The Carver's House

After helming the critically-acclaimed production of Atang: Dulang may Musika , director Alexander Cortez returns with Ang Muntik Nang Di Mapigilang Paghahari ni Arturo Ui*, an adaptation of the play by Bertolt Brecht . The play chronicles the rise of mobster Arturo Ui in Chicago during the Depression, as he orchestrates his control over the local green-grocery trade before eventually facing his own psychosis. Audiences will note the parallels between Brecht's play with the story of Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany. The Dulaang UP adaptation will feature Randy Villarama, Floy Quintos, Meynard Peñalosa, Mitoy Sta.Ana, Sugus Legazpi, Inno Martin, Nicco Manalo, Carlo Cannu, Vincent Pajara, Sigmund Pecho, Natasha Cabrera, Martha Sta. Barbara, and the Dulaang UP ensemble. Filipino adaptation by Katherine Sabate, Patrick Valera and Joshua So, music composition by Diwa de Leon and choreography by Dexter Santos. Musical Direction by Krina Cayabyab, lighting design by John Batalla, special effe...

Here's a poster I recently art directed--including bloody Photoshop work. It's for Dulaang UP's upcoming play Lulu , written by Frank Wedekind . (Filipino translation by Joel Saracho) From the press release: " Lulu is a story of a person who has no qualms about the body and its sexual needs. Lulu, who is the alluring woman in the English version and the captivating transsexual in Filipino, is a being able to explore and express her desires without compromise or guilt. Adored and lusted by men, women and creatures of the world, she takes them to a dance of bodily freedom, of the mind’s liberation and of utter ecstasy. But like any other person, Lulu searches for the other that could accept and understand her seemingly deviant nature." Because of its sensitive themes, Lulu is for mature audiences only. Che Ramos will play the title role in the English version, while Tuxqs Rutaquio does likewise for the Filipino version. Direction and choreography is by Dexter Sant...

I've never had a strong interest for kundiman or the sarsuela , so I watched Dulaang UP's Atang just for the performances. But when my tears started to fall during the latter part of the second act, I knew this was one for the blog. I don't remember the time when a stage production moved me so much to the point of a hangover. Directed by Alex Cortez with script by Floy Quintos and music by Von de Guzman, Atang is a story of love, sacrifice, artistic integrity, and finding one's place in the world. Young film actress Guia Almonte interviews the venerable Atang de la Rama in the latter's Tondo home. Since Guia had been given the chance to play the title role in an Atang biofilm, what better way to do research than to talk to the "Queen of Kundiman" herself? During the course of the musical, we not only celebrate the triumphs of Atang as an entertainment superstar during pre-War Philippines, we also learn of the hardships she endured during her marriage to...