ONGOING

Actor’s Actors Inc.’s ‘The Normal Heart,’ RCBC Theater, until July 5

Larry Kramer’s incendiary and now-classic play about the early HIV years gets its Manila premiere courtesy of Bart Guingona, who directs and stars as Ned Weeks, Kramer’s alter ego in the autobiographical play. Also starring are Topper Fabregas, Richard Cunanan, Red Concepcion, Nor Domingo, TJ Trinidad, Jef Flores and Roselyn Perez. The show runs for only five performances, with remaining performances today and tomorrow, at
3 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Call 2150788, 0917-5378313, or Ticketworld at 8919999.

Virgin Labfest, CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute, until July 12

Now on its 11th year, the annual festival of untried, untested, unstaged one-act plays presents a new batch of 12 original Filipino plays out of 156 entries submitted for consideration to the Writers’ Bloc, the playwrights’ group that spearheaded and continues to co-run Virgin  Labfest (VL) along with the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP)   and Tanghalang Pilipino. Previously running for only two weeks, VL  has been expanded this year to a three-week run, until July 12.

Call 8321125 loc.1606 or 1607, or visit www.culturalcenter.gov.ph.

Resorts World Manila’s ‘Bituing Walang Ningning: The Musical,’ Newport Performing Arts Theater, until July 18

The classic Viva movie that starred Sharon Cuneta and Cherie Gil makes the leap to the stage in a musical adaptation by director Freddie Santos. The musical, a production of Resorts World Manila’s theater arm Full House Theater Company, features Willy Cruz’s timeless OPM ballads, and stars Cris Villonco, Mark Bautista and newcomer Monica Cuenco. Lending support are stalwarts Michael Williams and Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo.

Call TicketWorld at 8919999 or TicketNet at 9115555.

Tanghalang Pilipino’s ‘Mabining Mandirigma,’ CCP Little Theater, until July 19

Chris Millado directs “Mabining Mandirigma,” a retelling and examination of Apolinario Mabini’s life and legacy through a “steampunk musical” written by Nicanor Tiongson, with music by Jed Balsamo and choreography by Denisa Reyes. Delphine Buencamino stars as the Sublime Paralytic, with Antonio Ferrer, Carol Bello and the Tanghalang Pilipino’s  Actors’ Company also in the cast.

Call Pie Umali or Lei Celestino , 8321125 loc. 1620 or 1621.

Atlantis Productions’ ‘Saturday Night Fever,’ The Theatre at Solaire, until July 26

International stars Brandon Rubendall and Jenna Rubaii headline “Saturday Night Fever,” a production by Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group in cooperation with the Robert Stigwood Organisation, directed by Bobby Garcia. Based on the 1977 film, the musical has David Gallo as scenic designer, Vince Pesce as choreographer, Paul Miller as theatrical lighting designer and Tara Rubin as the casting director. After Manila, it is set to tour Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Macau.

Call 8927078 or like Facebook.com/ATEGasia.

Dalanghita Productions’ ‘Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady,’ OnStage Greenbelt, until July 26

Carlo Vergara’s one-act play, “Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady,”  a hit musical earlier this year by new theater company Dalanghita Productions, returns for a second run, this time at OnStage, Greenbelt. Directed by Chris Martinez, with music and lyrics by Vince de Jesus, “Leading Lady’” has a 30-strong cast led by Bituin Escalante, Frenchie Dy, Markki Stroem, Nar Cabico and  May Bayot. Shiela Valderrama-Martinez joins the production as an alternate Madre de Dios.

Call TicketWorld, 8919999,  visit www.ticketworld.com.ph.

Peta’s ‘Rak of Aegis,’ Peta Theater Center, until Aug. 16

Philippine Educational Theater Association’s (Peta) blockbuster musical featuring the music of Aegis, now officially its longest-running production with some 150 shows and counting, is back with new cast members (among them, pop singer Renz Verano), new songs and new tweaks to the multiple Gawad Buhay!-winning original material created by librettist Liza Magtoto and director Maribel Legarda.

Call 0927-3917379, 7256244 loc. 23, or 8919999.Visit www.ticketworld.com.ph.