Asian Theatre Circuit

If you missed it the first time, here’s your chance to catch this heartwarming, crowd-pleasing romantic comedy! Vince meets his close friend, Amy, at a coffee shop after he returns from yet another unsuccessful date. During their rendezvous, they are brought face-to-face with a question: What are you looking for in a partner?

Starring Pol Doble as Vince and Sab Jose as Amy, this original one-act play marks the debut of writer Ren Robles and director Joy Alano. Catch this charming little show at Coffee Nook in SM Supercenter Pasig (beside Tiendesitas) on April 5, 2008, Saturday, 3pm and 6pm. Admission is FREE (but please support our venue and purchase something from Coffee Nook).

For more information, visit http://roofdeck.multiply.com/ or contact Ren at 0917 606 0855.

BlueREPERTORY, on its 16th year, presents BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL.

Story and Book by Keythe Farley & Brian Fleming
Music & Lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe

Straight from the tabloid headlines comes BAT BOY, a dark and funny critically-acclaimed rock musical about love and mutilation.

Bat Boy: The Musical chronicles the story of a boy with bat-like ears and needle teeth, who is found in a cave and is later adopted by a human family that tries to teach him the ways of a civilized society. Bat Boy’s struggle to be “human” and to be accepted is at the core of this moving and surprisingly hilarious modern day musical.

Leading the talented cast is Marvin Ong as Bat Boy together with Laura Cabochan as his foster mother, Meredith. With direction and choreography by Repertory Philippines veteran Robbie Guevara (Fiddler On The Roof), musical direction by Laura Cabochan, and lights and sounds design by Voltaire De Jesus, Bat Boy promises to be a bloody, heart-racing musical unlike anything that BlueREPERTORY has done before.

BAT BOY: The Musical plays on March 7 at 8 p.m., and on March 8 at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Fine Arts Exhibit Hall, Ateneo de Manila University

This production is brought to you by Havaianas and Orange Segment, the official print media partner of Bat Boy, together with KC De Venecia Foundation, Mary Grace, and Tree’s Company.

For Details and Ticket Reservations, contact Hannah at 0922-8946173.

STAGES presents Christian Bautista in “West Side Story.”

We’re now casting Maria, Bernardo, Riff, Anita, etc. and a strong ensemble of dancers.

Auditions for singers and dancers age 17-30 years old:  Stand Studio, Brahma Bldg., 172 Mabini St., Addition Hills, San Juan, Manila, Mar. 29-30, 2008, 10 am to 5 pm.  Bring 3R colored photo, resume and minus one CD.

Call Judith at STAGES, (632) 818-1111 loc. 225 for further queries.

STAGES’ production of Broadway musical, “West Side Story,” runs at the Meralco Theater Sept. to Oct. 2008.

We’re now talking with fundraising groups, block buyers, corporate and media partners.

We’re very pleased to announce that our featured composer for May 2008 for Monday Nights, New Voices is none other than Mr. Vince de Jesus. Sir Vince’s varied body work includes the musicals Himala, Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah and most recently, Skin Deep.

If one is a performer who is interested in performing one of the songs of Mr. de Jesus, feel free to email us at mnnvmanila@yahoo.com with a sample of your singing or a venue where we can visit to hear you perform. As always, the organizers will do their best to hear everyone!

From the Ateneo’s only socially-oriented theater organization that brought the productions “Bombita”, “Ang Sistema ni Propesor Tuko”, “Satirika” and “Sandaang Panaginip” comes yet another socio-political comedy to look forward to. This summer 2007, Entablado brings “Ulitan: Maiba…Taya!,” a re-staging of its 24th season hit “Maiba…Taya!,” featuring Marcelino Agana, Jr.’s ” New Yorker in Tondo” and Jose Bernard Capino’s “The Commonwealth of Virginia“.

Watch it from May 9-11, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. and on May 12, 2007 at 3:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. at the Rizal Mini Theater, Ateneo Loyola Heights campus. Call Pat at 0920-908 4103 for inquiries.
KAISARIAN: PAGTATANGHAL NG BAYAN. Kaisa. Isa. Kasarian. Sari.
Under the direction of longtime theater advocate Richard de Guzman, ULITAN: Maiba… Taya! opens the organization’ s 26th season, celebrating themes of nationalism, unity and diversity, and gender sensitivity. .

New Yorker in Tondo (Marcelino Agana, Jr.)
Situated within one of the most infamous parts of Metro Manila, New Yorker in Tondo depicts current issues such as nationalism and more importantly that of colonial mentality. Centering on the lives of four magkababata, New Yorker tells the story of how a former ricecake vendor named Kikay, after a year’s stay in the city of New York transformed her into a Francesca and how such change affected the lives of the people she left here in the Philippines. More importantly, as the play progresses, it tends to stress that wherever one may go, she (as with Kikay’s case) would always carry the mark of her hometown.

The Commonwealth of Virginia (Jose Bernard Capino)
The Commonwealth of Virginia portrays the human experience of a small Filipino gay community in Virginia. The play shows the controversial yet colorful dispute between Mother, the queen of this community, and her rebellious, adopted child Allan who imitated her traditional “Miss Saigon” costume, and stole her American boyfriend. Amidst the Halloween get-ups and messy quarrels that led to horrifying revelations, the group struggled to preserve, not only their hairdos and make-ups, but also their national unity and their federacion

Tanghalang Pilipino announces the first of its auditions for its 21st Theater Season of Power Plays. On May 8, 9 and 10, 2007, the search is on for the cast of PILIPINAS CIRCA 1907, the company’s season opener.  Auditions will be held at the Bulwagang Amado Hernandez, Upper Ground Floor, Tanghalang Pambansa, CCP Complex, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, from 6:00 to 10:00 PM.

We are looking for strong male and female actors who can sing and move and are 18 years old and above. Each one must submit a resume with two photos (a 2”x2” head shot and a 3”x5” full body shot), and must be prepared to do a movement piece and read scenes from the script.  Auditionees will also be required to perform the song “Jocelynang Baliwag”. Copies of the audition piece are available at the Tanghalang Pilipino office, 2/F Production Design Center Bldg., CCP Complex, Roxas Blvd., Pasay City.

Applicants must be available for the production schedule with rehearsals running for six weeks prior to the opening on August 10, 2007, and weekend performances at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater) until September 2007.

PILIPINAS CIRCA 1907 is about political conflict and family relations which get in the way of two pairs of star-crossed lovers when America was more in the heart. It is set in the period prior to the National elections for the Philippine assembly in 1907. With 2007 being an election year, the landmark sarswela by Nicanor G. Tiongson and Lutgardo Labad, Lucien Letaba, Louie Pascacio, Chino Toledo, et al, last performed by Tanghalang Pilipino in 1994, will be revived in a new production to be directed by Dennis Marasigan.

Those who have further inquiries may call 832-3661 or 832-1125 locals 1620/1621, Tuesdays to Fridays, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, or send an email to ccptanghalan@yahoo.com.

After being unceremoniously evicted from their old venue (by building managers who thought the poor they served as nuisance), Koiné fights unflaggingly to continue its efforts of serving the poor with their absolutely FREE performing arts classes. This year’s 7th anniversary theatrical spectacle will be the biggest gathering of Koiné Scholars and celebrities ever! Palanca-Award winning writer and composer, Niel de Mesa’s INVENIO (showing on May 26, 2006 7:30pm at the SM Megamall Cinema 9) is a prologue to his sci-fi epic, “Net-Worth Chronicles” set to be staged later within the year.

The futuristic story revolves around the bleak fate of underprivileged children who were separated from their parents and resettled in Railroad-121. The local government have developed a comprehensive system to eradicate poverty by installing each citizen with a “net-worth chip” able to determine any individual’s liquid assets. Since, money is wire-transferred from person to person through mundane business transactions—in this economy driven country—anyone whose net-worth falls to zero will self-destruct. Seven combat-trained children, from the phalanx of poor kids detained in Railroad 121, will attempt to rescue their parents and elders who, they figured, will inevitably become test subjects of this new nerve chip.

The show will feature showstoppers by Koiné Regular, Elite, and Mission Station scholars in Taguig, Tondo, West Triangle, and Bago Bantay (as well as the Koiné VFT Artists from the Koiné Nueva Ecija chapter). Guest celebrities like Aiza Seguerra, Karylle, and many more other celebrities are also set to join the performance.

Tickets are prized at Php500, 300, 200. For tickets call 433.7886 or 09179726514 or log on to www.amazingkoineshows.com.

Just got back from your holy week retreat and beach bumming and found yourself with nothing fun to do this summer? Well, have no fear! TANGHALANG PILIPINO’S SUMMER THEATER ADVENTURE is here!

This exciting three-week workshop program promises fun learning for kids of all ages!

The adventure has begun so don’t be left out! Late enrollment is until Friday April 13, 2007.

(Accommodation depending on slot availability)

For inquiries and schedules, please call 832-3661 or 832-1125 locals 1620/1621.

Due to the deluge of requests from teens and parents from all over, we are opening STAGES and Trumpets Playshop’s auditions for their production of Disney’s “High School Musical” to teens with ages 14-20.

Non-Playshoppers, who will pass the auditions, must enroll at Trumpets Playshop or Musicademy.

Auditions Details:

April 11 (Wed.) and April 12 (Thurs.)
6-10 p.m.
Trumpets Playshop venue
4/F Podium Mall, Ortigas Center

Qualifications:
Male or female, 14 to 20 years old
Prepare a song (minus one or piano accompaniment)
Prepare a dance number
Bring colored photos

STAGES and Trumpets Playshop’s production of Disney’s “High School Musical,” which will be staged at the Meralco Theater on June 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, July 1, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, and 15, will cast young singing heartthrob Sam Concepcion as the musical’s male lead, Troy Bolton.

For more information about the auditions, interested block buyers and sponsors, contact STAGES at tel. no. (632) 818-1111 loc. 209.

Disney’s “High School Musical” is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).

The Municipality of Biñan lies in the center of one of the oldest river trade routes of the Spanish colonies in the Philippines. Today, it is a bustling town for businesses and holds the third largest portion of the residents of the province of Laguna. Theatre has traditionally stayed in the back-side of the culture and arts scene of Biñan. This had been so until the Biñan Youth Performance Council (YPC) was launched on August 7, 2005. The YPC was established to inspire the youth of the local community to practice theatre as means to develop their skills, enhance their talents, and stage seasonal productions.

This summer, through the support of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the YPC shall be staging two Filipino one-act plays in the town of Biñan, Laguna – a municipality not only famous for its “puto” but also for the aspiring  talents of Philippine theater. “Takas” by Bienvenido Noriega, Jr.  and “Cleopatra” by Dickens Polidario, from April 25 to 28 at 6:30 in the evening, at the Silvino’s Residence of the Almeda Subdivision, Dela Paz, Biñan Laguna.

The plays are to be directed by BJ Borja, a Theatre Arts major of the University of Philippines, and founder-artistic director of the YPC. Joining the director are Carlo Pagunaling, production designer; Cinderella Mayo, sound designer; Patrick Valera, poster designer; and Ronilio Almazora, lighting designer.

The playwright of Takas, Bienvenido Noriega, Jr., is a seasonal winner of the prestigious Don Carlos Palanca Awards for Literature. He is the writer of “Deuterium”, winner of the first prize for the said award for the category of full length play in Filipino in 1990.

Dickens Polidario, playwright of Cleopatra, is a Theatre Arts major of the University of the Philippines. He is also a graphics designer and has participated in a number of past theatrical productions.

The Biñan Youth Performance Council (YPC) is a non-profit community theatre founded on August 7, 2005, and has for a year been mounting celebrated productions. The array of genre range from gospel to contemporary productions such as: Kariton (December 2005), Mga Kwentong Buhay sa Harap ng Telon (April 2006), Reality and D’ Istori of Krismas (December 2006), among others, was mounted all under its vision of exposing Biñan youth’s talents in the theatre arts scene, and preserving the community’s rich practices in culture and the arts.

For inquiries, send your email to nsdp_ypc@yahoo.com or contact 09192160440 or 09166758311.