The Philippine Online Chronicles

While only a handful of theater companies have announced their 2010 offerings so far, it already promises to be a vibrant year for theater. Here are a few future highlights:

The Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) (site) and CCP’s Tanghalang Pilipino close their 2009-2010 seasons with two thought-provoking pieces. In the spirit of the upcoming elections, PETA presents the vaudeville-musical, Si Juan Tamad, Ang Diyablo, at ang Limang Milyong Boto, commenting on the election process and voter consciousness through Juan Tamad. Si Juan Tamad, Ang Diyablo, at ang Limang Milyong Boto is written by award-winning playwrights Vince de Jesus, Liza Magtoto, and Anj Heruela.

Juan Tamad goes onstage at the PETA-Phinma Theater on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from February 5 until March 7, 2010. The PETA Theater Center is located at #5 Eymard Drive, New Manila, Quezon City. Tickets are at P300 each. For details and other inquiries, call the PETA Marketing and Public Relations Office at 725-6244, 410-0821 or mobile number 0917-8044428.

CCP’s Tanghalang Pilipino, on the other hand, stages Tatlong Maria, Rody Vera’s adaptation of Chekhov’s ‘Three Sisters’. In Vera’s adaptation, the three sisters struggle with the need for liberation in a Northern Luzon town during the first decade of Martial Law. Tatlong Maria is directed by critically-acclaimed and multi-awarded director, Loy Arcenas, who had previously directed Golden Child and The Romance of Magno Rubio for Tanghalang Pilipino.

Also look out for this year’s Virgin Labfest around May or June, which officially starts Tanghalang Pilipino’s 2010-2011 season. For ticket reservation, booking of special performances and other information, please call the TP office at 832-3661, 0920-9535381 or 0928-5518645. You may also contact the CCP Box Office at 832-3704 and Ticketworld at 891-9999 for ticket inquiries.

Over at Makati, Repertory Philippines kicks off their season with Duets, a romantic comedy starring veteran actors Joy Virata and Miguel Faustmann, directed by Ana Abad Santos. Virata and Faustmann play four different couples in a series of short scenes that study love and relationships. In February, Virata takes over the directing reigns in Romeo and Bernadette, which is about "that" Romeo waking up on Broadway in the 1960s and mistaking one Bernadette for his Juliet. Of course, Juliet never had mob associations for Romeo to worry about...

Things take a serious turn in March when Repertory Philippines presents the modern classic, Equus. The psychological drama centers on a teenager who blinds six horses with a spike, and the psychiatrist who studies the boy, even while he doubts his own practice and the very institution he serves.

For something more family friendly, Repertory Children’s Theater presents Jim Eller’s musical adaptation of Sleeping Beauty, which runs from August 14^th to December 10th.

Finally, Repertory closes their 2010 season with the award-winning Broadway musical, Little Women, based on the Louisa May Alcott novel. It will be directed by Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo.

All Repertory plays are staged at Onstage, on the second floor of Greenbelt One, Paseo de Roxas Corner Legazpi Street. For tickets and inquiries, please call 887-0710 or log on to repertory.ph. Tickets are also available at Ticketworld.

9Works Theatricals, (facebook page here) a young theater group which debuted with the Jason Robert Brown revue, Songs for a New World, will be staging Rent at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium in RCBC Plaza, Makati City in February. Rent is about a group of young bohemians based in New York City’s East Greenwich Village. It is a play that resonates because it is about optimism amidst struggle: with their art, with living their life in the face of AIDS. The play has made a lasting impression on Broadway with its rock and roll score and its touching message, “No day but today.” Show dates are on February 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27 and 28, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 8:00PM, with Saturdays at 3:30PM & Sundays at 4:30PM. You can reserve tickets by visiting the 9 Works Theatrical website , calling them at 557 58 60, or at Ticketworld.

Atlantis Productions (site link) also has an exciting year ahead, starting in March with their re-run of the wildly successful Avenue Q musical. In case you missed it, Avenue Q is often dubbed Sesame Street for adults; it's about the puppets and people who get by on Avenue Q, even if “It sucks to be you!” (in a tune, of course). If you have missed the first three runs, try to catch this one. You will "ruv" it!

From June to September, Atlantis stages some of the greatest hits that have made the jump from screen to stage. The highly anticipated Legally Blonde: The Musical plays from July 25 to July 18 and stars Nikki Gil as Elle Woods. Chari Arespacochaga, who directed Spring Awakening, will direct the play. Then the beat goes on with Xanadu, based on Olivia Newton-John’s disco movie musical, playing from September 3-19, 2010, and directed by Bobby Garcia. Garcia will also be directing their next production, the Sondheim musical, A Little Night of Music, based on the Ingmar Bergman film Smiles of a Summer Night. A Little Night Music is about the exploits and affairs of two middle-aged men, one of whom is married to a teenage girl. The musical features the hit song, Send in the Clowns, and will star film and TV actress, Dawn Zulueta.

For inquiries and reservations for Atlantis shows, call Lawyn at Atlantis Productions 892-7078 or 840-1178.

Let's also not forget the Manila run of the acclaimed musical CATS, with an international cast led by our very own Lea Salonga. CATS will be performed at the CCP Main Theater from July 24 to August 8, 2010, with evening performances from Tuesday to Sunday, and matinee performances on Saturday and Sunday. Visit ticketworld for details.

With this year’s line-up, everything’s coming up roses at the theater. Curtain up!

(Image sources: Gibbs Cadiz, Ticketworld.)

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