The Carver's House

Well, not exactly my first play. I had written a full-length play in the late nineties and submitted it to a competition in Singapore. I'm glad it didn't win. I saw a copy of it some time back, and it was horrendous. Last April, I took a risk. Before my month-long trip to New Zealand, I spent a little over a week writing this one-act play, "Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady," and sent it to the screening committee of The Virgin Labfest, a festival of untested plays organized by Tanghalang Pilipino and The Writer's Bloc. I was lucky enough to get a slot among the ten that were chosen to be staged this coming June. This play is a bit of a reunion of sorts. The director chosen for the play was Chris Martinez, whom you know as the talented man behind such films as "I Do Bidoo Bidoo" and "Here Comes the Bride." But he's also the guy who adapted my Zaturnnah graphic novel for the musical stage. Also, part of the cast is Skyzx Labastilla, ...

Some of you may have already seen this illustration over at the Zaturnnah Facebook page . I'm reposting it here, the before and after versions. (Click on image to enlarge) Incidentally, Zsazsa Zaturnnah: Ze Muzikal earned seven nominations from the 2nd Philstage Awards for the Performing Arts. The Tanghalang Pilipino hit musical is vieing for the following awards: OUTSTANDING MUSICAL PRODUCTION OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL OUTSTANDING FEMALE LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL Eula Valdes OUTSTANDING MALE LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL Nar Cabico Joey Paras OUTSTANDING MUSICAL DIRECTION Vincent De Jesus OUTSTANDING MUSICAL COMPOSITION Vincent De Jesus Congratulations to Tanghalang Pilipino! See the complete list of noms at Gibbs Cadiz's blog .

Tanghalang Pilipino’s 23rd Theater Season (2009-2010), which pays tribute to “Women of Substance”, culminates with Rody Vera’s Tatlong Mariya , an adaptation of Three Sisters , the timeless classic by Anton Chekhov. Using contemporary language, Vera’s brilliant rendering breathes an entirely new, maybe even irreverent interpretation of Chekhovian characters that are teeming with the heavy human emotions of despair, hope, boredom, longing, anger and love. From turn-of-the-century Russia, the play will move to a remote small Northern Luzon town during the first decade of Martial Law. Tatlong Mariya portrays the life of the Ballesteros sisters, as they struggle to liberate themselves from the dreariness and hopelessness of their provincial existence, and yearn for the excitement of Manila, where their once happy and respectable life used to be. The play will be presented in a theater-in-the-round setting, making the production more challenging for the director and the performers, and mor...

Ohhh-kay... here's the first round of info that has yet to be confirmed about the February 2009 run of the Zaturnnah musical. Again, I'm still awaiting the final confirmation, though these dates are almost good to go. Feb 6, 13 (Fri) 8PM Feb 7, 14 (Sat) 3PM & 8PM Feb 8, 15 (Sun) 3PM & 8PM Mar 6 (Fri) 8PM Mar 7 (Sat) 3PM & 8PM Mar 8 (Sun) 3PM & 8PM That's a total of 15 shows. Ticket prices will be at P500, P600 and P700. (Still pretty reasonable, if you compare them with the ticket prices of other professional theater companies.) More to come as new info rolls in, particularly that important bit about getting tickets.

Had a meeting over the weekend with Tanghalang Pilipino (TP) and, yes, curtains will rise for the 6th run of the "Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal" in February 2009 for 15 shows. Auditions have taken place to fill in slots for the chorus, as well as a new Dodong (again!) to alternate with Arnold Reyes. Eula Valdes will reportedly do all the shows barring any schedule conflicts. Tuxqs Rutaquio, Joey Paras and Kalila Aguilos will reprise their roles as Ada, Didi, and Queen Femina, respectively. Sounds like a great Valentine's date, don'cha think? This latest staging of TP's song-and-dance extravaganza will have the 400+ seater CCP Little Theater as its venue. More details over the next few weeks. (Oh, and forgive the shameless plug, but the book is still available in bookstores... in case you're searching for a last-minute Christmas gift. Heehee) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I'll be signing off from the blog for now unless announcements have to be made. Thank ...

Looks like the Broadway musical adaptation of Spiderman is becoming spectacular even in production cost. News all over the web is pinning the warbling webslinger's stage debut at $30 to $40 million, the highest bank breaker in Broadway so far. Just to give you an idea of how expensive that is, the films Cloverfield , The Sixth Sense , and Chicago had production budgets hovering around that amount. (I couldn't find resources on Broadway musical budgets.) Superman had his try at a stage musical over 40 years ago, when "It's A Bird, It's A Plane, It's Superman" debuted on Broadway. The musical was later adapted into a television special. And, yes, Tanghalang Pilipino had already asked me about adapting the Zaturnnah sequel for the stage. I naturally agreed, but I'll have to get the book out first. (shiver)

From the Tanghalang Pilipino email blast: Tanghalang Pilipino will hold new auditions for the cast of the sarswela adaptation of Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon (originally a 1976 film directed by Eddie Romero) on Saturday and Sunday, October 18 and 19, 2008, from 1-8 PM at the Bulwagang Pambansang Alagad ng Sining (Multi-Purpose Hall), 4th Floor, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City. Those interested to be part of the production are required to submit their resume together with 2 pictures (a head shot and a full-body photo) and to prepare two songs - a kundiman and a contemporary Filipino pop ballad - and a short dance or movement piece. Roles to be filled include a young boy (6-17 years old) and the Filipino lead and supporting characters. Those with Chinese, Indian, Spanish and American features are encouraged to audition as well. For inquiries and other details, please call Tanghalang Pilipino at 832-3661 or 832-1125 local 1620 / 1621 or email ccpt...