Filipina orchestra performer calls out alleged discrimination by foreign manager of theater in Manila

A Filipina orchestra musician has called out the alleged racial targeting and discrimination she experienced from a foreign manager of a performing arts theater in Manila, reminding Filipinos not to “tolerate being talked down to by foreigners on our own soil.”

Crystal Rodis-Concepcion, an orchestra performer for the international tour of Sound of Music running at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Makati City, shared in a Facebook post about how she and her husband were allegedly rudely treated by its foreign manager.

Concepcion shared that she and her husband arrived at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater to prepare for the matinee show and entered through the lobby instead of the designated artist entrance.

“I play with the Manila Symphony Orchestra often, and we were often reminded to take the artist entrance. For this production though, the entire cast and crew always used the lobby (this has been going on for a week) and I assumed that it was okay (the production later confirmed that they were initially told that it was okay to use the lobby),” she shared on Facebook.

Concepcion shared that a foreign manager of Samsung Hall followed them all the way to the musician’s lounge, who accosted her and her husband.

“He then asked us if we played with the Manila Symphony Orchestra. We were unsure how to respond. He then went on a tirade about how we were being disruptive and if we ever went through the lobby again, he would have us banned from the building,” she shared.

“All this happened in front of our American counterparts who were just as shocked as we were,” she added.

Concepcion said that while she and her husband respected the rules of the house, she felt that the manager’s tirade was racially targeted, adding that American cast and crew members went in and out of the lobby specifically, yet only targeted her and her husband.

“He [also] made sure that we were local musicians (even mentioning a specific orchestra that had nothing to do with this incident) before he started his verbal assault,” she added.

Concepcion thanked the Sound of Music production team, who raised the incident with the theater management.

“Let this be a reminder for everyone to treat one another with respect. And for Filipinos, to never tolerate being talked down to by foreigners in our own soil. Thank you to our American co-musicians, music director, the entire Sound of Music production and GMG Productions for not taking this lightly,” she said.
The Sound of Music opened at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater on March 4 with an international cast and crew, and will run until March 26.

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