Tanghalang Pilipino holds auditions for rock musical

MANILA, Philippines - Tanghalang Pilipino, CCP’s resident theater company, announces auditions for TP’s season opener, Banaag at Sikat, Isang Rock Musical, to be held on May 19 at the CCP-Bulwagang Amado Hernandez (Conference Room), from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.

With book and lyrics by National Artist for Literature Bien Lumbera, music by Lucien Letaba, production design by National Artist for Theater Design Salvador Bernal, and under the direction of Jose Estrella,

Banaag at Sikat, Isang Rock Musical, is based on Lope K. Santos’ groundbreaking literary opus of the same title about the breakup of the Filipino family and the rise of socialism in the country. It universalizes its socialist theme by juxtaposing central, turn-of-the-century Philippines (1911) with Filipino indie rock.

The rock musical will open at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP-Little Theater) on Aug. 6. The show is a bold experimentation in its deployment of contemporary musical idioms as pop, folk, blues, jazz, bass rhythms, brass riffs, melodic anthems to the overriding rock genre while fusing with some traditional Filipino-Spanish rhythms (danza and tiempo de balitao) in modern orchestrations.

Tanghalang Pilipino is looking for strong male and female actors who can sing and move, are 18 years old and above, and are comfortable with pop-rock, alternative rock and jazz rock musical genres, as well as mature male and female actors/singers who are, or can look like they are, in their 50s to 60s.

Those interested to be part of the production are required to submit their resume together with two pictures (a head shot and a full-body photo) and perform a song of your choice and a song from one of the following groups/singers: Bamboo, Rivermaya, Trut Faith, Mayonnaise, Sponge Cola, Kitchie Nadal, Barbie’s Cradle, After Image, 6cyclemind, Sugar-free, Sandwich, Parokya ni Edgar, Orange and Lemons, MYMP, Itchyworms, Cueshe, Hale, South Border. They should prepare a one-to-two minute monologue in Filipino and a one-two minute dance or movement piece.

Copies of the audition piece are available at the Tanghalang Pilipino Office, 2/F Production Design Center Bldg., CCP Complex, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City. Applicants must be available for the production schedule with rehearsals running for six weeks prior to the opening on Aug. 6, and weekend performances at the CCP Little Theater until Aug. 29.

For inquiries and other details, call Tanghalang Pilipino at 832-3661 or 832-1125 local 1620/1621 or e-mail ccptanghalan@yahoo.com.