A Life in the Theater

When I go back to Silliman next week with Tanghalang Pilipino's productions of GEE GEE AT WATERINA and WELCOME TO INTELSTAR, it will be my third time to visit the place. I have been to Silliman University and Luce Auditorium twice before : the first was in 1978 when U.P. and PNB brought Tony Mabesa's production of Nick Joaquin's "Tatarin" back to back with Isagani Cruz' "Josephine"; the second was with Repertory Philippines' "The Gingerbread Lady" by Neil Simon in 1983. I have very fond memories of both trips. In 1978, Amiel Leonardia was still the Luce Auditorium's Technical Director. His assistant was a graduate student named Junix Inocian. I recall that Luce Auditorium was comparable with the best theaters in the country, probably next only to Philamlife Auditorium in terms of acoustics. Among the company in that 1978 tour (which was also memorable because I lost my entire bag when we were dropped off by a C-130 cargo plane at...

I started a new poll, which you can see on the left side of this site: which of the following actors would you want to seen onstage again soon: 1. Nonie Buencamino 2. Ricky Davao 3. Michael de Mesa 4. Ronnie Lazaro 5. Mario O'Hara 6. Jet Pangan Feel free to share your choices, or to feedback on the list.

The year’s best stage event invades Cebu this November!Tanghalang Pilipino’s production of “Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah, Ze Muzikal” goes onstage at the SM Cebu Cinema 1 on November 16 to 18 at 3pm and 8pm, sure to give Cebuanos a rip-roaring time as the beloved parlorista turned bodacious superhero shows off her powers outside of Manila for the very first time. Playing Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah once again is singer-comedienne K Brosas. Already famous for her television appearances in Bitoy’s Funniest Home Videos and Hokus Pokus plus her villainous turn as Divina Demonica in Mars Ravelo’s Darna, K Brosas combines zany humor and peculiar vulnerability as the red-headed warrior heroine. Providing ample support to K Brosas are some of the country’s best musical theater artists, among them Arnold Reyes as Dodong, the man with the perfect “noodles”; Kalila Aguilos as the archnemesis Queen Femina Suarestella Baroux, Tuxqs Rutaquio as the gay beautician Ada; Wenah Nagales, Mayen Estanero, Skyzx Labastilla and ...

TUKSO is back for more screenings at the Indie Sine at Robinsons' Galleria Movieworld, together with STILL LIFE. Screenings are until Tuesday, October 23, 2007. As screening times are subject to change, please check the papers or call the cinema for precise schedules. TUKSO is also showing this week Robinson's Bacolod, so those who are trooping to that city for the Masskara Festival has another reason to go. You can watch the TUKSO trailer here.

The word is out. The following made it to the semi-finals of the 2008 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival on the basis of their submitted synopses. Thanks to bigredbakulaw for the heads up, as the list is still not posted in the Cinemalaya website (paging the Festival Committee!) 1. 100 / Chris Martinez 2. Abalorio / Norman S. Regalado 3. Ang Tagabasa / Dale Custodio 4. Antiparang Basag / Edith Asuncion 5. Asan na nga ba si Tupe? / Carlo F. C. Castro 6. Baby Angelo /Joel Ruiz & Abi Aquino 7. Bakal Boys / Ralston Jover 8. Bantay / Marinette Lusanta 9. Biyaheng Norte / Bong Ramos 10. Brutus /Tara Illenberger 11. Frames / Enrico Aragon 12. Huling Pasada / Paul Sta. Ana 13. Jay / Francis Xavier E. Pasion 14. KAHOS: The Purge / Boyette Rimban 15. Konsyerto sa Kagubatan / Paul Y. Morales 16. Kristo /Jerwin D. Espiritu 17. My Fake American Accent / Onnah Valera 18. Namets (Yummy) / Jay Abello 19. Ranchero Michael Christian Cardoz 20. Sa Ilalim Ng Aratiles / Pam Miras 21. The G...

I got the following in my mailbox today, and I thought I should share it with readers of this blog. “You gotta watch the play directed by Chris Millado – once more he has outdone himself. I didn’t know it was kinda x-rated so I brought along my 16 year old daughter T. and her two friends. But what a revelation! It was the best thing for them to learn about the facts of life and issues of premarital sex, abuse, rape, etc. I thought I was in the play myself being so near the characters! My daughter remarked that she rates it as good as Broadway’s “Lion King”! Say what? Coming from a stage enthusiast she might just be right. The set is fantastic , can’t believe it was a stage – thought I was really there where it was happening! Wow Wow Wow Wow Wow Wow!!! - Carmen Prieto ‘This is your chance to imagine, to feel, to watch, and to ‘live’ with Insiang! We’ve seen it and we’re in awe! And yes, we’re watching it again! And you should watch it too! A different kind of experience in the theater ...

Entertainment Tukso: A whodunit Rashomon STARBYTES By Butch Francisco Thursday, October 4, 2007 The truth told in different versions — as popularized by best foreign film winner Rashomon — is still alive and well in Philippine cinema. This device was previously used in Laurice Guillen’s Salome in 1981 and in Chito Roño’s Itanong Mo sa Buwan in 1988. Both films won Best Picture in the Gawad Urian. In Dennis Marasigan’s Tukso, which is currently showing in Robinsons Galleria’s IndieSine, the story is also told from various perspectives. Winner of Cinemalaya’s Best Screenplay award, the film gives the viewer the task of finding out who and how a barrio lass named Monica (Diana Malahay) is killed. Tukso is basically a whodunit Rashomon and we are presented with different suspects: Suspect No. 1 is Carlo (Sid Lucero), a fresh architecture graduate who is assigned to the province to design and supervise the construction of a local subdivision. He meets Monica and they become intimate in spi...

Flash report! "Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah, Ze Muzikal" was awarded as the Best Stage Event in this year's Nocturnal Awards organized by 24/7 and held tonight at the BMW Pavilion at Fort Bonifacio. Other nominees for the category included "Aida Gomez:Carmen" and Repertory Philippines' "The Sound of Music." What's next for "Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah, Ze Muzikal?" It will be presented next month at the SM Cebu Cinema 1 in cooperation with Elite International. There will be six performances in all on November 16-18, 3pm and 8pm. For tickets and other information, please call Tanghalang Pilipino at 832-3661 or 832-1125 loc. 1620 or 1621.

Here's an insider alert for those planning to watch "INSIANG": better catch the performances this weekend rather than wait for the second weekend, as there are hardly any tickets left. You have better chances coming to the CCP Tanghalang Batute on Saturday, Oct. 6 and Sunday, Oct. 7. Better yet, reserve your tickets now through the INSIANG website here. Tanghalang Pilipino's production of "INSIANG" presented in cooperation with Bright Eyed Boys Events and Ideas Inc. runs from Oct. 5- 7 and Oct. 12-14 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Tanghalang Huseng Batute. Shows at 8pm Fridays to Sundays and 3pm matinees on Saturdays and Sundays. Directed by Chris Millado from the play by Mario O'Hara adapted from his own screenplay, with Ricky Davao, Mailes Kanapi, Mae Paner, Peewee O'Hara and Sheenly Vee Gener as Insiang.

“TUKSO,” winner of the Best Screenplay Award at the 2007 CINEMALAYA Philippine Independent Film Festival, receieved a “B” grading from the Cinema Evaluation Board of the Film Development Council of the Philippines. The fifteen members of the Board who viewed the film unanimously voted that “TUKSO” deserved a grade. Subsequently, eight (8) members voted to give it a “B” grade as against seven (7) members who gave it an “A”. The “B” grade entitles the film to a rebate on amusement taxes collected in certain cities where the film will be screened. “TUKSO” will have its theatrical screening on October 3-9, 2007 at the Indie Sine, Robinson’s Galleria Movieworld. SYNOPSIS: A young village lass is found dead. An investigator (ADEL) is assigned to look into the case and gets to learn more about the girl and the people whose lives were affected by her and her death: her father (BAL), a young architect (CARLO), a businessman (DAVID), her childhood friend (EMER) and a widow (FE). CAST: IRMA ADLA...