Glitz and glam with Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (2014) Glitz and glam with Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (2014)
Our Our Historic Historic Romance Romance with with Theater Theater
By Gener ApAlit By Gener ApAlit
heater is arguably one of heater is arguably of the most importantone forms the entertainment most important forms of that has entertainment has provenofinstrumental in that shaping proven instrumental in shaping Philippine history. Even before Philippine Even in before the Spanishhistory. occupation the the Spanish in the country, earlyoccupation dwellers resorted country, early drama dwellers resorted to indigenous in imitating to indigenous dramait in imitating life and translating into art via life andand translating rituals dance. it into art via rituals andthe dance. When Spaniards arrived, When the Filipinos wereSpaniards initiated arrived, in the Filipinos zarzwela were initiated in the comedy, and senaculo, comedy, zarzwela and senaculo, which the Spaniards utilized which the Christianization. Spaniards utilized to promote In to promote Christianization. In present times, sub-forms such present times, such as oraciones andsub-forms declamaciones as oraciones and declamaciones are still practiced religiously by are still practiced traditional folks. religiously by traditional folks. The Spaniards also introThecomedy Spaniards introduced to the also Philippines duced comedy to the Philippines as a colonization tool. One of as aearliest colonization tool. One of the staging’s of Spanish the earliest of Spanish comedy wasstaging’s Francisco Vicente comedy tributary was Francisco Puche’s work inVicente honor Puche’s tributary work in honor of Cebu’s first bishop 1598. of Cebu’s firstofbishop in 1598. Today, traces this form can Today, traces in of the thisannual form Mocan still be found still befestivals found inofthe annual Moriones Marinduque. riones festivals of Marinduque. During the latter years of the Duringoccupation, the latter years of the Spanish zarzwela Spanish theoccupation, zarzwela became main medium of thebecame main medium of theater and the Philippine drama started aterevolve. and Philippine drama started to Even national hero to evolve. hero Jose Rizal Even pennednational a zarzwela Jose Rizal penned a zarzwela entitled Junto al Pasig in 1880. entitled the Junto althe Pasig in 1880. During time, construction During theZorilla time, the of Teatro in construction 1893 paved of Teatro in 1893 paved the way forZorilla many artists to showthe way many artists to showcase theirforproductions. caseIntheir productions. 1905, the contribution 1905, the contribution of In drama to Philippine history of dramaevident to Philippine history became as transcribed became evident as transcribed in the works of Arthur Stanley in the works of Arthur Stanley Riggs, an American writer, ediRiggs, American editor, andan historian whowriter, annotated tor, and historian who English translations of annotated six plays English translations of six plays during the American regime. during the American regime. Luhang Tagalog, and Kahapon, Luhang Tagalog, Ngayon at BukasandbyKahapon, Aurelio Ngayon Bukas byGinto Aurelio Tolentino;atTanikalang by Tolentino; Juan Abad;Tanikalang Hindi Aco Ginto Patay by Abad; Hindi AcoMalaya Patay by Juan Matapang Cruz; Juan Matapang by Tomas Remigio;Cruz; and Malaya Magdapio Tomas Remigio; by Pedro Paternoand wereMagdapio political by Pedro Paterno were political
Las Vegas met Broadway with KAOS (2010) Las Vegas met Broadway with KAOS (2010)
The Filipino’s affinity with theater is an extension of our love for culture and arts. affinity with theater is an extension of our love for culture The the Filipino’s and the arts.
Classic fairytale brought to life with Cinderella Classic fairytale(2013) brought to life with Cinderella (2013) Performance art is a way for Filipinos to expressart our Performance is creativity. a way for Filipinos to express our creativity.
plays later considered to be valuplays to laterPhilippine consideredhistory to be valuable and able to Philippine history and drama. drama. Indeed, Philippine theater has Indeed, Philippine has evolved and come a theater long way evolved andthecome long way throughout years aand even in throughout theage, yearsit has and become even in today’s digital today’s digital it has become one of the mostage, influential medione of mostartists influential mediums forthe many to showcase ums for many to showcase their craft. Withartists the advent of film theirtelevision, craft. With however, the adventthe of film and theand stage television, however, thepoputheater has become a less ateralternative stage has become a less popular for entertainment. lar Despite alternative for entertainment. virtually every houseDespite virtually household owning a TV every set and cinhold owning a TV set and emas being built in every mallcinall emasthe being built inthis every mallhas all over country, reality over deterred the country, thisactors realityfrom has not stage not deterred actors from honing their stage craft and keeping honing their for craft and keeping the passion theater burning thethe passion for theater burning in hopes that the masses will in theagain hopesflock that to thesee masses once plays will and once again flock to see magic plays and appreciate the innate of appreciate theater. the innate magic of Philippine Philippine theater. Performing arts circles such arts circles such as Performing the Philippine Educational as the Philippine Theater AssociationEducational (PETA), Theater Philippines, Association Repertory (PETA), Ballet Ballet Philippines, Repertory
RWM revives ‘80s drama with ‘Bituing Walang Ningning: The RWM revives ‘80s drama with Musical’ ‘Bituing Walang Ningning: The Musical’
The Sound of Music (2011) set the the longest staging Therecord Soundfor of Music (2011) set of Broadway musical in Souththea record for the longest staging east Asia of a Broadway musical in Southeast Asia
Resorts World Manila is aiming to bring a Resorts World Manila is aiming toto bring slice of the best that theater has offera slice the on best that theater hashave to offer rightofhere our shores, so we inright here on our shores, so we have invested quite a bit fiscally and laboriously vested quite bit fiscally laboriously in making it aavenue that isand at par with the in making it a venue that is at par best theaters in the world.with the best theaters in the world. Philippines, 9Works Theatrical, who are truly in it for the passion Philippines, 9Works Theatrical, and Full House Theater Comand Full Company, plus House smaller Theater groups such as pany, plus smaller groups such as the Teatro de Salinas of Rosario, the Teatrotodenurture Salinastheoftalents Rosario, continue of continue tostage nurture the talents promising actors. Most of promising stage actors. Most of these groups encourage youngthese to groups youngsters delveencourage into the colorful sters toof delve the colorful world theater,into screening those world of theater, screening those
whosense are truly in it for the passion and of culture. andAlso sensecontributing of culture. significantAlso ly to the contributing resurgence ofsignificanttheater in ly to the resurgence theater in Philippine culture isofthe estabPhilippineofculture the establishment ResortsisWorld Malishment of Resorts World Arts Manila’s Newport Performing nila’s Newport Theater, which isPerforming seen as the Arts new Theater,for which is seen asmusicals the new home large-scale home for large-scale musicals
The majesty of The King and I (2012) The majesty of The King and I (2012)
thanks to the state of the art techthanks to thewhich state ofit the technology with wasart built. nology with which built. is “Resorts Worldit was Manila “Resorts World is aiming to bring a sliceManila of the best aiming to bring a slice the here best that theater has to offerof right that theater hasso towe offer right here on our shores, have investon quite our shores, so we have invested a bit fiscally and laboried quite a bit fiscally and laboriously in making it a venue that is ously making it atheaters venue that is at par in with the best in the at par with theRWM’s best theaters the world,” said ChiefinEnworld,” saidOfficer RWM’s Chief Entertainment Colin Kerr. tertainment Officer Colin Kerr. The Newport Performing Newport Performing ArtsThe Theater not only provides Theater only the provides aArts venue that not matches level a venue that matches level of production of our the Western of productionbut of also our provides Western counterparts, counterparts, also provides an ideal venue but for bigger producan ideal venue for bigger tions. Whereas before, a producscarcity tions. Whereas before, a scarcity of venues resulted in fewer opof venues resulted in fewer opportunities to showcase musicals portunities to showcase musicals and plays, the Newport Performand Arts plays,Theater the Newport Performing has somewhat ing Arts Theater has somewhat resuscitated the waning interest resuscitated interest of the massesthe andwaning renewed their of the masses and renewed their interest in theater. interest theater. wherein there In a inmedium medium there areIn no aretakes, andwherein every actor’s are no retakes, actor’s movement, lineandorevery expression movement, or expression must have a line connection with his must havetheater a connection his audience, not onlywith serves audience, not only serves as a formtheater of entertainment for as a form entertainment for viewers butofprovides them with viewers but provides them with an unrivaled primal, sensory exan unrivaled sensory experience that primal, is second to none. perience second to none. With that the iscontinuing pursuit continuing pursuit of With theaterthegroups and advocate of theater groups organizations suchand as advocate Resorts organizations such as the Resorts World Manila to uplift state World Manilatheater to uplift thecounstate of Philippine in the of Philippine theater in the try, the age-old stage nowcounhas the age-old stage to nowbreak has atry,golden opportunity a golden to break the fourth opportunity wall and rekindle the the fourth wall and rekindlewith the flame for Filipino audiences for Filipino audiences with aflame medium of entertainment that a medium our of entertainment that promotes cultural heritage promotes our cultural inheritage that was, for a moment, danger thatbeing was, forgotten. for a moment, in danger of of being forgotten.