One of the hottest and best theater awards in recent memory just got better. From Manila to the rest of the country, I must say, as M Butterfly is set to embark on a six-city tour for the next four months this year.
Spearheaded by producer Jhett Tolentino and Frontrow Entertainment, M Butterfly had a lot of reasons to keep going this 2019, literally. They are set to embark on a six-city tour for the next four months starting next week.
M. Butterfly will be touring around Iloilo (14-17 Feb), Dumaguete (28 Feb-3 Mar), Cebu (14-17 Mar), Davao (28-31 Mar), Baguio (30 May-2 Jun) for four show dates each, and at Manila for another ten (8-19 May).
M Butterfly won three awards at the 2018 Aliw Awards: one as the Best Play award, the Best Director for Kanakan, and Best Actor for the lead player RS Francisco, who portrayed Song Liling, the Chinese Opera singer who's also Rene Galimard's object of affection.
However, alternating with Francisco for the lead role is Aira Igarta, known for being part of a number of Dulaang UP and Dulaang Laboratoryo Productions. Originally, he was part of the Korogo ensemble during M. Butterfly's 2018 Manila run. This time, the young Igarta is set to fulfill the dream role alongside the critically-acclaimed film and theater actor.
Igarta is set to debut on the second program day in Dumaguete, which barely mean two things: questions will be answered on who's a great kisser as Borten's stage partner and inevitable comparison on who's the better Song Liling in the eyes of the audience. One of M Butterfly's stops will also be serving as the homecoming-like gig for producer Jhett Tolentino as he brings the show his own turf.
On the other hand, the last stop is poised to be the play's biggest venue as St. Louis University at the City of Pines can house over 1,000 watching patrons.
Also, some key additions to the upcoming run are the rising soprano star Jasmin Salvo as its opera singer, and seasoned theater actress Jenine Desiderio as Helga, as previously portrayed by Pinky Amador.
Meanwhile, the rest of the cast of actors shall essay their respective characters in the return tour: Olivier Borten for male lead, the French diplomat Rene Gallimard; Scottish Norm McLeon as the French Ambassador to China; the multilingual American Lee O'Brian as the sexually apologetic Marc; the well-rounded Mayen Estanero for the roles of Suzuki, Comrade Chin, and Shu Fang; and the Arizona-native, Best Actress finalist Maya Encila as the play's sexually liberated Danish pin-up girl.
Also, taking over the Kurogo ensemble are Phieth Iena Ballug, Ullyses Basa, Sasa Cabalquinto, Franco Ferrer, and John Paul Ortenero.
M Butterfly's Manila production last September marks the 30th anniversary since its inception on Broadway wherein the play bagged three Tony Awards for Best Play, Best Actor and Best Director, such feats that Frontrow Entertainment managed to duplicate recently at the Aliw Awards – plus two nominations for the Best Actress and Best Ensemble. Originally created by David Henry Hwang, the recent staging of M Butterfly was initially revived from over 100 box-office stagings in the past, including one in May 1990 with Francisco and actor-writer-critic Behn Cervantes.
The upcoming run of M. Butterfly will benefit 10 charitable institutions namely: Iloilo Prima Galaw, Philippine National Red Cross Iloilo Chapter, The Children of Cebu Foundation, Silliman University Culture and Arts Council, the Arts Council of Cebu Foundation, Love the Children Foundation, House of Hope Foundation, Halfway Home for the Boys and St. Louis University Culture and Arts Center.
Here are the list of showdates:
ILOILO CITY
VENUE: SM City Iloilo Cinema 6
Feb. 14 - Thursday - Opening Night - 7pm
Feb. 15 - Friday - 2pm / 7pm
Feb. 16 - Saturday - 2pm / 7pm
Feb. 17 - Sunday - 2pm / 7pm
DUMAGUETE CITY
VENUE: Luce Auditorium, Silliman University
Feb. 28 - Thursday - Opening Night - 7pm
Mar. 01 - Friday - 7pm
Mar. 02 - Saturday - 2pm / 7pm
Mar. 03 - Sunday - 2pm / 7pm
CEBU CITY
VENUE : SM Seaside City Centerstage
Mar. 14 - Thursday - Opening Night - 7pm
Mar. 15 - Friday - 7pm
Mar. 16 - Saturday - 2pm / 7pm
Mar. 17 - Sunday - 2pm / 7pm
DAVAO CITY
VENUE: SM Lanang Premier Cinema 6
Mar. 28 - Thursday - Opening Night - 7pm
Mar. 29 - Friday - 2pm / 7pm
Mar. 30 - Saturday - 2pm / 7pm
Mar. 31 - Sunday - 2pm / 7pm
MANILA
VENUE: Maybank Performing Arts Theater
May 8 - Wednesday - Opening Night – 8pm
May 9 - Thursday - 8pm
May 10 - Friday - 8pm
May 11 - Saturday - 2pm / 8pm
May 12 - Sunday - 2pm / 8pm
May 15 – Wednesday – 8pm
May 16 – Thursday – 8pm
May 17 – Friday – 8pm
May 18 – Saturday – 2pm / 8pm
May 19 – Sunday – 2pm / 8pm
BAGUIO CITY
VENUE: St. Louis University
May 30 - Thursday - Opening Night 7pm
May 31 - Friday – 7pm
Jun. 1 - Saturday – 2pm / 7pm
Jun. 2 - Sunday – 2pm / 7pm
Tickets are ranging from Php500 to PhP2,000, with taxes and fees included. For the M Butterfly Iloilo, Davao, Cebu, and Baguio legs, tickets can be availed thru SM Tickets, (located at SM malls nationwide or online); while for Manila, it can be availed thru TicketWorld by either calling 891-9999 or visiting the official website; and for Dumaguete, thru Culture and Arts Council Office, Silliman University through contact nos. (035) 422-4365, (0917) 300-0346, and (0999) 797-7825.
Check out M. Butterfly at their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube pages for any updates and information. For further inquiries, please contact JHETT TOLENTINO at (0906) 576-6914.
Author: slickmaster | © 2019 The SlickMaster's Files
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