Jory Rivera News

BroadwayWorld.com and other select members of the press were invited last night to a cocktail reception and a performance of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, which tells the story of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins' historic 1956 recording session. The show is now playing open-ended run at its new Off-Broadway home, the New World Stages.

True blue ABBA fans have an additional one week to catch the international touring production of composers and lyricists Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, and book writer Catherine Johnson's smash musical MAMMA MIA! at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Previously slated to close on February 14, Concertus Inc., one of the local producers behind MAMMA MIA!, has just announced the show's final extension: must close February 19.

Premier theater company Repertory Philippines (Rep) opened Ken Ludwig's (CRAZY FOR YOU, LEND ME A TENOR) rib-tickling play LEADING LADIES last night at Onstage Theatre, Greenbelt 1, Makati City. Circle in the Square School (N.Y.)-trained actor Topper Fabregas and Rep regular James Stacey topbill the production.

True blue ABBA fans have an additional one week to catch the international touring production of composers and lyricists Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, and book writer Catherine Johnson's smash musical MAMMA MIA! at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Previously slated to close on February 14, Concertus Inc., one of the local producers behind MAMMA MIA!, has just announced the show's final extension: must close February 19.

Falling in love is sweeter the second time around, and it's true in the case of LOVE, LOSS, AND WHAT I WORE, an Off Broadway play that you would fall in love with, and would love to see over and over again. For that reason alone, Manila-based CTE Productions brought back LOVE, LOSS, AND WHAT I WORE for another run at RCBC Theater in Makati City last weekend. Michael Williams and Cathy Azanza-Dy teamed up again as co-directors for LOVE, LOSS, AND WHAT I WORE, which was first performed in Manila in July 2011.

Repertory Philippines (Rep.), the country's premier English-speaking theater company, is celebrating 45 years in business by opening its 75th season with New York University Tisch School of the Arts alumnus and playwright Geoffrey Nauffts' Broadway dramedy NEXT FALL, a moving story of a gay couple whose religious differences add tensions and contradictions to their five-year romantic relationship. The play "takes a witty and provocative look at faith, commitment, unconditional love, and what goes beyond a typical love story," according to Rep.

The first-ever BroadwayWorld (BWW) Philippines Awards, an audience initiative project that encourages BWW readers from the Philippines to nominate and vote for their favorite plays, musicals, and theater personalities of the past year, revealed its list of nominees two weeks ago to an overwhelming response. Related web pages on my blog and BWW have around 2,000 hits, 100 comments, 2,000 likes, and 100 shares to date.

Repertory Philippines (REP), the country's premier English-language theater company, and Stages Production Specialists Inc. (Stages), a fast growing event and talent management firm, have started their month-long run of Anthony Drewe and George Stiles' musical incarnation of PETER PAN at Meralco Theatre.

The Philippine Educational Theater Association's (PETA) cast and creative team behind its original Filipino musical, WILLIAM, felt very honoured because BBC News, a 24-hour UK news and broadcast organization, recently featured its production.

James Cundall, Lunchbox Theatrical Productions chief executive, recently presented British actors Sara Poyzer (Donna Sheridan), Charlotte Wakefield (Sophie Sheridan), Rosie Heath (Ali), Tasha Taylor Johnson (Lisa) and Kelly Edwards to the local media. These lead actors, together with some 30 cast members, will headline MAMMA MIA! at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Main Theatre starting January 24, 2012.

Ateneo Blue Repertory (HAIR, EDGES), a student-led musical theater organization at Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), kicks off its 20th anniversary with Alan Menken and Howard Ashman's rock musical LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, which is running until Saturday, August 27 at ADMU's Fine Arts Theatre.

Repertory Philippines (LITTLE WOMEN, EQUUS), the country's premier English-language theater company, opened its five-month run of Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahren's Tony Award-nominated children's musical, SEUSSICAL, yesterday at the Onstage Theatre, Greenbelt 1, Makati City. The musical runs until December 11.

Nikki Gil (Charity Hope Valentine) and newbie theater actor, Kris Lawrence (Oscar Lindquist), led the opening of the classic Broadway musical comedy, SWEET CHARITY, at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium in Makati City last night.

The launch of the Northern Philippines tour of Cory ng EDSA, a new musical based on the life and times of the nation's icon of democracy, former President Corazon Aquino, couldn't have been more timely considering the country is commemorating the 25th anniversary of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution this year.

Jonathan Larson's ground breaking rock musical 'Rent' has arguably developed a life of its own. And 9 Works Theatrical's third endeavour of mounting the show is one tangible proof -- 'Rent' runs anew at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City in Manila from Saturday, February 12 to Sunday, March 6, 2011.