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Ailyn Agonia
Doha
Tanghalang Overseas Pinoy (TOPi), a non-profit Filipino group promoting Filipino culture through theatre arts, will be staging excerpts of four original Filipino musicals during their concert to be held on September 2, 3pm (matinee) and 7pm (gala) at the Almas Ballroom of City Centre Rotana Doha.
The event titled 'Scenes From the Stage' will feature the works of award-winning Filipino musicians and lyricists.
Part of the proceeds of the event will be used to extend assistance to Inan a boy with congenital deformity based in Mindoro Province in the Philippines. TOPi also intends to purchase an airplane ticket for one distressed Filipino who has been cleared by the Philippine Overseas Labour Office (POLO) in Doha for deportation through their latest project.
"The two-hour show is subdivided into four plays showing four eras of Filipino musicals. It's like watching four musicals in one show. Around 22 members of TOPi will play the parts in this concert. These four plays are very popular in the Philippines and promote the culture and tradition of Filipinos. We will present scenes from the shows that will truly represent our heritage," TOPi President Bryan Ricafrente told the local media during a press conference held on Friday.
'Scenes From the Stage' will include excerpts of"Magsimula Ka" written by Nestor Torre and Gines Tan which premiered in Manila in early 1980s. The pool of talents of TOPi will also relive the works of Boy Norriega Jr titled 'Kenkoy Loves Rosing' with music by Bob Serrano and Archie Castillo and scenes from the Filipino biographical musical based on the life of Katy de la Cruz, known as the Queen of Philippine vaudeville and jazz, written by Jose Javier Reyes with music by Ryan Cayabyab. Completing the musical will be another Cayabyab masterpiece titled"Alikabok" written by Noel Balmaceda.
"Aside from trying to bring Philippine theatre arts experience in Qatar, TOPi also made it a point to extend assistance to those in need whenever we have some shows. During this event, we are targeting 800 people per show to maximize the potential of the show and to raise more funds for our beneficiaries," Ricafrente added.
TOPi, the only Filipino community group promoting theatre arts in Qatar, was founded in 2005. It aims to empower overseas Filipinos as active ambassadors of Philippine arts and culture and reaffirms the excellence of Filipino as performance artists and promotes the patronage of theatre arts among Filipinos in Qatar.
For the past 11 years, the group has showcased various Filipino acts, musicals, drama and concerts, such as: Alikabok 'Dust' (June 2005), Domestic Helper 'D.H.' (November 2005), Kenkoy Loves Rosing (September 2006), Rhythms of Broadway (May 2007), Trumpets - Little Mermaid (2008 - Doha Cultural Festival), Rhythms of Broadway Return (May 2013), Katy The Musical (August 2015) and series of cabarets entitled Songs from Stage (2016).
