Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady Opens on May 7

I admire friends who know what they are good at and know what they want. Even more, I respect those who act and take big leaps to make their dreams happen in this thing called LIFE (Ansis Sy, 2014). My good friends Claudia Fernandez, Ansis Sy and Pertee Briñas, all young professionals,  started their own theater company, Dalanghita Productions. To those who are not familiar with dalanghita, it is actually a Filipino fruit similar to a dalandan. (I’m sure you know what a dalandan is. If not, refer to calamansi. It is bigger. *judging you*). Dalanghita is a young company that promises a fresh take on original Filipino musicals.

True enough, in cooperation with Philippine Education Theater Association (PETA), Dalanghita’s first musical production, Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady is 100% fresh and is bound to break some boundaries in the local theater scene.  The title itself tickles my curiosity that if this was a book I saw in the bookstore, I’ll buy and read just like that. Well, actually, KPANLL became a graphic novel before it was first penned in 2013 for the 9th Virgin Labfest by the same artist and author, no other than Carlo Vergara (creator of Zsazsa Zaturnnah). KPANLL The Musical is directed by Chris Martinez (I Do Bidoo Bidoo, Kimmy Dora, Temptation Island…Live!)  with music by Vincent de Jesus (Himala the Musical, Batang Rizal, Juan Tamad).

The musical zeroes in on the story of two sisters Mely played by Bituin Escalante/Frenchie Dy and Viva played by Natasha Cabrera/Kim Molina. The two can be considered opposites. Mely is the ate. She is responsible and hardworking. Viva, however, is the bunso. The younger one that believes that she is meant for greater things. As if their relationship is not complicated enough due to an unsettled conflict, the sisters are caught between the war of the superhero (Fuwersa Filipinas) and supervillain (Kayumanggilas) teams.

Of course, a family of superheroes too busy saving the country from natural disasters and evil-doings also need household help. Imagine Thor doing his own laundry or the Hulk cleaning the bathroom. LOL. Mely eventually lands a job as the maid of Fuwersa Filipinas. Viva gets hired as a maid too, but she will be presented an opportunity that’s going to be hard to refuse.

The cast very much guarantees that this will be an explosion of talent. KPANLL boasts some of the most talented and highly-respected artists in the country. It also stars May Bayot-de Castro as Nanay, Hans Eckstein/Markki Stroem as Leading Man, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo/Astarte Abraham as Madre de Dios, Giannina Ocampo as Nena Babushka, Jeff Flores as Bazooka Man, Caisa Borromeo as Windang Woman, Chesko Rodriguez as Popoy Pusakal, Nar Cabico/Domi Espejo as Senyor Blangko, Vince Lim/Mikoy Morales as Henyotic, Elliot Eustacio as Jeryc Sans Rival, Red Nuestro as Maracas Marko and Red Concepcion as Itak-Atak.

Wow! I am so excited!

Catch it on its first week and get a special discount. Enjoy the Opening Week Promo rates at P600 (Balcony, originally at 800), P900 (Orchestra, originally at 1200) and P1200 (VIP, originally at 1500). Please call 0917-706-3533 for inquiries or visit Ticketworld. It runs until June 7 at the PETA theater.

I am watching on opening week. See you there!