Ampalaya Monologues Celebrates Anniversary With ‘TWO IS BITTER THAN ONE’ On October 14

To celebrate two years of artistic bitterness, the team from Ampalaya Monologues have decided to double up the bitterness with a one-night only anniversary show “Ampalaya Dialogues #TwoIsBitterThanOne” on October 14 – Saturday from 7 pm – 10 pm at the PETA Theater Center located at Eymard Road, E. Rodriguez Q.C.

Ampalaya Dialogues #TwoIsBitterThanOne will showcase six short one-act plays that will feature two characters in each story. All of which are written by Mark Ghosn and will be performed by actors of Theatre in Alternative Platforms (TAP).

Known for being the country’s most popular venue for ‘hugot’ artistry, Team Ampalaya promises that this year’s feels-fest will still have those witty and relatable punchlines that are combined with unique, heart wrenching, yet entertaining stories. A formula that we’ve all been a fan of and has served as their trademark throughout the years.

Boy band singer Joshua Bulot is the new ‘Tolits’ of ‘Rak of Aegis’

It never occurred to boy band singer Joshua Bulot, who’s best known as a member of vocal trio JBK, that he would one day perform on a theatre stage, much less in the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA)’s hit comedy musical ‘Rak of Aegis’. On its fifth comeback, the highly acclaimed production is poised to introduce fresh new talents, which include JBK’s Joshua who snagged the role of Venizia’s lover boy, ‘Tolits’.

“I still can’t believe that I am playing ‘Tolits’ in the wildly popular musical because this is going to be vastly different from my performances as a member of a boy band,” the 23-year-old vocalist says. “I’m taking this as a huge opportunity to show that I can be a versatile artist. I’m ready to prove that I can do it.”

While Joshua notes that it is a big leap from singing before hordes of screaming fan girls to performing before the theatre crowd, he admits that the bigger challenge is being on the same stage as the original ‘Rak’ cast members—like the golden couple Robert and Isay Seña.

ART IS A BANG: Magkabilaan - Lahing Kayumanggi Dance Company's 20th Anniversary Concert

The Lahing Kayumanggi Dance Company in partnership with the Philippine Baranggay Folk Dance Troupe and PETA Theater Center proudly presents “ Magkabilaan ” --- the 20th anniversary concert to pay homage to the late Dr. Paz-Cielo A. Belmonte, Founder & Artistic Director of the Philippine Baranggay Folk Dance Troupe (PBFDT).

“ Magkabilaan ” shall celebrate Lahing Kayumanggi’s  and Philippine Baranggay Folk Dance Troupe’s long standing partnership and exchange programme spanning two decades.

“ MAGKABILAAN ” will be held on April 25 and 26 (Friday & Saturday) --- 7:30PM at the PETA Theater located at No. 5 Eymard Drive, New Manila, Quezon City.

Special guests include the alumni of the Philippine Baranggay Folk Dance Troupe, longest folk dance company since 1946; Hail Mary The Queen Children’s Choir and talented singer / fashion designer Leo Almodal. 

ART IS A BANG: Maxie The Musical is the Best Filipino Musical of The Year!

That is what I can say confidently to all (and even you) as I witnessed the cast played the songs that has been playing in my head after the press preview of Maxie the Musical (Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros) at the PETA Theater this November.

Maxie the Musical inspired from the indie movie which won awards and shown in international film festivals was also a hit in the Theatrical version. With songs made by great composers/singers William Elvin Manzano, JJ Pimpinio, and Janine Santos. Direction and choreography by Dexter M. Santos.

MANILA IMPROV FESTIVAL 2013:PERFORMANCE SCHEDULES JUNE 26-30

In celebration of its 11th year anniversary, the Silly People’s Improv Theater (SPIT) and the PETA Theater Center proudly present the Manila Improv Festival 2013 from June 26-30, 2103.

The theme for this year is “Follow Your Feet”, an improvisational theater concept which also ties in with the art form’s return to PETA - the group which first introduced improvisational theater to the country in the early 1970s. As SPIT takes on a new decade of laughter and innovation, the group decided to take a bolder step in sharing the art of improv to bigger audiences through the festival and its partnership with PETA Theater Center.

Gabe Mercado, artistic director of the festival and founder of SPIT describes the vision of the festival: “SPIT was founded back in June 2002, because I saw the need for a new kind of comedy—one that differed from the usual stand-up comedy routines that we are used to seeing on TV and comedy bars. Improv appealed to me because of its grounding on truth, the magic of spontaneity, and the fun that on-the-spot creation brings about. We hope events like these help build the improv community of the country and the region.”

Being the country’s premiere improvisational theater group known for their smart and incisive brand of comedy, SPIT has represented the Philippines in numerous international events such as the prestigious Los Angeles Comedy Festival in 2004, and more recently, in the Hong Kong and Beijing Improv Festivals.

Last year SPIT celebrated their ten-year anniversary as a group, and staged the 1st Manila International Improv Festival. The festival was an overwhelming success with sold-out performances at Quantum Café in Makati City. Furthermore, the exciting improv workshops held at the College of St. Benilde facilitated by renowned improv veterans Shaun Landry and Tom Farnan from Los Angeles, created a clamor for another festival. And since SPIT wanted to continue propagating improvisational theater in the ASEAN region, the group decided to do it again this year. The 2nd Manila International Improv Festival promises to create a new, fun, and exciting theater experience for improv enthusiasts and generally anyone who wants to have a good time and learn something new.

The 2nd Manila International Improv Festival promises to create a new, fun, and exciting theater experience for improv enthusiasts and generally anyone who wants to have a good time and learn something new.

The participating improv groups: People's Liberation Improv and 3 Dudes Improv (Hongkong), Beijing Improv (Beijing), Taichung Improv (Taiwan), Xiamen Improv (Xiamen), Zmack (Shanghai), Pirates of Tokyo Bay (Tokyo) and Silly People’s Improv Theater (Manila). For each set, three improv groups will perform a variety of long form and short form improvisational shows.

Schedule: June 26 (8 pm) PERFORMANCE 1 (SPIT, Taichung Improv, Switch); June 27 (8 pm) PERFORMANCE 2 (Beijing Improv, Xiamen Improv, SPIT); June 28 (8 pm) PERFORMANCE 3 (Pirates of Tokyo Bay, 3 Dudes, Plus 1) ; June 29 (6 pm) PERFORMANCE 4 (Zmack, Plus 1, Pirates of Tokyo Bay) and (9 pm) PERFORMANCE 5 (Taichung, Beijing, People’s Liberation Improv); June 30 (1 pm) PERFORMANCE 6 (PLI, Xiamen, 3 Dudes) and (4 pm) PERFORMANCE 7: INTERNATIONAL IMPROV JAM.

Ticket price per show: P 400.00. Venue: PETA-PHINMA Theater. For more details and updates, you may check out SPIT via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spitmanila Twitter: @spitmanila; Website: http://spitmanila.com. Tickets are available at Ticketworld or the PETA Theater Center.

ART IS A BANG: Manila Improv Festival 2013

Improv Theater is not new to the Philippines, rather it was seen as an alternative of the craft and    also a great way to improve theatrical creativity and response. However, there are a just a few number of Improv groups here in the Philippines but this number might change with the staging of the Manila Improv Festival this June.

I also am not familiar how Improv Theater works but on the press conference of the Manila Improv Festival, we got to experience this one of kind art in the front row, which is really entertaining and also gets the audience involved with the material. The event is spearheaded by Silly People’s Improv Theater (SPIT)

In celebration of its 11th year anniversary, the Silly People’s Improv Theater (SPIT) and the PETA Theater Center proudly present the Manila Improv Festival 2013 from June 25-30, 2103.

Noel Cabangon’s Panaginip earns a grandslam

Noel Cabangon’s 2011 release Panaginip is undoubtedly the most awarded album of 2011 having been named Acoustic Album of the Year of the Star Awards for Music, the Secular Album of the Year of the Catholic Mass Media Awards, and the Album of the Year of the Awit Awards. This 3-peat-victory may well be considered a grandslam. 

“This is totally unexpected, but I cherish these awards,” says Noel Cabangon, who remains to be one of the bestselling OPM acts of today. “I am humbled with these recognitions.”