The UP Repertory Company's 'Rep Me For A Reason Let The Reason Be Valid'

Ang comedy night na tatapos sa lahat ng comedy nights out there! Paaaak! 

Isang gabi ng kasiyahan. Isang gabi ng tawanan. Tayo na at pansamantalang iwanan ang ating mga problema at makipaglasingan sa mga alumni at residente ng UP Repertory Company. Namiss n'yo sila diba? Eto na ang pagkakataon n'yo para muli silang masilayan. 

Kasama pa ang mga panalong stand up comedy acts nina 

Karen Dematera at Mimi "Gregarious" Aringo (Clown in a Million ng Banana Split), Breakfast at Aling Tiffany's Club, Fliptop Battle Rappers vs UP Rep, Dance Battle of the Century Crew, at syempre ang bonggang-bonggang tula dula mula sa alumni at mga residente. 

Magpapahuli ka ba? Pa-reserve ka na ng tickets. Sulit promise. Arte pa? Pa-REP ka na!

For ticket reservations, contact Babit de Luna (09166745488). Limited tickets lang for this one night pasabog kaya text na!

Rizal’s descendant, tenor Kuya Manzano, leading Noli me tangere the opera.

Rizal’s descendant, tenor Kuya Manzano, leading Noli me tangere the opera.

Sharing blood with his great grand uncle Jose Rizal it seems like there was no other choice for him but to end up portraying Ibarra, the lead character of Noli me tangere.

After some months rehearsing the opening is finally near. Sweat and hard effort has been done to get to this point. And this Spanish-Filipino actor and singer proudly presents a very challenging job as the leading tenor of this opera.

Kuya Manzano just arrived from Spain five months ago to find his Filipino side. He’s been performing for the last thirteen years acting and singing in musical theater, zarzuela, opera, spoken theater, tv and films. So far in Spain, Portugal, Nederland, China and now in The Philippines, his motherland after all.

Updates, pictures and performance dates are published in his official page (http://kuyamanzano.com) and the Facebook fanclub (http://www.facebook.com/kuyafanclub).

Directed by DUP Artistic Director Alexander Cortez and music supervision of vocal coach Camille Lopez Molina & Pablo Mariano Molina. Pianist Noel de la Rosa did a fantastic job rehearsing innumerable hours to make sure it was good.

As Maria Clara we have Elainne Vibal and Myramae Meneses alternating the role, both making a beautiful couple with Kuya.

Arman Ferrer alternates the Ibarra role. And we cannot forget to mention some other names from the cast as veterans Jonathan Velasco as Padre Damaso (alternating with Michael Dominic Santos) and Onyl Torres as Padre Salvi. Cynthia Guico and Aissa Inumerable as Tia Isabel. Jean Judith Javier, Joy Abalon-Tamayo, Rica Nepomuceno as three great and different Sisa’s. Frederick Hipol delivers an intense Elias too.

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Noli Me Tangere: The Opera runs from November 16 to December 4, 2011 (Wednesday to Friday, 7pm; Saturday and Sunday, 10 am and 3pm) at the Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater, Palma Hall, University of the Philippines Diliman. For sponsorship and ticket inquiries, please contact Cherry Bong Edralin at 09177500107, or the Dulaang UP Office at 926-1349, 981-8500 local 2449 or 433-7840

RE-RUNS: CTE Productions' Defending The Caveman & Love, Loss and What I Wore

The caveman is back...again!

Joel Trinidad, who just won his Aliw Award as the Best Actor in a Featured Role (Kaos, Resorts World Manila), will indeed be back in 'Defending the Caveman' on January 2012. This one-man show will surely bring laughter into our hearts and tummies once again.

The show will run on the following dates: January 6, 7, 13, 14, 2012 (8pm) and January 7, 8, 14, 15, 2012 (3.30pm), to be directed by Michael Williams and Cathy Azanza-Dy at the CPR Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City.

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Defending the Caveman is a comedy written by American actor and comedian Rob Becker about the misunderstandings between men and women. Defending the Caveman has been seen in theaters around the world by more than eight million people in forty-five countries. It has been performed in over thirty different languages. A blend of stand-up comedy, lecture, and therapy session, it attempts to resolve the war between the sexes. The play manages to stand up for the male viewpoint, while still being sympathetic to the female side of issues as well. Becker describes the play as a vehicle for showing that "men have emotions, but they express them differently."

(L-R) Cathy Azanza-Dy, Teresa Herrera, Jay Glorioso, Menchu Lauchengco Yulo, Bituin Escalante

The women of Love, Loss and What I Wore will also be back on January 20, 21 & 22, 2012! 

BUT: Sad news for the fans of these fabulous ladies out there. Teresa Herrera wouldn't be joining the rest of the cast for the show's re-run.

From Ria Pangilinan: Another multi-talented woman is stepping in. A favorite leading lady of many Rep comedies, dramas, musicals and Shakespeare plays; graduated Magna Cum Laude from Ateneo, with a Management Engineering degree in spite of her crazy Rep schedule; an arts and crafts genius; a financial wizard; and Rep's current treasurer. Without further ado, meet our newest cast member, Liza Robinson.

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Love, Loss, and What I Wore is a play written by Nora and Delia Ephron based on the 1995 book of the same name by Ilene Beckerman. It is organized as a series of monologues and uses a rotating cast of five principal women. The subject matter of the monologues includes women's relationships and wardrobes and at times the interaction of the two, using the female wardrobe as a time capsule of a woman's life.

Teatro Tomasino's Ang Huling Pahina

The university-wide theater guild of the University of Sto. Tomas, Teatro Tomasino, presents their major upcoming production 'Ang Huling Pahina' -  a play written by Chris Martinez and to be directed by their alumnus Chi de Jesus.

'Ang Huling Pahina' attempts to predict the continuation of Noli Me Tangere as three supporting roles meet at the final page of the novel who desires to converse with the writer (ang Maylikha) to appeal for the justice of their characters. It would as well showcase highlights of chapters from Noli Me Tangere.

The show will run on the following dates: November 16, 17, 21 and 22, 2011 (10am, 1pm, 4pm and 7pm) at the PETA Theater Center, No. 5 Eymard Drive, New Manila, Quezon City.

For further inquiries, you may contact Aina Dawang (09156728411), Tiffany Balod (09325400955) or the Teatro Tomasino office at 7861611 loc. 8484. Or visit them at Rm. 4C TanYanKee building, University of Sto. Tomas.

Lea Salonga in God of Carnage Manila

Finally, Atlantis Productions announces their straight play for their 2012 theater season. It's gonna be God of Carnage, winner of 3 Tony Awards including Best Play, starring our very own Lea Salonga. They've been announcing their show line-up through their twitter account (@atlantisprod) during midnight, so goes their tradition.

I've already known about this months ago, during the hype of their musical shows announcement. Also, I've heard this buzz that alongside Lea, the award winning actress of Next to Normal Manila - Menchu Lauchengco Yulo will also topbill the show.

Just imagine these two award winning thespians gracing the Philippine stage once more in a hilarious and fun-filled show. 

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God of Carnage (originally Lay Waste To England For Me) is a play by Yasmina Reza. It is about two pairs of parents, one of whose child has hurt the other at a public park, who meet to discuss the matter in a civilized manner. However, as the evening goes on, the parents become increasingly childish, resulting in the evening devolving into chaos. The play was a success in its original French language, but has been equally acclaimed in its other English-translated productions in both London and New York.

Atlantis 2012: Auditions!!!

2011 BWW Philippines Awards Reveal Nominees

2011 BWW Philippines Awards Reveal Nominees

By Oliver Oliveros,BroadwayWorld.com

New York, November 3, 2011 -- Our theater scene in the Philippines, especially in Metro Manila, has never been as vibrant as in recent months, and we owe our hardworking, excellent theater practitioners the recognition and appreciation they deserve.

Congratulations to BroadwayWorld.com (BWW) Philippines Awards' nominees, whose names are below, and were shortlisted from around 500 nomination entries sent from October 6 to 31.

You may now vote for your favourite nominees; voting deadline is December 31.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE!

2011 BWW Philippines Awards Nominees

Best Musical

In the Heights (Atlantis Productions Inc.)

Sweet Charity (9 Works Theatrical)

Sound of Music (Resorts World Manila)

Peter Pan (Repertory Philippines/Stages Production Specialists Inc.)

Noli Me Tangere (Tanghalang Pilipino)

Care Divas (Philippine Educational Theater Association)

Cory ng Edsa (Philippine Stagers Foundation)

Best Play

American Hwangap (Tanghalang Pilipino)

Ang Post Office (Philippine Educational Theater Association)

Best Direction of a Musical

Bobby Garcia (Next to Normal)

Jaime del Mundo and Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo (Peter Pan)

Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo (Little Women)

Robbie Guevara (Sweet Charity)

Chari Arespacochaga (Aida)

Christopher De Venecia (Little Shop of Horrors)

Dexter Santos (Orosman at Zafira)

Vince Tanada (Cory ng Edsa)

Best Direction of a Play

Gary Labad (Ang Post Office)

Best Leading Actor (Musical)

Jett Pangan (Next to Normal)

Felix Rivera (Next to Normal)

Sam Concepcion (Peter Pan)

Gian Magdangal (The Wedding Singer)

Kris Lawrence (Sweet Charity)

Mark Bautista (Noli Me Tangere)

Melvin Lee (Care Divas)

Ricci Chan (Care Divas)

Jerald Napoles (Care Divas)

Vince Tanada (Cory ng Edsa)

Best Leading Actor (Play)

Martin delos Santos (Ang Post Office)

Best Leading Actress (Musical)

Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo (Next to Normal)

Ciara Sotto (Rent)

Mian Dimacali (Rent)

Caissa Borromeo (Little Women)

Nikki Gil (Sweet Charity)

Tippy dos Santos (Peter Pan)

Cris Villonco (Noli Me Tangere)

Best Leading Actress (Play)

Jay Glorioso (Love, Loss, and What I Wore)

Liza Infante (The 39 Steps)

Shamaine Centenera Buencamino (Fake)

Best Musical Direction

Gerard Salonga (Little Women)

Joseph Tolentino (Sweet Charity)

Pipo Cifra (Cory ng Edsa)

Best Choreography

Cecille Martinez (In the Heights)

Deana Aquino (Sweet Charity)

Dexter Santos (Orosman at Zafira)

John San Antonio (Cory ng Edsa)

Best Costume Design

Raven Ong (Peter Pan)

Mio Infante (Rent)

Emy Tanada (Cory ng Edsa)

Best Lighting Design

Shoko Matsumoto (Next to Normal)

Best Set Design

Joey Mendoza (Little Women)

Gino Gonzales (Peter Pan)

Jeffrey Ambrosio (Cory ng Edsa)

Best Sound Design

Chuck Ledesma (Rent)

 Bobbit Jacinto (In the Heights)

Rards Corpus (Sound of Music)

Art Grabentina (Cory ng Edsa)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role/Ensemble Role (Musical)

Markki Stroem (Next to Normal)

OJ Mariano (Rent)

Michael Williams (Peter Pan)

Jeff Arcilla (Little Women)

Johann dela Fuente (The Wedding Singer)

Jon Jon Martin (The Wedding Singer)

Miguel Faustmann (Sweet Charity)

Myke Salomon (Care Divas)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role/Ensemble Role (Play)

Jeremy Domingo (American Hwangap)

Nicco Manalo (American Hwangap)

Jonathan Tadioan (Bombita)

George de Jesus (Amphitryon)

Joshua Deocareza (Titus Andronicus)

Nic Campos (Shakespeare in Hollywood)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role/Ensemble Role (Musical)

Bea Garcia (Next to Normal)

Tex Ordonez (In the Heights)

Ciara Sotto (Sweet Charity)

Sheila Valderrama (Sweet Charity)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role/Ensemble Role (Play)

Cris Villonco (The Joy Luck Club)

Frances Makil Ignacio (The Joy Luck Club)

Liesl Batucan (American Hwangap)

Skyzx Labastilla (Titus Andronicus)

Best Theater Company

Atlantis Productions Inc.

9 Works Theatrical

Best Theatrical Venue

Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium

CCP Little Theater

PETA Center Theater

Newport Performing Arts Theater (Resorts World Manila)