Manitoba's 1st all-Filipino musical 'a huge milestone' for Winnipeg company

The creator of Manitoba's first all-Filipino musical hopes it will connect his community to the province's rich theatre sector.

Ma-Buhay! A New Musical, which is set to make its national debut in June, was produced by Joseph Sevillo in partnership with Rainbow Stage. It'sthe Winnipeg theatre company's first original musical.

The musical, set in a reality singing competition,has 20 Filipino cast members which Sevillo says is a dramatic shift from the handful of Filipinos he was with when he got his start in Manitoba's theatre scene two decades ago.

"That alone is a cause for celebration," he told CBC News.

He hopes Ma-Buhay!(the musical's name is a Filipino greeting) will attract more Filipinos to the theatre.

"It's about really serving a community that was under-served," he said. "I want them to be able to see themselves on stage and be inspired."

'It's historic'

Sevillo also dreams of Ma-Buhay! putting Manitoba on the map at an international level, with his eyes set on Broadway, on-screen adaptations and regional theatres across the globe.

"Hopefully it means representation, and being seen, and more opportunities on and off stage in the theatre sector," he said.

The musical has been in development for five years, including public and private workshop readings one of which sold out during Winnipeg's Fringe Festival last summer.

Over 100 Filipino artists have been involved with the project since its inception, but it's not only for Filipinos.

"It doesn't necessarily just serve the Filipino community, but welcomes non-Filipinos alike. It's a universal story," Sevillo said.

The national debut of Ma-Buhay! was revealed during Rainbow Stage's 70th anniversary season announcement on Tuesday, which also includes a production of Mary Poppins.

Artistic director Carson Nattrass says the theatre company has weathered many storms throughout the last seven decades.

"It has been no different for this show. We're still here singing and dancing, and the gravity of it may not hit us until opening," he told CBC News.

Nattrass had just begun his journey as Rainbow Stage's artistic director when Sevillo pitched the musical to him. Five years later, he's proud they built that dream together.

"It is a huge milestone for us and it's historic," Nattrass said.

Ma-Buhay! and Mary Poppinscomplementone another, he said, as they are both stories that are about "teaching these kids to grow up and get out of the nest," although they were created in different times.

"As we look forwardand build new work with people like [Sevillo], we also want to remember where we came from," Nattrass said.

Sevillo says he's focused on edits of the final draft for Ma-Buhay! so that sheet music can be produced by January, which is when auditions are set to take place.

"I don't think I've fully felt the gravity of the present moment, of Rainbow Stage actually producing it for their season. That won't happen until opening night probably for me, but I am very grateful," he said.

"I just really, really hope that we can connect the Filipino community to theatre. That is like my wildest dream here, because a lot of Filipinos love performing."

Ma-Buhay! is anticipated to open on June 27 and will run until July 14 next summer.

Rainbow Stage's 1st original musical features all-Filipino cast

10 months ago

Duration 5:08

Ma-Buhay!, a new musical, is set to premiere at Winnipeg's Rainbow Stage next year. The musical's creator hopes it will inspire other Filipinos to pursue theatre.