Repertory 2024 is just around the corner, and that's wonderful news for all theater enthusiasts. For local theater fans, it has always been a case of the more, the better—providing the community with more options to choose from, giving artists and backstage theater professionals more opportunities, and allowing the craft to be honed and practiced, whether it be musicals or straight dramas.
The new season kicks off on March 1 at the Carlos P. Romulo Theater, RCBC Plaza, with a staging of "Harold Pinter’s Betrayal." What will be interesting is how the cast is composed of London-based Filipino actors, namely James Bradwell, Venessa White, and James Cooney. Set in London and Venice, with a narrative spanning nine years presented in reverse chronology, the play has won several awards. Notable thespians such as Tom Hiddleston, Michael Gambon, Rachel Weisz, and Daniel Craig have graced this three-handed play that delves into themes of marriage and extramarital affairs. It’s a mature drama and the very first Pinter play being staged by Rep. Directed by Victor Lirio, this promises to be a great way to kick off the season and offer something refreshingly different.
June 2024 sees Rep staging the off-Broadway musical, "I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change." A series of vignettes about love and relationships, the musical plays like a sit-com, with music attached to it. What’s fun to note is how the myriad of characters in the musical will be played by a cast of four. Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo will direct, Ejay Yatco handles musical direction, and Joey Mendoza for set design. Dating, marriage, in-laws, and the ups and downs of being in a relationship all fall under scrutiny, with humor, in this engaging musical. The original book and lyrics was by Joe Di Pietro, and the music by Jimmy Roberts.
Jepoy and the Magic Circle is 2024’s Repertory Theater for Young Audiences production. Directed by Joy Virata, adapted by Rody Vera, and with music by Ejay Yatco, the new musical is based on a short story written by cultural icon Gilda Cordero Fernando. There even a strong environmental message found within this tale of Filipino legends and the supernatural. Jepoy and his pet dog, Galis, encounter kapres, aswangs, and tiyanaks, and even attend a tikbalang wedding. It’s fun, educational, culturally rich, and promises so much for RTYA’s audiences.
And come November or December of 2024, look out for "Going Home to Christmas" - it’s based on the music and lyrics of Jose Mari Chan. It’s Rep’s first foray into the juxebox musical, as stories weaving around the music will come courtesy of Robbie Guevara, Luna Griño-Inocian, Joel Trinidad, and Cathy Azanza-Dy. To be staged at the CPR Theater, RCBC Plaza, this musical promises to be the hot ticket of our 2024 holiday season. The book has to do with six couples, stranded in an airport, each with their own story of love and finding the meaning of Christmas. If that’s not a set-up for heart-warming and sentimental, I don’t know what is.
The Rep Workshops will also be happening in 2024; for Kiddies, for Pre-Teens, for Teens, and for Adults. These workshops have been wonderful opportunities for people of all ages to leave the comfort of ‘audience’, and get their first exposure to theater - from the side of being part of a production.
So it looks like bright days ahead for Repertory Philippines. Head to their website or social media platforms for more information. There are options on Season tickets, corporate packages, and student discounts.