R-rated 'Hook-up: The Musical' has HIV awareness message

After debuting one of his past productions, “Facebooked: The Musical,” in 2013, Jude Gitamondoc was given a suggestion to write another musical surrounding gay dating apps. However, he wasn’t completely comfortable with the idea because he wasn’t out at the time.

- By JANUAR JUNIOR AGUJA

“I wasn’t ready emotionally yet. I wasn’t ready to have that maturity to talk about it,” Gitamondoc told The FREEMAN. “But it’s good because it has given me time to process it and learn from the LGBTQIA+ community about the hookup apps. It has given me a better idea how to approach the material.”

The Cebuano songwriter writes best when the topic is close to his heart. His first relationship as an openly gay man, along with a spurt of inspiration during the COVID-19 pandemic, finally gave him the push to turn this idea from the piano into a reality onstage.

Gitamondoc’s latest musical, “Hook-Up: The Musical,” will debut on November 29 and 30 at the Capitol Social Hall in the Cebu Provincial Capitol, with each date having matinee (4 p.m.) and gala (8 p.m.) shows.

Last year, The FREEMAN attended a table-read session where Gitamondoc previewed the play. He described the concept as an exploration of dating and hookups, with boy band-inspired tunes carrying the story in a concert-like setting.

“It’s evolved a bit, but that boy group DNA is definitely still there,” he said of the play’s evolution from its table-read. “The show now feels like this refreshing mix between a concert and a Broadway musical, with verbal-sparring monologues and dialogues thrown in for good measure.”

The plot centers on a gay man who goes by the alias TimidTim on a gay dating app as he navigates the hookup scene in search of a deeper relationship. He is linked with IAmAnonymous, who lives a discreet life. Told through monologues and ensemble scenes, the musical reflects queer experiences.

Lead actors Paul Pablo and Shim Dagatan play TimidTim, while Jan Echavarria and Grant Bacaltos take turns playing IAmAnonymous.