Erickson Dela Cruz News

In its fifth year, 9 Works Theatrical brings together the first-time tandem of Nikki Gil ('Sweet Charity,' 'They're Playing Our Song') and Joaquin Valdes ('Red,' 'Into the Woods'), playing the beloved couple featured in Jason Robert Brown's ('The Bridges of Madison County,' 'Parade') cult musical THE LAST FIVE YEARS. The production, directed by Robbie Guevara ('Grease,' 'They're Playing Our Song'), runs from Saturday, August 9, until Sunday, August 31, at Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza in Makati City.

The cast members of Red Turnip Theater's ('Closer,' 'Cock') second season opener, David Lindsay-Abaire's 2007 Pulitzer Prize winning play RABBIT HOLE, were introduced to the members of the press Monday, June 16, at 2nd's, Bonifacio High Street, Global City.

Dulaang UP, together with UP Dulaang Laboratoryo, brings to the stage HARING UBU, a Filipino adaptation of French symbolist writer Alfred Jarry's 'Ubu Roi,' a precursor to the Theater of the Absurd and surrealism, at Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater, University of the Philippines (UP).

Despite fear and stress that Philippine cinema icon Cherie Gil had to go through producing and starring in FULL GALLOP, a play based on the life of Diana Vreeland (1903-1989), noted fashion columnist and editor of Harper's Bazaar and Vogue, Gil manages to depict Vreeland as a funny, rapid-fired talker as opposed to being languid and bitchy ala Miranda Priestly in the novel-turned-movie 'The Devil Wears Prada.'

9 Works Theatrical ('Grease,' 'You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown') held its first batch of auditions for its upcoming production of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES at Opera Haus in Makati City last week. 42 dancers and 16 theater actors--who can dance--showed up at the auditions.

Tanghalang Pilipino, the official theater company of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), closes its 27th theater season with the revival of National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin's 1977 three-act play MGA AMA, MGA ANAK, at the CCP's Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (Little Theatre) running now until Sunday, March 9.

AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY is an American's perspective on life in the countryside. While most of us are thinking Americans are remiss in their family relationships, this play shows a very complex interaction among siblings, parents, and extended relations. Yes, very Filipino -- except maybe for the ending. Formula-Filipino-network stories would probably go another way in the end. What ending? Oh no spoilers, dear!

DO YOU HEAR THE PEOPLE SING? international concert tour headliner Lea Salonga ("Les Miserables"), sans the show's other two lead stars David Harris ("Legally Blonde") and Marie Zamora ("Les Miserables"), met with the press yesterday, January 22, at Maxims Hotel at Resorts World Manila. Instead, Salonga was joined by the new additions to the cast Jon Joven ("Miss Saigon"), Leo Tavarro Valdez ("Miss Saigon"), Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo ("Miss Saigon"), and Carla Guevara Laforteza ("Miss Saigon") who will perform with Salonga, Harris, and Zamora in the Manila leg of the concert set Wednesday, January 29, and Thursday, January 30, at 8 p.m. at Resorts World Manila's Newport Performing Arts Theatre.

BB Gandanghari, Filipino actor and androgynous model, produces and stars in "Halik ng Tarantula," a Filipino translation of Argentine author Mario Puig's play "Kiss of the Spiderwoman" by Filipino playwright Rene O. Villanueva.