AGHAM Theatre Company Highlights 14th year with IKABOD

In celebration of its 14th anniversary, its rock & roll time once again for AGHAM Theatre Company's latest production!

After some profound and serious productions, ATC tackles hilarious and heart warming rats and cats. Written and directed by its resident director and founder, Patrick Josel Almaden, along with Chris Navarra as technical and stage director.

This year's offering, IKABOD, is a musical play based on an ancient belief that rats are souls trapped in transition before evolving to a next life level, that of becoming humans. These rats have to arrive at a certain realization before being able to transcend into the gates of humanhood.

However, the guardians to these coveted gates are cats! And so it has been told that cats in our world chase rats for the same reason. Only three rats are allowed to enter humandom once a year on a full moon. Cats have to maintain the decorum and serve as the screening committee for the deserving rats to enter the gates.

Our main character Ikabod, a restless and discontented rat with an attitude, does everything to prove himself to the cats. The conflict ensues when Daguita, Ikabod's femme fatale rat girlfriend, presents another point of view.

Contemporary as it may be, this play presents the classic ideals and values, including the choices we have to make in life. This fable is told through OPM (Original Pilipino Music) arranged by musical director, Paco Almaden in genres of rock and roll, pop and alternative. The groove is created by dance director and choreographer Francis Cruz.

The avant-garde set, a suggestive manhole interior, sleek in approach and done only in black & white, is designed by Osler Ladia, inspired from his travels in theatre capitals abroad. Agnes Medina's costumes are done in the standards of broadway with extensive research in face painting and costume construction. Visual and creative aspects are executed by the ATC Atelier Team led by Francis Danoog. Lighting is done by Dennis Cruz, a sought after lights designer in the live performance arena.

IKABOD runs at the University of Makati Grand Theatre from Dec. 1-4, 2009 with scheduled performances: 10am, 2pm and 6pm. This play is presented by Coca Cola, Dunkin Donuts, Jollibee and Metro at Market! Market!. This project is also in cooperation with the City Government of Makati.

For more information, reservation and bookings you may reach 09214914806 and look for Mr. Patrick Almaden. You may also visit our websites www.ikabodmusical.multiply.com and www.aghamtheatrecompany.multiply.com.

AGHAM Theatre Company is a non-stock, non-profit organization of the University of Makati. It specializes in creating an all-Filipino and all- original concepts in scripts, stage designs, costumes and musical scores. (Chris Navarra)