A Life in the Theater

Evelio Javier and Edgar Jopson never met in real life, but they have much in common. Both men experienced the beginnings of social consciousness early in their lives and, with their Ateneo education, felt compelled to speak out for their countrymen during the years of the Marcos Regime. While they differed in the manner with which they sought change -- Evelio taking the side of gradualist, enlightened reformist politics, as the way forward for the country, and Edjop believing in violent struggle due to the futility of reforms in the political culture and class structure of Filipino society – they both met violent deaths that turned shocked the Filipino people. Edjop became president of the National Union of Students of the Philippines and led student demonstrations that would later form part of the First Quarter Storm—the most intense period of student activism in Philippine history. Under Martial law, he engaged in a new level of militancy. He joined a labor union as an organizer a...

Every fan has his anecdote about one's favorite actor, and I have one about Mario O'Hara. Many moons ago when I was a Technical Director for the Cultural Center of the Philippines and assigned to oversee Tanghalang Pilipino's production of Shusaku Endo's Ang Ginintuang Bayan, then TP Artistic Director Nonon Padilla and the play's director Jonas Sebastian asked me to understudy the part being played by Nonie Buencamino in the production. Nonie's wife Shamaine was due to give birth anytime during the course of the production, and since the couple were prepared to deliver the baby through lamaze, Nonie just had to be with his wife when she did. Hence, the need for an understudy. Since the most part of my acting career had been made up of filling in for other actors at the last minute, I had the temerity to accept the assignment. Memorizing the lines and the blocking came rather easy for me since I had been watching the rehearsals for quite some time by then anyway....

Following is an article I wrote which was published by the Philippine Daily Inquirer about the performances of Tanghalang Pilipino's "HIMALA, The Musical" in Shanghai. Miracle in Shanghai By Dennis N. Marasigan Philippine Daily InquirerFirst Posted 00:03:00 01/07/2008 MANILA, Philippines - “Why are Filipinos very good performers, especially in music?” “Maybe because we are blessed with it.” This was the answer given by choreographer Jose Jay Cruz to a question from a Chinese member of the audience at the talkback following the last performance of Tanghalang Pilipino’s production of “Himala, The Musical” at the 2007 Asian Contemporary Festival in Shanghai, China. Afterwards, some other audience members shyly admitted they were moved to tears by the performance. Others were more openly ecstatic. The Festival, which originated in Osaka, Japan but has been organized by the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center for the last three years, finally got a Filipino theater group to particip...

The Philippine Legitimate Stage Artists Group (PHILSTAGE), the country's only organization of professional performing arts companies, invites critics, educators, researchers and regular audiences of theater, music and dance productions to seek Jury Panel membership slots for the 2008 PHILSTAGE Awards for the Performing Arts. Conceived as peer awards similar to many of the performing arts industry awards abroad, the PHILSTAGE Awards are conferred for outstanding achievements in the performing arts by PHILSTAGE member-companies such as Actors Actors, Inc. (AAI), Ballet Manila (BM), Ballet Philippines (BP), Gantimpala Theater Foundation(GANTIMPALA), Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM), Philippine Education Theater Association (PETA), Repertory Philippines (REP), Tanghalang Pilipino (TP), and Triumphant People's Evangelistic Theater Society, Inc. (TRUMPETS). Awards shall be given for outstanding achievements in production or performance, stage direction, original script/con...

Every year for three years now, the Philippine Daily Inquirer's Gibbs Cadiz comes up with his list of the Best in Philippine Theater. For 2007, I am proud that a number of productions and performers from Tanghalang Pilipno, (this blogger's productions included) made it into the list. Leading the list are "Ellas Inocentes” (written by Layeta Bucoy and directed by Tuxqs Rutaquio), an entry in the 3rd Virgin Labfest, which is cited as the year's Best One-act Play, and "Insiang" (by Mario O’ Hara, directed by Chris Millado) for Best Full-length play. "Ellas Inocentes" is described as "A hypnotic, heartbreaking portrait of a pair of warped childhoods, featuring astonishing performances and astute direction. Simply the most compelling entry in this year’s Virgin Labfest." "Insiang," in turn, is a reworking of Lino Brocka's film into "a brilliant piece of contemporary social realist theater, redolent of the fetid air of lives ...

Tanghalang Pilipino holds open auditions for two forthcoming productions: the rock musical “EJ:Ang Pinagdaanang Buhay nina Evelio Javier at Edgar Jopson” scheduled in February and March 2008, and the Philippine premiere of David Henry Hwang’s “GOLDEN CHILD ” which will run from August to September 2008. The rock musical “EJ: Ang Pinagdaanang Buhay nina Edgar Jopson at Evelio Javier” is written by Palanca Hall of Fame awardee Ed Maranan with music by The Dawn under the direction of Chris Millado. Auditions are scheduled from 5pm to 9pm on December 19 and 20, 5pm to 9pm, at the Bulwagang Pambansang Alagad ng Sining, 4th Floor, Cultural Center of the Philippines. Those interested must be prepared to perform a song of their choice and another song from the album “Tulad ng Dati” by The Dawn. “GOLDEN CHILD” wll be performed in both English and Filipino under the direction of Loy Arcenas, who also directed “The Romance of Magno Rubio/Ang Romansa ni Magno Rubio.” Needed are actors and actr...

Ricky Davao is a multi-awarded film, television and theater actor who would really rather be known as a singer who can act. He will jump at every opportunity to show off his singing voice and whose plans for the future not only include directing a film version of Rene Villanueva's "Hiblang Abo" but also an album of salinawits, or standards transliterated into Filipino. Which is not to say that he will also not take advantage of every chance to perform on stage. This week, he resurrects his role as Dado in the Mario O'Hara's adaptation of his own screenplay for Lino Brocka's "Insiang." Directed by Chris Millado (who, like Ricky, also won an Aliw Award for his work on the play), Ricky plays opposite Sheenly Vee Gener (as Insiang) and Mailes Kanapi (as Pacing). As he normally would, Ricky set aside time to do Insiang, making sure that he can devote all his attention and time for the project. Ricky once said in an interview that we have known each other ...