ONGOING
The Necessary Theatre’s ‘Red,’ CCP Tanghalang Huseng Batute, until Feb. 9
JOHN Logan’s Tony-winning play “Red,” which made its Manila debut last year via a production of The Necessary Theatre starring Bart Guingona as the abstract expressionist Mark Rothko and Joaquin Valdes as his (fictional) apprentice, returns for eight performances at the CCP’s Tanghalang Huseng Batute.
“Red,” which also went on a provincial tour, picked up Best Actor and Director awards at the last Aliw Awards and was named best play by the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s yearend theater citations, along with citations for its two stars.
Remaining performances today, 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and tomorrow, 3 p.m.
Call 8323704, 8919999 or through TNT 0917-8170463. Like on www. facebook.com/TheNecessaryTheatre; follow on Twitter, @AAITNT.
Repertory Philippines’ ‘Wait Until Dark,’ OnStage Greenbelt 1, until Feb. 9
REPERTORY Philippines presents the classic thriller by Frederick Knott, “Wait Until Dark,” about a blind housewife named Suzy who finds herself terrorized by three strange men.
In the cast are Liesl Batucan, Joel Trinidad, Robbie Guevara, Jamie Wilson, Arnell Carrion and Dani Gana.
The play premiered on Broadway in 1966 and was turned into an acclaimed movie in 1967 starring Audrey Hepburn. Rep’s production will be directed by Miguel Faustmann, who also serves as set designer.
All performances at OnStage, 2/F, Greenbelt 1, Makati City.
Call 5716926 or 5714941; e-mail [email protected] or visit www.repertoryphilippines. com.
Peta’s ‘William,’ Star Theater, until Feb. 16
THE PHILIPPINE Educational Theater Association brings back its 2010 award-winning Shakespeare-in-rap musical “William,” running until Feb. 16 at Star Theater in Pasay City.
The play, hailed by BBC News as a “modern twist on Shakespeare” that “aims to help young people understand the playwright,” was written by Ron Capinding, with music by Jeffrey Hernandez and direction by Maribel Legarda. The rap numbers were choreographed by John Tan of Urban Dance Crew.
Call 7256244, 4100821-22 and 0917-5765400; or e-mail [email protected].
Dulaang UP’s ‘Ang Nawalang Kapatid,’ Guerrero Theater, until Feb. 23
DULAANG UP’s “Ang Nawalang Kapatid” is a musical adaptation of the Indian epic “Mahabharata,” with book and lyrics by Floy Quintos, music by Ceejay Javier, and direction and choreography by Dexter Santos.
The all-student cast includes Jules de la Paz, Ross Pesigan, Jon Abella, Rence Aviles, Teetin Villanueva, Stephen Viñas, Vincent Pajara, Al Garcia and Jeffrey Hernandez.
The play runs until Feb. 23 at the Wilfrido Guerrero Theater, 2/F, Palma Hall, UP Diliman.
Call 9261349, 9818500 loc. 2449 or 4337840. Visit www.facebook.com/ DulaangUnibersidadNgPilipinas or follow on Twitter, @Official_DUP.
Peta’s ‘Rak of Aegis,’ Peta Theater Center, until March 9
THE MUSIC of the legendary pop-rock band Aegis is featured in Peta’s “Rak of Aegis,” a new Pinoy rock comedy musical now running until March 9 at Peta Theater Center, Quezon City.
The cast, led by Isay Alvarez-Seña, Robert Seña, Aicelle Santos and Joan Bugcat, showcases a mix of seasoned and upcoming theater talents.
“Rak of Aegis” is created by the same women behind Peta’s hit comedy musical “Care Divas”—Peta artistic director Maribel Legarda and Palanca Award-winning writer Liza Magtoto, with musical arrangement and direction by actor-musician Myke Salomon.
Call 7256244, 4100821-22 and 0917-5765400; or e-mail [email protected].
‘Wicked,’ CCP Main Theater, until March 9
THE BROADWAY spectacular opened in Manila last Jan. 22 with an Australian cast headed by Jemma Rix as Elphaba and Suzie Mathers as Glinda.
With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Winnie Holzman and originally directed by Joe Mantello, “Wicked” is a musical version of the 1995 Gregory Maguire novel “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.” (See review on Page C1.)
Call TicketWorld at 8919999 or visit www.facebook.com/WickedManila.
Tanghalang Ateneo’s ‘Breakaway Antigone,’ Rizal Mini Theater, until March 22
TANGHALANG Ateneo revisits Sophocles’ “Oedipus Rex” and “Antigone” in a new musical production directed by Ricky Abad, as part of its season dedicated to “Reimagining the Greeks.”
The book and lyrics are by Floy Quintos; with music by Ceejay Javier and William Elvin Manzano, and dramaturgy by Giselle Garcia. Production design is by Gino Gonzales.
“Breakaway Antigone” runs until March 22 at Rizal Mini Theater, Ateneo de Manila University.
Call 0917-6309097; e-mail [email protected]; or visit www.facebook.com/ tanghalangateneo.
OPENING
Ateneo Blue Repertory’s ‘Toilet: The Musical,’ Admu Gonzaga Hall, Feb. 12-March 1
ATENEO Blue Repertory presents “Toilet: The Musical,” an original Filipino production with music and lyrics by Ejay Yatco. It will run Feb. 12-March 1 at Ateneo de Manila University’s Gonzaga Exhibit Hall.
In the lead roles are Fred Lo and Justine Peña. “Toilet: The Musical” is codirected by Yatco and Bym Buhain.
Call 0917-8782239.
Tanghalang Pilipino’s ‘Mga Ama, Mga Anak,’ CCP Little Theater, Feb. 19-March 9
BASED on Nick Joaquin’s short story “Three Generations”—about a once-powerful but now wheelchair-bound patriarch and the conflicts in his family—“Mga Ama, Mga Anak” is adapted for the stage by Virgilio Almario and José “Pete” Lacaba, and directed by Joel Lamangan for Tanghalang Pilipino.
The powerhouse cast includes Robert Arevalo, Spanky Manikan, Celeste Legaspi, Jackie Lou Blanco and Cris Villonco.
It runs Feb. 19-Mar. 9 at Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (CCP Little Theater), CCP, Pasay City.
Call 8321125 loc. 1620-1621, 2183791, 0917-7500107, 0918-9593949; or TicketWorld at 8919999.
UPLB’s ‘Bonifacio and the Freak Show,’ DL Umali Auditorium, UP Los Baños, Feb. 19-21
THE UP LOS BAÑOS Office for the Initiatives on Culture and Arts, in collaboration with the UPLB Department of Humanities of the College of Arts and Sciences, Harmonya: The String Ensemble of UPLB and THEA107: Theater Communication Sections Y-Z, and through the celebration of the 3rd Southern Tagalog Arts Festival, presents the original Filipino musical “Bonifacio and the Freak Show,” Feb. 19-21 (3/7 p.m. at DL Umali Auditorium, UPLB, Laguna.
“Bonifacio and the Freak Show” dramatizes the moments when the Katipunan is first discovered until Andres Bonifacio’s execution on the morning of May 10, 1897.
Joey Ting directs, with Layeta Bucoy providing book and lyrics, and Marie Angelica Armecin Dayao and Harmonya the original music. The cast is made up of a new generation of UPLB theater artists.
Shows are free. Call 0926-5027442.
Repertory Philippines’ ‘August: Osage County,’ OnStage Greenbelt 1, Feb. 21-March 16
TRACY Letts’ sensational drama “August: Osage County,” winner of the Pulitzer Prize and five Tony Awards, will have its Philippine premiere with a Repertory Philippines production to be directed by Chris Millado.
Rep artistic director Baby Barredo will play the drug-addicted matriarch Violet, whose fraught relationship with her three daughters and their families comes to a head at a clan reunion.
The play runs Feb. 21-March 16 at OnStage, 2/F, Greenbelt 1, Makati City.
Call 5716926 or 5714941; e-mail [email protected]; visit www.repertoryphilippines.com.
Short+Sweet Theatre Manila, Guerrero Theater, UP Diliman, Feb. 26-March 9
SHORT+SWEET, an Australian theatrical initiative that presents festivals of theater, dance and music works lasting just 10 minutes or less, now comes to Manila.
The Sydney program of S+S is now the biggest short play festival in the world. The Manila edition will be held in collaboration with the University of the Philippines, which will host the festival from Feb. 26 to March 9.
The first set of 10 plays will run Feb. 26-March 2. The second set of 10 plays will run March 4-8. The best five from Week 1 and Week 2 selected by a jury and an audience poll will compete at the grand finale on Mar. 9.
For updates and ticket information, visit web.shortand-sweet.org/festivals/ shortsweet-theatre-manila.
Red Turnip’s ‘Cock,’ Whitespace Makati, March 7-April 6
FOLLOWING its maiden production of “Closer” last year, Red Turnip Theater’s new offering is Mike Bartlett’s “seriously radical” (The Independent) comedy “Cock,” about a gay couple who enter uncharted territory when, following a momentary breakup, one of them falls for a woman.
“Cock” marks Rem Zamora’s directorial debut. The cast includes Topper Fabregas, Niccolo Manahan, Jenny Jamora and Audie Gemora.
The show runs March 7-April 6 at Whitespace, Chino Roces Avenue Exit, Makati City.
Visit TicketWorld (https://bit.ly/1adhaCT) or e-mail [email protected] for tickets.
