Hinabing Pakpak by Anton Juan Opens Dulaang UP’s 33rd Season
In attendance during the gala performance of Hinabing Pakpak ng Ating mga Anak (Woven Wings of Our Children) by celebrated director and playwright Dr. Anton Juan, Jr. were former president of the University of the Philippines Jose Abueva, and National Artists F. Sionil Jose and Bienvenido Lumbera.
After welcoming the special guests, Dulaang UP’s Dr. Alexander Cortez admitted that his position as Artistic Director fills him with “enthusiasm and trepidation,” and lamented the loss of Dr. Anton Juan, Jr. to the University of Notre Dame du Lac in the USA as a Tenured Full Professor and Theatre Director.
Dr. Cortez also warned the audience of Anton’s “rather disturbing play,” but ruefully adds, “What is theatre without Anton’s disturbing images?” His tongue in cheek parting words to the eager audience were, “Enjoy the night. If you can.”
When Will Joanna Ampil Perform in West Side Story Manila
Joanna Ampil Comes Home After delighting audiences abroad for 16 years, Joanna Ampil is all set to take a flight back home to the Philippines, where she is slated to play Maria in West Side Story Manila, which also marks the directorial debut of theatre thespian Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo.
Landmark Roles Joanna Ampil’s theatre debut took place on London’s West End stage where she played Kim in Ms. Saigon. Her impeccable voice and stage presence impressed producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh so much that she was given the honor of opening the Ms. Saigon production in Australia.
While she was there, none other than Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber himself offered her the role of Mary Magdalene in the West End production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Joanna Ampil admitted, “The pressure was immense since we were opening the show.”
A Full Day of Eating
Breakfast at Pancake House Malayan Plaza After taking a 6.30am Yoga class in Fitness First Ortigas on 10 July 2008, I met with my sister for breakfast at Pancake House Malayan Plaza (near Podium), and found its staff on a “leisurely” mode, which my sister assured me is normal with this Pancake House franchise.
Virgin Labfest 4 on its Last Weekend
7 Hours of Virgin Labfest On 03 July 2008, a late morning text to director George de Jesus revealed that his directorial play ‘Ang Kuwento ng Menginga ng New York City na Kamukha ng Bee Stung Lips ni Julia Roberts’ was going to have its last performance that day at 3pm, so I hurriedly traveled to CCP in Manila.
What was originally meant to be a viewing of a trilogy of plays with the themes of Pagbabago, Paghahanap, Pagkakataon (Changing, Searching, Opportunity), became a marathon of Virgin Labfest 4 activities that lasted for seven hours.
