unSAULicited

by Gerone Baladhay Considered as one of the major gathering of improvisation artists/groups in the world, the Manila Improv Festival or MIF returns this year, tagging along very international and extremely entertaining performances from over 50 international groups including home-grown Filipino acts. Countries participating include improvisers and groups from Singapore, France, Spain, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Thailand, Australia, Colombia, Venezuela, Israel, and the United States. Acts will vary from chock-full Latino-Hispanic dialogues to Indian makeshift comedies. Unscripted and unrehearsed, the acts are simply mystery boxes waiting for you to open them. On the festival’s opening night (March 27), audience are already bombarded with three amazing on the spot presentations by returning group- ASAP (Singapore), newbies El Club Dela Improv (Spain) and our very own Silly People’s Improv Theater (SPIT) who pioneered MIF way back in 2004. MIF is not only for performing arts en...

The award-winning Shakespeare’s Rose Theatre Company makes its international debut in Manila direct from the UK, and is brought to you by Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, producers of some of Manila’s best-loved shows such as Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, Mamma Mia, The Sound of Music and Cats, to name just a few. Two of William Shakespeare’s most popular plays - Macbeth and A Midsummer Night’s Dream - will deliver a thrilling and intimate theatrical experience with plenty of breath-taking, spine-tingling and side-splitting moments. The two plays will play over one week for nine shows only from 17 th to 22 nd September. One of Shakespeare’s funniest and most delightful comedies, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a riot of criss-crossed love and feuding fairies, with clod-hopping amateur actors and a magical potion adding to the confusion and mayhem! Macbeth is bloody, fast-paced, action-packed and psychologically tense. Populated by witches, ghosts and haunting apparitions, it tel...

Enter the world of a funny dysfunctional British family in Repertory Philippines' staging of "Father's Day" until April 14! In a word, the play is hilarious! Veteran actors Miguel Faustmann and Liesl Batucan lead the cast as an estranged former couple whose son, played by Andres Borromeo, somehow starts a series of incredible events by bringing his goth girlfriend Christine, alternately played by sisters Becca and Rachel Coates, to his dad's home one cold evening night. Entering the OnStage Theater felt like entering a studio of an 80s sitcom. When the father started to talk, it reminded me of the show Fawlty Towers. I knew I was in for some dry, witty, listen-or-you'll-miss-it kind of humor. And if you do catch the quick quips, you'll be in for a really funny show! The show is able to discuss the difficult issues in a way that anyone can digest without going overboard. Go and watch it for a really fun time!

Everyone seems to be always on their toes waiting for the most fun part of the year—summer! Where deadlines are over and shorelines are closer and the thought of it makes you jump in full glee and awe. Summer is the time to unearth new things to enjoy or spice up your craft to its fullest potential! Joining in on the fun is Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), one of the country’s pioneer theater groups. PETA is opening up its stage during the exciting sunny days with its annual PETA’s Workshop Express coming to you this April. Known for their fun and exciting theater arts workshops, PETA ensures you your best summer experience through activities that develop you and your inner artist. With this year’s eight (8) sets of intensive theater arts courses, every single one is bound for a summer well-spent. Little ones ages 6-8 years old are in for a meaningful treat as they flourish their imagination and self-confidence through the art of rhythmic movement, dance,...

Tanghalang Ateneo, the longest-running theater company of the Loyola Schools of the Ateneo de Manila University, caps off its 40th season, Sturm und Drang/Bagyo at Bagabag, with AKO: Alpha Kappa Omega, an adaptation of Mike De Leon's critically acclaimed film Batch 81 penned by Guelan Varela-Luarca and the Tanghalang Ateneo ensemble. Batch 81, a modern classic in Philippine cinema screened on the Director's Fortnight of the 1982 Cannes Film Festival, follows the Alpha Kappa Omega fraternity's neophytes through their grueling initiation process, serving as a poignant critique of fraternity hazing and culture in the Philippines. Aside from adapting the film into a play, two-time Palanca First Prize winner Guelan Varela-Luarca is also tasked to bring it to life at the Ateneo de Manila’s Rizal Mini Theater. Luarca's recent notable works include directing Desaparesidos in September 2018 and translating William Shakespeare's tragedy for Tanghalang Pilipino's 32n...

An extraordinary and timely feature before Easter from 20th Century Fox, “Breakthrough” is based on the inspirational true story of one mother’s unfaltering love in the face of impossible odds in recent history. When Joyce Smith’s adopted son John falls through an icy Missouri lake, all hope seems lost. But as John lies lifeless, Joyce refuses to give up. Her steadfast belief inspires those around her to continue to pray for John’s recovery, even in the face of every case history and scientific prediction. From producer DeVon Franklin (Miracles from Heaven) and Stephen Curry as one of its executive producers, the movie is adapted for the screen by Grant Nieporte (Seven Pounds) from Joyce Smith’s own book, “Breakthrough” (previously published as “The Impossible”). “Breakthrough” stars Chrissy Metz (This Is Us), Josh Lucas (Sweet Home Alabama), Topher Grace (Spider Man 3), Mike Colter (Luke Cage), Sam Trammel (True Blood), Dennis Haysberth (24) and fast-rising young actor Marcel...

Third World Improv and the PETA Theater Center in cooperation with Ticket2Me present the Manila Improv Festival to be held at the PETA Theater Center in Quezon City from March 27-31, 2019. SPIT - Philippines Manila Improv Festival, or MIF, is a globally recognized biennial showcase of the best acts in improvisational theater in the Asian region and beyond. It is on its 5th edition and has developed a loyal audience since it began in 2010. This year’s Manila Improv Festival includes 58 improv acts from all over the world including groups and individuals from Israel, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Australia, the United States, Spain, Colombia, France and Venezuela in what is considered one of the major improv festivals in the world. Indian Improv Theater Singapore Performers of unscripted and unrehearsed theater will do shows in 4 different performing venues inside PETA Theater Center for a 5-Day comedy marathon with 20 shows and 10 workshops beginning on the e...

by Gerone Baladhay 200 strong band of actors-classical singers, classical musicians, and production crew are joining forces in the re-staging of National Artists Guillermo Tolentino and Felipe De Leon’s most beloved 1957 opera, “Noli Me Tangere” (Huwag Mo Salangin/ Touch Me Not) at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP)- Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo. Leading the cast are Nerissa De Juan alternated by Bianca Lopez (Maria Clara); Ivan Nery and Nomher U. Nival (Juan Crisostomo Ibarra); Allison Cervantes, Kelly Peralejo, and Bernadette Mamauag (Sisa); Joseleo Logdat (Elias); Greg Abelardo de Leon (Pilosopo Tasyo); Nil's Flores and Ronaldo Villaruel Abarquez (Padre Damaso; Abarquez also plays Kapitan Tiago at certain performances); Miguel Espiritu (Kapitan Tiago); Noel Comia Jr. and Mari Yapjoco (Basilio), and Santino Juan Santiago (Crispin). Also joining the cast are Mia Bolanos (Dona Victorina), Jose Mari Javato (Padre Salvi), Krissan Manikan-Tan (Tiya Isabel), Timothy...