Theater productions to watch while in quarantine

Since most we are all staying at home, it is also the best time to enrich our knowledge of the arts. As many artists are being displaced as there are no theater gatherings while we endure the pandemic. We also have to take care of the artists as they give stories that mirror life through fictional characters and they portray messages that we seem to forget.

We already started with Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera and Love Never Dies a few weeks back, and there are numerous productions that you can check out on Youtube. This is also because not all of us have the luxury of Netflix and other premium streaming sites. Glad to have both Western and local productions, if you don't like binge watching on different Kdramas. But for me, I need to detox every now and then after each series. *wink*

As of this writing, you can watch Danny Boyle's Frankenstein featuring Benedict Cumberbatch as the creature on a fundraiser in Youtube from National Theatre. There is also a version with Jonny Lee Miller in it.


In the local scene, you can catch Full House Theater Company's Ang Huling El Bimbo, a musical featuring the songs of 90s band, Eraserheads. As filmed in the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Resorts World Manila. It will only be available from May 8-9, (48 hours only) so make sure that you'll be able to watch it this weekend at ABS-CBN's Facebook and Youtube pages.

Also streaming right now is from CCP's Virgin Labfest, one is Juan Miguel Severo's one-act play, Hintayan ng Langit. A movie version is available on Netflix about Lisang (Gina Pareno) and Manolo (Eddie Garcia). I personally loved the movie version, and the play version is something to check out.


Carlo Vergara's one-play Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady will also be streaming starting May 7 at the Cultural Center of the Philippine's Youtube page. I am really looking forward to see this as I've been quite a fan of the full musical by Dalanghita Productions.

These are just some productions, watch and also donate if you can. It will be a great help for the artists and for our culture to survive during this crisis, and for your knowledge to be enriched as well.

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Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady gives the millennial feels

Box-office musical based on Carlo Vergara's comic book Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady is one of my favorite local productions in the theater scene. When it played two runs at the PETA Theater Center and Onstage, the soundtrack was playing for weeks on my playlist. The amazing lyrics and visual effects topped with amazing actors and actresses, KPANLL etched its mark on my memory and heart.

This year, a young group of thespians will adapt the musical and gets a reimagining on the life of Mely being a housemaid of the most trusted superheroes, the Fuwerza Filipinas. Falling in love with Leading Man while saving the world from the villainous Kayumanggilas. Ateneo Blue Repertoy group offers KPANLL as their finale performance with this spectacular production and will run for 2 weeks, from April 19 to 30.

Ateneo BlueRep's creative team led by director Issa Manalo Lopez, known for her performances in politically-charged pieces I and Colonized. Kevin Maske adds new lyrics and songs from the Vincent de Jesus originals. Delphine Buencamino gives her take on the choreography. J Laspuña, whose previous soundscape collaborations include “Disco1081”, “I”, and “Kapit” does Sound Design.  Carlo Tabije and Ben Padero, the award-winning Production Designers of the film “Heneral Luna”, creates the highly imaginative Set and Costumes. Joseph Matheu, Lighting Designer and Co-Producer of Twinbill’s “Asher Lev”, does the Lights Design.

The cast boasts of up and coming talented young actors of Philippine theatre. Natasha Cabrera, who previously played Viva in the musical’s commercial run, comes back to the production to play Mely – (Maid of Fuwerza Filipinas). She shares the role with EJ Pepito of PETA’s “3 Stars and a Sun”. Jerome Fugoso plays Senyor Blangko (Lead Super Villain of Kayumanggilas). Ateneo blueREP’s Kassandra Barnes and Ashe Uy alternate as Viva (Mely’s younger sister), Hans Braga as Leading Man (Newest Member of Fuwerza Filipinas), and Arianna Norton as Madre de Dios (Lead Superhero of Fuwerza Filipinas).

For ticket inquiries, please contact Stephanie Escuadro at 09568452030 or reserve through blueREP’s website: bluerepertory.org/tickets

Connect to Ateneo Blue Repertory online through the following social media networks:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/blueREPERTORY
Twitter: @_blueREPERTORY
Instagram: @blueREPERTORY

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KPANLL flies to new HQ

Manila, get ready to be avenged as Dalanghita Productions brings back the sold out musical, Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady, to a new headquarters.

From July 3-26, 2015, Onstage at Greenbelt 1, Makati City. Let's relive the story of Mely, the maid of the country's superheroes, Fuerza Filipinas, and follow her adventures and matters of the heart. Also bringing back the clash of Fuerza Filipinas with the insecure villains, Kayumanggilas. Watch the videos below from the media launch of the first run.

KPANLL was lauded by theater critics, even veterans and is composed by talents from different theater companies locally. Lead by Mely played by Bituin Escalante and Frenchie Dy as alternate, Markki Stroem and Hans Eckstein as Leading Man. Joining them are Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo and now, Shiela Martinez as Madre de Dios, the leader of Fuerza Filipinas, and more.

Also save a lot of money if you want to grab a copy of the Original Cast Recording with music and lyrics by the Musical Director, Maestra Vince De Jesus.

Here are the ticket prices as per Ticketworld:
Price Zone 1
Orchestra Center
P 1,563

Price Zone 2
Orchestra Sides
P 1,250.40

Price Zone 3
Balcony
P 833.60

For more information, you can check Dalanghita Productions' Facebook Page, Twitter and Instagram.

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Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady review

There may be some spoilers in this review but I can't wait that you will be able to watch Dalanghita Production's Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady that will be showing from May 7 - June 7 at PETA Theater. It is like Marvel with many Easter Eggs and why did I have this feeling that I have to watch after the end credits? LOL

I am ready for the spectacular show in store as I've read the comics by Carlo Vergara based on his one-act play. I also attended the press conference that made me fall in love with the songs created by Vince De Jesus. Not to mention that it is also directed by another entertainment superhero, Chris Martinez, you just have to sit back, relax and enjoy.

I love how the playwright extended the one act play, introducing Mely (Bituin Escalante) and giving the back story of all the characters and giving new twists towards the end. We are also introduced to the new set of villains, the Kayumanggilas that gave our heroes something to work on aside from Viva. The musical is full of laughs, emotions and thoughts as colorful as the world of superheroes.

The songs are lovable and It's like an opening or closing billboard of any Marvel or Japanese superhero show. Watch them here.

Bituin Escalante nailed the role as if it was really made for her. Seeing her from the other productions, her expressiveness and vocal power will captivate the audience. You'll laugh, cry and relate to her hugot spiels. She and Markki Stroem, Leading Man, gets onstage chemistry and they are both to admire. Markki transforms his innocent look into Mely's object of desire which makes them both effective and entertaining.

With Markki Stroem (Leading Man)

You also have to admire the Fuerza Filipinas' costumes that let them expose their powers and the actors to project and emulate and channel their favorite western superheroes:

Fuerza Filipinas (Photo by Axl Guinto)

Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo - Madre de Dios - Phoenix
Caisa Borromeo - Windang Woman - Rogue
Jef Flores - Bazooka Man - Megaman
Gianinna Ocampo - Nena Babooshka - Jubilee
Chesko Rodriguez - Popoy Pusakal - Catwoman

But the villains are lovable too. Their issues against Fuerza are backed up with the humor and great acting especially when you have Nar Cabico to lead. His Senyor Blanko is memorable like he was in ZsaZsa.

Kayumanggilas (Photo by Axl Guinto)

There are many unexpected twists that you are about to see in KPANLL. In the 3-hour production, your imagination will also travel into the new universe created by Carlo Vergara. I am beginning to think of all possibilities that Carlo Vergara may soon release given that this will be a big franchise Taray! Para ka nang si Stan Lee. It's powers will surely struck you visually and to the heart. You really shouldn't miss this.

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Move over Marvel, here's our league!

It's very exciting that we will be adding more to the likes of Darna and Captain Barbell in our league of local superheroes. Thanks to Carlo Vergara and his amazing imagination coming up with ZsaZsa Zaturnnah and her villains from the past musical which also turned into a movie. Two years ago, he introduced us with a new concept that makes us think, "Who cleans up the mess after a big fight?" Yes, that question has been answered with his one-act play, Kung Paano Ako Naging Lady (KPANLL) which was part of the Virgin Labfest.

This year, in collaboration with three other great minds, Tuxqs Rutaquio and Vince De Jesus who both played Ada in ZsaZsa Zaturnnah, and director of Kimmy Dora, Chris Martinez, KPANLL is now a musical! And from May 7 - June 7, I think that this will divert the attention of Manila from the western superheroes to our local production. Thanks to Dalanghita Productions for making this possible. You're already big with their very first musical.

I'm really looking forward to see Bituin Escalante doing the top bill in the cast as Mely, the maid, alternating with Frenchie Dy. Markki Stroem and Hans Eckstein play as Leading Man, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo and Astarte Abraham as Madre De Dios, the leader of Fuerza Filipinas.
Know the other members of the superhero league, Fuerza Filipinas:

Fuerza Filipinas

• Giannina Ocampo as Nena Babushka
• Caisa Borromeo as Windang Woman
• Chesko Rodriguez as Popoy Pusakal
• Jeff Flores as Bazooka Man

If there's superheroes, there must be trouble, know the trouble makers who have issues with Fuerza Filipinas, calling themselves as Kayumanggilas:

Kayumanggilas

• Nar Cabico / Domi Espejo as Senyor Blangko
• Red Nuestro as Marakas Marko
• Red Concepcion as Itak-Atak
• Elliot Eustacio as Jeryc Sans Rival
• Vince Lim / Mikoy Morales as Henyotik

The musical will have wonderful songs, even some of it are "hugot." Go to my Youtube channel to see and hear some songs.

KPANLL will play in the PETA Theater Center. For tickets, please call 0917-706-3533 for inquiries or visit http://tinyurl.com/leadingladytickets

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KUNG PAANO AKO NAGING LEADING LADY sets to entertain this May

PETA (Philippine Educational Theater Association) and Dalanghita Productions give way to another Carlo Vergara's novels that will bring us to laugh, to cry, to fight, to love and to learn. "Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady" now presents as a musical that will play from May 7-June 7, 2015 at the PETA Theater Center in Quezon City.

“ Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady ” revolves story of two sisters named MELY and VIVA who both yearn to fulfill their dreams. Their sibling relationship and rivalry becomes more complicated due to an unsettled past and a budding romance, all in the context of an ongoing war between the superhero and supervillain teams. Being a maid is tough enough, but when Mely lands a job under a group of superheroes, she steps up to the unique challenge for the sake of her family. The musical takes us through the journey of the characters as each tries to find his/her place in the world where superheroes and supervillains exist.

They also announced the cast that will play the characters in this original musical. Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Bituin Escalante & Frenchie Dy, Kim Molina & Natasha Cabrera, Markki Stroem & Hans Eckstein, May Bayot, Astarte Abraham, Giannina Ocampo, Jeff Flores, Chesko Rodriguez, Caisa Borromeo, Nar Cabico & Domi Espejo, Red Nuestro, Vince Lim & Mikoy Morales, Elliot Eustacio, Red Concepcion, Kakki Teodoro, Raf Bravo, Gab Pangilinan, JC Santos, Brian Sy, Rhenwyn Gabalonzo and Josh Cabiladas. Written by Carlo Vergara with musical scoring of Vince de Jesus works together again from ZsaZsa Zaturnnah and this is directed by Chris Martinez. Even the production team is a powerhouse and it gets me so excited.

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