Pierre Angelo Bayuga, Daren Dyhengco, Julio Fuentes, Renell Doneza, and Dominique Brillantes. Set and Props: Joanna Yu; Costumes: Joyce Padua; Lighting: Michelle Ramsay. Citadel Theatre (2023) © Nanc Price

Prison Dancer

The Musical

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

An NAC English Theatre Revival of the Citadel Theatre Production

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...

Read more

Babs Asper Theatre,1 Elgin Street,Ottawa,Canada
Nov 23 - Dec 2, 2023
This event has passed
Pierre Angelo Bayuga, Daren Dyhengco, Julio Fuentes, Renell Doneza, and Dominique Brillantes. Set and Props: Joanna Yu; Costumes: Joyce Padua; Lighting: Michelle Ramsay. Citadel Theatre (2023) © Nanc Price
pd-web
Dominique Brillantes, Josh Capulong, Stephen Thakkar, Julio Fuentes, Norm Alconcel, Chariz Faulmino, Pierre Angelo Bayuga. Set & Props: Joanna Yu, Costumes: Joyce Padua, Lighting: Michelle Ramsay. © Dahlia Katz
Diana Del Rosario, Daren Dyhengco. Set & Props: Joanna Yu, Costumes: Joyce Padua, Lighting: Michelle Ramsay. © Dahlia Katz
Julio Fuentes.Set and Props: Joanna Yu; Costumes: Joyce Padua; Lighting: Michelle Ramsay. Citadel Theatre (2023) © Nanc Price
Norm Alconcel, Josh Capulong, Julio Fuentes, Pierre Angelo Bayuga, Renell Doneza, Dominique Brillantes and Daren Dyhengco. Set and Props: Joanna Yu; Costumes: Joyce Padua; Lighting: Michelle Ramsay. Citadel Theatre (2023) © Nanc Price
Renell Doneza, Byron Flores, Josh Capulong, Julio Fuentes, Daren Dyhengco and Pierre Angelo Bayuga. Set and Props: Joanna Yu; Costumes: Joyce Padua; Lighting: Michelle Ramsay. Citadel Theatre (2023) © Nanc Price
Family programming Music Pop R&B Theatre Musicals Holidays
“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+
  • ≈ 100 minutes · No intermission
  • Mature themes
  • Strong language
  • Gunshots
pd-web
Dominique Brillantes, Josh Capulong, Stephen Thakkar, Julio Fuentes, Norm Alconcel, Chariz Faulmino, Pierre Angelo Bayuga. Set & Props: Joanna Yu, Costumes: Joyce Padua, Lighting: Michelle Ramsay. © Dahlia Katz
Diana Del Rosario, Daren Dyhengco. Set & Props: Joanna Yu, Costumes: Joyce Padua, Lighting: Michelle Ramsay. © Dahlia Katz
Julio Fuentes.Set and Props: Joanna Yu; Costumes: Joyce Padua; Lighting: Michelle Ramsay. Citadel Theatre (2023) © Nanc Price
Norm Alconcel, Josh Capulong, Julio Fuentes, Pierre Angelo Bayuga, Renell Doneza, Dominique Brillantes and Daren Dyhengco. Set and Props: Joanna Yu; Costumes: Joyce Padua; Lighting: Michelle Ramsay. Citadel Theatre (2023) © Nanc Price
Renell Doneza, Byron Flores, Josh Capulong, Julio Fuentes, Daren Dyhengco and Pierre Angelo Bayuga. Set and Props: Joanna Yu; Costumes: Joyce Padua; Lighting: Michelle Ramsay. Citadel Theatre (2023) © Nanc Price
NAC English Theatre Presentation

An NAC English Theatre Revival of the Citadel Theatre Production

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.

Talkback:
Wednesday, November 29
Stay in your seats for a post-show question-and-answer session

American Sign Language (A.S.L.) Presentation:
Friday, December 1 at 7:30 p.m.
To book $15 tickets for the ASL Interpreted Performance on December 1st, use promo code PDASL.

“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

Artists

  • Music and Lyrics/Book by Romeo Candido
  • Book by Carmen Leilani De Jesus
  • nina-web
    Directed by Nina Lee Aquino
  • Produced by Ana Serrano
  • Produced by Carla Serrano
  • Music and Lyrics by Romeo Candido
  • Book by Romeo Candido and Carmen De Jesus
  • Directed by Nina Lee Aquino
  • Featuring Norm Alconcel, Pierre Angelo Bayuga, Dominique Brillantes, Josh Capulong, Diana Del Rosario, Renell Doneza, Daren Dyhengco, Chariz Faulmino, Byron Flores, Julio Fuentes, Jovanni Sy, Stephen Thakkar
  • Musicians Jeremie Guitierrez, José Garcia, Kierscey Rand Regozo, Leighton Rodney
  • Music Director, Additional Scoring, Piano Arrangments Kierscey Rand Regozo
  • Set and Props Designer Joanna Yu
  • Costume Designer Joyce Padua
  • Lighting Designer Michelle Ramsay
  • Sound Designer Owen Hutchinson
  • Choreographer Julio Fuentes
  • Fight Director Richard Lee
  • Original Fight Director Morgan Yamada
  • Dramaturgy Rick Boynton
  • Associate Choreographer Keiran Bohay
  • Audio Coordinator Wayne Hawthorne
  • Stage Manager Gina Puntil
  • Assistant Stage Manager Alysse Szatkowski
  • Apprentice Stage Manager Angela Mae Bago
  • Produced by Ana Serrano and Carla Serrano
  • Prison Dancer's Tita & Tito Founding Circle of Co-producers Gail Asper, Vicenta Gaspar-Yoo, Jennifer Ouano and Jonathan Reinis