ONGOING
Artist Playground’s ‘Happiness is a Pearl,’ The Little Room Upstairs, June 9-July 3
“HAPPINESS is a Pearl,” an original play penned by Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature Hall of Famer Rody Vera, opened June 9 and runs until July 3 at 1701 The Little Room Upstairs, Landsdale Tower, Mother Ignacia St. corner Timog Ave., Quezon City.
“Happiness is a Pearl” is the story of the intertwined fates of Kenji, a male courtesan; Maria, a poor Pinay japayuki; and Mari, who falls in love with Kenji. Directed by Paul Jake Paule, it stars Ruth Alferez, Tomas Miranda and The Players, the Artist Playground’s group of artists.
Call 0926-9323179 or visit Artist Playground’s Facebook Page.
OPENING
MusicArtes’ ‘Godspell,’ Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, June 17-26
MusicArtes presents “Godspell” from June 17-19 and 24-26 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium of RCBC Plaza, Makati City, under the direction of Dr. Anton Juan.
The powerhouse cast includes Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Jef Flores, OJ Mariano, Shiela Valderrama-Martinez, Caisa Borromeo, Poppert Bernadas, Topper Fabregas, Red Concepcion, Stephen Viñas, Abi Sulit, Maronne Cruz, Rhenz Gabalonzo and Gab Pangilinan.
“Godspell” was the first musical hit of Stephen Schwartz, who would go on to write “Pippin” and “Wicked.” MusicArtes’ production has musical direction by Ejay Yatco.
Call 8958098, 5193603, 5771046 or e-mail musicartes.manila@gmail.com; 8919999 or visit ticketworld.com.ph.
Peta’s ‘Rak of Aegis,’ Peta Theater Center, June 17-Aug. 28
Peta’s now-legendary musical comedy production featuring the hits of the Aegis band is on an unprecedented fifth rerun, with new cast members—“Miss Saigon” alum Tanya Manalang, “The Voice” finalist Alisah Bonaobra, Jon Santos, Carla Guevara-Laforteza, among others—joining the original members.
“Rak of Aegis” has libretto by Liza Magtoto, musical direction by Myke Salomon and direction by Maribel Legarda. It runs Tuedays to Sundays beginning June 17 until Aug. 28.
Call 8919999 or 7256244, e-mail petatheater@gmail.com or visit ticketworld.com.ph.
9 Works Theatrical’s ‘American Idiot,’ Globe Iconic Store, BGC Amphitheater, Taguig, June 24-July 10
9 Works Theatrical and Globe Telecom present the Philippine premiere of the punk rock musical “American Idiot,” based on Green Day’s rock opera album.
Basti Artadi returns to musical theater to lead a cast of rock performers and theater thespians, among them Jason Fernandez and Norby David, both formerly of Rivermaya; Miggy Chavez of Chicosci; and, from musical theater, Nel Gomez, Yanah Laurel, Alex Godinez and “Miss Saigon” alumni Ariel Reonal and Ela Lisondra, among others.
“American Idiot,” written by Michael Mayer and Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong, is directed by Robbie Guevara and runs June 24- July 10 at Globe Iconic Store, Bonifacio High Street Amphitheater, BGC, Taguig City.
Call 5867105, 0917-5545560, 8919999, e-mail info@9workstheatrical.com or visit www.globe.com.ph/American-Idiot.
Virgin Labfest 12, CCP’s Tanghalang Huseng Batute, June 29-July 15
Twelve new one-act plays are once again showcased in the 12th edition of the Virgin Labfest, the annual drama festival of “unpublished, unstaged, untested and untried works” jointly run by the Writer’s Bloc Inc., Tanghalang Pilipino and Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), in cooperation with National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and held at CCP’s Tanghalang Huseng Batute.
This year’s edition also showcases three “revisited” plays from last year’s festival, five staged readings, and “fragments” or excerpts performed by a guest theater troupe.
The festival, with the theme “Binyag (Baptism),” runs for two weeks, June 29-July 17.
Call 8323704/06 or 8321125 loc. 1409, or visit ticketworld.com.ph.
UP Playwrights Theater’s ‘The Female Heart,’ Guerrero Theater, UP Diliman, July 1-10
Written by Linda Faigao-Hall and directed by Banaue Miclat-Janssen, “The Female Heart” is the comeback production for UP Playwrights Theater after a hiatus of three years. The story is about a woman living in Smoky Mountain who is forced by poverty to become a mail-order bride in the United States.
In the cast are Chase Salazar, Al Gatmaitan, Peewee O’Hara, Sheryll Ceasico, Mark McKeown and Ina Azarcon–Bolivar.
“The Female Heart” is produced by special arrangement with the Playwright and Elaine Devlin Literary Inc., 411 Lafayette Street, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10003.
Call 0927-7406124, 0917-8239531, 9261349, 4337840, 9818500 local 2449; or e-mail dulaangupmarketing@gmail.com.
Twin Bill Theater’s ‘Suicide, Incorporated,’ Performing Arts Recreation Center, San Juan City, July 15-23
Twin Bill Theater’s second offering for its inaugural season is Andrew Hinderaker’s dark comedy “Suicide, Incorporated,” about a company with a most unusual business: helping clients write the perfect suicide letter. (see story above.)
Hans Eckstein, Jeremy Domingo, George Schulze, Mako Alonso, Bibo Reyes and Chino Veguillas are in the cast. Direction is by Steven Conde, with lighting design by Joseph Matheu and set design by Ed Lacson Jr.
The play will run July 15-23 at the Performing Arts Recreation Center, 494 Lt. Artiaga St., San Juan City.
Call 0927-4604652, 0916-7759374 or 8919999, or visit ticketworld.com.ph.
Upstart Productions’ ‘Love/Sick,’ The Mind Museum Auditorium, BGC, Aug. 5-20
Joel Trinidad directs the Philippine premiere of John Cariani’s “Love/Sick,” a play consisting of nine vignettes that examines various kinds of romantic relationships, from first love to couples on the brink of divorce. The New York Times has hailed the play for its “easy-going laughs and snark-free cleverness…”
The eight-member cast includes Rachel Alejandro, Noel Rayos, Bibo Reyes, Teenee Chan, Mica Pineda, Nicky Triviño, Onyl Torres and Trinidad himself.
“Love/Sick” runs Aug. 5-20 at The Mind Museum Auditorium, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.
Call 0917-8116516 or visit Upstart Productions’ FB page.