Theater in Manila: Exciting Shows to See Onstage Until June
It's a busy second quarter for theater fans!
(SPOT.ph) UPDATED, May 23—The start of 2023 has been busy for theater-goers. We had back-to-back opening weekends for Walang Aray and Ang Pag-Uusig in February, a very limited run of Uncle Jane, and the gala of The Sound of Music. But it looks like the second quarter of the year will be filled with more theater events as more plays and musicals open in Metro Manila.
Check out these theater events, stage plays, and musicals scheduled for a Manila run from April to June 2023:
Ang Huling El Bimbo
Ang Huling El Bimbo gets another rerun with Gab Pangilinan, Gian Magdangal, and Topper Fabregas returning 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).
The jukebox musical, which was first staged in 2018, follows three friends: Hector, Emman, and Anthony, who reunite 20 years after their college graduation day. Their story is told through the songs of Eraserheads, which were arranged for the stage by musical director Myke Salomon.
Ang Huling El Bimbo runs until June 30 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World Manila, Newport Boulevard, Pasay City. Tickets, priced from P1,079 to P3,776, are available through Ticketworld.
The Reconciliation Dinner
The Reconciliation Dinner, a one-act play by Floy Quintos, was first staged in November 2022 by Dulaang UP. It looks into the dynamics among a group of friends who hold divergent political views in the aftermath of the 2022 elections. The 2023 run stars Frances Makil-Ignacio, Stella Cañete-Mendoza, Nelsito Gomez, Randy Medel Villarama, Jojo Cayabyab, Phi Palmos, and Mica Pineda.
The Reconciliation Dinner runs every weekend from May 13 to 28 at Power Mac Center Spotlight, Ayala Mall Circuit, Circuit Makati. Tickets, which are priced from P1,500 to P2,000, are available through Ticket2Me.
Twenty Questions
Juan Ekis’ Twenty Questions celebrates its 20th anniversary with a restaging by Theatre Titas at The Mirror Studies. The one-act play follows Jigs and Yumi who play a game of 20 questions after being forced to spend 24 hours in a hotel room as part of a tradition among college friends. It is directed by Cheese Mendez and stars Diego Aranda and Isabelle Prado.
Twenty Questions runs from May 12 to 28 at The Mirror Studios, 5/F SJG building, 8463 Kalayaan Avenue, Makati City. Tickets, priced at P600, are available through Ticket2Me.
Don Quixote
Don Quixote is known in the ballet world as one of the most technically challenging pieces ever created. It follows Alonso Quixano, who decides to become a knight and renames himself Don Quixote. He designates a neighboring farm girl, Aldonza Lorenza, as his lady love and renames her Dulcinea—the woman, of course, knows nothing of this. The ballet also puts the spotlight on the love story between Kitri and Basilio, a pair he encounters during his adventure.
Don Quixote runs from May 27 to 28 at Elizalde Complex, Vicente Sotto Street, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Pasay City. Tickets, which are priced from P1,030 to P2,060, are available through Ticketworld.
Sandbox Fest 2023
Like most shows during the pandemic, The Sandbox Collective's Sandbox Fest was canceled in 2020 just a few days after it opened. It features the restaging of two masterpieces by English playwright Duncan MacMillan: Every Brilliant Thing and Lungs. Every Brilliant Thing takes us to the world of a daughter, who starts listing down every brilliant thing that makes life worth living in an effort to cope with her mom's struggles with depression. Lungs follows a 90-minute rapid-fire conversation between a couple while they decide if it's just right to bring a child into the world we currently live in.
For the 2023 run, Reb Atadero and Sab Jose are alternating with Justine Pena and Brian Sy for Lungs; while Kakki Teodoro and Teresa Herrera are reprising the role of the narrator in Every Brilliant Thing. Every Brilliant Thing also now has a Filipino translation by Guelan Luarca, which will feature Jon Santos.
Sandbox Fest 2023 runs from June 2 to 25 at the Zobel de Ayala Recital Hall, 2/F Maybank Performing Arts Theater, BGC Arts Center, 26th Street, Bonifacio Global City. For updates, follow The Sandbox Collective on Facebook.
Ibarra
Piolo Pascual leads the cast of Ibarra, a musical based on Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere. It is directed by Franni Zamora and written by Jomar Floras with music by Joed Balsama and choreography by Paul Alexander.
Ibarra runs from June 8 to 18 at GSIS Theater, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City. For updates, follow Tanghalang Una Obra on Facebook.
Pride Plays
Barefoot Theatre Collaborative, which is behind the hit musical Mula sa Buwan, brings a twin-bill of LGBTQIA+ plays in celebration of Pride Month: Mikaela Regis’ Unica Hijas and Floy Quintos’ Laro. Unica Hijas, which was first staged at the Virgin Labfest 2022, follows the story of two girls sent to the principal's office after they were caught by a nun in an almost-kiss. Laro, on the other hand, examines gay relationships in a vignette-style of narrative.
Pride Plays runs from June 10 to 25 at Power Mac Center Spotlight, Ayala Mall Circuit, Circuit Makati. Tickets, which are priced from P1,700 to P1,900, are available through Ticket2Me.
Red
The Necessary Theatre brings back Red by John Logan a decade after it was staged at the College of Saint Benilde - School of Design and Arts. This Tony Award-winning play explores the life and work of abstract expressionist painter Mark Rothko. Set in Rothko's studio, the play examines his creative process and the tensions that arise between art, commerce, and personal identity. Bart Guingona reprises his role as Mark Rothko, while JC Santos plays the role of Ken.
Red runs from June 9 to 18 at the PETA Theater Center, No. 5 Eymard Drive, New Manila, Quezon City. Tickets, priced from P800 to P1,800, are available through Ticket2Me.
The Virgin Labfest
For the 2023 run of the annual Virgin Labfest, 12 plays were chosen out of 146 submissions:
Set A: Adulting 101
- O by playwright Raymund Barcelon and director Missy Maramara
- Regine: The Fairy Gaymother by playwright Chuck D. Smith and director Daniel Dalacat
- 10 to Midnight by playwright Juliene Mendoza and director Sarah Facuri
Set B: REBELasyon
- Ang Awit ng Dalagang Marmol by playwright Andrew Estacio and director Nazer Salcedo
- Dominador Gonzales: National Artist by playwright Dingdong Novenario and director George De Jesus
- Tuloy Ang Palabas by playwright Layeta Bucoy and director Tuxqs Rutaquio.
Set C: Y.O.L.O.
- Room 209 by playwright Zheg Arban and director Delphine Buencamino
- Hukay by playwright Ophalain Margaux Serrano and director Melvin Lee
- Mga Halimaw Rin Kami by playwright Jules Pamisa and director Tat Soriano
Set D: Muwang
- Hawaii, Here We Come! by playwright Shenn Apilado and director Mark Mirando
- O'Donnell by playwright Jerry O’Hara and director Issa Manalo Lopez
- Ang Tuyom by playwright Marjay Manalastas and director Gio Potes
The Virgin Labfest runs from June 7 to 25 at Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Pasay City. For updates, follow The Virgin Labfest on Facebook.
Zsazsa Zaturnnah the Musical… ‘Yun Lang!
Tanghalang Pilipino's long-running musical Zsazsa Zaturnnah the Musical… ‘Yun Lang! is getting an Ateneo Blue Repertory treatment with the direction of Missy Maramara. 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.
The musical is based on Carlo Vergara’s graphic novel Ang Kagila-gilalas na Pakikipagsapalaran ni Zsazsa Zaturnnah. Music, lyrics, and musical direction are by Vincent de Jesus, while the stage adaptation is by Chris Martinez.
Zsazsa Zaturnnah the Musical… ‘Yun Lang! runs until April 2 at Doreen Black Box Theatre, 3/F Areté, Ateneo de Manila University, Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights, Quezon City. Tickets are available through Ticket2Me.
Kung Paano Nanalo sa Karera si Rosang Taba
Kung Paano Nanalo sa Karera si Rosang Taba 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 José Estrella, Issa Manalo Lopez, at Mark Daniel Dalacat.
Kung Paano Nanalo sa Karera si Rosang Taba runs from March 23 to April 2 at the University Theater Main Stage, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City. Tickets, priced at P1,000, are available through Ticket2Me.
Diyosa
Philippine mythology comes alive in Carlo Calma's full-length contemporary ballet adaptation, Diyosa. It weaves together fantastic narratives, Filipino culture and heritage, Pinoy humor, and the message of sustainability.
Diyosa runs from April 14 to 16 at The Theater at Solaire, Solaire Resort and Casino, 1 Aseana Avenue, Parañaque City. Tickets, which are priced from P618 to P3,090, are available through Ticketworld.
Encantada
With direction and choreography by National Artist for Dance Agnes Locsin, Encantada raises awareness about the consequences of man's destruction of nature. This season-opener from Alice Reyes Dance Philippines has music by Joey Ayala, libretto by Al Santos, and production design by the late National Artist for Theater and Design Salvador Bernal.
Encantada runs from April 14 to 15 at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater, Hippodrimo Street, Circuit Makati, Makati City; and from April 21 to 22 at the Manila Metropolitan Theater, Ermita, Manila. Tickets, priced from P1,030 to P3,090, are available through Ticketworld.
DickTalk
Inspired by Eve Ensler's seminal play The Vagina Monologues, DickTalk tells the story of five men: a teenager, a transgender man, a sex worker, a metrosexual, and an old man. It is conceptualized by Edwin Vinarao with writers Ara Vicencio and Benj Cruz Garcia.
DickTalk runs from April 15 to 23 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, 4/F RCBC Plaza, Ayala Avenue corner Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City. Tickets, priced from P2,060 to P3,760, are available through Ticketworld.
Breakups & Breakdowns
Breakups and Breakdowns, which is written by Upstart Productions’ Artistic Director Joel Trinidad (book and lyrics) and Rony Fortich (music), is returning to the stage after it premiered in 2010 with an Ateneo Blue Repertory production. The musical comedy features Reb Atadero, Rachel Coates, Sarah Facuri, Nelsito Gomez, Tanya Manalang-Atadero, Joel Trinidad, and Nicky Triviño.
Breakups & Breakdowns runs from April 15 to 16 and from April 22 to 23 at Creative Arts Centre, The British School Manila, 38th Street, Bonifacio Global City. Tickets, which are priced from P500 to P2,300, are available through Upstart Productions.
La Boheme
La bohème, an opera in four acts by Giacomo Puccini, is most known as the inspiration behind Jonathan Larson's 1996 musical Rent. It is said to be based on Henri Murger's 1851 novel, Scènes de la vie de bohème, which portrays the lives of young artists living in 1840s Paris.
La Boheme runs on April 23, 28, and 30 at The Mirror Studios, 5/F SJG building, 8463 Kalayaan Avenue, Makati City. Tickets, priced at P800, are available through Viva Voce Voice Lab.
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 20 to 23 at Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Pasay City. Tickets, which are priced at P1,500, are available through Tanghalang Pilipino.
Walang Aray
With a run that started in February, Walang Aray alternates three sets of leads for the show's Julia and Tenyong: Alexa Ilacad - KD Estrada, Marynor Madamesila - Gio Gahol and Shaira Opsimar - Jon Abella.
The musical, which is based on Severino Reyes' 1902 sarsuwela titled Walang Sugat, is directed by Ian Segarra with original music by Vince Lim. It explores a romantic narrative interspersed with the history of the Philippine revolution against Spanish colonial rule.
Walang Aray runs until May 14 at the PETA Theater Center, No. 5 Eymard Drive, New Manila, Quezon City. Tickets, priced from P1,200 to P2,500, are available through Ticketworld.