Theater Preview: 10 Plays and Musicals to Watch in 2023
From a sarsuwela-inspired comedy to an adaptation of a Russian play.
(SPOT.ph) 2022 proved to be an emotional year for Philippine theater as a handful of plays and musicals once again graced the stage. Nothing beats the energy of the live performance, after all; and we're glad to welcome the new year with curtains all the way up.
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Here are some of the stage plays and musicals scheduled for a Manila run this 2023:
Walang Aray
Directed by Ian Segarra with original music by Vince Lim, Walang Aray is an experimental musical based on Severino Reyes' 1902 sarsuwela titled Walang Sugat. Reminiscent of the opus of the "Father of Filipino Drama," Walang Aray explores a romantic narrative while still imbibing social themes of the Filipinos' struggles under Spanish colonial rule. Former Pinoy Big Brother contestants Alexa Ilacad and KD Estrada alternate with Marynor Madamesila and Gio Gahol as the show's leads Julia and Tenyong.
Walang Aray runs from February 17 to May 14 at the PETA Theater Center, No. 5 Eymard Drive, New Manila, Quezon City. Tickets, priced from P1,2000 to P2,500, are available through Ticketworld and their show buyers.
Ang Pag-uusig
One of SPOT.ph's choice of best plays from 2017, Ang Pag-uusig first opened six years ago at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, then had a rerun in 2018. It is returning to the stage in February as part of Tanghalang Pilipino's 36th Theater Season.
Ang Pag-uusig is directed by Dennis Marasigan and translated from Arthur Miller's The Crucible by Jerry Respeto. While the American play took inspiration from the tragic Salem witch trials in 1690s Massachusetts, the local version is set against the Philippine backdrop of tokhang and alleged EJKs, often dubbed our country's own witch trial.
Ang Pag-uusig runs from February 17 to March 12 at Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Pasay City. Early-bird tickets, priced at P1,200, are available until January 26 through Tanghalang Pilipino.
Uncle Jane
Company of Actors in Streamlined Theatre (CAST, for short) is staging an intimate run of Uncle Jane, a modern-day English adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s Russian classic, Uncle Vanya. The piece is adapted and directed by Nelsito Gomez. The cast features Missy Maramara, Topper Fabregas, Justine Peña, Justine Narciso, Leo Rialp, Jay Glorioso, and Jaime Del Mundo.
Uncle Jane runs from February 24 to 26 at The Mirror Studios, 5/F SJG building, 8463 Kalayaan Avenue, Makati City. Tickets, priced at P500, are available through CAST PH.
The Sound of Music
The international tour of The Sound of Music, which started in November 2022 in Singapore, is making a pitstop in Manila this March. Leading the cast for this production are Jill Christine-Wiley as Maria Rainer and Trevor Martin as Captain von Trapp.
The Sound of Music is a timeless classic that has captured the hearts of many generations. Based on the memoir The Story of the Trapp Family Singers set in 1938 Austria, it follows Maria who takes a job as governess to a large family. She later falls in love with the kids' widowed father, Captain von Trapp. It's a creative collaboration between Richard Rodger (music), Oscar Hammerstein II (lyrics), and Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse (book).
The Sound of Music runs from March 7 to 26 at Samsung Performing Arts Theater, Hippodrimo Street, Circuit Makati, Makati City. Tickets, priced from P1,500 to P6,300, are available through Ticketworld.
Kung Paano Nanalo sa Karera si Rosang Taba
For the second play of their 45th season, Dulaang UP is having an online streaming of Kung Paano Nanalo sa Karera si Rosang Taba. It is based on Dean Francis Alfar's short story How Rosang Taba Won a Race and is adapted for the stage by Maynard Manansala and Rody Vera. It is directed by Jose Estrella.
Kung Paano Nanalo sa Karera si Rosang Taba runs in March. For updates, follow Dulaang UP on Facebook.
Nekropolis
Tanghalang Pilipino Actors Company and playwright Guelan Luarca explore themes of death and power experienced by the Filipino people in the past six years. Nekropolis is directed by Charles Yee.
Nekropolis runs from April 14 to 30 at Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Pasay City. For updates, follow Tanghalang Pilipino on Facebook.
Ang Huling El Bimbo
Ang Huling El Bimbo, which was first staged in 2018, is written by Dingdong Novenario and directed by Dexter Santos. It follows the story of three friends: Hector, Emman, and Anthony, who find themselves in an unlikely mini-reunion 20 years after their college graduation. Their younger selves are revealed in a slew of flashback scenes, starting from how they met in a dormitory at college to how they parted ways on the last day of school, and all the challenges they faced along the way. These stories are all told through songs of the Eraserheads, which were arranged for the stage by musical director Myke Salomon.
For the 2023 rerun, Gab Pangilinan, Gian Magdangal, and Topper Fabregas return as Young Joy, Hector, and Young Anthony. Rounding up the cast members are Nino Alejandro (as Anthony), Bullet Dumas (as Emman), Anthony Rosaldo (as Young Hector), Paw Castillo (as Young Emman), and Katrine Sunga (as Joy).
Ang Huling El Bimbo runs in April at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World Manila, Newport Boulevard, Pasay City. For updates, follow Full House Theater Company on Facebook.
The Virgin Labfest
In 2022, The Virgin Labfest was one of the first—if not the first—productions to return to the physical stage following more than two years of live theater's forced hiatus amid the pandemic. For the 2023 run of the annual production, 12 plays were chosen out of 146 submissions: Hawaii, Here We Come by Shenn Apilado, Room 209 by Zheg Arban, O by Raymund Barcelon, Tuloy Ang Palabas by Layeta Bucoy, Sunod sa Bilang by Eljay Castro Deldoc, Ang Awit ng Dalagang Marmol by Andrew Estacio, Ang Tuyom by Marjay Manalastas, 10 to Midnight by Juliene Mendoza, Dominador Gonzales National Artist by Dingdong Novenario, O’Donnell by Jerry O’Hara, Mga Halimaw Din Kami by Jules Pamisa, and Hukay by Ophalain Margaux Serrano.
The Virgin Labfest runs in June at Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Pasay City. For updates, follow The Virgin Labfest on Facebook.
Anak Datu
Tanghalang Pilipino’s Associate Artistic Director Marco Viaña confirmed that Anak Datu is having a rerun in 2023. The play by Rody Vera and directed by Chris Millado had a three-weekend run in September 2022, and later bagged trophies at the 2022 Aliw Awards, including Best Play, Best Stage Director for a Play (Millado), Best Musical Direction for a Play/Musical (Chino Toledo), Best Lead Actress in a Play (Tex Ordonez-De Leon), and Best Featured Actress in a Play (Lhorvie Nuevo).
Anak Datu interweaves three narratives: a short story written by National Artist of the Philippines for Sculpture Abdulmari Asia Imao in 1968, the same year his son and artist Toym Leon Imao was born; the folk tale of Datu Karim, Putil Loling, and their son Karim; and the documented history of the Jabidah Massacre (1968) and Palimbang Massacre (1974) in the hands of uniformed men during the administration of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
Also read: Spotlight: Anak Datu at Ang Rebelyon sa Mindanao
Anak Datu runs in September and October. The venue is yet to be announced. For updates, follow Tanghalang Pilipino on Facebook.
Zsazsa Zaturnnah the Musical… ‘Yun Lang!
University-based production Ateneo Blue Repertory is staging Zsazsa Zaturnnah the Musical… ‘Yun Lang!, which is based on Carlo Vergara’s graphic novel Ang Kagila-gilalas na Pakikipagsapalaran ni Zsazsa Zaturnnah. Originally Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal, this piece by Vincent de Jesus (music, lyrics, and musical direction) and Chris Martinez (stage adaptation) was staged on and off from 2006 to 2011 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines as one of Tanghalang Pilipino's long-running shows.
For the 2023 staging, Kim Molina plays the titular role. Ada, Zsazsa Zaturnnah's alter ego, is played by Phi Palmos, Adrian Lindayag, and Shaun Ocrisma; while Dodong is played by Carlos Galano, Elian Dominguez, and JM Servilla. Zsazsa Zaturnnah the Musical… ‘Yun Lang! is directed by Missy Maramara.
Run dates and venue are yet to be announced. For updates, follow Ateneo Blue Repertory on Facebook.