Star Powerhouse

What Can You Do For Love ????? “Happiness is a Pearl,” an original play penned by Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature Hall of Famer Rody Vera is all set to open on June 9 at the 1701 The Little Room Upstairs located at Landsdale Tower, Mother Ignacia St. corner Timog Avenue, Quezon City. As the opening production for the second season of Artist Playground, “Happiness is a Pearl” revolves around three characters ---Kenji, a male courtesan; Maria, a poor Pinay Japayuki; and Mari, a wife who falls in love with Kenji.

Once the spotlight fades to oblivion, the true stories of laughters and pain commence. Dulaang UP closes it’s 40th Theater Season by challenging both the intellect and affection, with the staging of “Ang Dressing Room: Kung Saan Lubusang Pangungulila ang Dulot ng Agos ng Panahon”. The play is a Filipino translation of a Shimizu Kunio original, “The Dressing Room: That which flows away ultimately becomes nostalgia.” The play shows 4 similarly different characters, each fueled by their own desire to take the spotlight as Theater thespians, but haunted by memories and limitations. Each character, simply named Actress A,B,C, and D, shares with the audience the lives they long for and how frustratingly hard it is to attain such stature.

Multi-awarded actor and director Roeder Camanag is set to lead an all-male cast to act as females in Dulaang UP’s “ANG DRESSING ROOM: KUNG SAAN LUBUSANG PANGUNGULILA ANG DULOT NG AGOS NG PANAHON” ---  a 1977 post-war Japanese play by Shimizu Kunio, translation adapted by Chiori Miyagawa from an original translation by John Gillespie and its Filipino translation by Palanca award winning playwright Nicolas Pichay under the direction of Alexander Cortez.

EL FILIBUSTERISMO the novel of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal written by noted playwright Jomar Fleras narrates the return of the protagonist of Noli Me Tangere, Crisostomo Ibarra, under the guise of the wealthy jeweler named Don Simoun. Fresh from his critically-acclaimed performance as the sublime paralytic in “Ang Huling Lagda ni Apolinario Mabini,”  ROEDER CAMANAG shall once again reprise his role in Gantimapala Theater’s EL FILIBUSTERISMO. The role is being essayed by multi-talented actor Roeder Camañag who is stepping into this role for the 7th time for Gantimpala Theater Foundation. His foray as Don Simoun started in 1998 and then again in 2005, 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013. Indeed, Roeder’s celebration of his 27th year as an artist in the entertainment and theater industry is being etched  with very significant roles in the legitimate stage. He also won the 2013 Aliw Awards for  Best Actor (Musical) for “Stageshow” under Tanghalang Pilipino.

As Roeder Camanag celebrates his 27th year as an actor, he will embark on the most challenging role as the sublime paralytic in Dulaang UP's ' Ang Huling Lagda ni Apolinario Mabini." After essaying the roles of Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Aguinaldo and Jose Rizal, let us all send our best of cheers to Roeder for this monumental role of his lifetime. As we continue to bring more cheers of good luck to Roeder Camanag, here are "27" interesting notes about his life, love and career.