Star Powerhouse

What is seemingly a perfect family like in the house when it is time to welcome a non-family member as new family? Kisapmata is a black-box theater adaptation of a film with the same name launched at the 7th 1981 Metro Manila film festival in 1981. The 1981 film was adapted from the 1961 story entitled “The House on Zapote Street” written by Nick Joaquin, who at age 59 became a National Artist in Literature in the Philippines in 1976. More than forty years later, March 7, 2025 was the launch of its theater adaptation, entitled, Kisapmata, shown at the Blackbox Theater, Tangalang Ignacio Gimenez, Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), Pasay City. The show is about a daughter marrying a man, both of whom struggled under the daughter’s parents. With only four (4) characters: the father, mother, daughter, and son-in-law, the company creatively work out themes on a small stage timely for today’s audiences. This time, in a Blackbox theater, characters become live on stage where audience ...

I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change is a musical comedy first played in a theater in New York in 1996 and has been reenacted all over the world until today. Almost thirty (30) years later, the play is celebrated across the world including in the Philippines as reinterpreted by Repertory Philippines launched last June 14, 2024 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza in Makati. The play's tagline is "Everything you have ever secretly thought about dating, romance, marriage, lovers, husbands, wives and in-laws, but were afraid to admit." The show is played by four (4) characters who acted in more than ten different roles at different life phases throughout the play.  Once seated, the tall and gorgeous Mrs. Mindy Perez-Rubio, the president & CEO of Repertory Philippines, shared how the rendition was reinterpreted for the present times and the importance of community in social media for the theater industry.  The first scene introduced the four (4) cast on sp...

  “Rent” had its launch last April 18, 2024 (Thursday) evening, running two (2) and a half hours at Carlos P. Romulo Theater, fourth floor of Rizal Banking Commercial Corporation (RCBC) Plaza, in the bustling central business district (CBD) of Makati City. “Rent” is a rock opera adapted from Jonathan Larson’s book inspired by previous operas about bohemian living where young artists struggled in downtown cities in America in the 19 th and 20 th centuries. The award-winning American musical was adapted by local theater company, 9works Theatrical. The actors were candid in their stage performances. There were occasional microphone lapses, but the actor continued with their performances excellently.  9works Theatrical knows how to capture its audience. Meet and greet was extra special and different as audiences were invited to sing along in chorus by the end of the show. “Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes.” the song starts, “In daylights? In sunsets? How abo...

If one fancies Ballet Manila as an ensemble, Le Corsaire (the pirate) is among the few to best showcase a whole cast with various settings, character highlights, and intricate clothing that complements the expressions. The story is about the corsairs or pirates who arrive at a land that enacts a culture where girls are purchased to entertain. Ballet Manila takes the stage to showcase talents in this performance show, Le Corsaire last February 25, 2024 (Sunday) 5PM at the Aliw Theater in Pasay, Manila.  Aliw Theater as a venue is interesting as it was built as a gift to Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, founder of Ballet Manila and Prima Ballerina, by her husband. Aliw Theater is also beside the Cultural Center of the Philippines. In the millennium, stand-alone theaters like Aliw Theater were a rare gem. As a form of community center, the theater brings citizens together to a dedicated purpose towards theater at a location. The theater, renovated in 2022, 20 years after its founding, can accomm...

  It was fortunate last February 18, 2024 Sunday to be able to watch "Rama, Hari" (Rama, King) a Filipino rock musical led by Alice Reyes Dance Company' visionary founder and National Artist for Dance, Alice Reyes, now 80+ years old of age. My appreciation for ballet has been developed over the last few years especially last year through the generous invitation of a long-time friend, Axl, who is a fan of Philippine ballet. This time has once again elevated my appreciation for the art of ballet to a great extent. I watched with a fresh perspective without expectations and found myself smiling to learn what the standard of a National Artist for Dance is with ballet.  My innocence on what to expect goes with how I had nothing planned for that Sunday and just allowed my friend to lead the way. We met earlier at SM Mall of Asia that afternoon 2 PM to watch a 20-minute flashmob surprise Valentine's Month concert by the Ramon Obusan Folklore group, Philippine Philharmonic Or...

The overall experience of watching Mabining Mandirigma a Steampunk Musical was absolutely entertaining and fun. The musical and it’s direction was honest, straight to the point and informative. It allowed its audiences to decide about the truth that happened in our history. The choreography and song numbers are all fine, same goes with the delivery of message and the intensity of emotions in every scene.

De La Salle University Culture And Arts Office and DLSU Harlequin Theatre Guild recently staged a three act stage performance titled  TITSER KO SI LA SALLE!  “Ang Projector ni Ma’am” written by Genevieve Asenjo; “Tser” written by Maynard Manansala; and “Lesson Plan” written by Genaro Gojo Cruz. The three act performance highlights the life story and the real life situation of a teacher in the Philippines.

A tribute to imperfect families, a light comedy that represents a slice of life of a not so regular family going through some challenges but truly relatable to all. The story line of Father’s Day revolves around Henry Willows. a lonely father for a long time that get used of being alone. Because of it or being bitter to his past he has this wall to protecting him. On a one winter evening, his son Mathews comes back for a unexpected visit who happens to bring also his pregnant 16 year old goth girlfriend where, his mother Sue doesn’t approved of. Mathew runs to his dad longing for approval. Out of the blue Sue, appears in the scene looking for his son Mathew. There the two divorced couple reunited bringing back their past filled with no holds barred dialogue and savage words. There with their delinquent son, they rediscover their love to each other. Directed by Baby Barredo, a light family drama, comedy full of surprises and humor revolves around the play. The British ...

How a soul speaks so loud that it can communicate through the body language? This how Nicolo Ricardo Magno narrated the story of Panta Rhei.

Tanghalang Ateneo’s Alpha Kappa Omega has its own take on the adaptation of the Filipino classic film “Batch ‘81.” The existence of the the core of its narrative was there but the flow and how things executed was adapted to the present time. Some scenes has been made and adapted to the present situation to make things relevant specially to the young ones.

The young and the best ballet dance company in the Philippines, treat their guests as they showcase the world premier of Martin Lawrence’s Winding Road and the classical piece of Michael Fokine, Les Sylphydes(Chopiniana).  To make the ballet concert longer and more fun to watch the dance company decided to include other repertoire in the program like La Bayadere of Marius Petipa, an excerpt from Vasily Vainonen’s Flames of Paris, Albrecht’s variation from the romantic ballet Giselle, Ali’s variation from the picturesque Le Corsaire, Aramica by Augustus “Bam” Damian III, and the love story of the goddess of hunt, Diana and the hunter, Actaeon. LA BAYADERE  (The Temple Dancer) Choreography: Marius Pepita Music: Ludwig Minkus The tandem of Akari Ida (Gamzatti) and Joshua Enciso (Solor) heat up the stage with their extraordinary energy as they flawlessly performed the relaxing masterpiece. It was no surprise that Joshua would perform such level, but he exc...