Filipino-American Ali Ewoldt is first Asian to play Christine in 'Phantom of the Opera' on Broadway

Filipino-American Ali Ewoldt is first Asian to play Christine in 'Phantom of the Opera' on Broadway
By WALTER ANG
Aug. 27, 2016
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Ali Ewoldt.
Photo by Matthew Murphy

Filipino-American Ali Ewoldt is currently playing the role of Christine Daaé in the Broadway production of "The Phantom of the Opera," and it marks a milestone: She is the first actress of Filipino descent and first woman of color to portray the role on Broadway since it opened in 1988.

"It is incredibly exciting!" she says. "I have loved 'Phantom' and dreamt of playing Christine since I was a child, so to get to play Christine is literally a dream come true."

Ewoldt, whose mother hails from Pangasinan, was born near Chicago and raised in Pleasantville, a short distance from New York City. She's been performing the role since June.

"Being the first Asian-American Christine on Broadway is an honor and, also, I believe, comes with a bit of responsibility. I want to demonstrate that this incredible story can be told regardless of my personal ethnic background."

Ewoldt recently played Tuptim in the Chicago Lyric Opera production of "The King and I" opposite Fil-Am actor Paolo Montalban as the King. She previously understudied the role as an ensemble member in the 2015-2016 Broadway revival.

Preparations
To prepare for the role, Ewoldt revisited the Gaston Leroux novel the musical is based on. "And, of course, I spent many hours learning all of the songs," she says.

She credits "many, many years" of vocal training and ballet classes in honing her skills. She also praises the musical theater program of her high school, Pleasantville High School.

Her pre-show preparations consist of putting on her costume and wig then warming up vocally. "I then stretch and run through all of the opening choreography and the 'Think of Me' song in my dressing room."

She then enjoys the first part of the show as an audience member with a special vantage point: "I watch and listen to the other amazing performers sing the first number from the wings."

Ewoldt is still connected to her Filipino roots. Though she has become a pescatarian and finds choosing Filipino dishes a bit tricky now, she's still able to enjoy sinigang and turon.

"Growing up Filipino, music was always a part of my family gatherings," she adds. "My eldest aunt, my Tita Myrna, took me to some of my first Broadway shows and my parents continued that tradition when they realized how much I loved watching them.

"My parents were always incredibly supportive, shuttling me to dance classes and voice lessons, etc."

Beginnings
While a psychology student at Yale University (she later graduated cum laude), she auditioned and got cast in a minor role for one of the school's opera productions.

An agent saw her performance and started working with her to land professional jobs.

One of her first jobs was "Disney's Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular" at Disney California Adventure theme park, where she was the Jasmine body double.

Ewoldt made her Broadway debut as Cosette in the 2006 revival of "Les Miserables." She was able to share the stage with Lea Salonga when the latter was cast as Fantine in 2007 (Salonga was the first Asian to play this role on Broadway).

Other credits include Maria in the national tour of "West Side Story," chosen by the musical's book writer Arthur Laurents to play the part, and Luisa in the off-Broadway production of "The Fantasticks."

Co-produced by Cameron Mackintosh and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber's production company The Really Useful Group, the musical has music by Webber, lyrics by Charles Hart and book by Richard Stilgoe and Webber.

In 2012, Concertus Manila produced the Manila leg of a touring production from Australia.

"The Phantom of the Opera" runs at Majestic Theatre, 247 West 44th St., New York, New York. Visit ThePhantomOfTheOpera.com. Digital lottery for $28 tickets at PhantomBroadwayLottery.com.

Inquirer.net link:
http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/236328/236328

Meet Bonifacio anew--in a Pinoy noh play

Meet Bonifacio anew--in a Pinoy noh play
By WALTER ANG
Aug. 20, 2016
Philippine Daily Inquirer

One of Noh Theatre Ensemble's
previous productions, "Okina," in 2006.
Photo by Joseph Uy 

The Noh Theatre Ensemble (NTE), a resident theater group of University of the Philippines' Center for International Studies (UPCIS), will stage "Cedula sa BGC: Isang Kontemporanyong Noh," on Aug. 26-27 at University Theater, Villamor Hall, University of the Philippines.

"This noh is set in a mall in BGC [Bonifacio Global City]," says NTE's founding artistic director Jina Umali. "It's about Andres Bonifacio, so meet the 'B' of BGC, the Father of the Philippine Revolution."

NTE members have received continuous training since 2005 from Naohiko Umewaka, a noh grand master whose family's involvement in noh dates back 600 years.

Umali explains that centuries-old noh is the oldest form among the Japanese performance traditions, characterized by the use of masks, controlled physical movements and abstracted choreography such as sliding steps, and lines that are sung.

"One of the differences between noh and other art forms is that noh deals more often with ghosts and the afterlife," she says.

Adaptation
"I [wanted] to make Bonifacio return as a ghost through noh," says Umali.

"Cedula" is her adaptation of Ericson Acosta's play "Moñumento," staged in the mid-1990s by Alay Sining, into the noh format.

What is a Filipino noh, exactly?

"Most of the elements come from Noh theater, except the text [script and language] and the performers," she says.

"'Cedula sa BGC' explores Bonifacio's life and death, and his many roles such as thespian, nationalist, husband and leader of the revolution; it's a distillation of the struggle and process to become Bonifacio and for the Philippines to become a nation."

The production will be in Filipino with Filipino performers, in collaboration with noh grand masters Umewaka (expert in noh acting for principal roles), Shigeji Omura (expert in noh drum) and Isso Yoji (expert in noh flute).

"We train using the noh repertoire and transpose the shodan, the structural segments of noh, into Filipino."

"The costumes of the major characters are real noh costumes provided by the noh grand masters. Some of the costumes are from the UPCIS collection of Japanese kimono and hakama (pleated trousers). Additional costumes are recreated by Darwin Desoacido," she says.

Andrew Cruz plays Bonifacio. The cast also includes Diana Alferez, Tess Jamias, Derrick Gozos and Al Gatmaitan.

Otto Hernandez handles set and lighting design.

The production commemorates the 120th anniversary of the 1896 revolution led by Bonifacio against Spain, which began with revolutionaries symbolically tearing their cedula (community tax certificates).

The production also celebrates the 60th year of diplomatic relations between Japan and the Philippines and the 20th anniversary of the Japan Foundation in Manila.

Tailor-made
Umali points out that she isn't directing the production in the Western sense of the word.

"The three noh grand masters are my collaborators as there is no director in noh. 'Giving direction' in this particular production means asking their opinion and involving them in the artistic decisions when it comes to their specializations."

"We are in this together in the way that the Filipino performers and musicians are equally my collaborators. I present the concept and structure of the play to them, and the artistic details of the noh tradition is interwoven into it-tailor-made, so to speak."

Umali has codirected "Kanjincho" with Tony Mabesa for Dulaang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas and has directed Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio's "Ang Paglalakbay ni Sisa: Isang Noh sa Laguna" for NTE.

She founded NTE to introduce Asian performance practices to Filipinos. Students who've joined the ensemble come from diverse backgrounds, with courses ranging from engineering to library science; no performing background is necessary.

The public is welcome to audition for future productions or to join the (usually free) training sessions. Schedules of upcoming sessions are announced on the group's Facebook page.

"Cedula" is twin-billed with UPCIS Bunraku Ensemble's staging of Andres Bonifacio's "Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa," featuring coloratura soprano Luz Morete, music by Restie Umali and choreography by Joanne dela Calzada.  ("Bunraku" is traditional Japanese puppet theater.)

Discounts are available for public high school and college students. "Cedula sa BGC" runs Aug. 26-27 at University Theater, Villamor Hall, University of the Philippines, Quezon City. Call 0918-9286398, 426-7573, 981-8500 loc. 2460 or upd.cis@gmail.com. Visit Bit.do/nohbunraku or Fb.com/PhilippineNohTheatre.

Inquirer.net link:
http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/235725/meet-bonifacio-anew-in-a-pinoy-noh-play

Farewell, Jonas Sebastian, theater pillar and Temptation Island's Joshua

Farewell, Jonas Sebastian, theater pillar and 'Temptation Island' 's Joshua
By WALTER ANG
Aug. 13, 2016
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Jonas Sebastian.
Photo courtesy of Juno Alexis Rosales

Director and actor Jonas Sebastian passed away on July 31 at age 73. He died of cardiac arrest after contracting pneumonia.

Born in Quiapo to a family who owned the movie studio Oriental Pictures, Sebastian entered the performing arts in 1967 as an actor in productions directed by Inquirer columnist Nestor Torre at Ateneo de Manila University, and Joey Gosiengfiao at De La Salle University.

He later joined Philippine Educational Theater Association (Peta) as an actor and set designer; and Repertory Philippines as a set designer, eventually directing the company's inaugural production of "Sleeping Beauty" for its Repertory Children's Theater. He also acted and directed for Dulaang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, helming "Asyenda Animal" for the group's inaugural season.

Dinner theater
His directorial debut was "Hello Soldier" for Peta in 1971. His directing scope would grow to encompass comedies, classics, Filipino works, and foreign material. He went on to direct dinner theater and opera in the late 1970s and 1980s, and drama classics in the 1990s.

In a Facebook post, actor and director Bernardo Bernardo recalled being directed by Sebastian in several productions: "[When] dinner theater fare in posh hotels was all the rage, Jonas Sebastian was the undisputed King of the Classy Sex Comedy Romps!"

Sebastian formed or cofounded a number of theater groups: Voyage Theater Group, focused on experimental plays; and Babaylan Theater Group/Dulaang Babaylan, focused on the revival of traditional theater forms such as senakulo, in the 1970s.

In the 1990s, he directed for Tanghalang Pilipino ("Ginintuang Bayan," "Orosman at Zafira" with John Arcilla and Allan Paule alternating as Orosman) and for Bankard Ticketcharge (Edward Albee's "A Delicate Balance").

Cornerstone

Sebastian (seated center, second row from top, with eyeglasses)
with the cast of Bankard Ticketcharge's
"All's Well That Ends Well," 1999.
Photo courtesy of Aries Alcayaga

He cofounded Actors Classic Ensemble, which staged Shakespeare and world classics from 1994 to 1997. Cofounder Joshua Spafford, a former actor with Repertory Philippines, said, "He's an important cornerstone Filipino theater artist and a teacher to so many people who have come of age today. Those who knew him closely knew what a kind, loyal and loving friend and ally he could be.

"His passion for his craft and his passion for sharing this knowledge had no bounds. He went out of his way to help procure scholastic papers, studies and other valuable resources on studying classics which, in the pre-internet time, was hard to come by. More and more the culture of mentorship is vanishing, so someone like Jonas, who shared knowledge with urgency, was rare."

In a Facebook post, Spafford wrote, "He spent countless hours, years even, not just directing but teaching a good number of younger artists how to study a text, how to deepen a role, how to find comedy in tragedy and tragedy in comedy, and sharing his belief that the theater was worthy of a lifetime of love and worthy as a calling."

Actress Adriana Agcaoili said, "Whenever we'd emerge from one of his intensive and very rewarding table sessions (he was a firm believer in textual analysis, especially when we were doing Shakespeare), his actors liked to joke that Jonas treated Shakespeare like the 'Matrix'--he could crack the code for you."

Math and movies

Sebastian as Joshua in the 1980 film "Temptation Island."

Before he entered theater, Sebastian put his undergraduate and master's degrees in mathematics from University of the Philippines to use as a teacher there for five years. He was known to wear white gloves in class, as he claimed he was allergic to chalk.

In the 1980s, along with his theater contemporaries who were shifting to film, he wrote scripts for television and film. He also forayed into film acting, and is well-known to fans of the 1980 cult film "Temptation Island" as the character Joshua, the pageant coordinator.

On stage, he essayed lead roles in plays such as "Cyrano de Bergerac," "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf," "Peer Gynt," "In My Father's House," "Largo Desolato," "The Cherry Orchard," "The Chairs" and "The Merchant of Venice."

Eccentric, colorful

Theater colleagues paying their respects at Sebastian's wake.
Back row (from left): Jacques June Borlaza, Lorna Lopez,
Mona Katigbak. Middle row: Miguel Vasquez, Allan Palileo,
Weng Lopez, Adriana Agcaoili, Richard Cunanan, Charlton
Villanueva. Seated: Jeremy Domingo, Andre Tiangco,
Gwyn Salazar Guanzon, Apollo Abraham.
Photo courtesy of Adriana Agcaoili

Spafford said, "To not acknowledge that he could be eccentric, and I say that fondly, would be doing him a disservice. At the end of the day, all he cared about was the theater and his extended `real' family: theater artists."

Agacoili added, "Jonas was temperamental. The size of the bump on his forehead grew according to his frustration over a play, or a scene, or an actor.

"But he was also the most loving and generous director, laughing the loudest in the theater during a performance, never mind if he was the only one, or embracing you with tears in his eyes, very vocal about having loved a scene you just did.

"When he was pleased with a run, he would grin and literally twist in his seat, looking absolutely gleeful. He was a genius, no doubt about that, both as an actor and a director."

Bernardo said, "Bowing in respect to one of my favorite stage directors. Also, one of the most colorful. Geniuses in theater are notoriously quirky and difficult to work with, but what amazing inventiveness, fearless choices  and titillating logic spring from their unbridled imagination. Jonas was the only director who made me cry out of frustration; but, more often, from sheer joy of watching him create magic on stage."

Sebastian's wake was held at Heritage Park in Taguig City, where he was also interred. He is survived by four siblings: Jehu Sebastian, Jonathan Sebastian, Joseph Sebastian and Janet Santos; and their respective families.

Inquirer.net link:
http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/235184/farewell-jonas-sebastian-theater-pillar-and-temptation-islands-joshua

Rachel Alejandro in an 'unromantic comedy for imperfect lovers and dreamers'

Rachel Alejandro in an 'unromantic comedy for imperfect lovers and dreamers'
By WALTER ANG
Aug. 6, 2016
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Rachel Alejandro

Upstart Productions' "Love/Sick," a show with nine short plays written by John Cariani that explore romantic relationships from first meeting and dating to disillusionment and divorce, opens this weekend at the Mind Museum Auditorium in Bonifacio Global City and runs until Aug. 20.

Artistic director Joel Trinidad directs, helming a cast that performs double or triple roles each to thresh out 18 different characters. Among them is Rachel Alejandro, who has been friends with Trinidad since they were cast together in Musical Theater Philippines' "Alikabok" in the mid-'90s.

"But it wasn't until we did 'Avenue Q' (for Atlantis Productions, now Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group) that we became close," says Alejandro.

"We've been talking about doing more shows together and possibly producing them ourselves for quite some time. 'Love/Sick' is the result."

Strange and surreal
It's serendipity that Trinidad chose to mount this play, since it's billed as "a darker cousin" to Cariani's earlier play "Almost, Maine," which was staged early this year by Repertory Philippines.

In a YouTube video of Trinidad's meeting with Cariani in New York earlier this year, the playwright jokes that "Love is a serious mental disease, remember that when you watch 'Love/Sick.'"

In previous interviews, Cariani acknowledged that his work has been described as an "unromantic comedy for imperfect lovers and dreamers."

"It's set in an alternate. reality. You'll meet people. who may believe in love but they're terrified it won't last. You'll meet people diagnosed with obsessive-impulsive (sic) disorder, a woman who has cold feet on her wedding day, a couple who are so busy they forgot to have a baby, and a bunch of others.

"[The play] should feel like a realistic and naturalistic play, until it's not. Everything is strange and surreal and absolutely not normal."

Lovestruck
Despite the quirky description, Alejandro says she was struck by the play's "sincerity and raw emotional power and its unexpectedly light comedic touch. It's rare enough for something to be so real and true, but, somehow, this show is funny as well!"

Alejandro played the Witch in Upstart's production of "Into the Woods" last year. Joining her in the "Love/Sick" cast are Teenee Chan, Mica Pineda, Nicky Triviño, Noel Rayos, Bibo Reyes, Onyl Torres and Trinidad.

"It's a mini-reunion for us because Joel, Teenee, Bibo and Noel were all my cast mates in 'Avenue Q,' and the rest were my cast mates in 'Into the Woods.'"

While Alejandro has been in numerous musicals, this is only her second play. "The first one I did was in the early 2000s. It's really a challenge because there is so much more to memorize. I find singing and dancing a lot easier because those are what I have been doing in the past."

Even more challenging, she's tasked to play three different characters. "What I have to find is how to make the three roles distinct and still be true to my objective in each story."

In addition to acting duties, she's also coproducing the run. "Audiences are going to be surprised and delighted by the show," says Alejandro. "I know I was."

Upstart Productions' previous productions include "SOS: Showcase of Original Shorts," "Forbidden Broadway" and "Much Ado About Nothing."

Set and costume design by Clarisse Co; lighting design by Daniel Cortezano.

"Love/Sick" runs Aug. 5 to 20 at Mind Museum Auditorium, Mind Museum, 3rd Ave., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Contact 0917-8116516 or upstarttickets@gmail.com. Visit UpstartProductionsInc.com or Fb.com/Upstart.Prod.

Inquirer.net link:
http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/234578/rachel-alejandro-in-a-nonmusical-play-an-unromantic-comedy-for-imperfect-lovers-and-dreamers

Stage manager Sheryl Polancos and her quest to learn more

Stage manager Sheryl Polancos and her quest to learn more
By WALTER ANG
July 9, 2016

Sheryl Polancos

"I've always been inclined towards the arts. I was always involved with dance, drama and art classes when I was a little girl," says Sheryl Polancos.

She expressed her affinity for the arts by joining dance clubs in grade school and high school. When she enrolled in University of Santo Tomas, an injury waylaid her plans to audition for the school's famed Salinggawi dance troupe.

"I joined the official theater guild of the College of Arts and Letters, Artistang Artlets. That's where I caught the theater bug."

She fell in love with the profession. So much so that the first job she applied for right after graduating was with the resident theater group of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Shifting gears

"I started out as a production manager at Tanghalang Pilipno," she recalls.

"Then I noticed that I enjoyed the rehearsal process more than paperwork and I wanted to be involved in the creative process of how a show is mounted."

That's when she switched to stage management. "I feel happy and alive whenever I'm in a rehearsal space and in theaters. It's become my comfort zone."

"I like being able to work closely with the director. Knowing you're responsible for trying to execute his/her vision is a challenge."

During her time at Tanghalang Pilipino, in addition to plays based on Filipino indigenous chants ("Hudhud") and on a popular film ("Himala"), she cut her teeth on Shakespeare and works by playwrights from Japan, Australia and Sri Lanka.

The works she was exposed to started to spark a wanderlust, a desire to see how theater was done elsewhere in the world. These productions included works that dealt with Filipino-American relations such as "The Romance of Magno Rubio," based on immigrant Carlos Bulosan's short story, and "Oraciones," a play that tackled American government in the Philippines, a Filipina suffragette and even the location filming of Francis Ford Coppola's "Apocalypse Now" in the Philippines.

Adventures in stage management

While her desire to see the world was growing, she went on to work for Atlantis Productions (now Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group) and Stages Production Specialists, switching seamlessly between Philippine stagings of foreign material and original Filipino works.

Her credits include the Philippine or Asian premieres of Broadway hits such as "Next to Normal," "Aida," "Xanadu," "Shrek," "Avenue Q," Rock of Ages," "The Addams Family,"and Disney's "Tarzan."

Even when she took a short foray into corporate work, she was still tasked with overseeing the company's marketing shows and events.

One of her memorable experiences was when the lead actress for the musical "Carrie" fell ill after their opening weekend. She and the entire cast had one week to rehearse the replacement.

[Read about the actress who learned the Carrie role in only six days here.]

"We didn't sleep for that whole week but in the end, we pulled through and had another opening night with a different lead." The original lead was able to return for the last week's shows and "On closing night, both leads sang together during curtain call. It was pretty emotional. That musical will always hold a special spot in my heart."

Breaking out

Finally, after years of working on shows in Manila, she began to plan her journey to expand her horizons.

"I always feel like I need to learn more and experience more. So where else to go but to the melting pot of theater, New York."

In the beginning, she was, to quote from the musical "Into the Woods," both "excited and scared."

Nonetheless, she's kept her objective in mind: "I want to learn more and absorb as much as I can."

The fear seems to have all but disappeared. Since landing in the Big Apple, she's hit the ground running. She's already observed with companies such as Riant Theatre during its Strawberry One-Act Festival and Soho Repertory during its staging of "Duat."

She's also attended open read-throughs and has had a chance to see other stage managers in their milieu, like Cristina Sison from Juilliard and Rachel Gross of Soho Rep. "I've also seen how directors in New York work, like Van Dirk Fisher, Will Davis, Herbert Go."

"I still want to attend workshops or courses for further training. I want a chance to stage manage a show here so I can get my hands dirty and really experience the differences between what I already know and how things are done here."

"As a stage manager, it has always been my goal to strive for perfection and to run the show smoothly and keep its integrity. Once a show opens, there's always a sense of pride and fulfillment in knowing that I played a big part in making the show come to life."

Visit Sheryl's LinkedIn profile or contact her at sherylpolancos @ gmail.com.   

From dislike to devotion: How Topper Fabregas conquered yoga, cardio and the stage

From dislike to devotion: How Topper Fabregas conquered yoga, cardio and the stage
By WALTER ANG
July 23, 2016
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Topper Fabregas.
Photo by JC Inocian

Trying new experiences has always proved life-changing for Topper Fabregas.

He never liked performing as a child. "It was like pulling teeth to get me to sing at family gatherings!" he says.

He wanted to become a writer and would join journalism contests. One summer, two of his friends joined an acting workshop by Triumphant Peoples Evangelistic Theatre Society (Trumpets), and he gave it a go as well. Trumpets was holding auditions at the time for its musical "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe."

"My friends dared me to audition. I got a callback on my pager. I didn't even know what a callback meant," he says, laughing. His acting career began when he originated the role of Peter Pevensie.

"I worked nonstop from when I was 19 until I was about 25," he says. There weren't as many theater groups and acting opportunities back then, so he decided to pack up for New York to study acting at Circle in the Square Theatre School.

Something new
He'd begun to establish roots in the United States, even getting his Equity card (the American union for actors). But when he returned to Manila for a visit in the early 2010s, he discovered that "the theater landscape had changed considerably."

"I realized this is where I was supposed to be, that I could contribute to some bigger picture and I was part of some shift," he says.

While taking on numerous acting assignments for Repertory Philippines and other companies (most recently, "Godspell" for MusicArtes and "The Normal Heart" for The Necessary Theatre), he cofounded Red Turnip Theater, where he's been able to transition to directing.

He directed "This Is Our Youth" last year and is now helming the company's 2016-17 season-opener "Tribes." Written by Nina Raine, it's about a deaf man raised by his family to lip-read instead of using sign language to communicate. He then meets a woman who teaches him how to do sign language.

"Someone recommended it to us, and we all fell in love with the material. It felt like something up my alley, with its family setup, its comedy scenes. There's a running joke in Red Turnip that I get to direct all the plays that happen indoors with a lot of props."

Preparation, direction

From left, standing,
Dolly de Leon, Teroy Guzman, Cris Pasturan;
seated,
Thea Yrastorza, Kalil Almonte, Angela Padilla.
Photo by Jojit Lorenzo

As further validation of the healthier theater industry he'd come home to, Fabregas had to recruit actors as early as February.

"We have to cast people early since there are so many productions now. You have to get them before anyone else does. I started begging one of them as early as last year."

Kalil Almonte plays the main protagonist, Dolly de Leon and Teroy Guzman take on the parents, Cris Pasturan and Thea Yrastorza are the siblings, and Angela Padilla is the girlfriend.

The play has set design is by Ed Lacson Jr., costume design by Marta Lovina, video design by GA Fallarme, sound design by Teresa Barrozo and lighting design by John Batalla.

Fabregas has been consulting with John Baliza, a math professor to deaf students.

"We discussed how it is and what it's like to grow up and live being deaf. It's a common misconception that there's only one kind of sign language, but there's Filipino Sign Language (FSL), American Sign Language, British Sign Language, etc.

"Like the title of the play suggests, there is a sense of being in a tribe, of having values and language passed down from one generation to the next within that community."

For this staging, he's decided to let the cast use FSL as a way to reach out to deaf Filipinos. Some shows will specifically be tailored to deaf audiences by having supertitles projected throughout.

"My cast asked me, 'Are we a Filipino family in London?' and my direction has been to stick to what the playwright intended but to craft the story through our Filipino filters. Let's read the words, and we'll let audiences receive it as they will."

From hate to love
"I'd always wanted to be a director, I just didn't think it would happen this soon," he says.

Fabregas' past experiences have fortified him for exploring new ones. Back in New York, he'd always been scared of yoga. "I was running a lot and had a lot of physical work in school. My knees started to go. Someone recommended yoga, and I was hooked. It's a total body-and-mind workout, it calmed me down, centered me a lot, and made me in touch with my body."

So much so that he became a certified instructor. "It bled into how I would perform. Now it's my warm-up for any show that I do. As an actor, my body is my instrument, and yoga opens up the heart space."

These days, he has an addition to his regimen: leading cycling classes at Saddle Row- something he also thought he'd never do.

"I don't like cardio, I hate the gym. Toff de Venecia, who is friends with the owners, asked me to try it out because they needed instructors with personality. Before I knew it, I was teaching."

Spreading out
Fabregas' expanding horizons mirror Red Turnip's growth.

Last year's "This Is Our Youth" was staged in an art gallery, marking the company's foray into performance spaces outside of Whitespace events warehouse.

"Tribes" will be staged at Power Mac Center Spotlight Theater. "We're feeling out this venue and will see how it goes," says Fabregas.

"When we founded the company, we came up with a five-year plan. Our intention was always to move around and pop up around the city. We stayed put at Whitespace the first few years just to help establish awareness for the company, but now we've started exploring."

Instead of being encouraged to try yet another new idea, there is one that Fabregas himself brought to the table: the company's ".5" series of smaller productions.

"It's the company's way of staging a show that doesn't have to quite fit in the larger theme of the season. I'm so happy and excited that people have recognized it," he says.

"This Is Our Youth" was the maiden ".5" production, and this year's installment will be revealed later on in the season. "Para may surprise," he says.

"Tribes" runs Aug. 5-Sept. 4 at Power Mac Center Spotlight Theater, Circuit Makati. Season passes available. Contact redturniptheater@gmail.com or Ticketworld at 8919999 or Ticketworld.com.ph. Visit RedTurnipTheater.wix.com or Facebook.com/RedTurnipTheater.

Saddle Row is at 2/F Serendra, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Call 9663610. Visit SaddleRowPH.com or Facebook.com/SaddleRowPhilippines.

Inquirer.net link:
http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/233416/from-dislike-to-devotion-how-topper-fabregas-conquered-yoga-cardio-and-the-stage

Guide to different yoga styles

Different yoga styles

By WALTER ANG

If you're considering taking up yoga, here is a short guide to the different kinds of yoga commonly offered by commercial/for profit yoga studios.

Yoga is popularly known as a series of physical poses that combines breathing and, sometimes, a bit of meditation/chanting.

Most people who are new to yoga go into it for its physical exercise/conditioning aspects. Most yoga studios and teachers do not incorporate chanting, but even if they do, it's not religion-based, so anyone can still do the chanting or choose not to.

The classics

Hatha yoga

A blanket term that means "physical yoga." Though usually, this is used to describe a moderately paced class using Vinyasa Flow (see below for description), ask your instructor.

Ashtanga yoga

- Vigorous style with set poses and sequences. First timers are usually led by an instructor, though eventually, are encouraged to practice by themselves (which is called Mystore style).

- Developed by K. Patthabi Jois (a student of Krishnamacharya)

Iyengar

- Focuses on correct alignment, poses are held longer

- Developed by BKS Iyengar (a student of Krishnamacharya)

Most commonly offered styles

Vinyasa/Vinyasa Flow/Flow

- Recommended for first-timers/beginners as an entry-level yoga style, once you've tried a class, you can decide if you prefer a more vigorous or slower style.
- Derived from Ashtanga, "freestyle Ashtanga," uses different poses for each session depending on sequence given by instructor

- Vinyasa also means "combining breathe with movement" and it also refers to a particular sequence of poses

Power yoga

- Same as Vinyasa, though usually at a slightly faster or more vigorous pacing

- Popularized in the 1990s by Americans Bryan Kest, Beryl Birch and Baron Baptiste

Bikram yoga

- 26 postures in a 104F/40C room, usually with no ventilation except when the instructor will open a window or door during the session. Studios in countries with dry climates use humidifiers (up to 40%). The sequence stays the same.

- Developed in the 1970s by Indian Bikram Choudhury, who has been accused of sexual harassment (see below)

Hot/Heated yoga

- Vinyasa Flow or Power Yoga in a heated room

- Usually offered by studios/instructors in lieu of Bikram because of trademark issues. The sequence does not follow the set poses of Bikram yoga.

Gentle/Passive/Meditative/Restorative/Yin

- Usually based on Vinyasa Flow sequences but slower and more gently paced

- May focus more on breathing, relaxation poses and meditation/chanting

Newer styles

Pre-natal

- based on Vinyasa flow with adjustments for pregnant bodies

Acro/Aerial/Anti-Gravity yoga

- combines yoga poses with poses done in/hanging from a hammock


Less Commonly Offered Styles
Bhakti/Bhakti Flow/Urban Bhakti
- uses music, sometimes chanting is included

Kundalini
- less physical
- repetitive motions, meditation/focusing, chanting

Yoga styles with creators or teachers accused of sexual harassment/exploitation or having sex with students

By Indians

Bikram yoga

- read about the cases here.

By Americans

Jivamukti

- based on Vinyasa Flow
- developed in 1984 by Americans David Life and Sharon Gannon
- usually involves chanting in Sanskrit
- emphasizes vegetarianism and love for animals
- read about the case here.

Anusara

- based on Iyengar yoga
- developed in 1997 by American John Friend
- read about the case here

Clint Ramos wins 2016 Tony award for costume design

Clint Ramos wins 2016 Tony award for costume design
By WALTER ANG
June 13, 2016 Inquirer.net (breaking)
June 14, 2016 Philippine Daily Inquirer (page one)

Clint Ramos

New York-based set and costume designer Clint Ramos won the 2016 Tony Award for costume design of a play for "Eclipsed," featuring Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o ("12 Years a Slave," "Star Wars," "The Jungle Book").

"I just want to say thank you to everybody, to a group of women who are unbelievable," he said in his acceptance speech, referring to the playwright, director and cast of the play, who are all women. Part of his speech was included in the broadcast of the ceremonies held at Beacon Theater in New York.

In an e-mail message to the Inquirer after receiving the Tony Award, he said: "So grateful and thankful, especially for the support back home from everyone in the Philippines. Thank you!"

Ramos' work has been described by critics as "meticulously detailed" (Variety), "evocative" (Hollywood Reporter), "[takes] much research, labor, and talent to pull off," (Vanityfair.com) and "essential" (Vogue.com).

In an Instagram post, Ramos wrote that the nomination means, "Work like this is valid. That design dealing with contemporary themes is worthy of rewarding. That powerful, modern costumes are just as complex as the pretty period ones."

The play is about five women during the second Liberian Civil War, written by Danai Gurira and directed by Liesl Tommy.

Process

Photo by Joan Marcus; from ClintRamos.com

Ramos' costumes combined traditional African fabrics like lapa, woven cotton cloth with colorful patterns, and T-shirts emblazoned with American pop-culture images, such as a shirt with Rugrats cartoon characters for Nyong'o (to show that Liberia is a repository for American discards). Some characters were given brand-name footwear to show status.

He researched photographs of the war and sourced shirts and fabrics in vintage clothing shops and African merchandise stores in New York.

Copies of ready-to-wear tops and bottoms that were chosen for the production were recreated from scratch: shirts were silkscreened and jeans were tailored to accommodate being used multiple shows a week and for different cast members.

The costumes were then distressed, treated with dyes to mimic sweat or blood stains that could not be washed off when the costumes were laundered.

Cebu to New York

From Lupita Nyong'o Facebook page.

Born and raised in Cebu, Ramos took up theater arts at the University of the Philippines, doing design work for Dulaang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, then a Master of Fine Arts in Design for Stage and Film at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts on a full scholarship.

He has since designed costumes and sets for over a hundred productions in New York, across the US and internationally.

Ramos' most recent costume design work is for "Frozen: Live at the Hyperion," a musical based on Disney's animated film showing at Disney California Adventure Park. (A separate Broadway production of "Frozen" with a different artistic team is scheduled to open in 2018.)

Other credits include costume designs for the Broadway production of "The Elephant Man" featuring Bradley Cooper and the Off-Broadway staging of "Here Lies Love." Both these productions were also staged on the West End.

"Here Lies Love," a musical about Imelda Marcos, will be staged by American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco next year.

Ramos is multi-awarded, previously receiving the 2013 Obie Award for Sustained Excellence of Costume Design, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts' 2014 Ani ng Dangal Award for Dramatic Arts, and the 2014 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Costume Design for his work on "Here Lies Love," among others.

For productions in Manila, he's designed the sets of Tanghalang Pilipino's "Mga Gerilya sa Powell Street" and DUP's "Mary Stuart/Maria Stuarda," "The Duchess of Malfi/Ang Dukesa ng Malfi" and "The Country Wife/Ang Misis Kong Promdi."

Other Filipino awardees

Photo by Joan Marcus; from ClintRamos.com

Lea Salonga won the 1991 Best Actress in a Musical for playing the titular character in "Miss Saigon."

Investors to Broadway productions receive awards along with lead producers if productions win Best Play or Musical. As an investing producer with business partner Joan Raffe, Iloilo-born Jhett Tolentino has received Tonys for Best Revival of a Play for "A Raisin in the Sun" and Best Musical for "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder," both 2014, and Best Play for "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike," 2013.

Composer Robert Lopez, winner of the 2004 Best Original Score award for "Avenue Q," is of partial Filipino descent; his paternal grandfather is Filipino and his paternal grandmother is Filipino-Scottish American.

The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre honors theater professionals for distinguished achievement on Broadway. It was founded by the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing, after whose cofounder the award is named after.

Youtube video of Clint Ramos' statement backstage.

Visit ClintRamos.com.

"Eclipsed" runs until June 19 at Golden Theatre, 252 West 45th St. (between Broadway and 8th Ave.), New York, New York. Visit EclipsedBroadway.com.

"Frozen: Live at the Hyperion," runs at Hyperion Theater, Disney California Adventure Park, Anaheim, California. Visit Disneyland.com.

Inquirer.net links:
June 13, 2016 Inquirer.net (breaking; online only)
http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/230680/dulaang-up-alumni-clint-ramos-wins-2016-tony-award-for-costume-design

June 14, 2016 Philippine Daily Inquirer (front page; print and online; slightly different version)
http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/230730/dulaang-ups-clint-ramos-wins-tony-costume-design

From Twin Bill Theater, a dark comedy on suicide

From Twin Bill Theater, a dark comedy on suicide
By WALTER ANG
June 11, 2016
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Twin Bill Theater (TBT) is staging "Suicide, Incorporated," a dark comedy written by Andrew Hinderaker about a company that writes suicide letters for its clients, beginning July 15 at Performing Arts and Recreation Center in San Juan City.

The group is tackling the morbid subject matter not just because it is challenging "the taboo that is attached to suicide in the Philippines", but also to allow audiences to explore the related topics that surround it.

And if there are doubts about the macabre premise, the DC Metro Theater Arts website's review of the play states, "It's often quite hilarious, and the farther we get in the process the more the humor starts to shine."

"Beyond suicide, the play is ultimately about redemption and restoration," says director Steven Conde.

The cast features Hans Eckstein, Jeremy Domingo, George Schulze, Mako Alonso, Bibo Reyes and Chino Veguillas, with lighting design by Joseph Matheu and set design by Ed Lacson Jr.

This is the second production in TBT's current season to deal with suicide. Its staging of "Dog Sees God" a few months ago also had a character who commits suicide.

"Twin Bill's theme for the year focuses on the power of redemption," explains Conde. "This is what's similar between both plays. Both plays deal with suicide in different ways but both talk about hope and restoration.

"'Suicide, Incorporated' has a strong message: that taboo topics such as mental health, much like any other life condition, must be talked about, understood and dealt with head on."

In a Facebook post, Conde wrote, "I grew up with the notion that going to a psychiatrist for help meant you were crazy. And that being crazy is bad and needed to be kept secret from others. Thank God that I have met people who have opened my eyes to the less popular opinion that seeking help from a mental health professional is not a bad thing."

Audiences are welcome to join the guided discussions after each show with invited experts such as psychiatrists.

There are plans to tour the production. Twin Bill Theater is accepting inquiries and bookings from colleges and other organizations that would like to host shows.

"Suicide, Incorporated" runs July 15-31 at Performing Arts and Recreation Center, 494 Lt. Artiaga St., San Juan City (access through Bonny Serrano Ave., formerly Santolan Rd., or through N. Domingo St.). Contact 0927-4604652, 0916-7759374 or Ticketworld at 8919999 or Ticketworld.com.ph. Visit Fb.com/twinbilltheater.

If you are or know of anyone in emotional crisis and in need of immediate assistance, contact Hopeline, available 24/7, at 8044673 or 0917-5584673 or approach any healthcare professional. (Hopeline is operated by the Natasha Goulbourn Foundation.)

Inquirer.net link:
http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/230502/from-twin-bill-theater-a-dark-comedy-on-suicide

Some like it short and small: Artist Playground stages intimate plays

Some like it short and small: Artist Playground stages intimate plays
By WALTER ANG
June 4, 2016
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Tomas Miranda and Ruth Alferez.
Photo by Nicholas Nolasco.

At a club in Tokyo, Mari, the wife of a billionaire, becomes attached to Kenji, a gigolo who has a pearl stitched under the skin of his genitalia. However, Kenji is falling for Maria, a japayuki from the Philippines.

The play "Happiness is a Pearl," written by Rody Vera, opens Artist Playground's (AP) 2016-17 season.

Artistic director Roeder Camañag says, "Last year, while brainstorming our season lineup, Rody mentioned this play that he wrote years ago. I found the story unusual, and it fits with our thrust to stage one-acts."

Real-life premise
Vera got the idea for the story by way of Singapore when he was there collaborating with Japanese group Black Tent Theatre. One of his co-actors had shared a story with him about the wife of one of the richest mochi magnates in Tokyo and her affair with a gigolo. Vera was able to build a fictional story on that premise, transforming it into a love triangle.

"It has never been staged before; we will premiere it," says Camañag.

Directing the play is Paul Jake Paule, whose recent acting credits include "Mga Kuneho" and "Balunbalunan, Bingibingihan" for Virgin Labfest, "Ang Oresteyas" for Tanghalang Ateneo, and "The Pillowman" for Egg Theater Company.

Mari will be played by Ruth Alferez, who has performed with Tanghalang Pilipino, Philippine Educational Theater Association and Repertory Philippines, among other groups.

Film actor Tomas Miranda ("Dayang Asu," "Kapatiran," "Ned's Project") will play Kenji.

The rest of the cast will be filled by members of The Players, the company's pool of resident actors. Cath Go alternates as Mari, Jerome Rosalin alternates as Kenji, while Shiela Espina and Ira Ruzz alternate as Maria.

The set and costume design is by Reynoso Mercado, choreography by Lezlie Dailisan, sound design by Sharon Perlas, lighting design by Joseph Navarro. Musicians Melvin Sumalinog and Erick Jonathan Sumalinog will play guitar.

Quiet launch
AP was founded last year, evolving from a summer acting workshop that Camañag and his cohorts had organized.

AP's officers include Paule, composer Jesse Lucas, actor/director Jeffrey Camañag, visual artist Nasser Lubay and talent manager/publicist Ricky Gallardo.

The group quietly mounted its inaugural season last year, featuring "Riddle of the Sphinx," Jim Bergado's Filipino translation of Leoncio Deriada's play; followed by "Tag-Ani" by Amelia Lapeña-Bonifacio and "Audire," an experimental one-woman show featuring Mailes Kanapi.

For its second season (2016-17), AP will focus on one-act plays. "We want our audiences to have a different theater experience," Camañag says.

"We want to introduce the idea that you can watch a play that won't eat up too much of your time and won't cost too much. Kind of like, say, for the same time and amount of money if you went out for an iced coffee, you can experience a play."

Camañag also points out that their venue, 1701 The Little Room Upstairs, is an intimate space that seats only 30. All the more to allow audiences to immerse in the worlds their company creates for audiences.

Its location near the corner of Timog Avenue provides audiences with various choices of restaurants, bars, beauty salons and spas to go to before or after AP shows.

The second play for this season will be Dan Hollanda's "Lagablab," a play loosely based on British writer W. Somerset Maugham's short story "The Unconquered." In it, Japanese general Hirohito rapes then falls in love with Chayong, a Filipina who despises him. Paule will direct as well.

Also planned for the season is Dennis Teodosio's "Geegee at Waterina," a fictionalized conversation between two characters based on Justo Justo, founder of the Home For The Golden Gays, and Walter Dempsey Jr., more popularly known as Walterina Markova, a sex slave during the Philippines' Japanese occupation. Camañag is slated to play Waterina.

"Happiness is a Pearl" runs June 9 to July 3 at 1701 The Little Room Upstairs, Unit 1701, Landsdale Tower, 86 Mother Ignacia Ave., Quezon City. Contact 0926-9323179. Visit AFb.com/ArtPlayG.

Inquirer.net link:
http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/230093/some-like-it-short-and-small-artist-playground-stages-intimate-plays

How Bibo Reyes shed 70 pounds

How Bibo Reyes shed 70 pounds
By WALTER ANG
May 28, 2016
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Bibo Reyes in April 2015 and November 2015.

Young actor Bibo Reyes has lost 70 pounds over the past ten months through diet and exercise.

"When people ask what I did or am doing, I usually just tell them 'discipline,'" says the 25 year old actor who was seen onstage recently in two Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group (Ateg) productions -- "Saturday Night Fever" (which toured Kuala Lumpur and Singapore after its Manila run) and "Bridges of Madison County."

In September, he'll be part of Ateg's "Jersey Boys," a musical about the formation, success and eventual break-up of the 1960s rock 'n roll group The Four Seasons.

Nyoy Vollante will play Frankie Valli and Christian Bautista will play Bob Gaudio.

Balance

Photo by Earle Figuracion

"When we think about weight loss, we tend to talk about drastic diets and workouts when, really, the answer is simply 'balance,'" says Reyes, who'd always been on the heavy side since childhood.

"I had never experienced not being overweight. I would really eat anything I wanted, whenever I wanted."

He ballooned to 230 pounds on a 5 foot 8 inch frame. This all changed last year.

"I wanted to begin a new chapter in my life and be done with all the frustration and disappointment that comes with being an overweight child who grew into an obese adult. "

His efforts began with an initial weight loss boost by using food supplement products from Yoli Better Body System.

"My mother heard about the program from her coworkers," he says. "My parents and I did it for one month and I lost 25 pounds."

"The program really taught me about taking care of one's body and how you simply cannot eat whatever you want and expect to be slim."

From there, he lost an additional 45 pounds by watching what he ate and maintaining a physically active lifestyle, an average of 4.5 pounds per month or a pound a week.

These days, he keeps his diet "reasonable" and does aerobic exercises three to four times a week.

"I just mainly run and do dance classes. On jogging days, I do one hour. On cycling days, I do two hours on my stationery bike with a sauna suit on."

Twice a week, he takes a two-hour street dancing class.

A fan of mixed martial arts, Reyes is also excited about MMA fighter Mark Munoz's upcoming school in Manila. "I would definitely love to enroll. Wrestling is the base of all combat sports and it intrigues me as a martial art."

Theater

Photo by Celine Bengzon

After shedding the excess weight, "I feel lighter and more confident," he says. "Sometimes I feel like climbing on top of stuff or doing floor exercises that I couldn't even imagine doing before."

As far as his theater work is concerned, "It has changed the psychological aspect of my acting. As actors, we need to be free of tension onstage, but as a large man conscious of his weight I unknowingly carried a lot of insecure energy which manifested physically; I'm learning to kill that now."

Reyes was into rock music in high school and sang in a few bands. He would also join high school dramatic contests and get cast in lead roles. "That's what initially woke up my theater bones, so to speak."

When the movie version of the musical "Rent" came out, Reyes saw "a marriage of what were quickly becoming my two performance-involved passions, and so musical theater became an interest ever since."

He joined Ateneo Blue Repertory in college and has been performing on stage since. He's done turns as Dennis in "All Shook Up," Tank in "Zanna, Don't!," Berger in "Hair," and Peter in "Bare."

Aside from playing Michael in "The Bridges of Madison County," he's also done Sonny in "In the Heights," Franz in "Rock of Ages," and "Trekkie/Nicky" in a Singapore staging of "Avenue Q," all for Ateg.

Before "Jersey Boys" in September, he has two productions in the next few months.

In July, he'll be in Twin Bill Theater's "Suicide, Inc.," a dark comedy about a company that writes suicide letters for its clients.

In August, he'll be in Upstarts Productions' "Love/Sick," a comedy featuring nine "slightly twisted stories exploring the pain and joy that comes with being in love."

Meanwhile, when he's not performing or rehearsing, he enjoys his collection of figures, video games and comic books that have to do with science fiction, pro-wrestling and mixed martial arts.

"I can go on and on for hours with in-depth discussions about their many intricacies. It's an outlet for my obsessive side, how I express my love for my interests and passions through merchandise that I can identify with and enjoy."

"Suicide, Inc." runs July 8 to 24 at Performing Arts and Recreation Center, 494 Lt. Artiaga St., San Juan City. Contact 0927-4604652 or 0916-7759374. Visit Fb.com/Twinbilltheater. 

"Love/Sick" runs Aug. 5-20 at The Mind Museum Auditorium, The Mind Museum, Jose Yao Campos Park, 3rd Ave., Taguig City. Contact 0917-8116516. Visit Fb.com/Upstart.prod.

"Jersey Boys" runs Sept. 23 to Oct. 16 at Meralco Theater, Ortigas Ave., Pasig City. Contact 650-5144, 0917-8381534 or Ticketworld at 8919999 or Ticketworld.com.ph. Visit Fb.com/ATEGasia.

Inquirer.net link:
http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/229648/how-bibo-reyes-shed-off-70-pounds

Liesl Batucan is new associate artistic director of Tanghalang Pilipino

Liesl Batucan tackles a new role-as associate artistic director of Tanghalang Pilipino
By WALTER ANG
May 21, 2016
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Liesl Batucan.
Photo by JC Inocian.

Liesl Batucan has been appointed as the new associate artistic director of Tanghalang Pilipino (TP), the resident theater company of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. She fills the position formerly held by Tuxqs Rutaquio.

After Batucan played the titular role in the restaging of "Mabining Mandirigma," a musical about Apolinario Mabini, TP artistic director Fernando "Nanding" Josef and president Jolly Gomez invited her to a meeting to discuss "the future of Tanghalang Pilipino."

"At the time, I wasn't aware of the full extent and scope of that enigmatic phrase, but because I love Tanghalang Pilipino and because its future is important to me, I said yes," recalls Batucan.

The gentlemen offered her the position, citing the "breadth and range of her body of theater work, as well as her training, discipline, artistic excellence and integrity."

"Most touchingly, Tata Nanding noted the quality of my heart," she says. "He said I have a heart for people, for the Filipino, for the country. I was very humbled and honored by the trust of these two great men, both pillars in their respective fields, and who both love TP fiercely and deeply."

Batucan has had to hit the ground running as the company prepares for its 30th anniversary next year; she has already joined its planning session for its 2016-2017 season. The company was established in 1987 with Felix "Nonon" Padilla as founding artistic director.

[Read about TP's 2016-2017 season line up here.]

Tectonic shift

Batucan (seated) as Apolinario Mabini
in "Mabining Mandirigma"

Born in Cebu and raised in Manila, Batucan had the usual student exposure to performing while in school, being assigned to sing for this or perform for that. "I'd won a declamation contest in grade school and was in the drama club in high school."

Professional theater wasn't in her sights. She'd already been working as a corporate finance consultant with SGV & Co.-right after graduating from the University of the Philippines with a Business Administration degree, magna cum laude-when a coworker told her about auditions at Repertory Philippines.

She was cast in the ensemble in her first Rep musical, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," in 1993.

"It felt like a tectonic shift," she recalls. "It shaped a whole new landscape in my life. I fell in love with the world of theater. The artistry of it. The creative synergy of it. The pulse of it."

She adds: "I was so young, I just dove in! I felt completely at home. That's probably what drew me in. That sense of feeling completely at home."

Since then, she's moved up to support and lead roles in over a hundred productions. Recent credits include Paula in "A Portrait Of The Artist As Filipino"; Maria in "The Sound of Music"; Mayzie La Bird in "Seussical"; Susy Henderson in "Wait Until Dark" for Rep; and a hilarious turn as multiple characters in "Forbidden Broadway" for Upstart Productions.

She received the Philstage Gawad Buhay for Female Featured Performance in a Musical for her role as Beggar Woman in "Sweeney Todd," and for Female Featured Performance in a Straight Play as Karen Weston in "August: Osage County"-both with Rep.

Soul-enriching
For Tanghalang Pilipino, she has acted in "The Golden Child," "American Hwangap" and "Stageshow."

"I have always loved working with TP," she says. "I have always loved being at CCP. It resonates with me and is soul-enriching."

She adds: "Having breathed in both the English and Filipino theater worlds, this I know: Good theater is good theater whatever language it may be in. Good theater is transformative. It inspires, it uplifts, it ignites something powerful inside us, it galvanizes action, it casts a glaring light on certain truths, it helps heal what is broken, it helps us become better people, better human beings and more evolved versions of ourselves. Theater is so important."

As part of her administrative duties, she's tasked to help mentor the Actor's Company (AC), TP's resident pool of actors. The AC is given continuous training during its stay in TP, from script analysis and scene study to dance and stage fighting.

Batucan credits Rep founders Zeneida "Bibot" Amador and Baby Barredo as her own mentors.

"They were the toughest and the most exacting of teachers," she says, "demanding nothing but the highest level of excellence. I will always hold them in high esteem, and I will always be grateful."

She's eager to give back to the profession. "The AC's artistic growth as a group and as individual actors will be a prime focus. People are at the very core of the theater-making process," she says.

"TP has the finest teachers on board and has a solid curriculum," she adds. "The goal is to keep improving all systems, so we are making the curriculum even more comprehensive. I will step in to teach, as needed."

Tanghalang Pilipino's 2016-2017 season line-up can be read here. 

Contact TP at 8321125 loc. 1620 or 1621. Like Tanghalang Pilipino on Facebook.

Inquirer.net link:
http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/229238/liesl-batucan-tackles-a-new-role-as-associate-artistic-director-of-tanghalang-pilipino

Virgin Labfest, Shakespeare, John Arcilla in Tanghalang Pilipino's 2016-2017 season

Virgin Labfest, Shakespeare, John Arcilla in Tanghalang Pilipino's 2016-2017 season
By WALTER ANG
May 21, 2016
Philippine Daily Inquirer

John Arcilla

Tanghalang Pilipino's planned 2016-17 season opens with the Virgin Labfest. While the annual festival of new plays had always been a co-project of playwrights group Writer's Bloc and TP since it was founded, it is now officially part of the company's season offerings.

Midsummer Night's Dream
To commemorate the 400th death anniversary of William Shakespeare, TP will stage "Pangarap sa Isang Gabi ng Gitnang Tag-araw," Rolando Tinio's translation of "A Midsummer Nights Dream," with dramaturgy by Rody Vera and to be directed by Carlitos Siguion-Reyna.

Audie Gemora is slated to play fairy king Oberon and Liesl Batucan is slated to play fairy queen Titania.

Planned cast includes Marco Viana as Lysander, Lhorvie Nuevo as Helena, Toni Go as Hermia, JV Ibesate as Demetrius, Jonathan Tadioan as Nick Bottom, Aldo Vencilao and Doray Dayao alternate as Puck.

Ibalong
Former AC member John Arcilla, who rose to mainstream fame for his portrayal of the titular character in the movie "Heneral Luna," is slated to play the lead role (Handyong) in TP's restaging of the musical "Ibalong."

Premiered in 2012, it's an adaptation of the origin myth of Bicol with libretto by Vera, music and musical direction by Carol Bello, costume design by Leeroy New, choreography by Alden Lugnasin, fight/stunt choreography by Jerry Ramirez, lighting design by Katsch Catoy, and set design and direction by Rutaquio.

Planned cast includes Delphine Buencamino as Oryol, Remus Villanueva and Cheeno Macaraeg as Young Handyong, May Bayot as Gugurang, Jonathan Tadioan as Aswang,

Eurydice
To follow is Guelan Luarca's Filipino translation of Sarah Ruhl's "Eurydice," an adaptation of the Greek myth, to be directed by Loy Arcenas.

Planned cast includes Nonie Buencamino as Eurydice's father, Lhorvie Nuevo as Eurydice, Marco Viana as Orpheus, Jonathan Tadioan as Lord of the Underworld.

Mabining Mandirigma
A restaging of "Mabining Mandirigma" is also in the plan. The musical has a libretto by Nicanor Tiongson, music and musical direction by Joed Balsamo, set design by Toym Imao, costume design by James Reyes, choreography by Denisa Reyes, lighting design by Catoy, sound design by TJ Ramos, video projection design by GA Fallarme and direction by Chris Millado.

The musical won 12 Philstage Gawad Buhay trophies this year, including Outstanding Ensemble Performance for a Musical and Outstanding Musical.

Batucan is slated to reprise her role as Mabini.  Also returning to the cast are Arman Ferrer and David Ezra alternating as Emilio Aguinaldo.

30th anniversary concert
Concluding the season is "Perlas," a planned concert to celebrate TP's 30th anniversary featuring songs from its repertoire of productions, including songs by composers such as Balsamo and Ryan Cayabyab.

To be directed by Millado, the show will have a script by Dennis Marasigan, set design by Imao and choreography by Denisa Reyes.

Planned productions may change or be omitted as the season progresses; contact TP to confirm.

Productions will be staged at different theaters at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Contact 8321125 loc. 1620 or 1621. Like Tanghalang Pilipino on Facebook.

Inquirer.net link: 
http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/229236/virgin-labfest-shakespeare-john-arcilla-in-new-tp-season

Clint Ramos bags Tony nomination for his costumes for Lupita Nyong'o

Dulaang UP alum Clint Ramos bags a Tony nomination
By WALTER ANG
May 7, 2016
Philippine Daily Inquirer

New York-based set and costume designer Clint Ramos has been nominated for a Tony Award for his costume design for "Eclipsed," a play featuring Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o ("12 Years a Slave", "Star Wars'" Maz Kanata, "The Jungle Book's" Raksha). 

"I am very shocked, honored and humbled," he says. "Even though I've worked hard to be the best designer I can be, I still don't take anything for granted. This is a big deal and I know that, and I am very humbled by it."

This is his first Tony nomination. Ramos' set and costumes for the production have been described by critics as "meticulously detailed" (Variety) and "evocative" (Hollywood Reporter).

Nyong'o plays one of five women who survive the second Liberian Civil War. Written by Danai Gurira and directed by Liesl Tommy, the production received five other Tony nominations: Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Play for Nyong'o, two nominations for Best Actress in a Featured Role in a Play, Best Direction of a Play, and Best Play.

Ramos praised Nyong'o as a consummate professional.

"Lupita is a creature of the stage and is unbelievably talented. It was an honor to work with her because she takes the work seriously. Although she is a style icon, she was willing to go to a grittier, more desperate, more broken down place in terms of appearance and she earned my deepest respect for it. She is an example to all young actresses out there."

Essential

Ramos' costumes mixed distressed T-shirts emblazoned with American pop-culture images, such as a shirt with Rugrats cartoon characters for Nyong'o, and traditional African fabrics such as lapa, woven cotton cloth with colorful patterns. Some characters were given brand-name footwear to show status.

"I buried myself in the research. The Liberian Civil War happened not too long ago and is one of the most photo-documented wars. I studied the characters that Danai Gurira had written and found examples of these ladies in those photos. I tried to replicate the looks," he says.

Ramos discovered that Liberia is "a depository for America's discards," receiving donated secondhand clothing from Christian missionary groups. He also noted that soldiers would steal clothing or shoes from people they'd kill.

"I wanted to also highlight America's involvement in that war and in that country through the vintage American T-shirts. They were a constant visual element in all those photographs of these women. I distressed them to the level of grittiness that was evidenced in those pictures."

His costumes were cited by Vogue.com as "essential to helping piece together an identity that war has the potential to destroy."

"It is wonderfully fulfilling to have played a part in shedding light on such a dark moment in immediate world history and to highlight the plight of a group of African women who are victims of war because, sadly, the story of these women is all too familiar to us and reappears in the exact form in almost every war-torn country in the world," he says.

Cebu to New York

Born and raised in Cebu, Ramos took up theater arts at the University of the Philippines, doing design work for Dulaang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, then a Master of Fine Arts in Design for Stage and Film at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts on a full scholarship.

He has since designed costumes and sets for over a hundred productions in New York, across the US and internationally.

Recent credits include costume designs for the Broadway production of "The Elephant Man" featuring Bradley Cooper and the Off-Broadway musical about Imelda Marcos, "Here Lies Love," for which critics praised his work as "vast and fabulous" (New York Times), "[providing] beautiful symmetry" (The Hollywood Reporter), and "top-notch" (New York Magazine).

Both these productions were also staged on the West End. "Here Lies Love" will be staged by San Francisco's American Conservatory Theater in June 2017.

Ramos is multi-awarded, having previously received the 2013 Obie Award for Sustained Excellence of Costume Design, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts' 2014 Ani ng Dangal Award for Dramatic Arts, and the 2014 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Costume Design for his work on "Here Lies Love," among others.

For productions in Manila, he's designed the sets of Tanghalang Pilipino's "Mga Gerilya sa Powell Street" and DUP's "Mary Stuart/Maria Stuarda," "The Duchess of Malfi/Ang Dukesa ng Malfi" and "The Country Wife/Ang Misis Kong Promdi."

Upcoming projects include costume design for "Frozen: Live at the Hyperion," a new musical based on Disney's animated film, slated to open at Disney California Adventure Park in May 2016. (A separate Broadway production of "Frozen" with a different artistic team is scheduled to open in 2018.)

The Tonys will have its 70th annual ceremony on June 12.

Visit ClintRamos.com.

"Eclipsed" runs until June 19 at Golden Theatre, 252 West 45th St. (between Broadway and 8th Ave.), New York, New York. Visit EclipsedBroadway.com.

"Frozen: Live at the Hyperion," opens May 27, 2016 at Hyperion Theater, Disney California Adventure Park, Anaheim, California. Visit Disneyland.com.

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