Company of Prison Dancer. Set and Props: Joanna Yu; Costumes: Joyce Padua; Lighitng: Michelle Ramsay © Nanc Price

Prison Dancer

2023-11-23 19:30 2023-12-02 22:30 60 Canada/Eastern 🎟 NAC: Prison Dancer

https://nac-cna.ca/en/event/33675

In-person event

How did the redemptive journey of Filipino prisoners create a global phenomenon? In 2007, a video of 1,500 inmates in a Filipino prison dancing to Michael Jackson’s Thriller was posted to YouTube, and quickly became one of the first viral videos on the internet. The “Dancing Inmates of Cebu” are the unlikely inspiration behind an ambitious, perspective- altering and joyous musical by Filipino-Canadian creators Romeo Candido and Carmen De Jesus, celebrating its world premiere...

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Babs Asper Theatre,1 Elgin Street,Ottawa,Canada
Nov 23 - Dec 2, 2023

November 2023

  1. Nov 23 2023
    Thursday

    7:30pm

  2. Nov 24 2023
    Friday

    7:30pm

  3. Nov 25 2023
    Saturday
  4. Nov 26 2023
    Sunday
  5. Nov 27 2023
    Monday
  6. Nov 28 2023
    Tuesday
  7. Nov 29 2023
    Wednesday

    11:00am

    7:30pm

  8. Nov 30 2023
    Thursday

    7:30pm

December 2023

  1. Dec 1 2023
    Friday

    7:30pm

  2. Dec 2 2023
    Saturday

    2:00pm

    7:30pm

Close schedule
Company of Prison Dancer. Set and Props: Joanna Yu; Costumes: Joyce Padua; Lighitng: Michelle Ramsay © Nanc Price
Company of Prison Dancer. Set and Props: Joanna Yu; Costumes: Joyce Padua; Lighitng: Michelle Ramsay © Nanc Price
Music Pop R&B Theatre Musicals
“This one is going places, folks; go see it so you can tell people you did before it inevitably hits Broadway.” Edmonton Journal
  • In-person event
  • English
  • Ages 14+
  • ≈ 90 minutes · No intermission
  • Mature themes
  • Strong language
  • Gunshots
NAC English Theatre Presentation

How did the redemptive journey of Filipino prisoners create a global phenomenon?

In 2007, a video of 1,500 inmates in a Filipino prison dancing to Michael Jackson’s Thriller was posted to YouTube, and quickly became one of the first viral videos on the internet. The “Dancing Inmates of Cebu” are the unlikely inspiration behind an ambitious, perspective- altering and joyous musical by Filipino-Canadian creators Romeo Candido and Carmen De Jesus, celebrating its world premiere at the Citadel Theatre in May, 2023.  

Romeo and Carmen have painted a fictional portrait of the people behind this phenomenon through Prison Dancer, an award-winning transmedia project spanning stage and screen that has literally moved audiences to their feet to witness and celebrate a community coming together in harmony through the power of song and dance.  

Paying tribute to pop, house, and R&B while shamelessly reveling in its deep love for sentimental ballad and drag, Prison Dancer is a brave musical about redemption, highlighting how a prisoner named Lola brings purpose and joy to a group of inmates ready to feel the rhythm together.

“Every member of the twelve-person, all-Filipino cast is a bonafide triple threat. The vibrant full company ensemble numbers radiate star quality and are especially exciting to watch." - Broadway World

Content Warnings: This play contains some strong language and mature themes, including reference to criminal activity, drug use and addiction, as well as sex. There is also brief violence depicted onstage (see trigger warning for more details). 
Trigger Warnings: Gunshot, murder

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
Nov 20
Nov 21
Nov 22
Nov 23
  • 7:30pm Preview
Nov 24
  • 7:30pm Opening Night
Nov 25
Nov 26
Nov 27
Nov 28
Nov 29
  • 11:00am Student Matinée
  • 7:30pm
Nov 30
  • 7:30pm
Dec 1
  • 7:30pm
Dec 2
  • 2:00pm Matinée
  • 7:30pm
Dec 3
Company of Prison Dancer. Set and Props: Joanna Yu; Costumes: Joyce Padua; Lighitng: Michelle Ramsay © Nanc Price
Company of Prison Dancer. Set and Props: Joanna Yu; Costumes: Joyce Padua; Lighitng: Michelle Ramsay © Nanc Price

Artists

  • Music and Lyrics by Romeo Candido
  • Book by Romeo Candido and Carmen De Jesus
  • Directed by Nina Lee Aquino
  • Produced by Ana Serrano, Carla Serrano and Romeo Candido
  • Prison Dancer's Tita & Tito Founding Circle Gail Asper, Vicenta Gaspar-Yoo, Jennifer Ouano and Jonathan Reinis