Baby Barredo

'You have to want it more than anything. You have to be willing to WORK for it. Sacrifice for it. It’s not as glamorous as it seems. That’s why the passion needs to be for the work, not the fame,' those were striking words of Julia Abueva, one of the stars of the Broadway musical KPOP, inspired by a global phenomenon.

Repertory Philippines (REP), one of the country's leading theater companies, has appointed Liesl Batucan as its new Artistic Director, following the footsteps of theater stalwarts Zeneida 'Bibot' Amador, Baby Barredo, and Joy Virata.

Theater veteran Miguel Faustmann has been typecast as the go-to actor for old-man roles with an I-do-not-care-what-you-think type of attitude that eventually mellows down right before the end of the play. After taking on the role of Ebenezer Scrooge several times in a span of five years, playing Henry Willows in Repertory Philippines' (REP) latest offering, 'Father's Day,' is the recent addition to his resume.

It has been a very busy theater season in Manila. The past months saw the premiere of productions offering different and often intriguing facets of life, which naturally would solicit interest into the prying eyes of the theater-going public. With so much theater goings-on, 'Guadalupe The Musical' stands tall as a beloved reminder of the nation's historical devotion and adherence to 'popular religiosity.'

Cara Barredo is one such player who comes prepared for artistic challenges, whose work inspires the artistic circle and the audiences who get to see her in action. Granted, an actor's protest is buffered by a certain aesthetic distance, but Cara, the woman behind many roles, is quick to affirm her passion for an ideal world order.

After 50 years, 443 productions, and a consummate adherence to professional theater, Repertory Philippines (REP) has set a remarkable new benchmark for prestige and excellence.

Now in its ninth year, Gawad Buhay Awards are the first-ever industry awards exclusively for the performing arts. The awarding ceremonies were held last night, May 10, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines' (CCP) Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino.

'Adrian Pang is wonderful to work with, such an instinctive actor! It was so much fun to play off him, I just love him! I hope we get to work together again soon,' says Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, who along with Lea Salonga, make up the first three internationally acclaimed Filipina actresses - the third being Joanna Ampil - to have ever played Fantine in Alain Boublil and Claude Michel Schonberg's LES MISERABLES , playing at The Esplanade beginning May 31 onwards.

Mio Infante, the scenographer and costume designer of this production, talks about the herculean tasks he had to go through along with his team to put on a show that will not only be remembered because of its great lead actors--Michael De Mesa and Audie Gemora as Georges and Albin/Zaza, respectively--but also because of its production values.

It's your last week to vote for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Philippines Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 26th. Voting closes at the end of the year, in under one week!

Time is ticking on your last chance to vote for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Philippines Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 19th. Voting closes at the end of the year!

Voting has now opened for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Philippines Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 4th.

Voting has now opened for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Philippines Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 4th.

Voting has now opened for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Philippines Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of November 25th.

Although staying in the country, even more so staging a comeback to acting, wasn't in her original plans, Antoinette Taus found herself auditioning for GREASE; she now plays the feisty role of Betty Rizzo in 9 Works Theatrical's restaging of the smash Broadway musical, which runs at Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, until December 7.

Show partners Repertory Philippines (Rep) and BroadwayWorld.com (BWW) are giving away a pair of tickets to the former's production of Tracy Letts' Pulitzer Prize-winning play AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY on Saturday, March 15, 8 p.m. at Onstage Theatre (2/F Greenbelt One, Ayala Mall, Makati City)

AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY is an American's perspective on life in the countryside. While most of us are thinking Americans are remiss in their family relationships, this play shows a very complex interaction among siblings, parents, and extended relations. Yes, very Filipino -- except maybe for the ending. Formula-Filipino-network stories would probably go another way in the end. What ending? Oh no spoilers, dear!

Repertory Philippines' (Rep) take on the 2008 Pulitzer Prize-winning play AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, written by Tracy Letts ('Bug,' 'Killer Joe'), officially opened at Onstage Theatre (2F Greenbelt One Mall, Makati City) last night. The production, directed by Chris Millado--his directing debut at Rep--will run until Sunday, March 16.

Show partners Repertory Philippines and BroadwayWorld.com are giving away a pair of tickets to WAIT UNTIL DARK's closing performance on Sunday, February 9, 3:30 p.m. at Onstage Theatre, Greenbelt 1, Makati City.