The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) celebrates 2020’s LGBTQIA Pride month with the streaming of Tanghalang Pilipino’s “Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal”. The 2011 archival recording of the musical is now available via CCP Online YouTube channel.
Just like the other shows in CCP Online’s line-up, it will only be available for one week.
The CCP, in fulfilling its goal of making art matter to every Filipino, brings the people HD and archival recordings in theater, dance, visual arts, film, literary, and workshop events from its Cultural Content Digital Archives through CCP Online, an online platform available for access on the CCP Website and YouTube channel.
An LGBTQIA version of Darna, the play follows the story of Ada, a hairdresser who transforms into a Jologs superheroine Zsazsa Zaturnnah. Together with assistant Didi, they fight flamboyant zombies, fashionista aliens, and a giant dancing frog.
The musical play isn’t completely issue-free – e.g. it has a questionable concept of feminism, dated concepts of gender identity and gender roles, confused tackling of transgender issues, et cetera. But as a product of its time, this is Tanghalang Pilipino’s longest-running show, enjoying almost six years under the spotlight.
The 2011 archival recording from the CCP Cultural Content Archives stars Eula Valdez as Zsazsa Zaturnnah, with Tuxqs Rutaquio as Ada, Nar Cabico as Didi, Red Anderson as Dodong, and Kalila Aguilos as Queen Femina Suarestella Baroux.
On Tuesday, 23 June, fans eager for discourse are all invited to watch Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze DIZCUZZION, featuring people from the academe and the LGBTQIA sector. Titled “Ikaw Ang Superhero ng Buhay Ko: A Roundtable Discussion on Queer Representation in the Arts,” it is a post-mortem forum discussing the musical and its relation to the queer community.
Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal was first staged on 2006, taken from the original comic book story written by Carlo Vergara, with libretto by Chris Martinez and direction by Chris Millado.
