Fly Me to the Moon All Set to Open on October 13

Palanca Hall of Fame Writer Rody Vera's New Play

Artist Playground in cooperation with Japan Foundation’s latest production “FLY ME TO THE MOON,” an original play penned by Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature Hall of Famer RODY VERA is all set to open on October 13, 2017 at ARTIST PLAYGROUND 112 West Avenue, Quezon City.

Directed by PAUL JAKE PAULE, “ FLY ME TO THE MOON” is about the story of Melanie who embarks on a journey to Japan to help her family make ends meet. Using her charm, she boards on a ship full of flesh-hungry sea crew, and finds comfort in Jo, a karayuki-san who longs for her one true love Ibrahim. On the ship, the two draw parallels between their lives as they unfold their own stories. Soon, Melanie and Jo part ways to follow their own pavement, but still keep a piece of each other’s heart.

The cast and character descriptions of ‘FLY ME TO THE MOON’ are as follows:
FATIMA CADIZ and DEA FORMACIL shall alternately play the role of Karayuki.

Jo or Karayuki-san has suffered like all the other girls in their province, Amakusa. She became a sex slave at her young age in a neighboring country to comply with their country’s need for a female soldier.

Unfortunately while she was in this foreign country serving men, she fell in love with Ibrahim without her realizing that it is love. The reason why she doesn’t know is because she never received love before even from her family who sold her just to make her brother a man. And because of love, she died.

Karayuki-san believes that people love, people die. That was the love that she had experienced but she’s still hopeful that even they weren’t able to be together in this life, they will still have a chance to be together in their next life of the afterlife.

ALDY CADUPAY, AI HOSE KI and XOSH ARDIO shall alternately essay the role of Melanie.

Melanie is confident, strong-willed and positive in life. His story is like the story of every gay in our country. They want to go to Japan or other country in search of a better life and also the surgery that could make them a real woman. They are willing to take a risk just to achieve their goal. In Melanie’s case, he even snuck in a ship even though he’s not sure what’s waiting for him.

CLIFFORD GONZALES, AR AR RAMILO and BJ OCAMPO shall alternately play the role of Ibrahim /Cat.

A muslim man who fell in love with Karayuki san while she was in Sandakan Brothel No. 3. We can tell that Ibrahim might be a passionate man but due to this love, there is a possibility that he died and reincarnated to a cat.

Jo said that he moves like a cat. He sneaks just to see her and that’s the reason why the cat is still with her soul/ghost. It might be waiting for them to reunite in the future as different people or in afterlife.

MANU GALLARDO and JUN NAYRA shall alternately play the role of the Captain.
The Captain is depicted as a cruel man but he’s just like any man who felt like he’s trapped in the vast ocean with nothing but sharks as his companion. He’s even willing to have sex with a man just to fulfill his lust for human flesh.

The Players, Artist Playground’s very own group of artists shall play various roles in the ensemble, namely: Josh Adamero, Lliwel Agita, Aljean Badar, Leonardo Bania, Searl Escalona, Julia Garcia, Alleah Hugo, Vincent Macapobre, Reyn Mercado, Ariel Pan, Christopher Perez, Joyan Que, Beaulah Mae Saycon, Christian Silang, and Fernilyn Toladro.

The Artistic Team of FLY ME TO THE MOON is led by Paul Jake Paule (Director), Roeder Camañag (Artistic Director & Choreographer), Jesse Lucas (Music By), Mailes Kanapi (Artistic Consultant) Jeffrey Camañag (Production Design Consultant) Searl Escalona (Assistant Director) John Mark Yap (Lay-out Designer & Projection Design) Aly Mondonedo (Photographer) Sem Pabion & Princess Tuason (Dramaturg) Rowena Jarito(Sound Designer), Kimberly Claire Somoza (Lighting Designer) and Reynoso Mercado (Production Designer).

The Production Team OF FLY ME TO THE MOON is led by Kimberly Claire Somoza (Production Manager), Jessa Bisnar (Assistant PM), Joselito “Toots” Tolentino (Publicist), Mary Rose Agapito (Stage Manager), Ariel Pan (Deputy Stage Manager), Beaulah Mae Saycon (ASM ) , Star Alferez & Anna Clarisa Timbal (Spinner), Alex Gallo & Alleah Hugo (Costume Mistress) Julia Garcia & Christian Silang (Prop head), Fernilyn Toladro (Sponsorship) and Set team : Glenn Caspe, Josh Adamero and Joyan Kiu.

‘FLY ME TO THE MOON’ will run from October 13 – 22, 2017.

Fridays (Oct 13 & 20) 8pm, Saturdays (Oct 14 & 21) 4pm & 8pm and Sundays (Oct 15 & 22) 4pm & 8pm

Venue: ARTIST PLAYGROUND, Arts Above
112 West Avenue Quezon City.

For tickets, call Ticketworld 8919999.
For inquiries, please call 09759193179 c/o Kimberly Claire Somoza.

Visit Artist Playground's website at https://www.artistplayground.ph; Facebook, Twitter & Instagram : @artplayg