Posted by Theater Actors of the Philippines TAP at the eCulturalCenter yahoogroup:

GANTIMPALAS IBONG ADARNA: ONE
BIRD
TO LURE THEM ALL!

A nightmare that causes a monarchs
slow death, royal brothers scheming
the demise of their youngest kin, a
mystical princess from a faraway land
made of crystals, and a mythical bird
whose singing lures its captors to
sleep all these elements and more
are in Ibong Adarna, the third major
production offering of Gantimpala
Theater as the celebration of its much
heralded pearl anniversary continues.

Under the direction of Roobak Valle
(who also serves as its production
designer), this Filipino corrido made
into a play appropriates the rich,
colorful pageantry of the Maranao
culture as its enchanting setting with
glittering costumes, fantabulous
scenery, spirited performers and
fantastic choreography.

The original tale of Ibong Adarna is a
popular folk tale all over the
Philippines and told vocally probably
centuries before it was anonymously
printed in Tagalog in the 1860s. This
story of three brothers, Prince Pedro,
Diego and Juan, have been tasked to
capture the supernatural bird to cure
their king father's illness. The one
who brings home the bird becomes the
heir to the throne

The Gantimpala Actors Company perform
with Noel Escondo (Don Juan); Arkin Da
Silva(Don Diego); Roeder Camanag (Don
Pedro); Kimberly Diaz(Maraya/Maria
Blanca); Joey de Guzman (Ermitanyo);
James Eustaquio (Haring Fernando);
Pamela Hundana (Reyna Valeriana);
Billy Parjan (Manggagamot); and Mathew
Manalaysay (Ibong Adarna).

This pearl offering also serves as a
tribute to the late National Artist
for Dance Ramon Obusan as the dances
of the cultural communities of
Mindanao that the late master of the
dance arts researched and propagated
are incorporated as play highlights.

The amazing adventures of Don Juan and
the legendary Ibong Adarna lives anew
with Rene Villanueva (Playwright);
Andy Villareal (Lighting Designer);
Raul Nepomuceno Jr., (Choreographer);
Charyl Chan-de Guzman (Production
Manager); Joey David (Stage Manager)
and Tony S. Espejo (Artistic Director).

Everbilena/Care Line support
Gantimpalas Ibong Adarna.

The National Parks Development
Committee and Gantimpala Theater are
partners in promoting Philippine arts
and culture. As Luneta Parks resident
theater-company, Gantimpala plays and
other special cultural events are
shown free during Concert at the Park,
a weekly arts and culture show
produced by NPDC, which aims to
propagate and bring arts to the
masses.

Performances are on September 16
(7p.m., Concert at the Park Open-Air
Auditorium, Luneta, Manila); September
21-23,(10am/2pm, AFP Theater, Camp
Aguinaldo, Quezon City); September 26-
30, SM Southmall Cinema 6, Las Pias
City.

For bookings and ticket reservations,
please call the Gantimpala Theater899-
5745 and 896-3503 or write to
gantimpalaproduction@yahoo.com.ph