PHILIPPINES THEATER REVIEWS

Resorts World Manila's (RWM) Newport Performing Arts Theater recently raised its curtains for the new cast members of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "The King and I," Nonie Buencamino as King Mongkut and Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo as Anna Leonowens....

Members of the press that attended the preview performance of the much-anticipated revival production of Ryan Cayabyab and Jose Javier Reyes's landmark musical "Katy" at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) on Wednesday last week felt the production was far from technically perfect. Neverthe...

"Les Miserables" fans in the Philippines had to wait a little longer for the Tom Hooper-helmed stage to screen adaptation of the famous musical, based on Victor Hugo's novel, because cineplexes, primarily in Metro Manila, were booked for the annual Metro Manila Film Festival, which showcases local m...

"To love another person is to see the face of God" - Colm Wilkinson's Bishop Myriel of Digne and Anne Hathaway's Fantine, together with Hugh Jackman's Jean Valjean, sung those arguably the most indelible lyrics by tail end in the Tom Hooper-helmed musical motion picture, "Les Miserables," a faithfu...

UP Playwright's Theater's restaging of the children's play "Umuulan, Umaaraw, Kinakasal ang Tikbalang," based on the short story by Gilda Cordero Fernando, is more akin to film auteur Akira Kurosawa's first segment in his film "Dreams," and to Mexican filmmakers Guillermo del Toro and Alfonso Cuaron...

Repertory Philippines' latest offering, Disney's "Camp Rock," is a stage adaptation of the popular Disney TV movie, which starred The Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato. As expected, "Camp Rock" is a lightweight romantic comedy targeted at teens and those that want to relive the happiness of their inno...

STAGESHOW, the last masterpiece of the late television, film, and theater icon Mario O'Hara, has managed to present a poignant and emotionally-charged story that focuses on the twilight years of a small group of dedicated Filipino artists - "Tres Dahlias," and "Tirso and the Bandits," among others -...

Dulaang UP has recently presented the English and Filipino translations of Russian dramatist Anton Chekhov's "The Seagull," which evokes thoughtful discussions about life, ambition, love, and art in a manner devoid of melodrama....

When a four-year-old kid, who has a short attention span, watches his very first children's play, and nicely tells you,'Please be quiet," when you were trying to explain some of the play's scenes and characters to him, it is a good sign that the production may have succeeded to engage its desired ag...

Imagine this if you will: you are watching two stage actors playing a myriad of dreary characters on an almost bare stage inside a small, nearly pitch-black theater. Suddenly, a malevolent ghost pops up on stage. ...

Prolific theater company Atlantis Productions Inc.'s VIPs, Bobby Garcia and Chari Arespacochaga, have been running in the fast lane lately: Both had to fly out to Singapore to direct and prepare to open Tony-winning musical AVENUE Q at Marina Bay Sands over the weekend, just a few days after they pr...

After several previous run extension announcements, the international touring production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's mega musical THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, playing at the main theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), must finally close on Sunday, October 14....

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," "Cry...

Among the most memorable musical films that have featured international music icons's discography, ACROSS THE UNIVERSE(2007), which showcases the popular songs of The Beatles, and MAMMA MIA!(2008), which features the hit songs of ABBA, were instant favorites. On the local front, the Philippines has ...

How time flies! "Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Experience," a hit parody, starring British sitcom actors Gary Trainor and Jesse Briton, that condenses all seven "Harry Potter" books in 70 minutes, which opened last Tuesday, is closing today, September 2 at Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC ...

Bookwriter, composer, and lyricist Jim Eiler and composer Jean Bargy's stage adaptation of THE WIZARD OF OZ, based on the classic children's book 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum, is Repertory Philippines Children's Theater's 20th anniversary offering, which has begun performances on Sa...

Filipino musical creators Romeo Candido and Carmen de Jesus' PRISON DANCER, a new musical loosely based on the five-year-old viral video featuring the dancing inmates of Cebu, Philippines' Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center, won Excellence in Choreography for its director and choreograph...

Local theatregoers can still catch Atlantis Productions and Singapore Repertory Theatre's joint production of Yasmina Reza's Tony Award-winning play GOD OF CARNAGE, starring Tony winner Lea Salonga, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Adrian Pang, and Art Acuña, on Saturday, July 21 at 2 and 8 p.m., and on Sun...

While the movie adaptation of Chris D'Arienzo's smash Broadway musical ROCK OF AGES is tanking at the box office, Atlantis Productions' local staging, which stars MiG Ayesa as Stacee Jaxx (a role he also played on Broadway) and Vina Morales as Sherrie (her professional theater debut), sells out!...

Warner Brothers Pictures (Philippines) released the much awaited stage-to-screen adaptation of "Rock of Ages" one day ahead of the United States. The film stars Tom Cruise as Stacee Jaxx, Diego Boneta, Julianne Hough, Russell Brand, Alec Baldwin, Mary J. Blige, Brian Cranston, Malin Ackerman, Paul G...

Philippine Opera Company's ANG BAGONG HARANA, a musical revue featuring traditional and contemporary Filipino love songs and patriotic anthems, continues to tour nationally, and will open Silliman University's 50th Cultural Season on June 29 to 30 at Luce Auditorium in Dumaguete City....

These brand new recordings, done in a sweeping, easy listening manner, effortlessly succeed with Gemora's rich baritone and heartfelt renditions. You will never get tired listening to tracks over and over again....