GORGY RULA
Magbabalik na sa pagtatanghal ang bagong ayos na Aliw Theater pagkatapos nadamay sa malaking sunog sa Star City tatlong taon na ang nakararaan.
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Sabi nga ni Prima Ballerina Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, “We are rising from the ashes!”
Pormal na itong binuksan nung August 10, 2022, pero ngayon pa lang sila magkakaroon ng malaking pagtatanghal. Tamang-tama lang daw ang title nitong Rise.
“The title is Rise because we are rising like a phoenix,” napapangiting pahayag ni Ms. Lisa.
Mapapanood ang Rise sa October 7 at 9, kung saan ay magkakaroon ng double bill featuring Lisa Macuja-Elizalde’s La Traviata at Ballet and Ballads, tampok ang Balllet Manila at si Bituin Escalante.
Headline dito ang 12-person opera ensemble at 60-piece bespoke orchestra sa pamununo ng musical director at conductor na si Maestro Gerard Salonga.
Saad ni Ms. Lisa, “We have opened the Aliw Theater already. But the first live performance with full orchestra, it’s going to be a pop concert. It’s going to be a ballet and it’s going to be combined all different aspects of the performing arts. It’s going to become into one performance with Rise.”
Ipinagmamalaki niya ang malaking pagbabago sa Aliw Theater, kahit binawasan daw nila nang konti ang seating capacity.
“The new Aliw Theater. We now have different innovations. Meron na kaming LED screen sa likod. We have the orchestra pit. We have the huge stage, and we have better acoustics.
“So, when there were plans to rebuild, we made it into a smaller theater. We included the custom-space now on the second floor, which includes two big ballrooms that you can dress-up and use in any way you want to.
“You have the ball there, you can have dinner there, you can have black box theater there. You can have studios there, you can have rehearsals there.
“And then downstairs is the Elizalde Hall. That was also converted into exhibition space, as well as space for lectures or workshops. And then we have a bigger lobby, and we have the stage the same, and a smaller theater, but the orchestra pit is still also the same.
“So, of course, we updated everything. We made acoustics better.
“So, carpeted na siya, the doors are… less doors, so the sound is preserved and of course meron na kaming awning to protect the audience from rain when you’re going in to the theater.
“I think you really just have to see it to see how much more beautiful and how much more… it’s just better now and more improved and of course it’s nicer to perform in there now.
“Mas smaller yung capacity, but at the same time the experience is now more intimate as well,” dagdag niyang pahayag.
Ang tickets para sa Rise ay mabibili sa Ticketworld. Puwede ring i-check sa www.ticketworld.com.ph o tumawag sa 88919999.
JERRY OLEA
Idineklara na rin ng prima ballerina na retired na siya sa pagsasayaw. Mas magpu-focus na raw siya sa pagtuturo, sa pagdidirek o choreograph sa mga susunod na shows na gagawin ng Ballet Manila sa Aliw Theater.
“Lisa Macuja has retired from performing but it’s Lisa Macuja’s choreography and artistic direction.
“I just don’t want to sell the audience anymore, e. I don’t want to go on stage and be disappointing to my audience.
“I will do my best of leading the company, teaching, mentoring, and choreographing and directing.
“As far as dancing is concerned, I don’t think I can really dance anymore.”
Hindi raw niya alam kung mapapagbigyan pa niya ang mga humihiling na bumalik siya sa pagsasayaw dahil hindi na raw kaya ng katawan niya.
“I’ve had several surgeries already. My latest surgery was rotator cuff repair on my shoulder and I’m still healing from that.
“You know, the body, it has to rest also. I think we also have to accept and move on.
“I don’t really see myself going back on stage as a performer. Why? Because I’d also not feel the need to do it, and I also don’t feel the… yung kung gustung-gusto mo gagawin mo. Pero kung ayaw mo na, kung masakit and it’s too much of you know…”
NOEL FERRER
Marami pang puwedeng magawa si Lisa Macuja, ha? Siguro, mas mentoring na at pagpapaunlad pa ng Aliw Theater at iba pang pag-aari ng mga Elizalde.
Marami raw nakaplanong shows ang Ballet Manila para sa Aliw Theater.
“One thing that I really wanted to do was reopen the theater with the bang, and with the performance that just make everybody want to come back for more. And I think Rise is just a right combination.
“I think sabik na sabik na ang mga tao for a live performance. And I don’t think people will go out of their houses, out of their comfort zones of their home entertainment systems, of live streaming, just for any show. It has to be a special, a very good show.
“Ballet Manila will come back with season next year 2023. We are opening wth Romeo and Juliet in February 2023, and then we’re doing Don Quixote in May, and then Gerardo Francisco’s Ibong Adarna in August next year.
“But for now, this year, special events muna. Ang special event namin for October which is my birthday month, talagang it’s been a tradition matagal na to always have a huge big performance with live orchestra and everything in October, that’s Rise. And then in December, we’re going to do my Cinderella.”