Vincent De Jesus News

There's just one month left to vote for the 2018 BroadwayWorld Philippines Awards, brought to you by BroadwayHD! Nominations were reader-submitted and now our readers are already setting records as they vote for their favorites. Regional productions, touring shows, and more are all included in the awards, honoring productions which opened between October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. Our local editors set the categories, our readers submitted their nominees, and now you get to vote for your favorites! Voting will continue through December 31st, 2018.

Musical theater composer and lyricist Vincent de Jesus' 'Skin Deep: The Musical,' which won Best Original Libretto and Best Musical Production at the 2008 Gawad Buhay! Awards, debuts a new set of songs in Ateneo Blue Repertory's (blueREP) take on the show.

Just when we thought a restaging of the musical adaptation of a highly-acclaimed Filipino film could never do wonders, we caught ourselves absolutely in awe of what was offered to us on the February 18 matinee of The Sandbox Collective's comeback musical, 'Himala: Isang Musikal' (its last one was 'Dani Girl' in 2014). Restaging may not even be the most appropriate word for this production. This version is more like a reimagination of what initially came to fruition 15 years ago.

There's something in this classic that keeps it resurrecting in different forms. 'Himala' was originally a 1982 haunting, dramatic film written by Ricky Lee and directed by Ishmael Bernal, which of course starred Nora Aunor.

The 2017 awards honor productions which opened between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017. Nominations were completely reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended October 31, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors.

The 2017 awards honor productions which opened between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017. Nominations were completely reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended October 31, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors.

Join us in the heart of the SOMA Pilipinas Cultural District for Bindlestiff Studio's production of TAGALOG 2017, a collection of one-act plays written and performed in the national language of the Philippines. With the creative use of live English surtitles, non-Tagalog-speaking patrons alike can enjoy the innovative, brave, and new voices selected from the prestigious Virgin Labfest of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. The annual festival celebrates the best unproduced, experimental works from emerging Filipino playwrights, and Bindlestiff Studio is proud to pair their works on this side of the Pacific with talented local Bay Area artists.

Join us in the heart of the SOMA Pilipinas Cultural District for Bindlestiff Studio's production of TAGALOG 2017, a collection of one-act plays written and performed in the national language of the Philippines. With the creative use of live English surtitles, non-Tagalog-speaking patrons alike can enjoy the innovative, brave, and new voices selected from the prestigious Virgin Labfest of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. The annual festival celebrates the best unproduced, experimental works from emerging Filipino playwrights, and Bindlestiff Studio is proud to pair their works on this side of the Pacific with talented local Bay Area artists.

Ateneo Blue Repertory's take on "Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady" is downright engaging: a no-dull-moment rollick of riot and fun. Where most comedy musicals fail, this two-hour comedy does not lollygag in its intent to entertain nonstop, and we have the millennials' boundless energy and raw talent to thank for. Not to mention playwright Carlo Vergara's campy wit that packs in the tummy cramp.

Happy Holidays! It's the last week to vote for the 2015 BroadwayWorld Philippines Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 18. Nominations were reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors. Voting runs through December 31!

Time is running out to vote for the 2015 BroadwayWorld Philippines Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 18. Nominations were reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors. Voting runs through December 31!

Voting is fully underway for the 2015 BroadwayWorld Philippines Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 11. Nominations were reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors. Voting runs through December 31.

Voting has opened for the 2015 BroadwayWorld Philippines Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of November 27th. Nominations were reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors. Voting runs through December 31.

Voting has opened for the 2015 BroadwayWorld Philippines Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of November 27th. Nominations were reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors. Voting runs through December 31.

Theater and film actress Cherie Gil ('Master Class,' 'Full Gallop') makes her Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) debut via theater director-scenic designer Loy Arcenas ('Corpus Christi,' 'Love! Valour! Compassion!') and playwright Rody Vera's ('The Merchant of Venice,' 'D' Wonder Twins of Boac') reimagining of Anton Chekhov's masterwork 'The Cherry Orchard,' now titled 'Arbol de Fuego,' a flowering tree that bears no fruit, which frames the main entrance to the nearly bankrupt estate Balay Dako in Negros Occidental, Southern Philippines, during the '70s.

Theater and film actress Cherie Gil ('Master Class,' 'Full Gallop') makes her Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) debut via theater director-scenic designer Loy Arcenas ('Corpus Christi,' 'Love! Valour! Compassion!') and playwright Rody Vera's ('The Merchant of Venice,' 'D' Wonder Twins of Boac') reimagining of Anton Chekhov's masterwork 'The Cherry Orchard,' now titled 'Arbol de Fuego,' a flowering tree that bears no fruit, which frames the main entrance to the nearly bankrupt estate Balay Dako in Negros Occidental, Southern Philippines, during the '70s.

Feature film production companies Unitel Productions ("Crying Ladies"), Studio 5 ("Rosario"), multi-award winning screenwriter, film director Chris Martinez ("The Woman in the Septic Tank," "100"), and prolific stage, television, and film music composer, arranger Vincent de Jesus ("Care Divas," "Crying Ladies") join forces to create the groundbreaking movie musical "I Do Bidoo Bidoo: Heto nAPO Sila," which explores four interwoven love stories inspired by 17 songs popularized by the APO Hiking Society, a trio made up of Original Pilipino Music (OPM)luminaries Jim Paredes, Boboy Garovillo, and Danny Javier.

"Care Divas," Philippine Educational Theater Association's (PETA) newest hit musical about five overseas Filipino male caregivers who transform into drag performers at night, written by Palanca Award-winning playwright Liza Magtoto, wowed theatergoers anew during its three-day run held recently at Repertory Philippines' (Rep) Onstage Theatre in Makati City. Both PETA and Rep are celebrating their 45th anniversary this year.

Considered as pillars of Philippine Theater, Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) and Repertory Philippines (Rep) - coincidentally, both theater companies celebrate their 45th anniversary this year - are joining forces to bring one of PETA's highly successful original Filipino musicals, "Care Divas," to Rep's home at Greenbelt 1's OnStage Theatre on April 27 to 29.

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.