Let’s hear it once more for the titos of Manila!
What started out two years ago as a feel-good, tongue-in-cheek stage musical about the joys and pains of growing old has garnered acclaim from GenXers and millennials alike.
Slated for its third run in February and March at the Music Museum, Spotlight Artist Centre’s Dirty Old Musical (D.O.M.) features world-class stage performers Robert Seña, Bo Cerrudo, Nonie Buencamino, Carlo Orosa and Jett Pangan, with Kitkat, Tricia Amper-Jimenez, Ima Castro, Neo Rivera, Katherine Tiuseco, Anthony Castillo, Matel Patayon and Carlon Matobato.
D.O.M. tackles the wacky misadventures of tito-hood—always a trend- and meme-worthy topic on social media. Playfully naughty and irreverent, the musical peeks into the personal struggles of five men dealing with middle age crisis and all its telltale signs.
Adding even more luster to the production is a tito-llating soundtrack of well-loved and timeless OPM hits that the audience can sing along to, including “Kastilyong Buhangin,” “Mag Exercise Tayo Tuwing Umaga,” “Nais Ko,” “Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika,” “Babae,” “Bikining Itim,” “Legs,” “Ang Himig Natin,” “Sana,” “Babaero,” “Pasumpasumpa Ka Pa,” “Kung Liligaya Ka,” “Ayoko na Sa’yo,” “Balatkayo,” “Hahanapin Ko,” “Farewell,” “Nosi Balasi,” and “Mr. Kenkoy.”
Spotlight Artist heads Robert and Isay Alvarez-Seña are excited about the continuing evolution of their very first original OPM musical.
Isay shares, “Based on our experience from the last two runs, the audience can relate to the comic real-life sketches, whether they be millennials or the so-called titos and titas of Manila. This time, we’re excited to have Jett Pangan (lead vocalist of The Dawn) as part of the cast, and we’re sure that his fans will see a different Jett this time, singing and dancing with the rest of the boys.”
The couple mounted their Mr. & Mrs. Seña concert series at the CCP in September last year, and are likely to pursue their respective TV acting projects this year.
Dirty Old Musical playdates are February 22 and 23, March 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22 and 23, 8 p.m, with matinees on March 15 and 22, 3:00 p.m..
Produced by Spotlight Artists Centre, Dexter M. Santoa directs with musical direction by Myke Salomon from Rody Vera script. Mitoy Sta. Ana and John Batalla are in charge of the set and lighting design respectively.
For ticket inquiries, call Music Museum (721-6276), or Spotlight Artists Centre (776-0919/09199114444).
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Queen Nation at Okada’s Cove Manila
There is little doubt among rock fans that the legendary band Queen and lead vocalist Freddie Mercury are the most powerful and iconic names in rock history.
Queen a.k.a as kings of arena rock performed in packed stadiums around the globe for over two decades.
Freddie took showmanship by a rock front man to an unparalleled level and was undisputedly crowned the lord of arena rock. He mesmerized audiences with his charismatic energy and larger than life stage persona. Upon his death in 1991, a huge void was left in the rock concert world, which to this day has not yet been matched.
Queen Nation, one of the best tributes to Queen, was formed in 2004. Queen Nation consists of Joe Retta or Gregory Finsley on vocals and keyboards as Freddie Mercury, Mike McManus on guitar as Brian May, Pete Burke on drums as Roger Taylor, and Parker Combs on bass as John Deacon. The mission of the show is to carry on the musical torch and pay homage to the golden age of vintage Queen concerts.
Queen Nation’s live 90-minute production of Queen’s greatest hits preserves the image, sound, and stage persona of vintage Queen. Audiences are amazed at the accuracy of Queen Nation’s live retrospective journey through such Queen songs as “We Will Rock You,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We Are the Champions,” “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” “You’re My Best Friend,” “Another One Bites The Dust,” “Under Pressure,” and many more. They have performed before thousands of people at casinos, fairs, festivals and private affairs all around The United States.
On Jan. 30, Queen Nation will perform the greatest hits of Queen live at Cove Manila in Okada Manila with Part3 Band and DJ Owki.
Tickets at P4000 are available at all SM Ticket Outlets, SMTickets.com, and Platinumlist.ph. For ticket inquiries and reservations, contact SM Tickets at 470-2222 or call DMC Philippines at +639178962805.
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MMFF a big success, says MMDA Chair Danilo Lim thanks
Curtains closed on the Metro Manila Film Festival 2018 on Jan.7. The Philippine cinema scene is back to its usual fare with English-language films return to the screens and will certainly dominate for the next 11 and-a-half months till the next MMFF on Dec. 25.
Lim, on behalf of the steering committee of the MMFF and Metro Manila Development Authority, thanks everyone who participated and supported what he said the biggest and longest-running local film festival in the country.
“Despite the incessant rain during the Holiday season, we braved and survived the storms and have created new records,” he announced.
According to him, the 44th MMFF surpassed previous Christmas and New Year box office grosses; on Sunday, Jan. 6, the MMFF hit the P1 billion mark and exceeded 2017’s box office earnings; as the theaters closed on Jan. 7, last day of the festival, a new record was set as the highest grossing MMFF ever – earning over P1.060 Billion, P10 Million more than the 2015 record of P 1.050 Billion.
Lim makes special mention of the production and the public support during the Gabi Ng Parangal where all the films and major actors were represented and accepted what he believes the most credible results for the awards.
He said that most of the film entries are still on extended run in cinemas nationwide. Everyone can still catch these films.
Next year is the 45th Anniversary of the MMFF coinciding with the celebration of the Centennial of Philippine Cinema.
In a statement he sent to all media entities, he said: “We want to continue the partnership and prepare for it early on. We look forward to more significant and groundbreaking entries and activities that would further develop the audiences’ love for Filipino films, develop and discover new talents through the student short films, and maximize exposure and linkages with international festivals.”
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