Areté's 'Si Faust' adds two more shows

From opening night, Si Faust (after Goethe) has earned nothing but rave reviews and standing ovations from its audience. The rock opera adaptation of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Faust just completed a sold-out two-weekend run, and the audience is clamoring for more. And they are getting more! On what would have been closing night, Si Faust co-creator and director Nelsito Gomez announced two additional shows on 29 November at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Si Faust is the fulfillment of a years-long dream of Basti Artadi, frontman of Pinoy rock band Wolfgang. From the time the band recorded their iconic Wurm album in the 1990s, it was when he crossed paths with Nelsito Gomez that they found a shared vision to bring the band's songs to life on the stage. Their resulting collaboration—a reimagining of Goethe’s classic legend through the blistering rock anthems of Wolfgang—is a powerful theatrical piece, hailed as one of the best shows of the year.

Set in a Philippine province ravaged by a plague, a foreign preacher named Faust, disillusioned and broken, makes a desperate deal with the Devil, Mephistopheles. He is granted youth, power, and pleasure, but as Faust’s miracles heal the sick and win him fame, he’s drawn into a doomed love affair with Marga, an innocent provincial girl whose world—and soul—are torn apart by his fall from grace.

Casted in the titular role of Faust is Joseton Vergel de Dios, making his theatre debut. Maita Ponce delivers a strong performance as Mephistopheles, joined by Sha-ira Opsimar as Marga, Joshua Cabiladas as Tiño, and Matel Patayon as Martha. MC Dela Cruz, Jam Binay, JV Fulgencio, Thor Ganchero, and Iya Villanueva complete the ensemble.

Si Faust runs for two more nights on Saturday, 29 November, at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Doreen Blackbox Theater in Areté Ateneo. Tickets are selling fast, so grab yours now at Areté HelixPay. It’s a story from the old world like you’ve never seen it before and one of the best shows of the year.