‘Maximo Oliveros’ goes from film to musical

MANILA, Philippines - Can a 12-year-old young, gay lad who wishes he were a girl navigate the mean streets of Manila? And what happens when the boy falls in love with a handsome policeman who is investigating his family’s criminal activities?  Will he still bear loyalty to his family?

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.

The play is based on Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros, 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.

Featuring lyrics by Nicolas B. Pichay, with music by William Elvin Manzano, JJ Pimpinio, and Janine Santos, and direction and choreography by Dexter M. Santos, Maxie The Musicale: Ang Pagdadalaga Ni Maximo Oliveros is about Maxie,  an effeminate 12-year-old boy who lives in the slums with his criminal father and older brothers who are petty thieves. His devotion to his family finds him taking the place of his own deceased mother by cooking and doing the household chores.

In the evening hours, after watching a film at a local makeshift DVD room with his neighborhood friends, Maxie is rescued from a couple of local thugs by the handsome and young rookie police officer Victor. Maxie’s attraction to the kind-hearted and trustworthy Victor soon finds him torn between the illegal livelihood of his family and his desire to follow a more honorable path in life. Will Maxie make the right decision from his crisis of conscience after befriending an honest Manila cop?

The cast is led by Jayvhot Galang (Maximo Oliveros), 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).

Maxie The Musicale: Ang Pagdadalaga Ni Maximo Oliveros  will run from November 9 to December 8, 2013 with shows on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 8 p.m. and matinee shows on Saturdays and Sundays at 3 p.m. All performances are at the PETA Theater Center, No. 5 Eymard Drive, New Manila, Quezon City.

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.

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For show information, call (0917)842-7346 or e-mail maximooliverosmusical@yahoo.com. Follow Maxie on Twitter (@MaxieTheMusicale) or visit www.facebook.com/MaxieTheMusicale on Facebook. Tickets are available at all TicketWorld (891-9999) and SM Tickets (470-2222) outlets.