Bisayan Zarzuela SANGANG NANGABALI Previews at CCP This Sunday, 4/2

Manila, Philippines--As part of the Performatura Festival 2017 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), Cebu-based theater company Little Boy Productions and the Cebu Literary Festival will present songs and selected scenes from the Bisayan zarzuela "Sangang Nangabali" at the Tanghalang Huseng Batute this Sunday, April 2, at 10:00 a.m. Admission is free.

The zarzuela was originally presented at last year's Cebu Literary Festival held at the Ayala Center Cebu Activity Center. It was the highlight of the annual literary event, now in its third consecutive year.

The production will feature live guitar accompaniment by Benedict Velasco and a cast of Bisayan-speaking professional actors based in Manila, to be directed by multi-awarded director Loy Arcenas, who worked as a stage director and designer in New York City with numerous Broadway and Off-Broadway credits to his name.

Among the actors participating in the preview are Poppert Bernadas (Music Artes' Godspell, PETA's Rak of Aegis), Liesl Batucan (Repertory Philippines, Tanghalang Pilipino's (TP) Mabining Mandirigma), Paolo Rodriguez (TP's Ang Romansa ni Magno Rubio), Bong Cabrera (former TP Actor's Company member), and Cheska-Venice Rojas (Resorts World Manila's Annie).

"Sangang Nangabali" was first performed in the 1950s and was subsequently made into a movie starring Gloria Sevilla. This is its first revival. The songs by Minggoy Lopez are a treasure trove of beautiful Cebuano songs. The project is made possible with the support of the estate of Minggoy Lopez, headed by his daughter Rebecca Lopez-Montano and her husband Fred Montano.

For more information, please check out the Cebu Literary Festival or the Little Boy Productions on Facebook or email cebuliteraryfestival@gmail.com.

Art: Happy Garaje