‘You better get ready for a big surprise.’ If you think the OPM-musical vibe is almost over, it’s actually on the rise.
During the final run of the longest-running Filipino production by Full House Theater Company and Newport World Resorts, the cast of Ang Huling El Bimbo musical delivered a nostalgic and heart-warming surprise. In the curtain call, they serenaded the audience with an emotional rendition of Parokya ni Edgar’s classic song Harana, leaving hearts deeply moved and spirits excited for what’s coming.
After performing 115 shows in 2018 and 2019, and 60 shows in 2023, to 220,000 live audiences and over 7 million online viewers, Ang Huling El Bimbo has become the most-watched Filipino musical. Igniting further sparks towards theater performances, the cast gave a sneak peek at the upcoming production that is in the works by singing one of the OPM classic hits with icons flashed on the screen—including a guitar (Harana), pizza (Picha Pie), mustache (Mr. Suave), two bottles of beer (Inuman Na), and, of course, the iconic chicken (Chikinini).
Parokya Ni Edgar Musical: Abangan sa 2024
Excitement lit up among fans when Ang Huling El Bimbo musical writer Dingdong Novenario shared a video clip of the cast signing the 1997 hit. On the caption, he shared: “Reveal yourself.”
Though he added that he won’t be writing for the said musical, many are exuberant about this upcoming stage play. In fact, Parokya ni Edgar vocalist Chito Miranda reacted to the performance on Instagram, saying, “Ginawa nila ‘to during the final curtain call ng ‘Ang Huling El Bimbo’. Nakakakilabot.”
Ensemble member of Ang Huling El Bimbo, Red Nuestra, also reposted the video on Facebook and shared that the first 200 people to guess the next musical may have the chance to win tickets for a special preview.
With such a teaser on hand, many are now speculating whether the upcoming musical would tell the band’s story or would be an original story based on the music produced by Parokya, similar to Ang Huling El Bimbo. The show’s title and performance dates have yet to be disclosed. However, one thing is for sure: excitement is already building for this thrilling production.
Stay tuned for more updates, and let’s keep OPM alive!
Cover image credit: Parokya ni Edgar
