As the 38th season of Dulaang UP (University of the Philippines) closes, they will be ending it with a musical adaptation of India’s greatest epic The Mahabharata entitled Ang Nawalang Kapatid. The adaptation was spearheaded by acclaimed playwright Floy Quintos, with original score by Ceejay Javier, directed and choreographed by Dexter M. Santos.
Ang Nawalang Kapatid was originally written as a children’s play for the Ateneo Children’s Theater and was first produced for their 2011 season but with Ceejay included in the DUP team he did new arrangements of the original songs to add up to the complexities of the original material to be dramatized. Original works of Ceejay include Isang Panaginip na Fili, Astig, Alex in Wonderland and Break Away Antigone. He was part of Atlantis Productions as Musical Director for the Philippine presentation of Next To Normal, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Carrie and Addams Family.
And to add up with the songs and arrangements of Ceejay is Dexter’s flair for images and movement as seen in his previous works Maxie the Musical, Collection and Orosman at Zafira. Also with the meticulous imagination of Floy as the director he will surely give a new twist on the India’s greatest epic The Mahabharata putting the highlights on family and blood ties, and the conflicts that these bring about. Karna, who in Indian literature is traditionally the anti-hero, is now a young man searching for his dharma, his truth and destiny, while unaware of his true blood ties. The young and energetic cast is made up of the Dulaang UP Ensemble, with a live band. Krina Cayabyab is vocal director.
Ang Nawalang Kapatid runs from February 5 to February 23, 2014 at the Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater, 2nd floor Palma Hall, University of the Philippines Diliman. For tickets, sponsorships and showbuying inquiries, call Samanta Hannah Clarin or Camille Guevara 9261349, 4337840, 9818500 loc 2449 or email dulaangupmarketing@gmail.com.
