JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR AT INMACULADA

Jaime Picornell
Mar 3, 2020
4 min read

Jesus Christ Superstar, the 1971 rock opera by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, was presented by Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion last December. Tickets were sold out for the Standing-Room-Only performances at the school auditorium.

Now, due to public insistence, Jesus Christ Superstar will once again be presented to Cebu audiences. “Get those tickets before they are sold out,” says the director, Benjie Diola, “Pick up that telephone and dial CIC 232-9787 or 232-4629.”

Matinees are at 2 PM on March 12, 13 and 14 with tickets at ₱200. Gala nights are at 7 PM on March 13, 14 and 15 with tickets at ₱400.

There was a lively press conference presided by Benjie who filled us on many details about Jesus Christ Superstar. For one, this is in celebration of CIC’s 140 years of existence in 2020.

And it is now 50 years since Jesus Christ Superstar caused a sensation in Broadway and all over the world. Furthermore, with this Cebu presentation CIC affirms its participation in the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines to be observed in 2021. Cebu takes center stage in this grandiose event.

Benjie was his usual enthusiastic self. He is foremost an actor whose forte is directing plays. He is into everything involved in the production, aside from the direction - lights, costumes, blocking, make up. What have you, all that ensures a resounding success.

At this press conference he introduced the impressive cast of Jesus Christ Superstar here they are: Emmanuel Casquejo in the title role; Rolando Empleo and Zennith Rivera alternating as Judas; Megan Gabison and Kathleen Adolfo alternating as Mary Magdalene; PAL top executive Harry Inoferio as Herod; Dr. Shawn Espina and Karl Allanic alternating as Pilate. Cebu Vice Governor Hilario Davide III is Caipas, a role he auditioned for and obtained. He gave a sampling of a song to the applause of the press.

Completing the forefront cast are Emmanuel Garces as Simon/Peter; Revan Sinadjan as Annas; Gerard Gabuya – Apostle; Kimberly Aliño – Lady by the Fire; and Jamaica Lim – Leper/Dancer.

CIC is well known for its musical productions. They go a long way back to those pre-war years with zarzuelas presented in Spanish Vision theater with its perfect acoustics was booked for the spectacular “El Conde de Luxemburgo,” a popular Viennese operetta.

After the war the zarzuelas at CIC were revived, at the social hall of the new CIC building in Gorordo Avenue. Juanita Aberasturi Wonderly appeared as leading lady in most of them.

My parents bought me along to see and hear “Molinos de Viento” and the re-staging of “El Conde” on the Diamond Jubilee (75 years) of CIC in 1955.

Two years later the school auditorium was inaugurated with another Spanish zarzuela – “Gigantes y Cabezudos.”

These musicals were under the special patronage of Don Lorenzo and Doña Piling Escaño. Doña Piling’s sister Sor Fernanda Vaño was the head of the Music department at CIC.

They patronized the zarzuela “Gigantes y Cabezudos,” the last Spanish musical presented in September 1963. I had a role in it.

The occasion was to celebrate the “Bodas de Oro” or golden jubilee of CIC’s superior Sor Clementina Yglesias on her golden jubilee (50 years) as a Daughter of Charity.

Sor Clementina walked with the grace and elegance of a fairy-tale princess, and looked it too, especially when she tended the rose garden in front of CIC. I think it is still there though much reduced.

Ramona “Monette” Aliño became the heart and soul of CIC’s drama activities, with the full support of Sor Paz Buenaventura. She prepared the cast of plays rehearsing them until the arrival of the actual director, Justo Montemayor two weeks before the play date.

A supreme effort for CIC was the presentation of Camelot with Juanita Aberasturi Wonderly as Queen Guenevere and an 18-year old Bob Zozobrado as Lancelot. More musicals were shown in the following years. I was in some of them.

In the King and I my role was that of the British Ambassador, dancing a waltz with Juanita as Anna. I was President Roosevelt in Annie, and the grandfather in Oliver. So much for the past memories!

Benjie Diola looks to the future at CIC. The next 12 months and more will be intense as they are going to work on the auditorium. Air conditioning will be installed, the best acoustics provided, and the stage will be improved. The floor will be sloped for better viewing and theater seats provided.

It should all be ready some time in 2021. For the inaugural, Benjie is thinking of a lavish production of The King and I.

CIC has the patronage of Doña Antonia Roig Moraza. An Inmaculadista of the first water, Doña Antonia turned a hundred last January and the gift to her school is its new auditorium.