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Broadway International Group launched a multi-year international tour of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s THE SOUND OF MUSIC in Singapore this Fall. This lavish and popular production of one of the world’s most beloved musicals of all time continues with multi-week stops throughout The Philippines, India, Malaysia, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, with other additional countries to be announced. “It is a great privilege to bring this cherished Rodgers & Hammerstein musical to Manila, particularly at this global recovery time. Our goal is to celebrate the spirit of musicals and sing ‘Do-Re-Mi’ with audiences everywhere! We are thrilled to light the Broadway musical torch once again in Manila and to perform this fantastic production in The Philippines.” In a joint statement, Simone Genatt and Marc Routh, Co-Founders and Producers of Broadway International Group, said. Genatt and Routh have worked on many international productions in Manila, including CINDERELLA starring Lea Salonga. The Br...

The country’s premier professional wrestling entertainment brand announces consecutive six-figure box office and online streaming revenues this year, marking 2022 as its most successful season. MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The Manila Wrestling Federation (MWF) crowned its new Pinoy Wrestling Champion – Fabio Makisig, in front of hundreds of fans who watched the event “MWF: Noche Buena 2022” at PETA Theater Center, Quezon City, on December 11, Sunday. Fabio Makisig’s championship victory was proclaimed he defeated “Mr. Philippine Wrestling” Jake De Leon – one of the local wrestling scene’s most established and accomplished competitors.  The hard-fought, thrilling main event between Fabio Makisig and Jake De Leon capped MWF’s 2022 season, in which the young company saw its highest box office and revenue growth in its six-year history. “This year, all of us in MWF have felt the support and love coming from our fans,” said William Elvin Manzano, the company’s current executive producer. “For ...

QUEZON CITY, Philippines - Pioneer Filipino theater company, Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), award-winning creative content agency, Indie.Go Media, and premiere talent management, Star Magic, are coming together to bring forth Rody Vera’s all-original Filipino musical, Walang Aray, from Feb 17-May 14, 2023, at the PETA Theater Center.  This unique partnership between the three companies comes after the displacement of the creative and cultural sectors during the height of the pandemic. PETA alone had to close its theater doors for nearly three years, and this is the first time the company has staged a live public performance in its home theater since March 2019. “We are coming from a period where art was deemed non-essential,” PETA artistic director Maribel Legarda explains. “We need partnerships, we need community, and we need to come together. This partnership with Indie.Go Media and Star Magic blurs the borders and allows for collaboration to happen between ar...

The Philippines' Mark Ghosn has battled his way to the Global Finals of World Monologue Games, the world's largest acting showcase, featuring performers from over 100 countries.  Ghosn placed 2nd during the regionals of the Sprint Category. "Competing on the world stage is a dream come true, and it was exciting to share my talent and represent The Philippines," says Ghosn, who performed a Filipino monologue written by noted playwright and author Rody Vera. Industry professionals worldwide, including renowned actors, film directors and heads of international acting schools, weighed in to select which performers went through.  Event founder Pete Malicki is thrilled to see World Monologue Games getting bigger and better each year. "What I love most about the Games is seeing amazing performers from all around the world come together in a single event," he says. This year's worldwide competition started in July and ended in November. Contestants went through ...

Come and celebrate the biggest Christian worship festival in the Philippines this November 30, 2022, as Jesus Reigns Philippines Celebration gathers all Christian believers in all 82 provinces across the Philippines.  This annual celebration is held to honor Jesus Christ alone and proclaim that HE REIGNS over our beloved Philippines and all nations.  In this celebration, JESUS is the center highlight. No church names and no personalities are acknowledged except JESUS alone.  After two years of virtual celebration due to the pandemic, Jesus Reigns as a movement is now ready to go out on the streets and worship as a united Body of Christ.    In its 11th year, over a million people all across the Philippines will come and declare that JESUS REIGNS over every home, city, province, and the whole Philippines.  One Voice. One Lord. One Nation. 2022 is the Year of No Compromise.  We are taking it from 2 Kings 18: 5-7, which states: “Hezekiah trusted in the LOR...

Come and celebrate the 76th anniversary of the Philippine Baranggay Folk Dance Troupe in a concert dubbed as BAYAN KO on November 26 (7 pm) and November 27 (3 pm and 7 pm) at the CCP Main Theater Lobby. BAYAN KO depicts the Filipino people's true identity, showcasing the colorful and unique indigenous tribal and folk cultures with their customs and traditions through music, song and dance. The artistic team of BAYAN KO is led by Ronnie Del Barrio (Director / Artistic Director of PBFDT), Mariano Santiago (Associate Artistic Director) and Jun Arandela (Musical Director). Originally 'barangay' meant boats used by the Malays arriving on the shores of the Philippines during the pre-Spanish times. Later, the name came to connote the unit of government known as the 'Pueblo.' The word 'barangay,' with its connotation of friendly association and harmonious living, was adopted by the Philippine Baranggay Folk Dance Troupe (PBFDT) to reflect its objectives of...

The Philippines’ premier athletic entertainment brand puts two of Pinoy wrestling’s pioneers one-on-one for the first time. Manila, Philippines – Looking for a brand-new holiday experience you will never forget? How about a slice of Pinoy wrestling this Christmas? The Manila Wrestling Federation (MWF) once again delivers its unique, distinctly Filipino brand of professional wrestling entertainment to fans in Metro Manila through its Christmas special titled “MWF: Noche Buena 2022” on December 11, Sunday, 5 PM at the PETA Theater Center in Quezon City. Following MWF’s highly successful extravaganza last September, MWF: Noche Buena 2022 features a main event involving two of the best athlete performers in the country. MWF Pinoy Wrestling Champion Jake De Leon is set to defend the country’s top wrestling title to MWF’s folk hero Fabio Makisig. A MATCH NINE YEARS IN THE MAKING This highly anticipated match is a Christmas gift for Pinoy wrestling fans who have followed the burgeoni...

Celebrating its World Premiere this Christmas season, the first full-length, all-Filipino Christmas ballet, PUSO NG PASKO, lights up the CCP Main Theater Stage. A ground-breaking work, PUSO NG PASKO is an expansion of the 2020s warmly received dance film production, TULOY ANG PASKO, which regaled us with the reminiscences of Lolo Val, who now lives in California. His memories, dating back to the '70s, show how he and his barkada would celebrate Christmas in the most Filipino way. All these memories, told in song and dance, are passed on by Lolo Val to his granddaughter, Angelita. This production, conceptualized by Ronelson Yadao with musical arrangements by National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab, still features beloved scenes of the Simbang Gabi, eating Bibingka and Puto Bumbong, plazas decorated with big parols, and beautiful Christmas decorations, but also develops the story as it brings us to different fiestas across the Philippine islands in celebration of Filipino regional...

The stage is set for Dulaang UP’s comeback with the 45th Theatre Season opener, The Reconciliation Dinner, a new one-act play by Floy Quintos, directed by Dexter M. Santos. The Reconciliation Dinner is a dark comedy about friends trying to heal unspoken hurts, suspicions, and disbelief about the choices of those they thought they knew well. In light of the 2022 elections, how well do we know those we hold dear? And how far are we willing to go to overlook the choices they make? The production boasts a powerhouse ensemble of actors led by Stella Cañete-Mendoza and Frances Makil-Ignacio. They are joined by regulars in the Philippines theatre scene, including Randy Medel Villarama, Jojo Cayabyab, Nelsito Gomez, Hariette Mozelle, and Phi Palmos. Joining Quintos and Santos on their sixth theatre collaboration (previous works include The Kundiman Party, Angry Christ, Ang Huling Lagda ni Apolinario Mabini, Ang Nawawalang Kapatid, and Collection) are Charles Yee (set), Mitoy Sta. Ana (...

Indulge your imagination beyond its limits. Ignite your curiosity with amazement and wonder as incredible illusions and reality collide. Come and enjoy a pre-Christmas family treat with Ivan the Selfie Magician in "It's Not Real, It's Magic" on December 3, 3 and 6 pm at the PETA Theater Center. Jonathan Ivan Rivera's 18 Years of Magic, with his incomparable showmanship, is a result of portraying various roles as a TV, film and theater actor. For his forthcoming show, he will showcase the art of a Master Illusionist. Jonathan Ivan Rivera learned Magic from his dad, who was also a Magician since he was 4 yrs old, and professionally at age 7 when he made a girl float on air. His idols are Sigfried and Roy because of their showmanship and the use of their tigers. "For this forthcoming show, it's the feeling of being able to amaze people, and spark their curiosities and to simply share joy to each and every member of the audience. Hopefully, on ...

QUEZON CITY, Philippines – “TUMINDIG AT UMIBIG!” The Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), the makers of the hit musical Rak of Aegis, is finally returning to the theater for full live performances featuring a brand-new original Filipino opus: a witty, funny, and daring musical to hit the PETA Theater Center, Rody Vera's fiercely irreverent, ferociously clever, and seriously hilarious farce, Walang Aray! Signaled by critics to be "PETA's next surefire hit", calling it "a rare intelligent gem," Walang Aray is literature and history coming alive in the most cutting-edge and entertaining manner. Presented by PETA with Indie.Go Media, Walang Aray is a genre-defying adaptation of the screenplay Walang Aray, based on Severino Reyes' classic sarsuela Walang Sugat. The musical richly mashes the timeless classic with contemporary language, funk and pop tunes, and tongue-in-cheek humor. This old-meets-new production, directed by Ian Segarra, w...

The production plays for a limited season and must close on November 20th. A new re-imagined production of the iconic Ben Elton & Queen musical We Will Rock You finally opens at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater, Manila. This production, directed and choreographed by Olivier Award nominee Nick Winston, is launching a multi-year international tour, and audiences worldwide will surely enjoy this dynamic new interpretation. “I’m so grateful to the Producers for supporting my vision for We Will Rock You. Science Fiction isn’t a genre you get to explore often in Musical Theatre, and I’ve had so much fun bringing this dystopian world to life with my extraordinary cast and creative team,” shares Mr. Winston. GMG Productions, whose headquarters are in Manila, also looks forward to producing the show in Singapore, opening on January 5th, 2023, and in New Zealand in June 2023. “GMG Productions is incredibly excited to debut our production of We Will Rock You in Manila. The origina...

It is an age-old temptation, struggling towards the forbidden. Conflicted, not because it is hard to obtain, but because hearts and minds will always be at odds against each other. Nicole asks, “Bakit nga ba masarap ang bawal?” When Nicole Laurel returned to the recording cycle a while back, she never stopped writing. Dozens of songs are currently in progress, and this latest one is a common thought brought to its musical existence. In "Bawal," Nicole collaborates with an equally talented musician she has known for almost a decade, multi-instrumentalist Gabe Dandan. In an impromptu jam, Gabe put down his guitar and ran his fingers through the keys. It was practically instantaneous, doing the initial songwriting when Nicole hummed the melody and provided the first lyrics. In less than an hour, "Bawal" started to take its form. Nicole shares, "The song is a simple, slow, soulful blend of sultriness and the melancholy of desiring something you can't have...

The Manila Wrestling Federation makes waves in its live event extravaganza "MWF: Road to Fate 2022" at the PETA Theater Center. About three hundred Pinoy wrestling fans gathered at the PETA Theater Center last Sunday, September 11, to witness the crowning of "Mr. Philippine Wrestling" Jake De Leon as the new Manila Wrestling Federation (MWF) Pinoy Wrestling Champion. In the main event, De Leon competed in a winning effort against two of the best performance athletes in the country – Fabio Makisig and Nigel San Jose.  Jake De Leon is a multi-time wrestling champion and has held titles all over Southeast Asia. He has represented the country in numerous matches internationally, including Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, and most notably in mainland China, where he participated in the WWE tryouts in 2019. A Philippine wrestling pioneer with almost a decade of in-ring experience, De Leon is one of the most respected and accomplished Filipino athletes in the genre. ...

Shorts & Briefs 8: Tayo Naman by Eksena PH, is an independently produced "THEATRE FESTIVAL" of short and brief plays (10–12 min.) that feature only first-time theatre makers and performers. It’s been running for eight years. This year they are making a comeback to the live theatre scene, celebrating 8 years with 8 live shows, 8 new plays, 8 first-time theatre directors, and 8 sets of first-time theatre actors. It will be staged at Draper Startup House in Poblacion Makati, All Sundays in October starting October 09-30. Showtime is at 2pm and 7pm every Sunday. DRAPER is a 90-seater venue, It is located at 5048 P. Burgos Street, Poblacion, Makati, Philippines. The theme for this year is "Children's Book, but Make it Art." Featuring Filipino children’s books specifically chosen by the directors to play and reimagine for the stage. to serve a unique way of storytelling. The plays are as follows: BJ Crisostomo’s "Lul...

Queen’s hit musical, "We Will Rock You," opens in Manila next month! GMG Productions is thrilled to announce the cast of their brand new production, making its global premiere in Manila this October. "The production has assembled a new generation of performers to step into these incredible roles," shares Carlos Candal, GMG Productions CEO and We Will Rock You World tour Co-Producer  "We can’t wait for them to bring new energy and a fresh take on these characters and their songs—iconic songs known the world over, and we’re confident their talent will deliver in a big way." The principal cast of the brand-new World Tour consists of Nicolette Fernandes (Scaramouche), Stuart Brown (Galileo), Londiwe Dhlomo (Killer Queen), Craig Urbani (Khashoggi), Tiaan Rautenbach (Buddy), Richard Gau (Brit), and Danelle Cronje (Oz). Joining the production as part of the ensemble will be Kenneth Meyer, Allen Chambers, Siya Makakane, Nadine Grobbelaar, Ash...

QUEZON CITY, THE PHILIPPINES —After the Philippine Educational Theater Association’s (PETA) big digital breakthrough during the pandemic: a string of successful online show streams and virtual workshops, the pioneering Filipino theater company is making a big theater comeback for its 55th theater season! The return to the theater features no less than a PETA classic, Christine Bellen’s Batang Rizal! First to launch online via streaming from October 14-16, the well-loved musical will be the first show to open PETA’s theater stage in November. Co-written, directed for stage, and choreographed by Dudz Teraña, with musical direction, arrangement, and composition by Vincent de Jesus, Batang Rizal is a remarkable piece because of its ability to resonate with audiences across generations. Its power rests in its simplicity and relatability, while carrying a deep challenge for audiences to become everyday heroes. Even after a decade and a half, the magic of Batang Rizal has not wavered. M...

A crossover artist generally refers to an artist who has had substantial success in multiple genres of music. It’s been used particularly to  refer to a handful who have marketed themselves as performers of the classical and pop repertoire.  One can make the argument, however, that most of them are simply pop artists who try to sing in a classically trained style.  Going by its definition, or at least by its generally agreed notion, a crossover artist must be someone who, let’s say, has professionally performed operatic roles or oratorio solos while concurrently rocking pop music establishments.  If we go by this definition, then Rogelio B. Peñaverde Jr. is a bonafide crossover artist par excellence. Peñaverde is a homegrown Filipino who moved to the US to pursue a scholarship at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City for a Master’s Degree in Voice. After graduating, he carved a career in opera, sacred music, and musical theater with critical acclaim....

The Maningning Miclat Art Foundation, Inc. (MMAFI) is happy to announce the livestreaming of "GINUGUNITA KITA," a performance art featuring Maningning Miclat’s poems set to music by composer Jesse Lucas. Celebrating its 21st anniversary this year, the Foundation will also launch the Maningning stationery line, starting with a boxed set of 12 greeting cards and  2023 desk calendar featuring 12 of the artist’s paintings.  Maningning Miclat, a Filipina, published author, trilingual poet, prize-winning artist, translator and art teacher passed away on September 29, 2000 at the tender age of 28. MMAFI was founded on April 15, 2001. "GINUGUNITA KITA," which was performed at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 2015, will start streaming starting September 3, Saturday, 7:00 p.m. via the Maningning Miclat Art Foundation YouTube channel. It features eleven of the poems by Maningning published in her trilingual book of poetry, Voice from the Underworld (An...