Friday, November 8, 2013

'Maxie The Musicale: Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros' set to open on November 9

Click The City
Original Article can be found HERE

The long wait is finally over! A pre-holiday treat is coming soon for all the young and adventurous, the romanticists and idealists and those who simply want to enjoy a beautiful love story between a 12 year-old gay lad who falls in love with a young, handsome police officer.




Since its initial announcement to the local theater scene last December 2012 that the iconic film “Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros” has been adopted to become a musical, Bit by Bit Company, in cooperation with the PETA Theater Center and the Cultural Center of the Philippines, proudly brings to the stage “MAXIE THE MUSICALE: ANG PAGDADALAGA NI MAXIMO OLIVEROS,” a coming-of-age musical about a gay teen who is torn between his love for a young cop and his loyalty to his family.


Based on Michiko Yamamoto's screenplay “Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros” (ufo Pictures, 2005), “MAXIE THE MUSICALE: ANG PAGDADALAGA NI MAXIMO OLIVEROS” features book and lyrics by Nicolas B. Pichay, music by William Elvin Manzano, JJ Pimpinio, and Janine Santos, and direction and choreography by Dexter M. Santos.





Since the beginning of 2013, a series of tough and rigid audition processes and ‘call backs’ were held to search for the boy and the cop who will essay the roles of Maxie and Victor respectively along with the other roles in the musicale. At the end of summer, a ‘newcomer’ was finally chosen as Maxie but it had to take another month when the role of Victor was given to a theater actor/singer and TV commercial model.


Last August, a hip and energetic kick-off launch aptly titled “Patikim ng Shlight” was held at the Tanghalang Huseng Batute at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. The audience loudly cheered the 30-minute excerpt from “MAXIE THE MUSICALE: ANG PAGDADALAGA NI MAXIMO OLIVEROS.”





Bagging the plum lead role of Maxie is Jayvhot Galang, a 14 year-old resident of Sta. Ana, Manila who loves to sing and belt like celebrity singer Whitney Houston. He has joined a lot of singing competitions in various barangays and in a reality-search TV show. Without any previous theater experience, coupled with a very tough challenge that lies ahead for this role of a lifetime, Jayvhot joined the PETA Summer Acting Workshop (April-May 2013). In the last five months, his rigid schedule is a happy balance between attending classes in high school, aerobics exercises, dance classes and voice lessons under the tutelage of Janine Santos, a classical opera singer.


In “MAXIE THE MUSICALE: ANG PAGDADALAGA NI MAXIMO OLIVEROS,” Jayvhot will bring to life the young and innocent character of Maxie, a 12-year-old effeminate gay boy who lives in the slums with his father and brothers who are petty thieves.


Maxie behaves like a girl, wears clips in his hair and bangles on his wrists and even wears lipstick. He is teased by neighbors and former school friends. His sexuality is, however, fully accepted by his two brothers and by his father. One night he is accosted by two men who attempt to molest him, but is saved by the appearance of Victor. The story will revolve around the conflict between his love for the handsome young police officer and his family's illegal livelihood. And will their friendship develop into a relationship?




Giving Jayvhot their full support as his co-actors are well-respected names in the theater industry namely: Roeder Camañag and Nazer Salcedo (alternating as Paco Oliveros), Jojo Riguerra (Victor Perez), Al Gatmaitan and OJ Mariano (alternating as Boy Oliveros), and Jay Gonzaga (Bogs Oliveros).




The other members of the cast are Aaron Ching (Nar), Nomer Limatog, Jr. (Leslie), Teetin Villanueva (Monique), Eo De Guzman and Merdin Mojica (alternating as Peter), and Greg de Leon (Chief Dominguez).




The ensemble is composed of Ruth Alferez, John Paul Basco, Jules Dela Paz, Irene Delarmente, Elliot Eustacio, Karyl Factora, Jim Andrew Ferrer, Francelle Fetalvero, Al Bernard Garcia, Jeffrey Hernandez, Ronah Rostata, and Christian Velarde.


The band is composed of William Elvin Manzano and Rigil Borromeo (Guitar), Van Quiaong (Keyboard), Jonah Ruiz (Drums), and Allen Mamaid (Bass).




MAXIE THE MUSICALE: ANG PAGDADALAGA NI MAXIMO OLIVEROS” shall run from November 9 to December 8, 2013 with shows on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 8pm and matinee shows on Saturdays and Sundays at 3pm. All performances are at the PETA Theater Center, No. 5 Eymard Drive, New Manila, Quezon City.


The other members of the artistic team of MAXIE THE MUSICALE: ANG PAGDADALAGA NI MAXIMO OLIVEROS are John Neil Ilao Batalla (Lights Designer), Gino Gonzales (Production Designer), Ohm David (Technical Director), Emman Feliciano (Assistant Director), Stephen Viñas (Associate Choreographer), and Arkel Mendoza (Additional Music).


MAXIE THE MUSICALE: ANG PAGDADALAGA NI MAXIMO OLIVEROS is the second offering of Bit by Bit Company which produced the critically-acclaimed run of Dulaang UP’s “Orosman at Zafira” at the SM Mall of Asia Centerstage in February 2011.




Bit by Bit Company is composed of Atty. Darwin Mariano (Executive Producer) and Carlo Miguel Francia (Associate Producer). Assisting them are the rest of the production team, namely: Nicole Andrew Guila (Production Manager), Loraine Macatangay (Stage Manager), Lexie Bartolome (Assistant Stage Manager), Cheska Cartativo (Props Head), Henzy Manalaysay (Props Assistant), Nica Marcelo (Costume Head), Darwin Desoacido (Costume Assistant), Simon Tiukinhoy (Sounds Boardman) and Miggy Panganiban (Lights Boardman).


The marketing and publicity team is composed of Marvin Ray Olaes (Marketing Head), Toots O. Tolentino (Publicist), David Fabros (Photographer), Pow Santillan (Logo Design) and Ron Misayah and Jan Evert Tagle (Graphic Designers).


The screenplay of “Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros” was made into a film directed by Auraeus Solito and produced by ufo Pictures in 2005. It was the Philippines’ official entry to the 2007 Academy Awards and has won numerous other awards, including: 2005 Best Film from the Asian Festival of First Films, 2005 Best Picture from the Toronto Imagine Native Film Festival, 2005 Golden Zenith Award for Best Picture from the Montreal World Film Festival, 2006 Best Picture from the Gawad Urian, 2006 Teddy Award and Glass Bear Special Mention from the Berlin International Film Festival, and the 2007 Independent Spirit Award from the IFC Spirit Awards.

Will Maxie ever be the same? Will he ever get his romantic movie ending with the policeman of his dreams? 


Catch Maxie The Musical on December 7 | Saturday | 8PM
Ticket Prices: 1200 (VIP), 1000 (Orchestra)
and 800 (Balcony)

For reservations, contact:  Onay 0917.908.0565
Robert / RC Marzan 0922.888.5348
Jayme del Rosario 0927.202.2017
Ma-Ann Alimagno 0917.593.5895