Joselle is a multi-tasker: a mother/wife/entrepreneur/caterer plantsadora all in one! But she is struggling to handle her children while turning her husband into a more involved parent. In this play, her options are tested and values are examined. It is up to Joselle and the people around her to create a different path of parenting, of creating more options. How? That’s what the play will explore.
From an adaptation of Rabindranath Tagore’s drama Dakghar (“Post Office”) comes a poignant play about a child named Abel – who, despite his illness greets the world with loving and consuming passion through the lone window of his room. Told from the point of view of the people from the village who are touched by his innocence, strength of spirit and hope, Abel is brought to the outside world though his conversations with a taho-seller, a guard, a policeman and a young girl. A live score sung by various children’s choirs accentuates his inspiring story and the villagers’ rich tales.
PETA plays homage to Rizal’s 150th year! Take a glimpse of a child’s journey destined to be a hero! Pepito, a young boy from the future opens a magical book that becomes a magical portal to the past and future. In his journey, he comes face-to-face with another young lad, Pepe aka Jose Rizal and finds himself exploring colonial Calamba. He takes Pepe to the future and they journey into an exciting series of events that reveal the truth about heroes, love and friendship.
Noli Me Tangere and El Filibustismo rolled into one spectaclar production! Taking off from Rizal’s famous novels, Noli at Fili Dekada Dos Mil provides a contemporary twist to the two well-loved classics as it transports Rizal’s characters into modern times. Now set in a small town of Maypajo in Quezon province, Rizal’s protagonist – Ibarra becomes a dashing Mayor who fights the logging operations in Sierra Madre and becomes a captive of his own love for the modern day Maria Clara – Clarissa Santos.
Travel into far-away kingdoms and meet wondrous characters from three of her stories: “Ang Prinsipeng Mahaba ang ilong”, which is the story of a prince who was cursed with a nose as long as an elephant’s; “Binibining Tumalo sa Mahal na Hari”, a story about a maiden who earns the ire of the king of Tondo and endures three challenges that test her cleverness; and “Ang Prinsipeng Duwag”, a story about a prince who is ridiculed for his refusal to fight wars. Like a fairytale book that has come to life – Lola Basyang will surely take every child and adult to a magical journey!
Care Divas is a disarmingly funny and candid musical drama. It is a story about five Filipino transgender migrant workers who have emigrated to Israel to work as health care providers for the elderly and who in their spare time, perform as drag queens. While desperate to make ends meet in another country, they also struggle to search for freedom and acceptance. Entertaining as it is, the play also demonstrates the generosity of spirit, resilience and humanity of Filipinos. If you would like to post reviews, comments or questions about our shows please post at our blog.
After 40 years of producing theater, what have we not said or done? Are we repeating ourselves because it seems nothing has changed in Philippine society and we have to constantly perform stories that unmask the never changing social ills and challenges? What can a theater season really contribute to help bring about social awareness and change? Does our art have the power to bring about that change?
This season faces the specter of the 2010 Elections which loom as a crucial moment in our history and political life. We cannot help but be challenged by this. We welcome this new season as a renewed challenge to test and push the capacity of art in general and theater in particular, to inform, influence, inspire and catapult our audiences to answer the CLARION CALL which Is a powerful request for action directed towards the Filipino public.
This 42nd theater season brings together four productions that intend to take our audiences on a journey that will reveal iconic characters of Philippine society– familiar characters given new life through fresh, interesting and innovative approaches that will capture not only their rich stories, but also the wellsprings of our creative artistry. If you would like to post reviews, comments or questions about our shows please post at our blog.
In the midst of globalization, global warming, poverty, the bombardment of information technology and media, what do we artists have to address as the primary target of our work? The major role of any art or media is to “influence” tastes, habits and possibly even points of views. The speed by which information is spread and the level of influence that it engenders challenge us to sharpen our messages to contribute not only to an awareness of our current social conditions but also to promote critical thinking among our audiences (no matter what age, gender and social status they belong to) through performances that are engaging and which make use of language and forms familiar to them; performances that both entertain and educate.
Our 41st Theater Season recognizes the role of the writer in crafting these performances and shaping the messages that will be sent to those at the receiving end of these messages – the audience. It will thus feature the Writer and his work. It will involve works of major Filipino writers as adapted by contemporary writers to reflect our current conditions. And in the same tradition, it will showcase works by European writers to allow both our artists and audiences to expand their perspective by allowing the works of these masters to mirror our own realities.
