Cover One of the shows featured in Philippine Educational Theater Association’s ‘Control+Shift: Changing Narratives’ (Photo: PETA)
One of the shows featured in Philippine Educational Theater Association’s ‘Control+Shift: Changing Narratives’ (Photo: PETA)
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From Shakespeare and Broadway hits to original jukebox musicals, 2024 is sure to be a big year for Philippine theatre
Despite theatres’ temporary closure in 2020 and 2021, several companies continued to fare by developing ingenious online productions and workshops. Many companies have brought life back to the stage in the past two years with revivals, adaptations, and some new works shelved during the pandemic.
With the passing of the revered theatre giant Ricardo G Abad when 2023 drew to a close, the Philippine art and culture scene was enveloped by sombre colours. But surely, he wouldn’t let us succumb to grief and instead be inspired to open our minds with critical worldviews behind the red curtain.
This year, we expect more riveting performances, striking designs, and compelling stories from some of the country’s most sought-after theatre groups and thespians.
Here’s a rough idea of the theatrical productions opening this year:
JANUARY | CONTROL+SHIFT: CHANGING NARRATIVES
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PETA welcomes 2024 with a bold collection of new theatre performances that spotlight the theme of narrative change. It features eight new works, devised performances, and the re-staging of Melvin Lee’s Kumprontasyon at the PETA Theater Center from January 12-14, 19-21.
FEBRUARY | THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM SPELLING BEE
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This Broadway musical is about an eclectic group of six mid-pubescents competing in a spelling championship. Missy Maramara will be directing this for The Sandbox Collective, with Dingdong Rosales as assistant director and Rony Fortich as musical director.
MARCH | BETRAYAL
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Through Repertory Philippines’ new initiative, the Bridge Project, New York-based Victor Lirio will be helming Betrayal, together with London-based Filipino actors James Bradwell, James Cooney and Vanessa White. Lirio will reimagine this play by Harold Pinter about an extramarital affair within a Filipino-British immigrant context.
MARCH | PINGKIAN: ISANG MUSIKAL
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Jenny Jamora and Ejay Yatco are teaming up with Tanghalang Pilipino for this new musical that explores the rich story of Emilio Jacinto, one of the most revered katipuneros, written for the stage by acclaimed playwright Juan Ekis. Gab Pangilinan will portray Catalina de Jesus, and Vic Robinson will step into Jacinto's shoes during the tail end of the Philippine Revolution up to the onset of the American regime.
MARCH-MAY | MISS SAIGON
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The latest iteration of Cameron Mackintosh’s acclaimed musical Miss Saigon, featuring the collaboration of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, is coming to Manila this summer. It will run until May 5.
APRIL | KUNG PAANONG NANALO SA KARERA SI ROSANG TABA
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With its 46th Season spotlighting women’s stories, Dulaang UP will have a rerun of its beloved 2023 production of Kung Paanong Nanalo sa Karera si Rosang Taba. This interactive Filipino musical is based on Dean Francis Alfar’s illustrated short story.
APRIL | ONE MORE CHANCE THE MUSICAL
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PETA is mounting another jukebox musical based on the blockbuster film One More Chance of Star Cinema. This melodrama will be reimagined for the stage and incorporated with the music of the popular OPM band Ben&Ben.
JUNE | I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE
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This off-Broadway hit, written by Joe Di Pietro and Jimmy Roberts, is coming to the Philippine stage under the direction of Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo for Repertory Philippines. Expect a whirlwind series of vignettes on love and relationships.
JUNE | PATINTERO SA AYALA AVENUE
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Written and directed by Rafael Jimenez, this original Filipino play centres around a 16-year-old boy kicked out of school and his night on the town in Poblacion to discover what happens to the lights on Ayala Avenue after Christmas.
TBA | LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
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The Sandbox Collective will present the wickedly hilarious sci-fi smash hit musical Little Shop of Horrors in the second half of 2024. This production will be under the direction of the company’s managing artistic director, Toff de Venecia, with musical direction by Ejay Yatco.
TBA | RENT
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After its successful run of Jonathan Larson’s Tick, Tick… BOOM! last year, 9Works Theatrical restages its production of Larson’s seminal work, Rent, with an all-new cast.
Read also: How ‘Tick, Tick... Boom!’ perfectly communicates the anxiety of time running out
TBA | BURUGUDUYSTUNSTUGUDUNSTUY
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Newport World Resorts is mounting the much-awaited musical of 2024, featuring the music of iconic band Parokya ni Edgar. Buruguduystunstugudunstuy will have all-female leads brought to life by Felicity Kyle Napuli, Marynor Madamesila, Tex de Leon and Natasha Cabrera.
OCTOBER | JEPOY AND THE MAGIC CIRCLE
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Repertory Theater for Young Audiences breaks once again from its streak of Western-inspired fairy tale stories to adapt for stage The Magic Circle, a children’s novel by Philippine cultural icon and literature legend Gilda Cordero Fernando.
OCTOBER | OTHELLO
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CAST PH’s artistic director, Nelsito Gomez, is spearheading a new take on William Shakespeare’s renowned tragedy Othello, featuring Tarek El Tayech in the title role and Gab Pangilinan as Desdemona.
Read also: ‘Uncle Jane’, a reimagined Chekhov classic reminds us to live and love
NOVEMBER | TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS
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Capping off the year for The Sandbox Collective is the Manila premiere of Tiny Beautiful Things, based on the bestselling book by Cheryl Strayed and adapted for the stage by Nia Vardalos. It explores mental health, the healing process, and finding the courage to take on the questions that have no answers.
Read also: Duncan Macmillan’s ‘Lungs’ and ‘Every Brilliant Thing’: an intimate theatrical experience
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER | GOING HOME TO CHRISTMAS
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For the season’s closing show, REP presents Going Home to Christmas, to be directed by director, actor and set designer Leo Rialp, with theatre actor Jeremy Domingo as assistant director. Jose Mari Chan’s music and lyrics lend themselves to charming and heartwarming stories, providing the perfect soundtrack for this season’s finale.
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About
Before assuming the Art and Culture Editor position, Franz has always had a penchant for visual and performing arts. He is passionate about exploring and writing about the local cultural scene and rediscovering the country’s storied past and rich heritage. Besides working on this luxury lifestyle magazine, Franz is an avid book reader, local traveller, museum-goer, chorister, and community theatre playwright.
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Franz earned a degree in Journalism from the University of Santo Tomas. He writes about local visual and performing artists and their craft; drinks wines, liquors, and spirits and talks about the creativity of their respective winemakers and master blenders; tries to learn more about business and investments; respects the tradition and artistry that go behind the making of watches and jewellery; and appreciates the genius of architecture and creative design.
As head of Tatler Philippines’ pool of writers, he helps them bring impactful and socially relevant stories to light.
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