LAST DANCE: HUBO'T HUBAD adds four more shows this November at Halxyon Club

The dance is not over just yet!

Following its previous performances, JAPS Collectives and World Theater Productions Guam / Manila announce four additional shows of LAST DANCE: HUBO'T HUBAD on November 8, 12, 21, and 28, 2026, at 7:30 PM at Halxyon Club in Poblacion, Makati City.

Written and directed by Jojo Urquico, the queer ensemble play takes audiences inside the dressing room of a struggling male revue bar on what could be its final night. As the performers prepare for one last show, they confront their personal struggles, abandoned dreams, hidden identities, and the sacrifices they have made to survive.

Blending humor, music, intimate confessions, and sensual performances, LAST DANCE looks beyond the glitter and physical allure of the performers to reveal the vulnerabilities of five men searching for acceptance, love, and a place to belong.

The extended run features Gerald Magallanes and Lance Cabradilla alternating as Ace, the fearless performer, alongside Paolo Domingo as Jay, John Segui as Dodong, Kriszan Manipon as Mark, and Robbie Padilla as Rafa.

Ysmael Suarez also joins the production as Josh, with Jem-Jem Ria Lopez as Mama Lou and Fewsha Umber and Lexie Eera as the Halxyon Queens.

The production is led by Urquico, whose international theater credits include Miss Saigon, Rent, Romeo & Juliet, and Die Zauberflöte. LAST DANCE marks his first original play as a writer, with the artist taking on the roles of playwright and director.

The creative team also includes Alex Garcia as Production Manager, Prince Beating as Co-writer and Stage Manager, Christian Magallanes as Assistant Stage Manager, and Martin Del Rosario for Sound and Lighting Design and Graphic Design.

Beyond its theatrical presentation, LAST DANCE also supports LGBTQIA+ advocacy. LoveYourself serves as the production's advocacy partner and will receive a portion of the ticket sales from the November 8 performance to support its community initiatives.

The production is made possible with the support of iSKin Aesthetic Lifestyle, U Hotels, Studio QZ, STAG, Duality, Manjam, and Halxyon Club.

LAST DANCE: HUBO'T HUBAD will have its extended performances on Sunday, November 8; Thursday, November 12; Saturday, November 21, and 28, 2026, at 7:30 PM at Halxyon Club, Poblacion, Makati City.

Tickets are priced at ₱700, ₱800, and ₱1,000, available through Ticket2Me.

Content Advisory: Strictly for adult audiences aged 18 and above. The production contains mature themes, sensual performances, and partial and full nudity presented within a theatrical context.

Five men. One stage. Stories that go beyond what meets the eye.

For those who have yet to experience LAST DANCE: HUBO'T HUBAD, the November performances offer another opportunity to witness this intimate theatrical production. Because sometimes, the stories behind the performance are worth staying for long after the music stops.

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Theater Review: LAST DANCE: Hubo't Hubad Strips Down More than Just Clothes

LAST DANCE: Hubo't Hubad at Halxyon Club in Poblacion, Makati City brings raw energy to the stage, featuring a main cast with Kriszan Manipon as Marky, Robbie Padilla as Rafa, Paolo Domingo as Jay, John Segui as Dodong, and Lance Cabradilla as Ace, along with Jem-Jem Ria Lopez as Mama Lu, Ysmael Suarez as Joshua, Fewsha Umber, and Lexie Eerra.

Holding the performance inside Halxyon Club turns out to be a great choice for the venue. Watching a drag show presented as a true art form for the first time is surprisingly captivating, and the opening acts do a wonderful job of pulling the audience into the experience. But the mood shifts quickly when the main cast enters. The dancers start walking right up to the crowd to grind and interact closely with people. For a first-time viewer, it can be quite a shock, and anyone sitting a few rows back will probably feel relieved to watch the action from a safe distance.

The actual story kicks off after a "raid," which brings out the personal struggles and drama of the five main characters. While the cast gives it their all, the plotlines feel very familiar, using tropes that many viewers have already seen in similar local LGBTQ+ indie films. Money problems and personal identity serve as the common thread connecting everyone. Marky works as a police officer but takes on dancing to bring home a better income for his family. Ace has grown to enjoy the work because he has built up a steady crowd of regular customers. Dodong is in a similar boat, though he secretly hopes to find a job that matches the degree he finished. Rafa dances purely out of survival, since the club is the only place willing to hire him at his age. Meanwhile, Jay uses his natural talent for dance to escape a dark past, having run away from home at a young age after dealing with childhood trauma.

The play also touches on other familiar issues like abuse, health struggles, and jealousy between coworkers, such as a heated argument where Dodong and Ace nearly fight over a shared client. The show makes a good point that despite their fit bodies and the tough image they put on for clients, these dancers are still fragile and vulnerable people. However, the story itself feels like it lacks depth. Across the hour-long runtime of talking and backstories, the plot turns out to be pretty predictable and standard.

For people who aren't used to seeing full nudity and intense adult themes up close on stage, the show leaves you with a mix of different emotions. Even if the storyline could have been a bit deeper, the brave performances and the unique venue make for an interesting night out. The show runs until October 29 at Halxyon Club in Poblacion, Makati City.

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LINGUA FRANCA - more to life of a transwoman

QCinema 2019 offers Lingua Franca, a journey in the life of an undocumented transwoman in the US - featuring Isabel Sandoval as producer, director and the lead actor (as Olivia) for the said movie.

More than just the usual LGBT-themed movies nowadays, Lingua Franca was able to represent not just the LGBT community but also taking us along in her struggles under the political landscape and its effects to undocumented immigrants. Her story mirrors each Filipino's lives and makes us immersed in their emotions and how they wrestle life in search of greener pastures.

Aside from the green card that many immigrants are longing for in the US, Olivia had her share of ups and downs in love and job working as a caregiver to another elder immigrant.
 Lingua Franca is one of the international entries in the QCinema Film Festival 2019 and showing from Oct 13-22 2019 in leading cinemas within Quezon City.

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A spectrum of emotions and values in Rainbow's Sunset

Watch a different family movie this Christmas as acclaimed director Joel Lamangan and Heaven's Best Entertainment Productions bring an extraordinary journey and love in Rainbow's Sunset.

In the tradition of reunions and get togethers, a family becomes dysfunctional as the father Ramon Estrella (Eddie Garcia) comes out to an affair with his long time lover, Fredo (Tony Mabesa). Ramon decided to leave his long home and wife (Gloria Romero) to take care of Fredo who is dying of cancer. Disorder and confusion has struck the family whether they would accept and appreciate their father's decision.

Cast of Rainbow's Sunset with Joel Lamangan (director) and Eric Ramos (screenwriter)

In a blog conference with the cast of Rainbow's Sunset, the cast appreciated the values that they have learned filming. For young actors Noel Comia, Zeke Sarmenta, and Adrian Cabido, they have learned and want to impart acceptance, love and the importance of family as the essential things that we could absorb throughout the movie.

Kapuso Star Sunshine Dizon agrees and would like to reiterate that the family is the only group of people most important to us. They are the first line of defense against anything that would get us in trouble and they will love and accept us no matter what we may go through in life.

For director Joel Lamangan, he thinks that the LGBT-themed movies are getting more acceptance but the core of the story is love and acceptance. For a couple of years now, the theme has not left the MMFF and he hopes for good acceptance and understanding from the people who will see Rainbow's Sunset.

Rainbow's Sunset also casts Tirso Cruz III, Aiko Melendez, Max Collins as young Gloria Romero, Jim Pebanco, Tanya Gomez, Sue Prado, Marcus Madrigal, Ross Pesigan, Adrian Cabido, Hero Bautista, Vince Dillon, Nella Marie Dizon, Ace Merfel, Benz Sangalang and Celine Juan. With special participation of Albie Casino.

Cast of Rainbow's Sunset with Joel Lamangan and Eric Ramos

See a glimpse of the film Rainbow's Sunset below. Opening December 25 in theaters, an official entry to the Metro Manila Film Festival.

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