Kenneth Sadsad

You'd be hard-pressed to find a busier man in the industry than Vince Tanada. Now in his 16th year as the president and founding artistic director of the Philippine Stagers Foundation (PSF), he also serves as the company's creative heartbeat--writing and directing productions with a history of reaching far-flung viewers. Just when you think he's due for a well-deserved sabbatical, Tanada is back with a major theater project as though he was checking a mere deadline from his law office (yes, he's still an attorney). From the looks of it, there's no sign of the playwright letting up; in fact, 'Obra ni Juan' shows all the signs of another critical renown.

In its 16th year as a successful touring theater company, the Philippine Stagers Foundation (PSF), known for its critically-acclaimed original musicals such as 'Ako si Ninoy,' 'Cory ng EDSA,' and 'Katips: Ang Mga Bagong Katipunero,' puts the spotlight on the controversial, tragic life of the world-renowned Filipino artist and political activist Juan Luna (1857-1899).

For theater is a collaborative artform, yours truly gestured the creative team, cast, and production crew of grassroots theater company Philippine Stagers Foundation's (PSF) latest work, 'Filipinas 1941,' to join me on stage, together with Atty. Vincent Tañada, the show's writer-director-lead actor, to collectively accept the 2014 BroadwayWorld Philippines Regional Award for Best Filipino Musical (New/Revival) at Hotel Benilde Maison De La Salle earlier last week.

BroadwayWorld.com brings you a first glimpse at the Commission of Higher Education (CHED)-endorsed new original musical in Tagalog FILIPINAS 1941: Isang Dulayawit, produced by the prolific, commercially successful grassroots theater company Philippine Stagers Foundation ('Bonifacio: Isang Sarsuwela,' 'Cory ng EDSA').