Agnes Locsin's "Puno: Pangatlong Galaw" Aug 1, 2012

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PETA Theater Center
presents

Puno: Pangatlong Galaw

A one-hour concert collection of solo and duo dances

August 1, 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. 

Choreographed by Agnes Locsin
Featuring Gaye Galiluyo and Georgette Sanchez

"Puno: Pangatlong Galaw" is the third of Locsin's series titled "Alay Sa Puno," a tribute to trees, a dirge for their disappearance, and a plea for reforestation.. "Puno" follows "Ugat: Unang Galaw" and "Dahon: Ikalawang Galaw."

"Puno" explores the literal, physical and symbolical virtues of the texture and strength garnered from the trunks that bear the weight of life. While the first and second series installments focused on the common trees around the Philippines, "Puno" focuses on the hard and redwood trees found mostly in the vanishing forests of the Philippines. This concert will show the strength of nearly if not already extinct trees like the Apitong, Yakal, Tugas, Kamagong, Mangkono and Bagtikan trees, along with the lesser known hardtrees like the Caimito, Lechiyas and Bayabas trees. "Puno" will expound on the parallelisms of the fight for survival of men, women, and trees.

Galiluyo and Sanchez, both international artists, are alumnae of Ballet Philippines where they first crossed paths and trained with Locsin.

Galiluyo was the First Prize Winner for performance and interpretation at the 9th International Solo Tanz Theater in 2005 in Germany and a bronze medalist in the Masdanza International Dance Competition in Spain. In 1999, Galiluyo moved to Switzerland to dance with Tanztheater Basel. A year later, she went on to Germany to join the Geissen Dance Company as well as the Irina Pauls Tanztheater. She is currently an independent artist based in Freiburg, Germany but comes home for her mentor's choreographic forays.

In 2000, meanwhile, Sanchez won the silver medal in the 9th Paris International Dance Competition, for her performances in Locsin's "September" and Alden Lugnasin's "Aku."  She has danced with ABC Dance Company in Austria and for Tanz Darmstadt in Germany, and will join the Tanz Oper in Munich, Germany this August.

Galiluyo and Sanchez were both seen in the Philippines in Locsin's "Sayaw, Sabel" (2010) and previously in "Sayaw LikhANG KIUKOK" (2005).

Contact 735-6244 or 0916-309-0707.

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Ateneo Blue Repertory's "13: The Musical" July 25-Aug 11, 2012

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Announcement from Ateneo Blue Repertory

Ateneo Blue Repertory
presents

13: The Musical

Music by Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown
Directed by Christopher de Venecia
Musical direction by Reb Atadero
Choreography by Mica Fajardo

Evan Goldman, a New Yorker on the brink of turning 13 years old, has to deal with his parents' divorce; a move to the “middle-of-nowhere” Appleton, Indiana; making new friends; and building a new reputation from scratch.

Trouble starts when Evan tries to fix everyone’s problems--the star quarterback needs help courting the prettiest cheerleader, his friend Archie is demanding a date with his crush, and, on top of it all, someone is spreading the nastiest rumors about him.

Evan’s loyal friend, the school geek Patrice, helps him get by, but because of the merciless hierarchy of their school, Evan must recognize who his true friends are and discover what it really means to be a man.

July 25, 26, 27, 28, Aug 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10 and 11 at 8pm
July 28, Aug 4 and 11 at 3pm
Fine Arts Theater, 3/F Gonzaga Hall, Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City 

Contact 0917-5002462.
Visit www.facebook.com/blueREPERTORY.
Follow @_blueREPERTORY on Twitter.

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Dulaang Laboratoryo's puppet twinbill "Pabulayan" (Dalawang Bayani: Jose at Andres / Ang Pagong at ang Tsonggo) Aug. 23-25, 2012

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Announcement from Dulaang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas' Dulaang Laboratoryo

Dulaang Laboratoryo
in cooperation with
Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas
on its 35th year
presents

Pabulayan

A puppet performance twinbill of
Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio's
Dalawang Bayani: Jose at Andres
and
Ang Pagong at ang Tsonggo

A puppeteering acting recital/thesis production of Valeri Galvez and Anne Elechi.
Directed by Amihan Bonifacio-Ramolete (daughter of Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio)

Dalawang Bayani
1st prize 1995 Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature
Spanish colonial heroes Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio come to life as they narrate important events in their lives: their family, education, first love, and their views on the revolution.

Ang Pagong at ang Tsonggo
A retelling of the Filipino folktale about the turtle and the monkey, which is famous for the saying "Tuso man daw ang matsing, kung tutumbasan ng galing, ay mapaglalalangan din."

August 23, 2012 Thursday - 2pm
August 24, 2012 Friday - 2pm and 7pm
August 25, 2012 Saturday - 10am and 2pm

Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio Teatro Papet Museo
64 Mapagkawanggawa St., Teachers Village West, Quezon City

Featuring the puppets of Teatrong Mulat ng Pilipinas

Puppet designers: Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio and Nicole Bautista

Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio, also known as Lola Amel, is a playwright, writer, and a set designer. She is dubbed The Grande Dame of Southeast Asian Children’s Theater. At present, she is Professor Emeritus of the UP where she also serves as Professor of English. Now in her early-80s, she is still active in theater, performing for child and for adult audiences, writing plays, designing and creating puppets, costumes and sets, and setting the direction of children’s literature and children’s theater in the country. 

Dulaang Laboratoryo is under Dulaang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas.  It stages the thesis productions of students taking certificate and/or degree programs in Theater Arts under the university's Department of Speech Communication and Theater Arts.

Contact valeriergalvez@gmail.com or mobile +63922-882-5594.

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Theaterbatoring "God of Carnage"

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thoughts on
atlantis productions' "god of carnage"
by walter ang
july 24, 2012

Image from the interwebs.
morag cook's set design for "god of carnage" (for state theatre company of south australia's 2010 production) features a swath of red floor-to-ceiling wall treatment that merges with a swath of wall-to-wall red carpet, evoking a waterfall of blood flowing continuously into a river.

for the 2012 manila production by atlantis productions, lawyn cruz's set design shows a slight reconfiguration of the wall treatment into a framed large-scale red wall installation comprised of tightly packed blocks in varying degrees of thickness.  things do not flow so easily here, it seems to say.  instead, it's now choppy waters in a pool. the carpet is also now a square in the middle of the room. blood trapped in a boxing ring.

and that's how the evening's assaults are foreshadowed in this staging of yasmina reza's hilarious play of two couples who meet to resolve a physical altercation between their respective sons: things are going to get bloody. and no one will escape.

(a side observation on the "internationalness" of this production: it's written by a french playwright, translated into english by an english (as in, united kingdom) playwright--with an adjusted version for the usa (versus uk) audience.  the manila production uses the usa version, has a set design reconfigured from an australian production, has filipinos and one singaporean in the cast, has just had its run in manila, and will run in singapore.  but i digress.)

foreshadow
alan (art acuña) and annette (menchu lauchengco-yulo)'s son had hit michael (adrian pang) and veronica (lea salonga)'s son with a stick. the latter couple invites the former couple over to their home.

if you didn't know anything about the rest of the play, the set design and the first few lines about missing teeth and exposed nerves should clue you in nicely. the introductory scoring, an orchestral version of black eyed peas' "i gotta feeling" is also a funny, ironic clue. tonight's gonna be a good night? we'll see.

the set-up of two couples in a living room recalls edward albee's "who's afraid of virginia woolf," though this play is far less daunting and there are no menacing revelations (only a lot of menacing posturing). it also makes one think of oscar wilde's "the importance of being earnest," only in this play, being earnest isn't what's most important. instead, director bobby garcia plays off the text's farcical aspects and highlights the physical comedy bits.  the loudest audience reaction was for stage business involving a body fluid ending up on stage. and its tenuous clean-up.

clipped pace
garcia's guided the actors through a clipped pace as they plow through their lines, punches, and punchlines at around 80 minutes.  the cast are adept in their roles, though it is pang (michael), with his spot-on timing, who milks the funny parts and gets the loudest, longest, and most laughs. (though, a small quibble, the lead-up to a line where he asserts his inner caveman is a bit wanting, leaving the potentially iconic line somewhat of a throw away.)

acuña imbues his role with a slight brooklyn inflection that stays consistent and he maintains alan's aloof disinterest of the evening's proceedings.  lauchengco-yulo looks like she's secretly having the most fun among the four actors, spending much of the time portraying annette in various degrees of physical and mental distress.  salonga's straightforward attack on her role anchors the room together since, as veronica, she is the evening's primary antagonist-who-just-won't-quit.

it's so easy to hate the four characters. so easy to agree and disagree with them all. and so easy laugh at them all. but then, isn't that always the case when one watches a comedy of manners? we laugh because what we see on stage is true, we laugh because the ones we see onstage are us.

the way we are
it is because of this relatability to the characters--while it would be easy to describe the characteristics that define them (alan is a snarky, brutish lawyer. veronica is an arrogant, self-righteous writer. michael is a passive-aggressive business owner and macho man-wannabe. annette is, well, she's drunk.)--that we are led to think about how much of the way we describe these characters, and who we side with during the play, is ultimately a reflection (and admission?) of the way we see things, the way we think, the way we are.

because in this play, as the characters espouse, expound and then skewer their opinions of each other, themselves, and the world, we're not sure who to like or hate anymore towards the end.  is the laywer really snarky? or he's just telling it like it is? is the writer really self-righteous? or is she really right? (you realize midway that the evening, really, is a conversation between these two and the other two are just kind of comic relief.)

reza lets her characters touch on notions of (springing from the dialogue about teeth) veneers and exposed nerves. the roles we are expected to play out in public versus what we really think and feel, the way we see things and the way other people see us, and how big (like that wall installation) these roles can become if we let them.

shenanigans
in this living room, we bear witness to reza's contemplations and iterations on class versus classy, of stereotypes and archetypes and the immovable truths beneath them, of gender roles, of marital roles, of parenting roles, of nice guys/gals and assholes.  reza's lines and ideas, from desserts to lethal medications, from fights in a playground close by to genocide in a land far away, at turns, magnify the inconsequential and trivialize the important, and questions everything in between.

in these arguments reza has constructed, she builds momentum and suspense, and then constantly interrupts the proceedings in order to set up another round. the elliptical looping allows us to see more onstage comedy, and it's also purposefully telling us, oh so slyly, that this is the kind of circular, unending ridiculousness we seem to be trapped in, by choice or circumstance, in our lives. ("and we'll do it all again," sings the black eyed peas.)

the evening goes on and we laugh at the shenanigans on stage. then reza drops the bomb with a poignant scene that makes the characters (and, okay, maybe us, the audience, too) realize that, when the god of carnage pays us a visit, no matter what it is you're fighting about and how you're going on about it, the worth of the fight notwithstanding, sometimes you need remember why you're fighting and/or who you're fighting for in the first place.  and before the scene crosses the line into melodrama, reza knocks it out it with a final punchline. and it sure packs a funny and ironic wallop.


atlatnis productions and singapore repertory theatre's "god of carnage" runs in singapore nov. 6-18, 2012 at dbs arts centre, 20 merbau road, singapore. tickets available at sistic.com.sg

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Dulaang Kalay's "The Woman in Black" Aug. 31, 2012

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Announcement from Dulaang Kalay
Jeremy Domingo


Dulaang Kalay
the student theatre organization of Kalayaan College
presents

The Woman In Black
adapted by Stephen Mallatratt
from the book by Susan Hill

August 31, 2012
Teatrino Theater, Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan City.

One of London's longest-running plays and one of the world's very few horror stories told on stage, "The Woman In Black" tells the tragic story of Arthur Kipps through a performance with his hired Actor.

As they re-enact the strange occurrences during Kipps' short stay in Eel Marsh House, they soon discover that a malevolent figure refuses to be exorcised and has returned to haunt them.

Susan Hill's book was adapted into a horror/thriller film in 2012 starring Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter).


Reb Atadero
Cast:
Jeremy Domingo as Arthur Kipps
Reb Atadero as Actor

Director: William Elvin Manzano
Original Music: Janine Santos
Lighting Design: Meliton Roxas
Sound Design: Alden Acosta
Technical Direction: Nina Bedruz
Set Decoration: Nissi Gatan

Contact 0905-428-3371 or dulaangkalayaan@gmail.com.

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Gantimpala Theater's "Florante at Laura" July 29-Aug 19, 2012

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Announcement from Gantimpala Theater

Yutaka Yamakawa as Florante with Vera Capiral as Laura
Gantimpala Theater
for its 35th season (2012-2013)
presents

Florante at Laura

From the awit of Francisco Balagtas
Adapted by Bonifacio Ilagan

Directed by Roeder Camañag

Florante: Yutaka Yamakawa and Al Gatmaitan
Laura: Vera Capiral
Adolfo: Arkin Da Silva

Yamakawa, Capiral and Da Silva are members of Gantimpala Theater’s Actors Company.

“Florante is a soldier, son and lover,”  Yutaka Yamakawa says of his role. “He loves Albania, his family, Duke Briseo and Reyna Floresca and, of course, the love of his life, Laura. Every thing he does is dictated by passion.”


TV audiences know of Yamakawa as the lead in last year’s popular McDonald’s "Sundae Date" commercial. He is a home-grown Gantimpala Theater talent whose training as a GTF Summer Drama Workshop participant has enabled him to pursue an active and exciting career in film and television.


Yutaka has also given life to interesting TV characters such as Jake Cuenca’s co-lieutenant (“Tayong Dalawa”), as the villainous Gadang (“Amaya”), Ka Elias (“Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin”) and characters in shows like “Precious Hearts Romances (Somewhere in My Heart),” “Magkano ang Iyong Dangal,” “Endless Love,” and “Stairway to Heaven.”

Recent TV roles include Sir Diego (“Princess and I”), a hit-and-run driver in “Hiram na Puso,” and Christine Reyes’ suitor in “Nang Dahil Sa Pag-Ibig.” For film, he was seen in “Born To Love You,” “Working Girls,” “Dekada 70,” “Corporal Histories,” “Heremias,” and the upcoming “The Reunion.”

“It was the late Tony Espejo, artistic director of Gantimpala Theater, who gave me the break in 'Wanted: A Chaperone,' he was my mentor. He prodded me to attend the workshop. Now, I am proud member of the GT Actors’ Company,” Yamakawa shares.

This versatile and handsome young actor has appeared in various Gantimpala productions, essaying a variety of roles in plays such as “Kanser” (as Padre Salvi), “El Filibusterismo” (Juanito/Padre Irene), and “Bombita” (de Lara). He was also part of “Ibong Adarna,” “Walang Iwanan,” and “Grethology.”

This season, he returns to his mother company as the lead in “Florante at Laura” after playing Menandro and Aladin in previous seasons.

Bringing in the romance factor is Vera Capiral, who essays the role of Laura. “She is young, innocent, and the love she has for Florante is deeper, the feelings intense and I think more advance for her age.”


“Even if the characters never actually kiss, audiences will really feel the tenderness and romance that the couple shares,” Capiral adds. “To make it all realistic, all I need is look at Yutaka or Al with a lot of love, I should not fake it, since the feelings are coming from my heart.”

Choreography: Ian de Leon
Music design: Toni Muñoz
Costume design: Jose Jeffrey Camañag
Set design: Joey de Guzman
Lighting design: Andy Villareal
Video design: Meyo de Jesus

This production of Florante at Laura is fully supported by the National Parks Development Committee (NPDC) and Everbilena.


July 29 (7pm)
Concert at the Park Open Auditorium, Luneta, Manila

August 3, 4 and 5 (9am/12pm/3pm)
Armed Forces of the Philippines Theater, Quezon City

August 10, 11 and 12 (9am/12nn/3pm)
Star Theater, Star City Compound, Pasay City

August 17, 18 and 19, (11am/2pm)
Cinema 3, SM South Mall, Las Piñas City

Contact 9985622. Visit gantimpalatheater.multiply.com. Like www.facebook.com/gantimpala.

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Campus theater groups bare 2012-2013 lineup

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Yay! My article on the 2012-2013 season line-ups of Dulaang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas and Harlequin Theater Guild was published in Philippine Daily Inquirer's July 23, 2012 issue.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/iwroteit/message/365

Campus theater groups bare 2012-2013 lineup
By Walter Ang

Noli Me Tangere: The Opera
For its 37th season, Dulaang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas opens with a restaging of last season’s “Noli Me Tangere: The Opera,” a retelling of José Rizal’s novel with music composed by National Artist for Music Felipe Padilla de Leon and libretto by National Artist for Visual Arts Guillermo Tolentino.

Directed by DUP artistic director Alexander Cortez with music direction by Camille Lopez Molina, “Noli” opened July 18 and runs until Aug. 12. It serves as DUP’s tribute to Padilla de Leon’s birth centennial.

This is followed by Anton Chekhov’s “The Seagull/Ang Tagak,” Sept. 19-Oct. 7. “The play is an intimate study of unrequited love and human folly,” says Cortez.

Directed by Tony Mabesa, the play will have English performances using David Mamet’s translation and Filipino performances using National Artist for Theater Rolando Tinio’s translation.

Umaaraw, Umuulan Kinakasal ang Tikbalang
Meanwhile, UP Playwright’s Theater, DUP’s series that stages new works by Filipino playwrights, will restage its children’s play from last season, “Umaaraw, Umuulan Kinakasal ang Tikbalang,” on Nov. 21-Dec. 9.

“This play is a reminder of the richness of our folk literature and the importance of taking care of the environment,” says Cortez.

The play is adapted by Rody Vera from Inquirer contributing writer Gilda Cordero Fernando’s children’s short story “The Magic Circle” (serialized in PDI’s Learning Section in 2009) with direction by José Estrella.

The season concludes with the world premiere of Floy Quintos’ “Collection,” a black comedy about fashion and art. To be directed by Dexter Santos, the play runs Feb. 13-Mar. 3, 2013.

Dulaang UP is under the University of the Philippines’ Department of Speech Communication and Theater Arts, which offers certificate and degree programs in Theater Arts. The group also stages its students’ thesis productions under its Dulaang Laboratoryo series throughout the year.

All productions will be staged at Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater, Palma Hall, University of the Philippines, Quezon City. (Call tel. 9261349, 9818500 loc. 2449 or 4337840.)

Harlequin Theater Guild
Si Tonying at ang Mahiwagang Aklat ng Kasaysayan
De La Salle University’s Harlequin Theater Guild opens its 46th season in August with “DuLa Salle,” its annual festival of plays. This year’s “DuLa Salle” will feature the staging of four plays based on short stories by Genaro Gojo-Cruz in one show.

“Two of the plays portray the hardships and struggles of an employee, while the other two depict life on the streets. This production will dwell mostly on social problems existing in our country,” says HTG artistic director Romualdo “Raffy” Tejada.

In October, the group will restage last season’s “Si Tonying at ang Mahiwagang Aklat ng Kasaysayan” by José Victor Torres, a play about a young boy’s quest to fix history after it has been mixed up.

The season concludes in March 2013 with HTG’s staging of “The Sky over Dimas,” adapted by Tim Dacanay from the novel by Vicente Groyon, about Rafael Torrecarion’s return to his hometown in Negros Occidental and the “web of long-buried secrets that preserve and threaten the foundations of his family.”

Productions will be staged at venues in De La Salle University, Manila. (Call tel. 0917-8062891 or harlequintheatreguild@gmail.com.)

Also published online:
http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/58711/campus-theater-groups-bare-2012-2013-lineup

What do you think of these line-ups? Share your comments.

Dulaang Filipino's "Touched Moved" July 24-27, 2012

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Dulaang Filipino
presents

Touched Moved
A twinbill featuring
By a Lady
and
Stars Walking Down the Same Carpet

July 24, 25, 26 and 27, 2012
1pm and 7pm

Augusto-Rosario-Gonzalez Theater
5th flr., Mutien Marie Hall,
De La Salle College of St. Benilde Taft Campus
2544 Taft Ave., Malate, Manila

By A Lady
By Ma Castro
Five men are struggling to convince Jane Austen to get married. Each man holds a truth about Jane in them; each one also represents a frustration of the writer: family, money, sex, marriage and love. 

Stars Walking Down the Same Carpet
An adaptation of Allan Ball's "Five Women Wearing The Same Dress" written by Russell Legaspi
A group of female celebrities get together in one unfashionable and controversial wedding ceremony. During a grandiose wedding reception of a celebrity, five bridesmaids lock themselves up in a dressing room, each with her own reason to avoid the said festivities at all costs.

Directed by Riki Benedicto
Music by Ling Lava
Choreography by Xandrino Mangunay
Costume Design by James Reyes, Via Tantoco, Eloisa Garay


Contact 526 7441 loc 256, 168 or 0905-346-5791.


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Philippine Educational Theater Association's "William" rerun July 27-29, 2012

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Announcement from Philippine Educational Theater Association

Philippine Educational Theater Association
presents

William

One-weekend rerun
July 27-29
Peta Theater Center

"William" attempts to familiarize young people with the beauty of Shakespeare's works through rap and hip-hop.  It premiered in 2011 as a primer for high school students who may fear Shakespeare or may not know the Bard at all.

"William" won seven top prizes at the 2011 Philstage Gawad Buhay! awarding ceremonies, including Outstanding Play, Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Play, Outstanding Original Script for Ron Capinding, and Outstanding Stage Direction for PETA artistic director Maribel Legarda.

It also bagged most of the acting awards, namely Outstanding Male Lead Performance for Ian Segarra, Outstanding Female Featured Performance for Meann Espinosa and Outstanding Male Featured Performance for Jojo Atienza.

Director Maribel Legarda shared that the play's concept came from FlipTop, a Pinoy rap battle league known across the country. "In many ways," Legarda said "rap is poetry."

"I brought in rap and hip-hop as the contemporary voice and language of young people today. I hope that Shakespeare's poetry and today's rap find a point of conversation and evolve into engaging dialogue and drama," Legarda said.

The cast of "William" trained under a true Tondo rapper, Shielbert Manuel, a.k.a "O.G. Sacred" who appeared in the 2007 Cinemalaya Best Picture, "Tribu," an indie film by Jim Libiran.

The rap performances, choreographed by John Tan of the Urban Dance Crew, are topped with hip-hop moves like crumping and breakdance, while also adding ballroom and jazz hip-hop. "William" features ten original rap musical numbers composed by Jeff Hernandez.

"William" runs at The PETA Theater Center July 27-29, 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Contact 725-6244, 0917-5765400 or petatheater@gmail.com. Visit www.petatheater.com.

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Philippine Stagers Foundation's "Joe: A Filipino Rock'sical" July 21 onwards, 2012

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Announcement from Philippine Stagers Foundation


Philippine Stagers Foundation
presents

Joe
A Filipino Rock'sical

PSF’s latest offering this season is something that will rock the understanding of every Filipino about the country’s national hero Jose Rizal. Witness how a personal struggle can be reflective of a national inspiration like Rizal.

The production attempts to present and deconstruct the hero’s image and explore it, in order to fully understand history, the hero’s struggles, and how he really deserved to be the hero of young and old Filipinos.

"Joe is not the usual production that talks about Rizal," says playwright and director Vince Tañada.  "It's out attempt to make our audience think about our national hero as a human being and not as a monumental and god-like image."


Written and directed by Vince Tañada
Music by Pipo Cifra
Choreography by John San Antonio
Set design by Jeffrey Ambrosio
Costume design by Emy Tanada


July 21 Saturday 
8 am, 11 am, and 2 pm

July 22 Sunday 
8 am, 11 am, and 2 pm
St. Scholastica’s College
2560 Leon Guinto St., Malate, Manila City

July 29 Sunday
8 am, 11 am, and 2 pm
Tanghalang Pasigueno
(formerly Pasig City Convention Center)
Pasig City Hall Complex, Caruncho Ave., Pasig City


August 4-5 Sat-Sun
8am, 11am, 2pm, and 5pm
Cinema 9, SM North Edsa 

August 7-9 Tues-Thurs
8am, 11am, and 2pm
Dagupan Convention Center, Pangasinan

August 11 Sat
8am, 11am, and 2pm
Teatro Marikina

August 12 
8am, 11am, 2pm, and 4pm
Cinema 1, SM Centerpoint Sta. Mesa

August 18-19 and 25-26
8am, 11am, and 2pm
Cinema 9, SM North Edsa

Contact  +63927-391-3447.

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Co.Erasga's "Paradis/Paraiso" July 27, 2012

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Announcement from Co.Erasga Dance Company


Fil-Canadian dancer Alvin Tolentino stages "Paradis/Paraiso" on July 27

Filipino-Canadian choreographer and dance artist Alvin Erasga Tolentino will perform his critically-acclaimed solo dance piece "Paradis/Paraiso" in Manila on July 27, 2012.

Performing with Tolentino is French noise musician-composer Emmanuel Mailly.  "Paradis/Paraiso" has been performed across Canada, France and Italy.

For this piece, Tolentino explores the "idea of paradise as an environment, or as a utopian place."

"I decided to live the idea of paradise through my body, the idea of being able to see, to hear, to touch, and to taste all of these different paradises-of being really aware of my perception, my own feelings. I guess paradise lives inside of me. It's in my own body.  As a dancer, finding a way to express that is this piece."

Tolentino last performed in the Philippines back in 2007 when he toured his solo piece "Field: Rice is the belly of man" across the country.  He has also choreographed for Ballet Philippines.

Born in the Philippines and raised in Canada, Tolentino founded Co.Erasga Dance Company in 2000 in Vancouver.  Co.Erasga's works address themes of identity and ethnicity in a global context through contemporary dance.  The company has presented work across Canada and in festivals and venues as far as Scotland, France, Italy, Belgium, Singapore, Venezuela and most recently in Germany and Uruguay.

Trailer:


"Paradis/Paraiso" runs July 27, 2012 Friday 2PM and 7PM at De La Salle College of St. Benilde Blackbox Theater, 6th floor, De La Salle College of St. Benilde School of Design and Arts Campus Building, 950 Pablo Ocampo St. (formerly Vito Cruz), Malate, Manila.  For tickets, please call 536-6752 loc. 113 or 0906-294-3895.

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The Actors' Repertory Theater's "Antony and Cleopatra" Aug. 18, 2012

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The Actors' Repertory Theater
presents

William Shakespeare's
Antony and Cleopatra

August 18, 2012 , Saturday 9AM and 1PM
Batangas State University Gymnasium (Main Campus), Batangas City

Direction, production design, and Tagalog translation and adaptation by Edith Mandigma

Antony: AJ Dee
Cleopatra: Genevie Palileo
Octavius Caesar: Migui Moreno

Lighting design: Darwin Losing
Sound design: Marty Leganson

Contact http://www.facebook.com/groups/123671221023765/

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July kicks off Ateneo theater groups' 2012-2013 line-up

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Yay! My article on the 2012-2013 season line-ups of two Ateneo De Manila University theater groups was finally published in Philippine Daily Inquirer's July 16, 2012 issue.  The editors changed the title to ‘Romeo and Juliet’ in Tagalog by Rolando Tinio goes on stage.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/iwroteit/message/364
July kicks off Ateneo theater groups' 2012-2013 line-up
By Walter Ang

Sintang Dalisay
Two student theater groups of Ateneo de Manila University announce their season line-ups for schoolyear 2012-2013.

Tanghalang Ateneo opens its 34th season in August with a restaging of "Sintang Dalisay," an awit (metrical romance poetry using dodesyllabic or 12-syllable verse) version of William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" using translations by G.D. Roke and National Artist for Literature Rolando Tinio.

Romeo and Juliet are now Rashiddin and Jamila, star-crossed lovers living in Sempurna, a fictional Islamic community, and fleeing from family and the law to keep their love alive.

Directed by TA artistic director Ricky Abad, the production uses igal, a traditional dance of the indigenous Sama-Bajau people of Mindanao, as its movement and choreography motif.

Sets and costumes designed by National Artist for Theater Design Salvador Bernal, with this production being one of the last works completed by Bernal before his demise last year.

International
Before its Manila run, the group will perform "Sintang Dalisay" in Minsk, Belarus for the 9th World Congress of the International University Theater Association.  After its run in Manila, there are plans to tour the production in Naga and Baguio, as well as Sarawak, Borneo. "Funds permitting," says Abad.

The group has been invited to perform Suzue Toshiro's "Fireflies," which it staged for its previous season, for the Asia-Pacific Festival of Theater Schools in Taipei in August.

The play, about several characters are on a lonely search for connection and compassion in contemporary Japanese society, is directed by Abad and BJ Crisostomo using the English translation by David Goodman.

In September, TA will stage "4Play," a showcase of directorial works by four recent graduates of the university's Bachelor of Fine Arts Major in Theater Arts (which has concentrations in disciplines such as acting, directing or production design).

The production will feature "Bubbled," a devised work based on Japanese author Haruki Murakami's short story "Silence;" an adaptation of Christopher Durang "An Actor's Nightmare"; "Untitled," an improvisational concept piece based on Jackson Pollock's paintings; and B.J. Crisostomo's allegory "Penitensiya."

The season concludes in January 2013 with the group's staging of "The Conference of the Birds," a play based on a Persian poem.  To be directed by Ron Capdinding, the play is about a nation of birds facing a crisis and learning to conquer the fear that almost ruined their beloved country.

Entablado
From a previous staging of
Ang Sistema ni Propesor Tuko.
Image from the Interwebs.
Ateneo Enterteyment para sa Tao, Bayan, Lansangan at Diyos (Entablado) opens its 30th season in July with a twinbill of Tomas Remigio's "Mga Santong Tao" and Al Santos' "Ang Sistema ni Propesor Tuko," both comedies.

"'Ang Sistema' is about Professor Tuko's decrepit teaching methods and how his students put a stop to his authoritarian methods," says Entablado artistic director Jethro Tenorio.  "'Santong Tao' is about how Titay outsmarts three powerful suitors."

Directed by Richard "Morny" de Guzman, production design by Martin Malabanan, and lights design by Miyo Sta. Maria.

In January 2013, the group will stage the Ilonggo epic "Labaw Donggon" adapted by Nicanor Tiongson and to be directed by Jerry Respeto.

"This is actually a fragment of a much longer epic 'Hinilawod,'" says Tenorio.  "The hero Labaw Donggon journeys to finding his maiden and battles Saragnayan, the Keeper of Light."

Their season concludes with a street theater festival in February 2013.  The festival will feature a competition between different organizations from inside and outside the university focused on creating plays based on the advocacy in the form Street Theater.

For Tanghalang Ateneo, contact 426-6001 loc. 5427, 0917-856-0787.  For Entablado, contact 0917-829-1714 or ateneoentablado@yahoo.com.

Also published online:
http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/57731/%E2%80%98romeo-and-juliet%E2%80%99-in-tagalog-by-rolando-tinio-goes-on-stage

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Concertus' "Potted Potter" Aug 28-Sept 2, 2012

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Announcement from Concertus Entertainment Production Company

Concertus
presents

Potted Potter
The Unauthorized Harry Experience
A Parody by Dan and Jeff

Aug 28-Sept 2, 2012
Carlos Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza Bldg., Ayala Ave., Makati City


All Seven Harry Potter Books in Seventy Hilarious Minutes!
Playing to sold-out houses all over the world, "Potted Potter" condenses all seven Harry Potter books (and a real life game of Quidditch) into seventy hilarious minutes.

The show features all your favorite characters, a special appearance from a fire-breathing dragon, endless costumes, brilliant songs, ridiculous props and a generous helping of Hogwarts magic!

Created by Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner, the show is a must-see for Potter addicts and a great introduction to the series for anyone who's ever wondered what all the fuss is about.  Even if you don't know the difference between a Horcrux and a Hufflepuff, "Potted Potter" will make you roar with laughter. This brilliant family entertainment is perfect for ages six to Dumbledore (who is very old indeed).

Clarkson and Turner first created the show in 2005 for an appearance at a London bookshop, as a five-minute entertainment for fans awaiting the release of the sixth book in the series.  The show grew from there into a full-length stage production, first seen at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2006, and has since toured internationally, including sell-out seasons at the Adelaide Fringe, Melbourne Comedy Festival and New Zealand Comedy Festival in 2009.

"Potted Potter" has played to sold-out houses in Toronto, London and Edinburgh, and has just started its debut season in New York City.  It was a 2012 Olivier Award Nominee for Best Entertainment & Family Show.

Written by Daniel Clarkson & Jefferson Turner
Performed by Jesse Briton & Gary Trainor
Direction and additional material by Richard Hurst
Associate direction by Hanna Berrigan
Set design by Simon Scullion
Lighting design by Tim Mascall
Music composed by Phil Innes

Here's the trailer:

"Like" Potted Potter Manila in Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pottedpottermanila) and follow on Twitter (#pottedpottermanila).

Contact bambi@concertusmanila.com, 403-8678, 0917-537-0539 or Ticketworld at 891-9999. Tickets also available at TicketWorld's Facebook Fan Page using TicketWorld's BarkadaTix http://www.facebook.com/ticketworldmanila
                      
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Vito Cruz Project's "La Malade Imaginaire" Aug 15-25, 2012

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Vito Cruz Project
presents

Moliere's
La Malade Imaginaire
(The Imaginary Invalid)
A thesis production of the graduating students of the Production Design and Technical Theater programs 

Directed by George de Jesus III

Synopsis
Hypochondria, pomposity, and pretension gets an imaginative cure that will make you laugh like crazy.

Le Malade Imaginaire tells the story of Argan, a rich miserly hypochondriac wishing to have constant medical attention for free, decides to marry his daughter, Angelique to Thomas Diafoirus, a boring young doctor from a family of doctors. But Angelique, in love with another young man named Cleante, rejects the plan of his father. Hilarity ensues as Angelique, Cleante, Argan’s maid, Toinette and Argan's sibling, Beralde, all try to change Argan’s mind and expose the manipulations of his new wife, Beline.

Two stagings
Two versions of Le Malade Imaginaire will be staged. In both versions, imagination is presented both as a destructive force resulting in pretension, prejudice, and selfishness and as a creative stimulus that engenders love, care, and honesty.

August 15, 17 and 18
The first version adheres to the classical tradition of the Commedia Dell’arte, a theatrical form that originated in Italy and became popular in Europe in the 15th century. Commedia Dell’arte is the form that Moliere used in his plays and is characterized by physical comedy, improvisation, stock characters and the use of masks.

August 22, 24 and 25
The second version is a modern adaptation, "Le Praning Du Sining," written by George de Jesus III and set in an imagined hyper-real and cartoon-like theater world, the adaptation pokes fun at the pomposity of art and artists, and takes pot shots at everything from the travails theater companies, the artistry of indie films, the vanity of artists, the spurious scribbling of bloggers, the popularity of Broadway musicales and even the writer himself.

The adaptation transforms Argan from a hypochondriac miser to a neurotic, paranoid and overly stressed artistic director named Arman.  Fueled by his paranoia and imagined troubles of their theater company, he decides to cast a showbiz personality/indie film actor Tom Toledo in the lead role of the play (a contemporary adaptation of Moliere’s Imaginary Invalid) of their resident playwright, Angeli. But Angeli, who wrote the lead role for theater actor, Clint, rejects the artistic vision of Arman. In the ensuing artistic differences and arguments, Angeli collaborates with the resident stage manager, Toni and the dramaturg, Vera to convince Arman to rethink his vision for the play and the theater company. Adding to the hilarity is the manipulations of the resident diva actress, Belinda, who desires a new lighting system so that she can still play ingénue roles even if she’s already in her 50’s.

Cast
Joel Saracho as Arman
Reuben Uy as Argan

Venue:
De La Salle College of St. Benilde School of Design & Arts Theater,
5th floor De La Salle College of St. Benilde School of Design & Arts Building,
950 Pablo Ocampo St. (formerly Vito Cruz St.), Malate, Manila

About the group
Vito Cruz Project is under De La Salle College of St. Benilde's School of Design and Arts.  It stages the thesis productions of students taking Production Design and Technical Theater programs.

Contact 0917-502-0531 or thevitocruzproject@gmail.com

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Concertus' "The Phantom of the Opera" Aug. 25-Sept. 16, 2012

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Announcement from Concertus Entertainment Production Company

Concertus
presents

Andrew Lloyd Webber's
The Phantom of the Opera

Aug. 25-Sept. 30, 2012
Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo
(Nicanor Abelardo Theater),
Cultural Center of the Philippines


Based on the novel "Le Fantome De L'Opera" by Gaston Leroux, "Phantom" tells the story of a disfigured musical genius known only as "The Phantom" who haunts the Paris Opera House.  Mesmerized by the talents and beauty of young soprano Christine, the Phantom lures her as his protégé and falls fiercely in love with her.  Unaware of Christine's love for Raoul, The Phantom's obsession sets the scene for a dramatic turn of events where jealousy, madness and passions collide.

With 130 cast, crew and orchestra members, jaw-dropping scenery, breathtaking special effects, and more than 230 costumes, the show contains some of Andrew Lloyd Webber's most famous and stirring music, including "The Phantom of the Opera" and "Music of the Night".  

Webber's critically acclaimed masterpiece celebrated its 25th anniversary on the West End stage last year, and continues to play to full houses nightly in London, New York and around the world.  The timeless, romantic and much-loved musical has won seven Tony Awards, among them the Tony for Best Musical, seven Drama Desk Awards and three Olivier Awards.

"This touring production of 'Phantom' is as fine as any version you might see on the West End or Broadway," said show producer Tim McFarlane, Managing Director of The Really Useful Company Asia Pacific. 

"It is the same superb design, and we invest a great deal to ensure it is of the highest standards.  Our stellar cast assembles the industry's best performers, with members coming from the UK, USA, Australia and South Africa to join forces."

The Manila touring production is produced by Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, David Atkins Enterprises, Hi-Definition Radio Inc. and Concertus in association with The Really Useful Group.

Contact 0917-537-0539, 0920-927-7188, 403-8646, bambi@concertusmanila.com or Ticketworld at 891-9999 or www.ticketworld.com.ph.

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Wifi Body Independent Contemporary Dance Festival 2012

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Yay! My article on the 2012 Wifi Body Independent Contemporary Dance Festival was finally published in Philippine Daily Inquirer's July 9, 2012 issue.  The festival started on July 4 and I submitted the piece for the July 2 issue but they didn't have enough space to run the piece then. All's well that end's well, they used it for this week's issue.

The published version, both in print and online, is a slightly different version from the one below as I had to convert some of the information into past tense.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/iwroteit/message/363
Wifi Body Independent Contemporary Dance Festival 2012
By Walter Ang

Performance from previous Wifi Body
Independent Contemporary Dance Festival
The sixth Wifi Body Independent Contemporary Dance Festival will be held in two cities across Metro Manila: Dance Forum Space (DFS) and University of the Philippines (UP) in Quezon City and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in Pasay City.

The festival gathers contemporary dance artists and audiences in a series of performances, workshops and competitions.  This year will also feature a conference for dance scholars.

The festival is organized by Contemporary Dance Network Manila, a group of contemporary dance companies, artists, school-based organizations, critics and institutions promoting contemporary dance in the Philippines.

"This year's theme is 'Aspire for Dance, Aspire to Dance.'," says network chair Angela Lawenko-Baguilat. Baguilat is also festival artistic director, taking over from founding artistic director Myra Beltran.

The name of the festival was created based on the notion of "engaging the public, especially younger audiences, weaned in a digital age. Wifi Body allows everyone to access contemporary dance," she says.

Performances
The festival opens with an opening gala, "New Aspirations," at DFS on July 4, featuring performances by Airdance, Chameleon Dance Theater, E-Dance, UP Dance Company, and Lyceum of the Philippines University.

The festival's "IndepenDance" show, focusing on new works, features choreographies by Jed Amihan, Rudolph Segundo ,Jun Saagundo,Ea Torrado in its July 6 DFS show and the works of Elena Laniog, and Christine Crame in its July 13 CCP show.

The festival closes on July 14 with closing gala "Fidelity" at Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino in CCP, with performances from Steps Dance Studio, Seven Dance Company, Philippine Ballet Theater, and Ballet Philippines.

Competition
The festival has a New Choreographers Competition that allows up-and-coming regional choreographers and dancers who have not yet created any major full-length work to premiere solos or duets.

The semi-finals will be held at DFS July 5 and finals at CCP July 14.

"To reinforce the focus on choreography, no set pieces are allowed to enable audiences and judges to experience the emphasis on the level of dance research in theme, aesthetics, process and its innovative application."

On screen, online, on site
The festival is hosting its third Uncensored Bodies Dance Video Competition to encourage the use of dance in film or the creation of film specifically about dance.

Selected entries will be screened at UP College of Music Mini-Hall and CCP.  The winners of the competition will be announced on July 14.

"Finalist entries will also be uploaded on Youtube so that the Audience Choice Award can be determined via online voting."

There will also be the festival's Dance-on-Site series, performances that are created for non-stage venues or areas.  Previous installments have been performed on escalators, roof decks and driveway ramps of CCP. This year's performances will be held at the lobby of CCP's Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino.

Workshops, conferences
Dance workshops and a conference open to the public will be held at UP.  "UP College of Music has been home to the premiere dance program in the country, nurturing and producing dance leaders for over three decades," says Baguilat, faculty-in-charge of the dance program.

The Wifi Body Conference will be held from July 5-6 at the UP College of Music Mini-Hall with keynote address to be delivered by Basilio Esteban Villaruz, professor emeritus at UP and author of "Walking Through Philippine Theater" (University of Santo Tomas Publishing House, 2012), a three-volume collection of his dance and theater critiques.

"The conference aims to unearth what current dance makers are aspiring to and aspiring for in creating and understanding their art. It will be a platform for dance scholars and practitioners to raise and exchange prevailing issues and concerns of contemporary dance practice."

Papers will be presented by Jose Jay Cruz, Transitopia Contemporary Dance Commune artistic director; Donna Miranda, choreographer and critic; Noel Garovillo, Noel Garovillo Dance Center artistic director, Koronadal; Cher Anabo, freelance visual and kinetic artist, Honolulu; Clarissa Cecilia Mijares, critic and Airdance artist; Joelle Jacinto, critic and Team Dance Studio artist.

Contemporary Dance Workshops will be at the UP Dance Studio July 4-6.  Workshops will be conducted by Donna Miranda, Raul Alcoseba and Gerald Mercado.

Wifi Body Independent Contemporary Dance Festival 6 (2012) runs July 4-6 and July 13-14. Festival passes, day passes and student/senior discounts available. Contact 0917-328-2582 or 0999-881-6800.

Schedule here.

Published online:
http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/56656/wifi-contemporary-dance-fest-urges-everyone-%E2%80%98aspire-to-dance%E2%80%99

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FREE ADMISSION Artistang Artlets' "Supresion" July 17-19, 2012

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Announcement from Artisang Artlets

Artistang Artlets
the Official Theater Guild
of the Faculty of Arts and Letters 
of the University of Santo Tomas
presents

“Supresion”

A twinbill featuring
20 Questions
By Juan Ekis
Directed by Joyce Kristel Pancho
and 
Trabaho Soliloquies
By Ned Trespeces
Directed by John Wilxander Peralta

July 17, 18 and 19, 2012
10am, 1pm, 3pm
Civil Law Auditorium, Main Building, University of Santo Tomas, Espana Blvd., Manila.

FREE ADMISSION

20 Questions
May tradisyon ang barkada nila Jigs at Yumi na minsan sa isang taon, isang babae at isang lalaki ang 'bubunutin' para magsama saloob ng isang kwarto sa loob ng tatlong araw, bawal lumabas malibanka pagkakain. Gawang pagkabagot, naisipan ni Jigs na maglaro silang 20 questions; palit-palitansilang magtatanong ng kahit na ano sa isa't-isa, bawal umulit ng tanong, bawal magsinungaling.

Trabajo Soliloques
Iba’t-ibang pinanggaligan, pero iisa ang kailagan. Sapat na bang dahilan ang sex para magkatrabaho? Mas importante ba ang pamasahe kaysa almusal? 

This show is part of the group's 32nd season (2012-2013).
Artisang Artlets artistic director: Sherina Inza-Cruz
Lights head: Jerome Ladan 
Music head: Tiara Corullo

Contact artistangartlets_official@yahoo.com or 0917-555-6231.


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Auditions for Shaharazade's "Drafts" July 5, 2012

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Announcement from Shaharazade

Shaharazade
is holding

AUDITIONS
for its production of

"Drafts: Works in Process"

July 5, 2012
6pm-9pm
Rm 312, Gonzaga Hall, Ateneo De Manila University, Katipunan Ave., Quezon City

Cast will be announced on July 7, 2012.
Shows will be in August 2012.

Shaharazade is headed by BJ Crisostomo, Laura Cabochan, and Guelan Luarca.

Contact 0916-901-3454 or email we areshaharazade@gmail.com.


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Musicals about girls from London: Viva Forever and Matilda

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It's interesting to see two musicals about girls, created in London, catching buzz this year.

Viva Forever, a jukebox musical based on the songs of the Spice Girls.


From the award-winning writer and comedienne Jennifer Saunders (Absolutely Fabulous, French & Saunders), and Judy Craymer, producer of the worldwide smash-hit musical "Mamma Mia!" (the musical based on the music of Abba), comes "Viva Forever!," a wonderfully joyous contemporary musical about the value of friendship in the face of fame and fortune.


As one girl follows her dreams, "Viva Forever!" charts her journey into the world of overnight celebrity and its impact on her mother, and the friends she thought she'd have forever. From London to Spain and back again, as the world judges you, it's all about who you really are and who you want to be, whatever the cost.

Spice up your life with this exhilarating and irresistibly funny tale of love, loyalty and romance. An original story of our times, inspired by the songs of the Spice Girls, "Viva Forever!" hits all the high notes for a fabulous feel-good night out.

The musical is scheduled to open at the West End's Piccadilly Theatre in December 2012

The Spice Girls are a British pop girl group formed in 1994 that have sold over 75 million records worldwide.  In December 2000, the group unofficially announced that they were beginning an indefinite hiatus.  They reunited in 2007 for a reunion concert tour.


Matilda, the Musical, based on the book of the same title by Roald Dahl.

Produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company, the production had its world premiere in 2010 and premiered in London's West End last year.  The show won seven 2012 Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical--the most awards ever won by a single show.


The show uses three teams of child performers.  The four children who play the title role won the 2012 Olivier award for Best Actress in Musical. (The children who played Billy Elliot in the musical shared the 2006 Best Actor in a Musical.)

The RSC has announced the show will transfer to Broadway in Spring 2013.

Roald Dahl's much-loved story bursts into life on stage in this musical version by Dennis Kelly and award-winning musician and comedian Tim Minchin. Children and adults alike will be thrilled and delighted by the story of the special little girl with an extraordinary imagination.

Earlier version of the poster during the
show's first run, using illustrations by
Quentin Blake, the illustrator of the book.
Directed by Matthew Warchus, designed by Rob Howell, choreography by Peter Darling, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, musical supervision and orchestration by Christopher Nightingale, sound by Simon Baker and special effects and illusions are by Paul Kieve.

The book was made into a movie in 1996 directed by Danny DeVito and starring Mara Wilson as Matilda.

Roald Dahl wrote one play, "The Honeys," which ran on Broadway in 1955. It starred Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy, and Dorothy Stickney. The play is based on some of the stories from "Someone Like You" and revolves around two sisters who decide to murder their husbands.

The last big musical that RSC produced was "Les Misérables" by Claude-Michel Schoenberg and Alain Boublil directed by Trevor Nunn in 1985.

It also produced "Carrie: The Musical" adapted from Stephen King's novel "Carrie" in 1988, which was cited in Ken Mandelbaum's 1992 book "Not Since Carrie: Forty Years of Broadway Musical Flops."  Though "Carrie" has developed somewhat of a cult-following among campus productions and had a reworked version staged on Broadway earlier this year.


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Philippine Drama Company Sala Theater 2012 season line-up

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Yay! My article on the 2012 season line-up of  Philippine Drama Company  Sala Theater  was published in Philippine Daily Inquirer's July 2, 2012 issue.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/iwroteit/message/362
Sala Theater celebrates founder Naty Crame Rogers’ 90th birthday
By Walter Ang

Rehearsals for Panhik Ligaw
Philippine Drama Company  Sala Theater’s (PDCST) 27th season will celebrate the 90th birthday of its founder and artistic director Natividad “Naty” Crame- Rogers.

The season opens with “kaSALAn,” a twin-bill of comedies “Panhik Ligaw” and “Dahil sa Anak” on July 7-8.

“Panhik Ligaw,” directed by Gaby Castillo, is D. Habito’s adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s “The Marriage Proposal.”  


It features Entang, the comic maid of the wealthy Don Sebio, whose tough spinster daughter Talia is being wooed by Kadio, a sickly bachelor who has asthma.

“Dahil sa Anak,” by Julian Cruz Balmaceda and directed by Kenn Cayunda, is about the wealthy Don Arkimedes who is against his son Manuel’s marriage with Rita, a laundry woman’s daughter, despite them already having a child together. Manuel seeks help from his wise uncle Don Cristobal to sway his father’s decision, and from Rita’s strong-willed aunt, Aling Sidora.

The twinbill will be staged at Aming Tahanan Sala Theater, Rogers’ living room transformed into an informal performance area during productions.

In October, the group will stage National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin’s “Portrait of an Artist as Filipino,” about a pair of spinster sisters dealing with the changes in Old Manila just before World War II.

In December, the group will stage “Naty @ Ninety” to commemorate  Rogers’ continuing legacy to Philippine theater.

Rogers has been creating and teaching theater since her college days under National Artist for Theater Wilfrido Guerrero at University of the Philippines.  She taught at the Philippine Normal College (now Philippine Normal University) where she was part of National Artist for Theater Severino Montano’s Arena Theater. She founded PDCST after retiring from teaching.

Rogers has performed for National Artist for Theater Rolando Tinio’s Teatro Filipino and National  Artist for Film Lamberto Avellana’s Barangay Theater Guild.

Rogers wrote “Classical Forms of Theater in Asia,” published by UST Publishing House.

“kaSALAn” runs July 7-8, with shows at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., at the Aming Tahanan Sala Theater, 40 Stella Maris St., Bo. Kapitolyo, Pasig. Call 0917-5691439.

Also published online:
http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/55525/sala-theater-celebrates-founder-naty-crame-rogers%E2%80%99-90th-birthday

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Winners of 2011 Philstage Gawad Buhay!

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Here is the list of winners of the 2011 Gawad Buhay!, the Philstage Awards for the performing arts, announced during the ceremonies July 1, 2012 at the lobby of Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Nicanor Abelardo Theater), Cultural Center of the Philippines.  The 2011 set of awards marks the fourth year of the Gawad Buhay!

List of nominees and more information about the awards can be seen here.


Natatanging Gawad Buhay! (Lifetime Achievement Awards)
Baby Barredo
Nonoy Froilan
Rene Villanueva
Charley Dela Paz
Tony Fabella

OUTSTANDING PLAY
William (Philippine Educational Theater Association)

OUTSTANDING MUSICAL PRODUCTION
Care Divas (Peta)

OUTSTANDING CLASSICAL DANCE PRODUCTION
Swan Lake (Ballet Manila)

OUTSTANDING MODERN DANCE PRODUCTION
Encantada (Ballet Philippines)



OUTSTANDING STAGE DIRECTION
Anton Juan, The Joy Luck Club (Repertory Philippines)
Maribel Legarda, Care Divas (Peta)

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE (Play)
William (Peta)

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE (Musical)
Care Divas (Peta)

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE (Dance)
Encantada (BP)


OUTSTANDING FEMALE LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A PLAY
Marjorie Lorico, Nobyembre, Noong Akala Ko Mahal Kita (TP)

OUTSTANDING MALE LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A PLAY
Ian Segarra, William (Peta)

OUTSTANDING FEMALE FEATURED PERFORMANCE IN A PLAY
Me-Ann Espinosa, William (Peta)

OUTSTANDING MALE FEATURED PERFORMANCE IN A PLAY
Jojo Atienza, William (Peta)


OUTSTANDING FEMALE LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL
Cris Villonco, Nolie Me Tangere: The Musical (TP)

OUTSTANDING MALE LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL
Melvin Lee, Care Divas (Peta)

OUTSTANDING FEMALE FEATURED PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL
Pinky Amador, ZsaZsa Zaturnnah (TP)

OUTSTANDING MALE FEATURED PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL
Michael Williams, Peter Pan: A Musical Adventure (Rep)


OUTSTANDING FEMALE LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A CLASSICAL DANCE PRODUCTION
Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, Swan Lake (BM)

OUTSTANDING MALE LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A CLASSICAL DANCE PRODUCTION
Rudy De Dios, Swan Lake (BM)

OUTSTANDING FEMALE FEATURED PERFORMANCE IN A CLASSICAL DANCE PRODUCTION
Rita Winder, Sleeping Beauty (BP)

OUTSTANDING MALE FEATURED PERFORMANCE IN A CLASSICAL DANCE PRODUCTION
Jean Marc Cordero, Sleeping Beauty (BP)


OUTSTANDING FEMALE LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A MODERN DANCE PRODUCTION
Georgette Sanchez, Encantada (BP)

OUTSTANDING MALE LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A MODERN DANCE PRODUCTION
Rudy De Dios, Ang Prinsipe ng mga Ibon (BM)

OUTSTANDING FEMALE FEATURED PERFORMANCE IN A MODERN DANCE PRODUCTION
Carissa Adea, Encatada (BP)

OUTSTANDING FEATURED PERFORMANCE IN A MODERN DANCE PRODUCTION
Angel Gabriel, Every Woman (BP)


OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL SCRIPT
Ron Capinding, William (Peta)

OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL LIBRETTO
Lisa Magtoto and Vincent de Jesus, Care Divas (Peta)
Bienvenido Lumbera, Noli Me Tangere: The Musical (TP)

OUTSTANDING ADAPTATION OR TRANSLATION
Bienvenido Lumbera, Noli Me Tangere: The Musical (TP)


OUTSTANDING MUSICAL DIRECTION
Vincent de Jesus, Care Divas (Peta)

OUTSTANDING MUSICAL COMPOSITION
Joey Ayala, Encantada (BP)
Ryan Cayabyab, Noli Me Tangere: The Musical (TP)

OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY FOR A PLAY OR MUSICAL
Carlon Matobato, Care Divas (Peta)

OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY FOR A DANCE PRODUCTION
Agnes Locsin, Encantada (BP)


OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN
Salvador Bernal, Encantada (BP)

OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN
John Neil Batalla, Encantada (BP)

OUTSTANDING SOUND DESIGN
TJ Ramos, Encantada (BP)

OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN
Salvador Bernal, Encantada (BP)

List of 2010 winners can be seen here.

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