Photos: Christmas-Themed Musical BLUEBIRD OF HAPPINESS Meets the Press

Manila, Philippines, September 10, 2013--As an early Christmas gift, Trumpets, Asia's first professional gospel theater group, known for original Filipino musicals such as "First Name" and "Little Mermaid"--shows with strong moral and spiritual messages--brings to Meralco Theater another family-centric production, "Bluebird of Happiness," starting Friday, September 27.

At a press launch, Trumpets President Audie Gemora and show director Jaime del Mundo officially launched "Bluebird of Happiness," a musical adaptation of Maurice Maeterlinck's play of the same name, featuring music by Rony Fortich and book and lyrics by del Mundo.

According to Gemora, the idea of turning the play into a musical was hatched 16 years ago when he saw on TV "Bluebird of Happiness," a film starring Shirley Temple. However, Trumpets' musical adaptation only began to materialize three years ago.

The story begins on Christmas Eve, where two poor, unhappy children Mytyl and Tyltyl express their dismay about Christmas. In search for a better life, the two embark on a magical journey in search of the mythical creature known as the bluebird of happiness. Together with their dog, cat, and "Light" (a candle in human form), the two kids visit various places: "The Land of Memory, where the children meet their long dead grandparents, "The Palace of the Night," "The Forest," "The Land of Luxury," "The Land of the Future," and "The Graveyard." Mytyl and Tyltyl end up in the same place where they started their journey--their own home.

At the launch, cast members Anton Posadas and Guido Gatmaitan (Tyltyl), Alessa Zialcita and Chimmi Kohchet-Chua (Mytyl), Lynn Sherman (Tylette, the cat), Robie Zialcita (Tylo, the dog), Carla Guevara-Laforteza (Light) and Joel Trinidad (Night) performed excerpts from the show such as "Never Like Christmas," "Tango of Treachery," "Bluebird of Happiness" and "Christmas Carol."

"Bluebird of Happiness" runs from Friday, September 27 to Sunday, October 20.

For tickets, call (632) 901-4364 or TicketWorld at (632) 891-9999.

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Photos by Trumpets, Jeffrey Aguiman