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QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES – After celebrating its golden anniversary and the milestone of receiving a Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2017, the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) welcomes its 51 st theater season with another breakthrough. From September 2018-June 2019, PETA devotes all aspects of its artistic and teaching practice to “Stage of the Nation”, a creative campaign that hopes to utilize the arts and engage artists to contribute to the discourses that concern our nation. PETA has always harnessed the power of the arts to capture the imagination, shape opinion and provoke feelings that could transform and affect change. “The arts, specially theater, can tell stories, make us understand history and our past. It can communicate and educate, bring people together, inspire and heal,” shares PETA executive director, Beng Cabangon in an interview. Given the political, economic and social challenges that have divided the country, PETA has dedicated all its performances,...

[MANILA, SEPTEMBER 2018] : After a successful season touring around the UK, MAMMA MIA! makes a triumphant return to Manila and opens this weekend at the Theatre at Solaire. The sensational feel-good musical will be running from 29 September as part of the show’s International Tour. Tickets are now on sale through Ticketworld. Described as ‘the sunniest of all musicals’ (Sunday Express, UK) and ‘ABBA-solutely fabulous’ (Bristol Post, UK), MAMMA MIA! is Judy Craymer’s ingenious vision of staging the story-telling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs with an enchanting tale of family and friendship unfolding on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter's quest to discover the identity of her father, brings three men from her mother's romantic past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago. “The perfect ticket for a feel-good night out!” The Daily Telegraph, UK The hugely successful International Tour has visited 85 cities across 38 countries and ...

How will the future be for man if artificial intelligence becomes more human? Find out what happens in the acclaimed futuristic drama “Marjorie Prime” when it opens September 26 in local (PH) cinemas. Very reminiscent of the Black Mirror series, critics are saying that it could be the series’ best-written episode yet, “Marjorie Prime” is based on a play (of the same title) by New York playwright Jordan Harrison, who had wanted to construct a play about artificial intelligence (AI) and inspired by Brian Christian’s 2011 book, “The Most Human Human: What Artificial Intelligence Teaches Us About Being Alive” which hypothesizes that computers will continue to get better at being human than humans. Adapting “Marjorie Prime” into a feature film is Michael Almereyda, who also directed and wrote the movie. The movie has already won 2017’s distinguished Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Award from Sundance Film Festival and a Best Supporting Actress for Lois Smith from the Satellite Awards....

Noted American playwright, screenwriter, and librettist David Henry Hwang who wrote the 1988 Tony Award for Best Play ‘M. BUTTERFLY’ (which is currently playing at Maybank Performing Arts Theater until September 30) is coming to Manila to conduct a strictly by invitation only “Master Class” on September 28 – 3 pm. Presented by Jhett Tolentino and Frontrow Entertainment, the David Henry Hwang Master Class will focus on Playwrighting. A master class is a class given to students of a particular discipline by an expert of that discipline — usually music, but also painting, drama, film, dance or any of the arts, or on any other occasion where skills are being developed. Tony and Grammy Award winner Jhett Tolentino will host the one-hour event to be attended by theater/drama students from select schools and universities; and noted personalities in Philippine theater industry. David Henry Hwang is probably best known for his Tony Award-winning play M. Butterfly, based on the true st...

As an alumna of the Theatre Arts program of UP Diliman who finished her Master of Fine Arts in the City University of New York and made herself a name with her performances in the prestigious Metropolitan Opera in the US as well as in the theatre scene in the Philippines, Dulaang UP’s new artistic director Banaue Miclat-Janssen wishes to acknowledge her roots and pay it forward to the next generation of theatre practitioners that Dulaang UP and the Theatre Arts program will produce. Part of Miclat-Janssen’s vision as the new artistic director of the theatre company is to strengthen the branding of Dulaang UP as a professional mentorship theatre where professional theatre practitioners guide and work closely with theatre students to continue the mission and legacy of Dulaang UP in contributing to the Philippine and world theatre. She also showed her support for UP Dulaang Laboratoryo under the Dulaang UP umbrella, where the golden productions Dekada 70s (Sitenta) by Pat Valera and ...

A ghostly apparition… a skeptical bishop… a brutal overlord… a dying man brought back from the brink of death. The amazing story of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patron Saint of the Philippines and the Americas, has been immortalized in an all-new musical premiering at 8:00 pm on September 28, 2018 at the Meralco Theater. The show runs until October 14,  Fridays through Sundays at 8:00 pm, with Saturday and Sunday matinées at 3:00 pm. Directed by Baby Barredo and produced by Julie Borromeo, theater legends both, the highly anticipated GUADALUPE: THE MUSICAL is based on the mysterious, world-changing events that occurred in 1531 in New Spain, or present-day Mexico. The all-original English-language musical, which was created by award-winning artists Joel Trinidad (book and lyrics) and Ejay Yatco (music), is a sweeping theatrical epic that uses history as a backdrop for a uniquely inspiring tale that will appeal to theater-lovers everywhere—regardless of their religious beliefs. ...

After almost 3 decades, RS Francisco reprises his role as the gender bending "Butterfly," Song Liling. M Butterfly is undoubtedly one of the most extravagant theater stagings that I have witnessed! Francisco proves that time has only made him better as an artist as he flawlessly floats from a feminine artist to a vengeful masculine punk. Pinky Amador's Helga also shines brilliantly alongside Olivier Borten's Rene Gallimard. To accentuate Ohm David's playful Japanese fans and Eric Pineda's beautiful costume design, John Batalla orchestrated perfect lighting for the whole show. M. Butterfly's run until Sptember 30 is perfect for this generation to get to know who Song Liling and Rene Gallimard are. The script has just enough flair to keep the new audience engaged while making those familiar with the story remember how great this Tony winner is. Get you tickets now as they are quickly running out! Each show is for the benefit of a chosen fo...

Antonio “Tony” Mabesa, founding artistic director and Professor Emeritus at the College of Arts and Letters in UP Diliman, marks his 70th year in the theatre industry this 2018. The esteemed director and actor has staged timeless classics over the years including Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero’s “Wanted: A Chaperone,” John Webster’s “The Duchess of Malfi,” and William Wycherley’s “The Country Wife.” With 170 productions under his belt, Mabesa has left an indelible mark on the industry, mentoring impeccable talents such as Shamaine Buencamino, Ces Quesada, Irma Adlawan, Frances Makil-Ignacio, Candy Pangilinan, Neil Ryan Sese, Andoy Ranay, RS Francisco, and current DUP artistic director, Banaue Miclat-Janssen. Now at 83, Mabesa continues to mentor the next generation of actors in Dulaang UP’s 43rd season opener, Luigi Pirandello’s “Six Characters in Search of an Author,” with a Filipino translation by Rody Vera, “Anim na Tauhang Naghahanap ng May-Akda.” The plays will run from Septem...

Honoris Causa given by the University of the Cordilleras (UC) during its 72nd Commencement Exercises held last August 24, 2018 in recognition of his contributions in the field of culture and arts. In his speech, Cabrera recalled being introduced to the region's rich culture in the 60's describing it as "truly original." He also noted the aesthetic qualities of the region's artworks which are presently showcased at the BenCab Museum. "As residents of these mountains and valleys, it is important that we acknowledge and respect this shared heritage [and] making sure that our environment is protected is equally important," Cabrera said. BenCab also underscored the importance of taking care of the environment which is among the advocacies of the BenCab Art Foundation.

Manila Wrestling Federation – the country’s fastest rising live sports, theatre and entertainment company – continues its “AksyoNovela” brand of professional wrestling for its rapidly growing audience with “MWF 4: Road to Fate”. Venue: Bahay ng Alumni at the University of the Philippines Diliman Campus on September 8, Saturday. Gates open at 6 PM. The explosive event will be headlined by a match of international proportions: MWF co-pioneer Mr. Lucha is scheduled to go one-on-one against his mentor, Singapore Pro Wrestling Southeast Asian Tag Team Champion The Eurasian Dragon. Eight Pinoy competitors will also fight to advance in the inaugural MWF Championship Tournament, including the high-flying Robin Sane, fan favorite Aldrin Richards, the enigmatic Ninja Ryujin and the street bully Fabio Makisig. The “Kapa-FEDs” will also be treated to MWF’s unique audio-visual presentations, highlighted by the ongoing short film series “Sagot Kita” featuring action hero Gig...

The Maningning Miclat Art Foundation, Inc. (MMAFI) in cooperation with District Gallery and Far Eastern University's President's Committee on Culture is all set to unveil its forthcoming art exhibit on September 4, 2018 – Tuesday -  5 pm at the Exhibit Hall, Nicanor Reyes Hall of Far Eastern Unviersity in Manila. The 2018 Maningning Miclat Art Award Exhibit-sale features The Top 18 Shortlisted Finalists from a total of 64 qualified entries received online. The artists and the title of their works are as follows: 1.       Andres M. Catig -  “Dinadalaw Na Naman Tayo Ng Kaluluwa ni Papa” 2.       Arvin Santos -  “Ordinary Day” 3.       Christine Capili -  “Tabula Rosa” 4.       Cyriel Cleope - “Peace” 5.       Cyrill Jan Mustera -  “Sinners” 6.       Deo Carlos Amarante -  “Longings of the Heart” 7.  ...

“I admire your actors. That gentleman there and that lady. But. Well. The truth is they’re certainly not us.” What could possibly happen when the characters of a play confront the actors portraying them? Luigi Pirandello’s answer to this question is a critique on the actor’s identity and the consequences of misrepresentation. These tensions underscore the conflicts in Pirandello’s, Six Characters in Search of an Author. In the play, while the Actors interpret the Characters’ drama, the Characters suddenly interrupt the scene and say that the Actors do not embody them in any way. Hence, the Actors’ portrayal of their drama may result to a misrepresentation of the Characters’ identities. This further manifests the larger theme of the play—the distinction between illusion and reality. Six Characters in Search of an Author invites the audience to witness a rehearsal process, and takes the audience on a journey of evaluating his/her perception of reality. Six Characters in Searc...

Photos from Atlantis Theatrical. August 31, 2018 was the opening night of #SideShowMNL and we were transported to the circus and through several Vaudeville sets as the story (stories?) of conjoined twins Daisy and Violet was told at the Carlos P. Romulo Theater at RCBC Plaza. As expected from every Atlantis show, the set and production design is top notch! Needless to say, this also describes how wonderful the costume design is as you see the freaks up close. Ensemble work is superb as they go through in and out of different roles without sacrificing excellence in acting. Prepare to be entertained! Come for the freaks but definitely stay for the wonderful voices of Gab Pangilinan and Kayla Rivera. From their first scene, to their last, the audience was consistently giving rounds of applause. There was no wonder the full house easily gave a standing ovation at the end of the show! Catch the freaks until September 23, 2018!