Philippines Theatre + Broadway News

THE GREAT GATSBY Soundtrack Released; Film Opens in PH Today

(5/17/2013) - MCA Music Inc./Universal Music Group has just released the movie soundtrack of Tony nominee and acclaimed filmmaker Baz Luhrmann's book-to-screen adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's great American novel 'The Great Gatsby.'

Photo Flash: Tarzan Meets Jane

(5/15/2013) - Viva Atlantis Theatricals Inc., whose recent maiden production was Terrence McNally and David Yazbek's Broadway musical 'The Full Monty,' officially presented to the media earlier today Broadway star Dan Domenech ('Rock of Ages,' 'Glee') and pop star Rachelle Ann Go ('Disney's The Little Mermaid,' 'Party Pilipinas'), who will play the roles of Tarzan and Jane, respectively, in the Asian premiere of Phil Collins and David Henry Hwang's Broadway musical 'Disney's Tarzan.' The post-summer production opens at Meralco Theater on Friday, June 14.

Meet Cebu's Cre8tive Thespians Club

(5/13/2013) - Daisy Baad, veteran playwright and director once told Sonny Ouano Alquizola, Cre8tive Thespians Club Inc.'s (CTC) founder and artistic director, that CTC is one of those theater groups with very humble members that strongly reflects its leader's humility. Despite being acknowledged as one of Cebu's finest theater groups, CTC keeps it feet firmly rooted on the ground.

THE GREAT GATSBY Soundtrack Released; Film Opens in PH May 17

(5/10/2013) - MCA Music Inc./Universal Music Group has just released the movie soundtrack of Tony nominee and acclaimed filmmaker Baz Luhrmann's book-to-screen adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's great American novel 'The Great Gatsby.'

Voting Opens for the 2013 BroadwayWorld Awards! Vote Now for the Best of the 2012-13 Theatre Season...

(5/2/2013) - The Tony Awards Nominators had their say earlier this week and now it's your turn! We're pleased to announce that voting has now opened for the 11th Annual BroadwayWorld.com Awards!

BWW Interviews: Mark Bautista Talks THE FULL MONTY

(5/2/2013) - Viva Artists Agency contract star Mark Bautista's character, Jerry Lukowski, in Viva Atlantis Theatrical's production of Terrence McNally and David Yazbek's Broadway musical 'The Full Monty,' which is a stage adaptation of the 1997 film of the same name, is a challenging role for Bautista.

Photos: BWW Visits THE FULL MONTY; Show Runs Till 5/5

(4/30/2013) - BroadwayWorld.com caught the second Friday night, April 26, performance of Terrence McNally and David Yazbek's hit Broadway musical 'The Full Monty,' locally produced by Viva Atlantis Theatricals, an offshoot of prolific theater company Atlantis Productions.

At TAG's Workshop, Actors Pump Up Their Voices

(4/29/2013) - An actor uses two important tools: the body and the voice. Oftentimes in acting workshops, the facilitator focuses more on physical activities than vocal exercises. However at Theater Actors Guild's (TAG) Actor's Voice Workshop, a different approach to developing the actor is brought about.

BWW Interviews: Getting Real with Fred Lo, Caisa Borromeo and Kyla Rivera

(4/26/2013) - Fred Lo, Caisa Borromeo, and Kyla Rivera, cast of 'Sa Wakas,' an original Pinoy romantic rock musical, share their real-life thoughts about their play's central theme: love and romance.

STAGE TUBE: Cebu Theater Groups Unite Against Cancer

(4/26/2013) - Cebu City, the 'Queen City of the South,' has seven theater groups, collectively known as the United Artists of Cebu; and they are staging a benefit concert 'Of Butterflies and Daisies' for Cebu Cancer Fight Inc. and playwright/director Daisy Baad, also a cancer patient, at Cebu Cultural Center, Lahug, Cebu City (across UP-Cebu) on Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28 at 7 p.m.

Photo Coverage: SA WAKAS, A New Rock Musical

(4/24/2013) - The musical's plot may be simple: a typical love triangle seen in the movies. But what makes 'Sa Wakas' totally different is the style of how the story is told: it starts from where it's supposed to end. Instead of a linear storytelling, the play tells its story backwards. Every scene makes you ask yourself, 'How did that happen?'

Director Spills the Beans About CINDERELLA

(4/24/2013) - 'Its set design will have things that roll out, turn, fold open, and more' - Michael Williams, director

BWW Reviews: SA WAKAS, The Story of Us

(4/22/2013) - 'Sa Wakas' has garnered mostly rave reviews since the new Filipino musical opened at PETA-PHINMA Theater two weeks ago. After finally catching the show last weekend, we were glad to see that it isn't all hype. 'Sa Wakas' is the type of show you will tell your friends about because you want to share something special with them. It is the type of show you would want people to see because they may have walked the same path once similar to one of the characters. Seeing it onstage also calls to mind gut wrenching conversations you may have had over a few rounds of beer.

BWW Reviews: SA WAKAS, A New Rock Musical

(4/18/2013) - One of the hardest things when writing a review is doing our best not to be influenced by others' opinions, especially when we know something is amiss. While there is no question about how skilllfully Off-Broadway director Andrei Nikolai Pamintuan is able to fuse different theatrical elements to bring the spirit of alternative rock band Sugarfree's songs on stage, the lack of organic storytelling in Act One makes Sa Wakas: A New Rock Musical confusing to us.

Lea Salonga, Apl.de.ap and More Start THE VOICE PH Blind Auditions, 4/15

(4/14/2013) - Formally introduced to the public via a press conference held at Philippine TV network ABS-CBN on Friday, "The Voice of the Philippines" coaches Lea Salonga, Apl. de. ap of Black Eyed Peas, Bamboo Maalac, and Sarah Geronimo -- all four have carved out solid music careers and have huge fan bases in the Philippines -- will get to turn their own swivel chairs when the Philippine franchise of the hit reality singing competition "The Voice" starts taping its first set of blind auditions at a sound stage in Bulacan tomorrow, April 15.

Photo Flash: THE GRADUATE Production Photos; Show Runs Until 4/28

(4/11/2013) - Pinky Marquez (Mrs. Robinson), Reb Atadero (Benjamin Braddock), and Cara Barredo (Elaine Robinson) star in Repertory Philippines' 76th season third offering, 'The Graduate,' a film-to-stage adaptation by Terry Johnson, playing at Onstage Theater, Greenbelt 1 until Sunday, April 28.

Photo Flash: Erik Santos Accepts BWW Award

(4/10/2013) - Erik Santos, ABS CBN talent and star of the Asian premiere of Disney's "The Little Mermaid," has received his Best Crossover Artist (Mainstream to Theater) Award at the 2012 BroadwayWorld Philippines Awards via the live musical variety show "ASAP 18."

BWW Reviews: THE GRADUATE by Repertory Philippines

(4/9/2013) - During Act One of 'The Graduate,' Benjamin Braddock exclaims brattishly that his father and everyone his father knows are grotesque. We think there couldn't be a more appropriate description to what follows in the next hour of the play.

Photo Coverage: Rachelle Ann Go Receives BWW Award

(4/8/2013) - GMA talent Rachelle Ann Go was given the 2012 BroadwayWorld (BWW) Philippines Best Actress in a Musical Award for her performance as 'Ariel' in Atlantis Productions' Disney's 'The Little Mermaid' during the live musical variety show 'Party Pilipinas' held Sunday, April 7 at Studio Seven, GMA Annex Building in Quezon City.

STAGE TUBE: BWW Award Winner Rachelle Ann Go Sings 'Part of Your World' in PARTY PILIPINAS

(4/7/2013) - Rachelle Ann Go, 2012 BroadwayWorld Philippines Best Actress (Musical), relived her professional stage debut as 'Ariel' in the Asian Premiere of Disney's The Little Mermaid by Atlantis Productions on GMA Network's musical variety show 'Party Pilipinas' on April 7, 2013. Watch her performance below!

Photo Flash: Meet the Cast of THE GRADUATE, Opening Tonight

(4/5/2013) - Kathleen Turner (Mrs. Robinson), Jason Biggs (Benjamin Braddock), and Alicia Silverstone (Elaine) would have found their Filipino counterparts Pinky Marquez, Reb Atadero, and Cara Barredo respectively by the time the hit West End and Broadway play 'The Graduate,' based on the novel and film of the same name, opens at Onstage Theater, Greenbelt 1 tonight, April 5. Scroll down for photos of the cast!

Photo Flash: DIRTY DANCING Releases Production Photos

(4/4/2013) - One of the fastest selling shows in London West End, 'Dirty Dancing,' makes its Manila premiere on Thursday, July 4 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Photo Flash: Meet the Cast of THE GRADUATE; Play Opens 4/5

(4/2/2013) - Kathleen Turner (Mrs. Robinson), Jason Biggs (Benjamin Braddock), and Alicia Silverstone (Elaine) would have found their Filipino counterparts Pinky Marquez, Reb Atadero, and Cara Barredo respectively by the time the hit West End and Broadway play The Graduate, based on the novel and film of the same name, opens at Onstage Theater, Greenbelt 1 on Friday, April 5.

First Listen: SA WAKAS Musical Premieres New Song

(3/25/2013) - In the video below, (together with the cast of "Sa Wakas") Ebe Dancel, vocalist, guitarist of Sugarfree, performs his new composition, "Bawat Daan," specifically written for the musical.

BWW Reviews: PIAF by Atlantis Productions

(3/23/2013) - Piaf is Amador; Amador is Piaf.

Photo Flash: Meet the Cast of SA WAKAS, A New Rock Musical

(3/21/2013) - A bittersweet love story that chronicles the end of one relationship and the beginning of another, that is the plot of the new rock musical 'Sa Wakas,' by Culture Shock Productions, in cooperation with Fringe MNL.

BWW Interviews: SKY OVER DIMAS' Tim Dacanay

(3/20/2013) - Adapting a novel into a play entails a lot of deliberation about the elements of the story that needed to be transferred to the novel's new form. In the case of 'The Sky Over Dimas,' playwright Tim Dacanay shares with BroadwayWorld that there were no composite characters, two or more new characters, fused into the stage version. However, 'there were necessary adjustments we felt would help bring forth the story on stage.'

STAGE TUBE: ISOLATION ROOM, Reimagining of NO EXIT, Opens 3/21

(3/19/2013) - A daring theatrical experiment, filled with blood and gore, comes to Tanghalang Huseng Batute at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) from Thursday, March 21 to Saturday, March 23.

Photo Exclusive: LEGALLY BLONDE's Nikki Snelson Holds Workshop in Manila

(3/18/2013) - Nikki Snelson has successfully 'Snelsonized' Manila! Popularly known as the fitness queen from the screen-to-stage adaptation of 'Legally Blonde,' the famed Broadway actress, singer, dancer and choreographer delivered her first workshop with Prod'G Arts International in the Philippines last March 9 and 10.

Review Roundup: PIAF by Atlantis Productions; Show Closes 3/23

(3/17/2013) - Atlantis Productions (Disney's "Aladdin," "Rock of Ages") kicks off its new theater season with British playwright Pam Gem's reworked version of her original late '70s play 'Piaf,' which is a bio-drama with music based on the life and career of Edith Piaf, one of France's most popular performers during World War II.

BWW TV: DIRTY DANCING Stars Perform TIME OF YOUR LIFE & More

(3/16/2013) - Bryony Whitfield (Frances 'Baby' Houseman), Gareth Bailey (Johnny Castle), and Mila de Biaggi (Penny Johnson), stars of the international touring production of the screen-to-stage adaptation of Eleanor Bergstein's cult classic 'Dirty Dancing,' met the press on Friday (March 15) to officially open the box office for 'Dirty Dancing,' which is coming to the Cultural Center of the Philippines in July.

MORE PHOTOS: DIRTY DANCING Meets the Press; Show Opens 7/4

(3/15/2013) - Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, Hi-Definition Radio Inc., and Concertus Manila, the team that brought mega-musicals 'The Phantom of the Opera,' 'Mamma Mia,' and 'Cats' to Manila, open the screen-to-stage adaptation of 'Dirty Dancing' at the Cultural Center of the Philippines on Thursday, July 4 (22 performances only).

Dan Domenech to Headline TARZAN in Manila

(3/15/2013) - Dan Domenech, who appeared on Broadway in ROCK OF AGES as well as the pre-Broadway engagement of WONDERLAND in Tampa, will lead Viva Atlantis Theatricals' TARZAN in Manila, PhilStar.com reports today.

FREEZE FRAME: DIRTY DANCING Meets the Press; Show Opens 7/4

(3/15/2013) - Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, Hi-Definition Radio Inc., and Concertus Manila, the team that brought mega-musicals 'The Phantom of the Opera,' 'Mamma Mia,' and 'Cats' to Manila, open the screen-to-stage adaptation of 'Dirty Dancing' at the Cultural Center of the Philippines on Thursday, July 4 (22 performances only).

WICKED May Follow Suit After DIRTY DANCING in July

(3/11/2013) - Philippine news portal ABS-CBNNews.com yesterday hinted Lunchbox Theatrical Productions Ltd., live entertainment producers that brought Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'The Phantom of the Opera' to Manila last year, and are bringing the screen-to-stage adaptation of 'Dirty Dancing' to the Cultural Center of the Philippines in July, has been eyeing Stephen Schwartz's 'Wicked: The Untold Stories of the Witches of Oz,' one of the most popular Broadway musicals of all time, to follow suit after 'Dirty Dancing,' besides around six other productions.

STAGE TUBE: SKY OVER DIMAS Meets the Press - See the Cast in Action!

(3/10/2013) - We are glad that BroadwayWorld (BWW) got a rehearsal sneak peek with the cast of Harlequin Theatre Guild's book-to-stage adaptation of Palanca winner Vicente Garcia Groyon's "The Sky Over Dimas," written by Tim Dacanay and directed by Romualdo Tejada, at De La Salle University (DLSU) yesterday.

Photos: KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN, Starring BB Gandanghari, Closes Today, 3/9

(3/9/2013) - BB Gandanghari, Filipino actor and androgynous model, produces and stars in "Halik ng Tarantula," a Filipino translation of Argentine author Mario Puig's play "Kiss of the Spiderwoman" by Filipino playwright Rene O. Villanueva.

Photo Flash: First Look at PIAF by Atlantis Productions, 3/8-23

(3/7/2013) - Atlantis Productions kicks off its new theater season with British playwright Pam Gem's reworked version of her original late '70s play "Piaf," which is a bio-drama with music based on the life and career of Edith Piaf, one of France's most popular performers during World War II.

BWW Reviews: COLLECTION by Dulaang UP

(3/4/2013) - Dulaang UP closes its 37th season with a bold and daring new play, 'Collection,' written by visionary playwright Floy Quintos.

HTG Presents the World Premiere of THE SKY OVER DIMAS, 3/21-23

(3/2/2013) - Campus-based theater productions in the Philippines such as Dulaang UP's 'Collection' and Ateneo Blue Repertory's 'Spring Awakening' are giving mainstream theater productions a run for their money -- a competition that is healthy. So hearing a word from De La Salle University's (DLSU) resident theater company, Harlequin Theatre Guild (HTG), that the company will be presenting the world premiere of the book-to-stage adaptation of National Book Award and Palanca winner Vicente Garcia Groyon's 'The Sky Over Dimas,' written by playwright Tim Dacanay, I was extra-thrilled.