSEL at the newly unboxed Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez CCP Black Box Theater, through a generous venue grant from the Cultural Center of the Philippines no less. I am beyond excited for Toff’s innovative post-modern contemporary take on Carousel that I know will connect and link this absolutely timeless and deeply relevant material to a new audience,” expresses Liesl.
Don’t miss REP’s highly anticipated return to live theater. Catch CAROUSEL starting November 26 at the CCP Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez.
Tickets will be available through the CCP Box Office, TicketWorld, and SM Tickets. Ticket prices are ₱3,000 for VIP seats, ₱2,500 for rows 1 & 3, ₱2,000 for row 4, ₱1,500 for row 5, and ₱1,000 for row 6. For queries, please message Repertory Philippines on its Facebook page or through Instagram, or email info@repphil.org.
For updates, visit www.repertoryphilippines.ph, like and follow Repertory Philippines on Facebook and Instagram. Companies and brands who are interested in the show can email sales@repphil.org.
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