Photo Flash: ADARNA Opens Dulaang UP's 38th Season; Play Runs Until 8/1

Manila, Philippines, July 17, 2013--From one of the country's well-respected avant-garde stage directors, José Estrella, comes another production about family, bravery, mysticism and love.

Dulaang UP, the official theater group of the University of the Philippines (UP), opens its 38th season with the epic tale "Adarna" today, July 17, at UP's Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater.

Re-imagining one of the famous Filipino folktales, "Adarna," originally titled "Corrido at Buhay na Pinagdaanan nang Tatlóng Principeng Anak nang Haring Fernando at nang Reina Valeriana sa Cahariang Berbania," which has thrilled generations after generations, Estrella uses multimedia and shadow play for this production, where she adeptly blurs the distinction among family conflicts and love; home and faraway places; and magical dreams and grim realities.

"Adarna," a corrido--a popular narrative song in poetry form, which originated from the Spanish romances--tells the story of the third and youngest prince of Berbania, Don Juan.

Don Juan hopes to find the mythical bird, Adarna, to cure his ailing father. Undauntedly, the prince encounters different kingdoms, sages, a beautiful princess and numerous trials that will test his courage, perseverance and love.

Assisting Estrella in this production are Vlad Gonzales, who penned and turned the corrido into a stage play; Lex Marcos (set and lighting design); Don Salubayba (puppetry); Brenda Fajardo (costume design) and Jeff Hernandez (original music and musical direction).

The play runs until Thursday, August 1 (Wednesday to Friday at 7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.; except Friday, July 26 whose scheduled performance is at 2 p.m.)

For tickets, call (632) 926-1349, (632) 981-8500 local 2449 or (632) 433-7840.

Visit again BroadwayWorld.com for a ticket lottery.

Photos by Dino Dimar

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