Though it has always fought to survive, Philippine theater has gone way beyond survival mode the past three decades. As it has doggedly shed light on the stark realities,
Excerpts from the best-loved Philippine modern and contemporary musicals will be featured in the ambitious production, “Musikal!”, the gala concert to mark the 45th anniversary celebration of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), on Sept. 5-6.
The first Inquirer Lifestyle-Theater roundtable hosts eight actors–seven young first-time leads and one veteran on a stage comeback–whose standout performances this year made us bolt from our seats and cheer.
When “Katy” opened on Jan. 27 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, not only was it the first local production to raise its curtain this year, it was also a harbinger of sorts.
GLOBE TELECOM is supporting the return of the iconic Filipino production “Katy!”, scheduled to run at the Meralco Theater July 19-Aug. 4, in line with the company’s thrust of developing and promoting local talents.
Visibly unwell, Isay Alvarez still blew everyone away as “bodabil” queen Katy dela Cruz at the press preview of Spotlight Artists Centre’s “Katy” Thursday night. Tirso Cruz III (as Katy’s father) and Dulce (as one-time stage rival Olivia) were also excellent. But the real find is Aicelle Santos (of La Diva) as the young Katy. Twenty-five years after its inaugural run (which starred Mitch Valdez as Katy and Celeste Legaspi as Olivia), the musical remains a signal achievement for composer Ryan Cayabyab and librettist Jose Javier Reyes, and a milestone in original Filipino musical theater.
When Isay Alvarez was a little girl, her mother Nene took her to see the film “The Sound of Music.” The effect on her was electrifying, a defining moment which would eventually pave the way for her career as a singing actress.
Actress-singer Isay Alvarez leads the cast in Spotlight Artists Centre’s revival production of the iconic Filipino musical “Katy” Jan. 17-27 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (Little Theater).
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