Ang Huling El Bimbo musical concluded its fifth week run this year with two sweet surprises: an extension of the show and a marriage proposal from the audience.
The May 21 performance was the 136th for the musical since its premiere in July 2018 at the Newport Performing Arts Theatre (NPAT) in Pasay City. Its second production followed in August 2019.
The show, which features songs from iconic band the Eraserheads, was also streamed for free online during the pandemic. A concert version followed in 2021 at NPAT.
Run extension
AHEB musical came back to the stage in April this year, with new and returning cast members.
Next weekend was supposed to be AHEB’s last show for May, but producer Full House Theater Company (FHTC) announced that it has decided to extend its run until the end of June.
“A whole month would be fine… as we’re extending the show until June! All of this is possible because of your continuous support for #AHEB2023,” it said.
The musical’s schedule next month will start on June 2 at 8 p.m. and will end on June 30 at 8 p.m.
Other available dates are: June 3 (3 p.m. and 8 p.m.), June 4 (3 p.m.), June 9 (8 p.m.), June 10 (3 p.m. and 8 p.m.), June 11 (3 p.m. and 8 p.m.), June 16 (8 p.m.), June 17 (3 p.m. and 8 p.m.), June 18 (3 p.m.), June 23 (8 p.m.), June 24 (3 p.m. and 8 p.m.), and June 25 (3 p.m.).
Those who haven’t watched and are interested in the musical can buy their tickets at Newport World Resorts Box Office, SM Tickets, and TicketWorld.
Ticket prices range from P1,079 to P3,776.
Marriage proposal
At the end of the Sunday performance, the show had another surprise that drew kilig screams from the crowd.
In a video posted by FHTC, one of the cast members announced that viewers will get the chance to have a photo opportunity with them as part of their fifth week run.
A couple was picked from a raffle to join the actors on stage.
But what appeared to be a photo opportunity was actually a marriage proposal in disguise.
The selection of the names of Joi Tuazon and Axel Zapanta during the raffle was actually scripted.
Given microphones on stage, Zapanta started to divulge the real reason behind the photo opportunity. That was when Tuazon finally realized what was happening around her.
“In front of all AHEB fans, crew, and cast, I promise to love you sa tanghali, sa gabi, at sa umaga. We will live nang tahimik at buong ligaya,” Zapanta told Tuazon, referencing Erasherheads’ hit song Ligaya.
He then popped the much-awaited question to his girlfriend, to which she loudly said, “Yes!”
The two shared a hug and everyone around them began singing Ligaya.
In a Facebook post, Tuazon said that she woke up the next morning feeling “still in clouds!”
Zapanta shared that he had the same feelings as his fiancée.
“Para kaming nasa ALAPAAP sa moment na binigay nyu samin,” he said, thanking the AHEB team for his success marriage proposal.
“To my Fiancé[e], I promise to love you ‘Sa Tanghali, Sa Gabi at Umaga.’ I LOVE YOU SO MUUUCH,” he added.
The NPAT, meanwhile, congratulated the newly-engaged couple in a Facebook post.
The story of AHEB
AHEB musical is told as a flashback story of three friends – Emman, Anthony and Hector – who became schoolmates and roommates in a state university.
Their bond got stronger as they spent time together at Toyang’s, an eatery that became their hang out place and where they befriended a girl named Joy.
Mystery unfolds as the story leads to the opening act of the musical where a corpse is found.
Nostalgia hits many of the audience members who remember their college years and the well-loved songs of the Erasherheads.
AHEB musical is directed and choreographed by Dexter Santos and written by playwright Dingdong Novenario, with musical direction and musical arrangements by Mula sa Buwan actor Myke Salomon.
The musical is the dream project of Santos, who is an Eraserheads fan.
