Snow White bites the apple anew in Ballet Manila’s holiday production

The budding romance between Snow White (Abigail Oliveiro) and the Prince (Mark Sumaylo) takes a dark turn as the Evil Queen (Stephanie Santiago) schemes to put an end to it. Photo courtesy of Zhongli Youth Ballet

After its international debut at the Iron Rose Festival in Taoyuan, Taipei last November, Lisa Macuja Elizalde’s Snow White makes its Philippine comeback as Ballet Manila’s featured production for its Holiday Series 2025.

***Principal dancer Abigail Oliveiro makes her Philippine debut as Snow White in Ballet Manila’s Holiday Cheer 2025 presentation. Photo by MarBi Photography***

Snow White will have daily shows from December 25 to 29 every 4 p.m. at Aliw Theater, Pasay City, with two casts.

On December 25, 27 and 29, company artist Nanami Hasegawa – making her debut in a principal role – pairs up with principal artist Romeo Peralta who returns as the Prince, a role he danced during the fairy-tale ballet’s premiere run in 2017.

On December 26 and 28, principal dancers Abigail Oliveiro and Mark Sumaylo will make their Philippine debut as Snow White and the Prince, after first dancing their respective roles in Taiwan last month.

Oliveiro and Sumaylo are actually pulling off dual roles in Snow White, as they are also cast as the Evil Queen and the Huntsman in the alternate cast. They have performed the supporting roles in previous stagings of the ballet in Aliw Theater.

Completing the cast on December 26 and 28 are principal dancer Stephanie Santiago as the Evil Queen and principal dancer Joshua Enciso as the Huntsman.

For the five shows, the Evil Witch will be portrayed by company artist Marinette Franco while the Seven Dwarfs will be played by soloist Anselmo Dictado (Happy), soloist Benedict Sabularse (Dopey), company artist Jefferson Balute (Sneezy), soloist Rafael Perez (Bashful), soloist Sean Pelegrin (Doc), company artist Raymond Salcedo (Grumpy) and company artist Jamil Montibon (Sleepy).

Ballet Manila artistic director Lisa Macuja Elizalde said Christmas season is the best time to bring back Snow White which combines the elements of fantasy, romance, adventure and humor in one grand package.

***Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, it’s off to work they go! With their picks and shovels, the Seven Dwarves merrily start their day. Photo courtesy of Zhongli Youth Ballet***

“From the first scene to the end, this ballet just came happily alive. It is a ballet I created specifically with families in mind as my audience. I wanted people to smile, laugh and fall in love!” she noted.

Snow White is the second ballet in Macuja Elizalde’s Princess Trilogy, following Cinderella and preceding Sleeping Beauty.

Her adaptation of Snow White begins with a scene called “The Queen’s Facial” where the Evil Queen undergoes her beauty treatment in front of the magic mirror, with a “reflection” executing synchronized movements.

Envious of her stepdaughter’s youth and beauty, the Queen commands the Huntsman to kill Snow White. But he disobeys the order and bids Snow White to escape to the forest. There, the princess makes friends with the animals she encounters and eventually finds a home with the Seven Dwarfs.

But upon discovering that Snow White is still alive, the jealous queen decides to take matters into her own hands. She transforms into the Evil Witch and entices Snow White to bite one of her poisoned apples, putting her in a death-like slumber. The Prince arrives and awakens her with true love’s kiss. A festive wedding ensues in the middle of the forest, the expected happy ending to cap this fairy tale.

Tickets to Snow White are available exclusively through TicketWorld at premiere.ticketworld.com.ph.