Miss Celia Diaz-Laurel launches a book on her thespian life

How do we immortalize our life? Many would like to become legends and those we look up to open the pages and write themselves a book. On her 93rd birthday, Ms Celia Diaz-Laurel gives as a read about her life in marriage with the arts in a coffee table book called "My Lives Behind the Proscenium" - something that she has worked on this time of pandemic and we think that it could be a good time to share her story.

A mother, wife, philanthropist, writer, painter, thespian, theater production and costume designer, she dedicates her book to the women and men whose encouragement and confidence helped her become an actress namely: Mother IMMACULADA (Assumption Convent); WILFRIDO MA. GUERRERO (UP Dramatic Club, University of the Philippines); SONIA RIFKIN and DOÑA TRINING LEGARDA (Manila Community Players); JAMES B. REUTER S.J. (Ave Maria Players and The Cathedral Players); CONSTANCE WELCH (Drama Department, Yale University); BEHN CERVANTES (who persisted in urging her to write this book about her life in the theatre); and husband SALVADOR ‘DOY’ LAUREL, who understood her calling and allowed her to grow not only as an actress but as a person.

 

The book chronicles the life that Celia Diaz Laurel led with chapter titles: Stage-struck at Five, Wartime Years, Dramatic UP Days, Yale Years, Back to the Stage at Repertory Philippines.

“Celia has written an entertaining story about her theatrical life in a straightforward, simple, style that not only will give the curious reader an insight into her life and the social milieu of her time but is a historical narrative of the early years of Manila theatre and the personalities who were part of it. She writes about her early personal life as the background for the successful career she carved out for herself—not only as an actress but as a set and costume designer,” wrote Joy Virata in the foreword of the book.

 
Celia Diaz Laurel shares her insights about her book -- how she so much enjoyed her life as an artist, how she impacts the people she works with, and most of all, to share art to the audience.

MY LIVES BEHIND THE PROSCENIUM is edited by Suzie Laurel-Delgado and Cocoy Laurel; Dulce Festin-Baybay (Editorial Consultant), Miriam R. Castillo (Project Coordinator), Sarah L. Sanz (Photo Editor), Nestor Amador Malgapo Jr. (Book Design and Cover). Printed by GA Printing.

For book reservations and inquiries, kindly please contact Ms. Jenn Tejada c/o 88697298 Mon. - Fri. 1pm - 5 pm. Online orders can be placed on May 29 Facebook Live launch www.facebook.com/CeliaDiazLaurel.

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