"Rivalry," a musical about the decades-old Ateneo-La Salle feud, will be staged at the Meralco Theater starting January 27.
It will run until March 11, with 8 p.m. shows every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and 3 p.m. shows on Saturdays and Sundays.
Jamie del Mundo is the overall artistic director of the musical, while Ed Gatchalian serves as the executive producer, composer, arranger and orchestrator. Lyrics were written by Joel Trinidad, while Nancy Crowe choreographs.
Cast members include Felix Rivera, Red Concepcion, Jeremy Aguado, Mako Alonzo, Raymund Concepcion, Juliene Mendoza, OJ Mariano, Sheila Francisco, Jenny Nuida-Tatlonghari, Raul Montesa, Chino Veguillas, Meynard Peñalosa, Athena Tibi, Ashley Immler and Noel Trinidad.
Set in 1968, "Rivalry" revolves around two families -- the blue-blooded Valencias and the green-blooded Basilios. The sons in the families, Paco and Tommy, are in the Ateneo and De La Salle senior basketball teams, respectively. Both are hoping to win the heart of Reena, a girl from Maryknoll (now called Miriam College).
Gatchalian said in a press conference last year that he hopes to "make theater-going a regular habit in the country" through his musical.
The Ateneo-La Salle rivalry began as early as the 1930s. The cut-throat school-to-school basketball competition has evolved into a national phenomenon, followed even by those who do not belong to either schools.
