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A September-to-December Affair: Performances to Remember

By Juan A. L. Ortigas

Repertory Philippines' 62nd season - Venue: The William Shaw Theater, 5/F Shangri-La Plaza Mall (first 3 weeks) and The Carlos P. Romulo Theater, RCBC Plaza, Ayala Avenue cor. Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City (during last 2 weeks).

63rd season lineup of plays:

Cactus Flower
Abe Burrow's straight play/comedy stars Miguel Faustmann and Joy Virata. Sept. 6 to Oct. 7.

A scene from the hilarious "Cactus Flower"

Liesl Batucan and Jerermy Domingo star in "It Had to be You"

The Fairy-Godmother grants a wish in "Cinderella"

It Had to Be You
Straight play/comedy by Renee Taylor and Joseph Bologna starring Liesl Batucan and Jeremy Domingo. Oct. 11 to Nov. 11.

The Secret Garden
This highly entertaining family-oriented musical stars Rep veterans Menchu Launchengco-Yulo and Michael Williams. Nov. 15 to Dec. 16. Performances are on Thur. Fri. and Sat. at 8 pm and on Sat. and Sun. at 3:30 pm. Tickets available at Repertory Box Office, all SM TicketNets, The Manila Peninsula Hotel, Landmark, and through Bankard. E-mail at re@broline.com, or visit Rep's website at www.repertoryphilippines.com.

Repertory veterans Michael Williams and Menchu Lauchengco star in "The Secret Garden"

Cinderella
A children's musical showing Sat. and Sun. at 10:30 am until Dec. 16. Michael Williams directs Maritoni Tordesillas/Crisel Consunji, Roy Rolloda/Jeremy Aguado, Meynard Peñalosa, Arnel Carrion, Oliver Usison and others. Sets by Jay Herrera, costumes by Benny and Liz Bacto.

Performances at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). Marketing office at 832-8738 (ask for MS. Elvie Mañibo). Senior citizens get a 20-percent discount.

Filipino Artists Series 2001 (15th Anniversary) concert series at the Little Theater.

All performances commence at 7:30 pm. Tickets cost P300 per recital. Sept. 25 - violin recital featuring Gina Medina. Nov. 27 - recital of soprano Maria Cristina Viguilla-Navarro.

Tanghalang Pilipino's 5th Year schedule.

Tickets/inquiries: call Tanghalang Pilipino at 832-3661, 832-1125 loc. 1620, 434-4181, 436-8486, 896-4601.

Macbeth
Rolando Tinio's Filipino translation of Shakespeare's play runs at the CCP's Tanghalang Huseng Batute on Sept. 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 14, l5, 16.

Bizet's opera "Carmen" in Filipino
A co-production with the Philippine Opera Company. CCP's Little Theater on Oct. 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21.

One Hundred Songs of Mary Helen Fee
Tony Perez's one-woman monologue, will be performed in English and Filipino at the CCP's Tanghalang Huseng Batute on Nov. 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25.

Man of La Mancha
The Broadway hit musical, will be staged at Onstage in the Greenbelt Theater area from Dec. 14 to 16.

Prinsipe ng Buwan
A children's musical written by Tony Perez with music by Nonong Buencamino, will be staged at the CCP's Tanghalang Huseng Batute on Nov. 30, Dec. 1, 2, 7, 8, 9.

Philippine Ballet Theater (PBT)

Don Quixote
A full-length ballet with dancers Lucas Jacinto, Ronilo Jaynario, Guada de Leon, Maricar Medina on Sept. 6, 7 and 8 at 8 pm and on Sept. 9 at 3 pm at the Main Theater of the CCP. Tickets cost (evening/matinee): orchestra center (P1000/500), orchestra sides (P800/400), balcony I center (P220/100), balcony I sides (P100/50), balcony II center (P100/50), balcony II sides (P60/30). Students get 50-percent discount on orchestra tickets. For inquiries, please call PBT Office at 723-8158 (Nanette).

Ballet Manila

Romeo and Juliet world premiere
Choreography by People's Artist of Russia Sergey Vikulov using Prokofiev's music. Sept. 28 and 29 at 8 pm and Sept. 29 and 30 at 3 pm at the CCP's Main Theater. Soloists are Lisa Macuja and Osias Barroso (evening performances) and Elline Damian and Christopher Mohnani (matinee performances). For inquiries, please call Ballet Manila at 512-5031 to 32 or 525-5967, or email: info@balletmanila.com; or check website: www.balletmanila.com

Il Trovatore

Verdi's opera will be presented in cooperation with the Singapore Lyric Opera and the Opera Guild of the Philippines on Sept. 14 and 15 at 8 pm. Leow Siak Fah (from Singapore) directs Christina Lamberti (Leonora), Constantin Nica (Manrico), Mario di Marco (Count di Luna), Yang Zie (Azucena), Mario Bertolino (Ferrando), Rachelle Gerodias (Inez), Lemuel de la Cruz (Ruiz). Ruggero Barbieri conducts. Costume and set design by Salvador Bernal. Tickets cost P2000/1500 (orchestra), P300 (balcony I), P100 (balcony II). Senior citizens get a 20-percent discount. Students get 50-percent discount for balcony II section only. Venue is the CCP’s Main Theater.

Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) 2001 - 2002 season

Unless otherwise stated, performances commence at 8 pm and are at the CCP's Main Theater.

PPO I
Nov. 21 - Program: Ryan Cayabyab's "Sarangola ni Pepe," Poulenc's "Story of Babar, The Little Elephant," and Prokofiev's "Peter and the Wolf." Featuring the Philippine Ballet Theater with Ruggero Barbieri conducting and Cris Villonco narrating.

PPO II
Dec. 13 at the Philamlife Auditorium, U. N. Ave., Manila - Featuring "Liang Zhu" (Butterfly Lovers), an original symphonic work. Soloist: Liang Danan (violin). Conductor: Prof. Tan Li Hua.

PPO III
Dec. 17 - Christmas Concert featuring musical excerpts from Walt Disney's best-loved films. Soloist: Lani Misalucha, a Filipino baritone, a children's choir, an adult's choir and conductor Ruggero Barbieri.

The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) farewell concert

Sept, 21 at 8 pm at the Main Theater of the CCP prior to their departure on their first international tour to Austria (Kalgenfurt), Czech Republic (Prague), Germany (Berlin), and Spain (Gijon, Pontavedra, Orense, Burgos, and Madrid). Proceeds of the concert will go to the PPO to cover the cost of the tour. Tickets are available at CCP's marketing office.

The Bayanihan Philippine National Dance Company

Oct. 1 at 3 pm and 8pm and on Oct. 2 at 3 pm at the CCP's Main Theater a preview of the dance program they will present during their USA tour. The show dubbed as "Bayanihan Gives Wings to the World," is made up of five suites: "Birds of Bright Plumage," "Recuerdos de Intramuros," "Mindanao Mosaic," "Traditions Renewed," and People Under the Sun." Tickets: at the CCP and the Bayanihan office at 1742 Taft Ave., Malate, Manila; or call 524-6285.

UP Dance Company 2001 - 2002 season

Ibong Adarna
Sept. 21
Choreography by Catherine Urmenita and Therese Arcinas. Performance is at the UP Theater.

Stravinsky's "Les Noces"
Oct. 4
Translated as "Ang Kasal" by Ramon Santos. This will be presented using 4 pianos and a full chorus at Abelardo Hall.

"Pangalay" Dances
Nov. 27
Ligaya Fernando Amilbangs directs members and ethmosicology majors in a recital of "pangalay" dances at the Abelardo Hall. For inquiries, please call 929-6963 and 920-5301 loc. 4855.

Goethe Institut Inter Nationes of Manila

Bach's "The Art of the Fugue"
Sept. 14 and 15
Performed by American dancer Amanda Miller and her dance group, the Pretty Ugly Company, based in Freiburg, Germany. They will perform to the music as performed by the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra conducted by Gottfried von der Glotz.

"Unsichtbarst" (Totally Invisible)
Oct. 12 and 13
Ballet dancer Anna Huber performs "Unsichtbarst" at the Metropolitan Museum on Roxas Boulevard. This unusual space for dance will pose and oppose the relations between artist and audience. For inquiries, please call the Goethe Institut Inter Nationes at 722-4671 to 73 or visit www.goethe.de/manila.

New Voice Company (NVC)

The Vagina Monologues
Presented in Tagalog at the Music Museum in the Greenhills Shopping Center on Fri. and Sat. at 9 pm until Sept. 15. Rito Asilo directs Arlene Borja, Pinky Marquez and Harlene Bautista-Sarmenta. After the Manila run, the Filipino translation will tour the USA, Canada and Europe.

Songs of Love and Freedom sung in Tagalog and English
The Kalayaan College and Riverbanks Center in Marikina City present Monique Wilson and the New Voice Company in concert on Sun., Sept. 2 at 4 pm at the Riverbanks Center Pavilion, Riverbanks Center, Marikina.

Revolutionary Hearts
The NVC resident actors perform a special theatrical concert entitled at the Music Museum on Nov. 15 and 22. Andrew Vergara directs and choreographs 25 members of the NVC. Tickets for all shows are available at NVC Actors Studio, 8020 Tanguile St., San Antonio Village, Makati City, or through 896-5497 and 896-6695, or fax to 899-0630, or email: nvcpost@hotmail.com

Trumpets

The Little Mermaid (Musical)
Fri. and Sat. at 8 pm, and on Sun. at 3 pm until Sept. 15 at the Meralco Theater. The cast: Cathy Azanza/KC Conception, Noel Rayos/Jeff Arcilla, Carlo Orosa, Freddy Santos, Tonypet Gaba. Tickets: Trumpets at 633-5010 and National Bookstore's Ticketworld outlets.

Dramatis Personae

Journey to Damascus
For its 14th season Dramatis Personae presents August Strindberg's "Journey to Damascus" Sept. 1, 2, 8, and 9th at 10 am, 2 pm, and 4:30 pm at the Pius XII Theater, Pius XII Catholic Center, UN Ave., Manila. Lito Casaje designs and directs the show. The cast includes Manuel Aquino and Divina Cavestany. For inquiries, please call/text Lito or Rod at 412-0617, 722-4205, 0919-2254774, 0919-4187696, email: dramatispersonae@email.com.

Reynaldo Reyes

Sept. 12 at 8 pm at the Philamlife Auditorium, U. N. Ave., Ermita, Manila pianist Reynaldo Reyes will interpret Khachaturian's Piano Concerto. Chino Toledo conducts the orchestra. Tickets available at the gate.

Philippine-Japan Friendship Charity Concert

Sept. 4 at 7 pm at the Santiago Hall, Equitable-PCIBank, Makati City featuring Japanese pianist Kenji Watanabe and Filipino flutist Antonio Maigue. Tickets: P500, call 724-9121 (Mrs. Yuriko Sakai), 817-3030 (Mrs. Tomoko Nakagawa), 817-8658 (Mrs. Taeko Tammy Takagi), or email: takagi60@hotmail.com

The Philippine Suzuki Association and Greenhills Music Studio (GMS)

Jonathan Arevalo Coo in "An Evening of Chopin and Lucrecia Kasilag Compositions" on Sept. 5 at 7 pm at the GMS Recital Hall. The concert is by invitation. For invitations, please call 724-0705 or 724-2543.

What's On on New York City Broadway Theaters ?

Aida
Palace Theatre
This Elton John/Tim Rice musical is very much in demand; order your tickets in advance.

A Thousand Clowns
Longacre Theatre
Tom Selleck stars in this revival of Herb Gardner's comedy.

Beauty and the Beast
Lunt-Fontaine Theatre
The author saw this delightful Tim Rice/Alan Menken musical when it opened several years ago. It still is going strong.

Blast
Broadway Theatre
This production won the 2001 Tony Award for Best Theatrical Event.

Cabaret
Studio 54
Brooke Shields plays Sally Bowles in this acclaimed Sam Mendes production. The author found this production bawdy. On the day he saw it he was not pleased by the performance of the actor playing the roll of the emcee.

Chicago
Shubert Theatre
The author loved this semistaged production of the 1975 John Kander-Fred Ebb-Bob Fosse show. So far he has seen it three times.

Contact
Vivian Beaumont Theatre
This Tony Winner for Best Musical was enjoyed very much by the author. It has no songs but has lots of energetic dancing.

The Dinner Party
Music Box Theatre
Neil Simon's latest play is highly amusing. Veteran Broadway star of plays/musicals, Len Cariou, is still in the cast. The author found it a worthwhile evening at the theater; you'll enjoy it.

42nd Street
Ford Center for the Performing Arts
This Winner of 2001 Tony for Best Revival of a Musical is as good as the original. The author saw both productions.

The Full Monty
Eugene O'Neil Theatre
Terence McNally and David Yazbek's excellent adaptation of the British film was unjustly robbed this year of a Tony by "The Producers." I recommend this one but only for adults, do not bring the children.

Kiss Me Kate
An excellent revival of Cole Porter's 1948 hit musical. Though the cast has changed, the production is first rate. I've seen this twice so far.

Les Miserables
Imperial Theatre
Now on its 15th year, if you still haven't seen it, go. Ivan Rutherford is Valjean, Shuker Hensley is Javert, and Jacquelyn Piro is Fantine.

The Music Man
Neil Simon Theatre
Excellent revival of Meredith Wilson's family-oriented musical now starring Robert Sean Leonard (2001 Tony Winner for Best Supporting Actor for the play "The Invention of Love") and the fabulous Rebecca Luker of the original cast. She will melt your heart when she sings: "Till There Was You."

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Royale Theatre
Gary Sinise stars in this Winner of the 2001 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play.

The Producers
St. James Theatre
Based on Mel Brooke's 1968 film and starring Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, this production won a record-breaking dozen 2001 Tonys, (The author hasn't seen this musical play. He has seen, however, most of the others that were nominated for Tonys. He was disappointed that no awards were given to them. As a result of not getting any awards, some of the musical plays had to prematurely end their runs.) After winning all the awards, the producers of this play raised ticket prices to $100, the most expensive seat on Broadway. In spite of that, tickets are next to impossible to acquire.

Proof
Walter Kerr Theatre
This play won three 2001 Tonys: Best Play, Best Direction of a Play (Daniel Sullivan), and Best Actress in a Play (Mary-Louis Parker). I thought the play was very good; Bobby Garcia, however, will direct Lea Salonga in this play at the GSIS Theater in January 2002. See it in Manila.

Rent
Netherlander Theatre
Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play is also going to be shown in Manila in October. The amplification of both productions (Manila and New York City) is excessive; bring earplugs.

The Rocky Horror Show
Circle in the Square
This rock-musical is a revival directed by Christopher Ashley and stars Dick Cavett.

Stones in His Pockets
John Golden Theatre
It won London's Evening Standard Award for Best Comedy and has been a surprise hit on the West End. Sean Campion and Conleth Hill play 15 different parts.

The Tale of the Allergist's Wife
Barrymore Theatre
I laughed enormously when I saw this comedy a few months ago. It is a must.

A scene from AIDA

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