Plays and Shows

NOAH (No Ordinary Aquatic Habitat)
Playdates: January 15, 16, 17
Where: Meralco Theater

Trumpets retells the classic story of the Biblical patriarch and his famous ark with heart, compassion, hope and joy with another original musical, N.O.A.H. (No Ordinary Aquatic Habitat). Carlo Orosa will play Noah and Sheila Francisco stars as Mrs. Noah.

Rescheduled dates for the postponed performances of the show:
- September 26, 3 p.m. has been rescheduled to January 16, 3 p.m.
- September 26, 8 p.m. has been rescheduled to January 16 8 p.m.
- September 27, 3 p.m. has been rescheduled to January 17, 3 p.m.

Duets
Playdates: January 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 and 30 at 8 p.m. with 3:30 p.m. matinees on January 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 and 31
Where: Onstage, Greenbelt 1, Makati City
Ticket Prices: P600, P400, P300

Peter Quilter's Duets has four different vignettes with four sets of characters. Set in glorious comedy, the play explores the hilarious nuances of love in seemingly impossible, but extremely funny situations. The staging by Repertory Philippines will be directed by Ana Abad Santos. Veteran actors Joy Virata and Miguel Faustmann will take on all four sets of characters.

Rent in Manila
Playdates: Feb 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28
Where: Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Tower, Makati City
Ticket prices: P1,700, P1,600, P1,400, P1,100, P800

Jonathan Larson's groundbreaking and multi-awarded rock musical, RENT, will be staged in Manila by 9 Works Theatrical. Directed by Robbie Guevara, the ensemble will include Gian Magdangal (Footloose, West Side Story), Fred Lo (N.O.A.H.), Nicole Asensio, Cara Barredo (Mulan Jr., The Fantasticks), Job Bautista, OJ Mariano, Carla Guevara-Laforteza (Miss Saigon, Spelling Bee, Avenue Q), Jenny Villegas, Noel Rayos (Company, Hairspray), Raul Montesa (Man of La Mancha, Sweeney Todd), Guji Lorenzana (West Side Story), Gary Junsay (Sweeney Todd), Johann de la Fuente (Footloose, Spelling Bee), Anna Santamaria, Ring Antonio (Once On This Island, Sweeney Todd), Peachy Atilano, and Harold Cruz.

Based on Giacomo Puccini's LA BOHEME, RENT, written by Larson, is the story of Bohemian New Yorkers Mark, Roger, Maureen, Tom Collins, Angel, Mimi, Joanne, and their friends -- all struggling to survive during the rise of a mysterious, deadly disease, AIDS, and the ever prevalent economic crisis in the late '90s.

Romeo and Bernadette
Playdates: February 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 and 27 at 8 p.m. with 3:30 p.m. matinees on February 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 and 28.
Where: Onstage, Greenbelt 1, Makati City

This musical comedy is a take-off from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. In this version by Repertory Philippines, Romeo does not die but takes a sleeping potion and wakes up on Broadway in 1960. He doesn't fall in love with Juliet. Instead, he runs after someone he thinks is Juliet.

Avenue Q
Playdates: March 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27
Where: Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Tower, Makati City

Inspired by the characters of Sesame Street, Avenue Q is set in the boroughs of New York, with puppet characters sharing the stage with human actors. Several characters are parodies of those from Sesame Street: roommates Rod and Nicky are based on Bert and Ernie, while Trekkie Monster is based on Cookie Monster. Avenue Q's quirky characters, however, deal with adult problems and sex. Homosexuality and purpose are recurring themes in both dialogue and music. Rachel Alejandro stars.

Legally Blonde
Playdates: June 25, 26, 27, July 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18
Where: Meralco Theatre

Based on the book by Heather Hach and music and lyrics by Laurence O' Keefe   and Nell Benjamin, Legally Blonde tells the story of Elle Woods, a girl who enrolls at Harvard to win back her ex-boyfriend, Warner. Nikki Gil stars as Elle Woods.

Repertory Philippines' Equus
Playdates: July 9, 10, 16, 17, 23 and 24 at 8 p.m. with 3:30 p.m. matinees on July 10, 11, 17, 18, 24 and 25.
Where: Onstage, Greenbelt 1, Makati City

Peter Shaffer's powerful, riveting drama invades the dark corners of the human psyche.   The play focuses on the naked reality of what contemporary society can do to the human soul.

Cats
Playdates: July 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, August 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Where: Main Theater, Cultural Center of the Philippines
Ticket Prices:
Matinees at 3 p.m. on Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. on Sundays:
P7,210, P5,150, P3,605, P2,060, P1,030
Evenings on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays: P6,180, P4,635, P3,090, P1,545, P 772.50
Evenings on Fridays and Saturdays: P7,210, P5,150, P3,605, P2,060, P1,030

With magnificent music composed by the legendary Andrew Lloyd Webber, including the poignant hit song "Memory," an imaginative set, inspired choreography and stunning costumes, Cats is a brilliant song and dance spectacular not to be missed as it makes its premiere in Manila.

The story is based on a series of poems by T.S. Eliot. The stage set is a garbage dump, three times larger than life, where the Jellicle Cats come out to play. It is the night of the annual Jellicle Ball when their leader, Old Deuteronomy, will announce the name of the cat who will be reborn to a new life in the Heavyside Layer. The announcement will be made just before dawn. While they wait, the cats amuse themselves (and us!) with stories of famous cats of the past and present. Dawn comes and Old Deuteronomy gathers the cats together for his announcement of the name of the cat to be reborn. Lea Salonga stars.

Repertory Philippines' Sleeping Beauty
Playdates: August 14 to December 10
Where: Onstage, Greenbelt 1, Makati City

A new look at an old, old tale: Sleeping Beauty is not only the spellbound beauty, the Prince is an enchanted Faun, and his kisses release more than one spell, to the dismay of the wicked Fairy Trollarina.

Xanadu
Playdates: September 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19,
Where: Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Tower, Makati City

A musical-comedy based on the cult film of the same name, the musical tells the story of a Greek muse, Clio, who descends from Mt. Olympus to Venice Beach, California in 1980 on a quest to inspire a struggling artist, Sonny.   But when Clio, disguised as an Australian roller girl named Kira, falls into forbidden love with the mortal Sonny, her jealous sisters take advantage of the situation, and Clio risks eternal banishment to the underworld.

A Little Night Music
Playdates: October 2010
Where: Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Tower, Makati City

Inspired by Ingmar Bergman's film, Smiles of a Summer Night, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, the musical stars actress Dawn Zulueta and is about several couples, mismatched lovers and the romantic complications as they spend a deliriously mad-capped weekend at a country estate. It is a whimsical and magical musical that asks whether love is the meaning of life. It also features the most popular song in the Sondheim catalog, "Send in the Clowns," and is the winner of six Tony Awards including Best Musical.

Repertory Philippines' Little Women
Playdates: November 19 to December 12
Where: Onstage, Greenbelt 1, Makati City

Louis May Alcott's classic tale is set to music by Jason Howard, lyrics by Mindi Dickstein. The story, with its warm, feel-good theme focuses on the March family, Marmee and her four girls, and is a timeless reminder of what family is truly all about.

Images from myspace.com/pmdawn (P.M. Dawn), and courtesy of Gwen Carino (cast of "Rent"), Oliver Oliveros (Duets), repertory.ph.