A Luhrmannized The Great Gatsby--let the carping begin

From here: Praised as “gonzo,” “dazzling,” and visually “spectacular” by preview reviewers, it’s also set off a swift rebuttal in comments sections and on Twitter... Ahead, the most outraged (or funniest) responses to Luhrmann’s latest spectacle, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Isla Fisher, and Tobey Maguire. The full-length feature can be seen in all its glory in 3-D when it’s released in theaters on Christmas.

• “Gatsby trailer looks more Las Vegas commercial romance than West Egg decadence and tragically hollow love story. #disappointed”

• “Voulez-vous barfez avec moi, ce barf? Moulin Rouge!”

• “I had no idea they had autotune back in 1922.”

• “Who put this trailer together, Michael Bay? Cut, cut, cut, cut, cut. Slow it down and get rid of the cheesy music so we can get a true feel for the movie, unless this is the true feel of the movie.”

• “Really, who watched The Cider House Rules and thought, ‘I want Toby Maguire to narrate my movie.’”

• “I think if Baz had just done an Art Deco musical, I’d be all over it. Jesus, though, he completely changed the tone of the book.”

• There should be warnings of ‘excessive creative license’ or “loosely based on a plot and characters by F. Scott Fitzgerald’”

• “Baz Luhrmann’s ‘The Great Gatsby’ is some meta joke from ‘Entourage,’ right?”

• “if i could bleach my brain and pretend that this wasn’t based on one of the greatest novels of all time, maybe the movie would look good. except for the 3D part.”

• “Good to see restraint coming on the part of the director. My god that looks horrendous. CGI green screens, 3-D and anachronistic pop music grafted onto Fitzgerald’s book = massive mess.”

Rep Fringe 2012 presents Malice, June 1 at OnStage, Greenbelt 1

“Malice”, an adaptation of Arthur Miller's “The Crucible” and set in present-day Philippines, will be presented by Repertory Philippines' Rep Fringe 2012 class and Friends of Repertory on June 1, 2012, at OnStage, Greenbelt 1.

Direction is by Ana Abad Santos, and adaptation by George de Jesus III.

Rep Fringe is Repertory Philippines' advanced acting class taught by Ana Abad Santos and Jenny Jamora. The class is for individuals who have chosen acting as a profession. This program offers a rigorous six-week course of training designed to educate and fuel the most talented, promising young actors, who are selected through auditions.

The workshop is heavy on text analysis, the space and breath, and merges comprehensive actor training with the rehearsal and performance of classical works. Through exposure to classical work, the actors explore their choices, develop technique and realize their own style.

The cast of “Malice” includes Anne Gauthier, Arya Herrera, Elle Velasco, Issa Litton, Kyla Rivera, Nelsito Gomez, Nicanor Campos, Reb Atadero, Red Concepcion, Rico del Rosario and Therese Carlos.

Tickets are P200. Limited seating only. For reservations, call 0918-9277071.
Visit on facebook http://www.facebook.com/events/430609673629585/.

Gantimpala Theater holds 35th Season auditions on June 11

Gantimpala Theater, one of the country's leading dramatic arts companies, announces one-day-only-auditions on June 11, Monday, 2-6 p.m., at the Rehearsal Hall, Open Air Auditorium Building, located inside Rizal Park.

The audition is open to all professional and non-professional actors, ages-18-years old and above. Those who are interested must bring a 2 x 2 photo and resume.

The auditions are for Gantimpala's 35th season of plays based on the Philippines’ cultural and literary heritage--the Four Classics (“Ibong Adarna”, “Florante at Laura”, “Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismo”, plus plays and short stories written by our National Artists for Theater and Literature, and original Filipino musicals written by today’s playwrights based on well-known fairy tales and Philippine folklore.

For more than three decades, theater-loving Filipinos have watched and enjoyed the company’s productions, beginning with Bonifacio Ilagan’s “Katipunan Mga Anak ng Bayan” at the Cultural Center of the Philippines 35 years ago. As one of the original artistic companies of the CCP, it gave life to “untried and untested plays” that were winners in the playwriting contests of the institution.

Tony Espejo, Gantimpala artistic director, recalls: “When we were still at the CCP, I was going out for lunch one day when a utility man approached me--an elderly guy mopping the floor. He said, ‘Mr. Espejo, congratulations at salamat po.’ I asked him why. He replied, ‘kasi lagi po akong nanood ng mga plays ninyo lalo na pag historical, kasi hindi po ako nakapag-aral so kapag gusto ko pong matuto, lagi po akong nanonood ng mga productions ninyo. That really touched me.”

“It amazes me that the effects of the plays are multiplied tenfold,” he adds. “Until today, there are bank tellers who, when I present my pass book, recognize me and inform me that they have seen the Four Classics. Just the other day, when I was doing my early morning jog, a man went out of his car, approached me, and thanked me. He recently saw my picture in one of the papers and said that in high school, he saw all our plays. And now, it is his son who watches them. These recollections make me smile because they are affirmations that, we at Gantimpala Theater must be doing something good.”

For further queries, call 5280603 or 0921-5286308. Visit www.gantimpalatheater.multiply.com or like on Facebook www.facebook.com/gantimpala.

[Photo: Jay Gonzaga and Cris Pastor in Kanser-Noli Me Tangere]

Virgin Labfest 8--schedule of performances

SET A: June 27, 3pm & 8pm / July 7, 3pm / July 8, 8pm

• Pagsubli, Aizel Cabilan
Direction: Melvin Lee

• Symposium, U Eliserio and Maynard Manansala
Direction: JK Anicoche

• Digital Divide, Ricardo Novenario
Direction: Andoy Ranay

SET B: June 28, 3pm & 8pm / July 7, 8pm / July 8, 3pm

• Hayop, Mar Anthony dela Cruz
Direction: Erik Matti

• Ang Unang Regla ni John, Em Mendez
Direction: George de Jesus

• Isa Pang Soap Opera, Reuel Aguila
Direction: Dennis Marasigan

SET C: June 29, 3pm & 8pm / July 4, 3pm / July 6 8pm

• Alejandro, Chuckberry Pascual
Direction: Roeder Camanag

• Kuneho, Guelan Luarca
Direction: Emman dela Cruz

• High Stakes, Mixkaela Villalon
Direction: Ron Capinding

SET D: (FULL-LENGTH PLAY) June 30, 3pm & 8pm / July 4, 8pm / July 5, 3pm

• Totong Hilot, Jose Dennis Teodosio
Direction: Roobak Valle

SET E: (Virgin Labfest 7 Revisited) July 1, 3pm & 8pm / July 5, 8pm / July 6 3pm

• Kawala, Rae Red
Direction: Paolo O'Hara

• Evening at the Opera, Floy Quintos
Direction: Jomari Jose

• Kafatiran, Ricardo Novenario
Direction: JK Anicoche

STAGED READINGS

• Lovestory, Carlo Pacolor Garcia--June 29, 6pm

• Walang Kukurap, Layeta Bucoy--July 4, 6pm

International ballet superstars in Manila June 8-9

Ten acclaimed principal dancers from some of the most respected international dance companies converge for the first time on the Philippine stage in a one-of-a-kind show aptly entitled “World Stars of Ballet”.

Presented by Ballet Manila and Manila Broadcasting Company, in cooperation with D & D Art Productions, the show runs June 8-9, 7:30 p.m., at the Aliw Theater, CCP Complex, Pasay City.

World Stars of Ballet brings together celebrated dancers such as American Ballet Theatre’s Paloma Herrera and Maxim Beloserkovsky, The Royal Ballet’s David Makhateli and Natalia Kremen, Mariinsky Theatre’s Daria Pavlenko and Yevgeny Ivanchenko, English National Ballet’s Dmitri Gruzdev, Kremlin Ballet’s Aleksandra Timofeeva, Norwegian National Ballet’s Yoel Carreno and Yolanda Correa Frias, and the Philippines' own Lisa Macuja-Elizalde.

“It is going to be an exciting evening of great artistry, and very athletic and graceful dancing!” says Macuja-Elizalde, who points out that the repertoire will combine classical, neoclassical and modern dance pieces.

The prima ballerina is particularly proud that two couples of Ballet Manila who have been accepted to the Beijing International Ballet competition will be performing side-by-side the ballet superstars.

The repertoire also showcases two firsts--the “Apollo” Pas de Deux and “Diamonds” Pas de Deux, both Balanchine ballet highlights that have never been performed in Manila.

Also featured are the “Romeo and Juliet Balcony Pas, “Giselle” Pas de Deux, “Le Corsaire” Pas de Deux, “Don Quixote” Grande Pas De Deux, as well as original choreographies done especially for Ballet Manila--“Green”, “Widmung”, “Sotto Voce”, “Reconfigured”, “Arachnida”, “Diane and Acteon” and “Dancing to Verdi”.

Macuja-Elizalde and Makhateli, who partnered her in last year's “Swan Lake”, thought of organizing an international ballet gala performance in Manila specifically to raise funds for Project Ballet Futures. A personal initiative of Macuja-Elizalde, the program aims to give talented underprivileged children a shot at making classical ballet a professional career for themselves.

Two of the 54 Project Ballet Futures scholars, Jessa Balote and Jamil Montebon, were recently interviewed for CNN's Eye on the Philippines series, helping to draw attention to the scholarship program.

Tickets to World Stars of Ballet are available in Ticketworld at www.ticketworld.com.ph. For more inquiries, call 4000292 or 5255967 or e-mail info@balletmanila.com.ph.

[Photo 1: Yoel Carreno and Yolanda Correa Frias of the Norwegian National Ballet. Photo 2: Natalia Kremen and David Makhateli of The Royal Ballet]

Love to have loved you, Donna Summer

My goodbye on Twitter: rest in peace, Donna Summer. you worked hard for the money--and much more. i hope your last dance was blissful. what you did was hot stuff.

Below, from a late-career concert, an atypical song for the Disco Queen--but one that she does beautifully. Real soul there, baby.

Philippine Opera Company's Ang Bagong Harana returns June 6-10

The Philippine Opera Company’s “Ang Bagong Harana” returns on June 6-10 at the RCBC Theater in time for the Philippine Independence Day Celebration.

“Ang Bagong Harana” is a revue featuring traditional and contemporary Filipino songs, sung by a troupe of 10 young classically-trained singers.

“The show was envisioned as love song to our country,” says Karla Gutierrez, who heads the Philippine Opera Company. “We wanted to show audiences that there is so much wealth that Filipinos can mine from our traditional and contemporary music. In this age of globalization, it is all the more crucial for us to know who we are and what we have that we can call Pinoy. A lot of performers may say that we are the best in the world. But we wanted to go a step further and prove it by using our own traditional and contemporary material. And we wanted to showcase young singers who have committed themselves to classical singing and to our traditional material."

The company of 10 singers is made up of theater actors and singers Karla Gutierrez, Aizel Prietos, Charley Magalit, Janine Santos, Marian Santiago, Lawrence Jatayna, Jack Salud, Nazer Salcedo, Marvin Gayramon and Al Gatmaitan. Most have appeared in plays and musicals.

The show, conceived and directed by Floy Quintos, begins with an evocation of a lost innocence, as expressed through traditional children's songs sung by the company. From there, the love song to country moves through various evocations---a “kundiman” suite framed against the backdrop of revolution, a tribal suite based on the indigenous respect for the environment, a suite of folk songs framed against the backdrop of a fiesta, a tribute to Sylvia La Torre that reconnects with our “bodabil” roots. Then it moves into the present, using OPM classics like Fredddie Aguilar's “Anak” to make pointed social commentary.

“We kept getting inquiries about a repeat run,” says Gutierrez, “which is why we are bringing back the show in it's original form, with most of the original cast. It is a difficult effort to try and do something truly Filipino nowadays. But after the warm response that we got last year, we know that there is an audience that is hungry for this kind of entertainment that reconnects us to our souls.”

“Ang Bagong Harana” runs June 6-9, 8 p.m. with matinees at 3:30pm on June 9 and 10, at the Carlos P. Romulo Theater, RCBC Plaza, Makati City.

For tickets, please call Philippine Opera Company 8817168 or 0917-5272880 or TicketWorld 8919999. Like Philippine Opera Company on Facebook.

Return engagements and new works in Dulaang UP's 37th season

For its 37th season, Dulaang UP features return engagements of successful productions from the previous season, a classic play by a master dramatist and an exciting new offering from a highly-esteemed Filipino playwright.

The restaging of the musical treat of 2011, "Noli Me Tangere: The Opera"
kicks off the new season. The critically-acclaimed operatic retelling of Rizal’s opus by National Artist Felipe Padilla de Leon, with libretto by another National Artist Guillermo Tolentino, had a sold out four-week original run last November 2011. It is directed by DUP Artistic Director Alexander Cortez, with music direction by Camille Lopez Molina and featuring some of the country’s finest classically-trained singers.

"Noli Me Tangere: The Opera" returns on stage July 18-August 12, 2012 and is also DUP’s tribute to Padilla de Leon’s birth centennial.

This will be followed by the staging of what is widely considered to be Anton Chekhov’s greatest play, "The Seagull" (Ang Tagak), from September 19 to October 7, 2012. The play is an intimate study of Russian provincial life, unrequited love, and human folly. The play, featuring the Filipino translation by National Artist Rolando Tinio, will be directed by theater legend Tony Mabesa.

UP Playwright’s Theater, which is under DUP, restages the hit children’s play "Umaaraw, Umuulan Kinakasal ang Tikbalang", which also had a successful run last year. The play is a reminder of the richness of our folk literature and the importance of taking care of the environment.

"Umaaraw, Umuulan Kinakasal ang Tikbalang" is adapted from master storyteller Gilda Cordero Fernando’s children’s short story "The Magic Circle" and is written by Rody Vera and directed by José Estrella. The play runs November 21-December 9, 2012. UPPT is now on it 26th theater season.

The world premiere of multi-awarded playwright Floy Quintos’ "Collection" closes the 37th season, to be directed by Dexter Santos. After writing celebrated plays for DUP like "St. Louis Loves Dem Filipinos", "Isang Panaginip na Fili" and "Fake", among many others, Quintos is back with a dark comedy on fashion and art. It will run February 13-March 3, 2013.

All productions are staged at the Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater, 2nd floor, Palma Hall, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City. For ticket inquiries, reservations, sponsorships and special bookings, call the Dulaang UP Office 9261349, 9818500 local 2449 or 4337840.

Virgin Labfest 8--final entries and play directors

SET A:
• Pagsubli, Aizel Cabilan
Direction: Melvin Lee

• Symposium, U Eliserio and Maynard Manansala
Direction: JK Anicoche

• Digital Divide, Ricardo Novenario
Direction: Andoy Ranay

SET B:
• Hayop, Mar Anthony dela Cruz
Direction: Erik Matti

• Ang Unang Regla ni John, Em Mendez
Direction: George de Jesus

• Isa Pang Soap Opera, Reuel Aguila
Direction: Dennis Marasigan

SET C:
• Alejandro, Chuckberry Pascual
Direction: Roeder Camanag

• Kuneho, Guelan Luarca
Direction: Emman dela Cruz

• High Stakes, Mixkaela Villalon
Direction: Ron Capinding

SET D: (FULL-LENGTH PLAY)
• Totong Hilot, Jose Dennis Teodosio
Direction: Roobak Valle

SET E: Virgin Labfest 7 Revisited
• Kawala, Rae Red
Direction: Paolo O'Hara

• Evening at the Opera, Floy Quintos
Direction: Jomari Jose

• Kafatiran, Ricardo Novenario
Direction: JK Anicoche

Staged readings:
• Lovestory, Carlo Pacolor Garcia
• Walang Kukurap, Layeta Bucoy

The Virgin Labfest is an annual festival of unpublished, unstaged, untried and untested works for the theater held in the middle of the year (June to July) at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. This festival is a partnership project of the Writer's Bloc, Inc., Tanghalang Pilipino, Inc. and the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Asian Film Festival at Shangri-La Plaza, May 17-21

Shangri-La Plaza, together with Asia Society Philippine Foundation Inc. and Film Development Council of the Philippines, unveils the rich cultures of Asia and the region’s compelling stories as it plays host to the first ever Asian Film Festival, themed “Asia as Our Society,” to be held May 17-21 at Shang Cineplex.

Film entries from China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and the Philippines will be screened at the festival.

The opener is local film “Dinig Sana Kita,” which screens May 17, 7:30 p.m. This 2009 drama is a one-of-a-kind love story between a deaf boy and a troubled rocker girl.

“Halaw,” which will be screened May 21, 8 p.m., tells the adventure of an illiterate Badjao and his daughter as they illegally cross the border of Malaysia and the Philippines.

The festival continues with three of China’s most acclaimed and well-known films. “Forever Enthralled,” showing May 18, 8 p.m., retraces the inspiring story of stage actor Mei Lanfang, who propelled Peking Opera to the global stage.

“The Founding of a Republic” screens on May 20, 8 p.m., revisiting the story of post-World War II China, when the unification of the Communist Party of China and other Chinese democratic parties resulted in a major historical milestone.

Capping off the Chinese lineup is “Glittering Day,” showing May 21, 12:30 p.m. The film chronicles the lives of relocated residents of Jinyuchi (Golden Fish Pond), who were forcibly moved out due to government efforts to improve the place. Every spring, they return to the renovated area and reminisce about their former lives.

From Laos comes “Only Love,” to be screened May 18, 5:30 p.m. Souvanh, a recent university graduate, returns to his village determined to help provide better living conditions for its residents. However, Namphet is set to sabotage Souvanh’s efforts and destroy his relationship with his childhood sweetheart Duongchai.

Indonesia takes the spotlight as “Laskar Pelangi” (The Rainbow Troops) premieres May 19, 3 p.m. Adapted from Andrea Hirata’s popular literary work, it chronicles the author’s memories of his hardworking teachers, brilliantly capturing the struggles of marginalized people hoping to achieve their dreams.

“3 Doa 3 Cinta” (3 Wishes, 3 Loves), to be shown May 18, 12:30 p.m., revolves around the lives of emotionally troubled students Huda, Rian and Syahid. The three meet sexy dangdut singer Dona Satelit, travelling cinema troupe owner Toha and a militant religious leader, who all give them hope that they can still make their own dreams happen.

Six different but interconnected stories are retold in “Jakarta Maghrib” (Jakarta Sunset), which screens May 21, 5:30 p.m. Comprising six short films, the overall story poignantly portrays the Jakarta sunset as the key element that weaves all tales and relationships together.

Also not to be missed is Vietnam’s lineup. “Mua Oi La Saison des Goyaves” (The Guava House), tracing the journey of peaceful Hanoi City through the years, screens May 18, 3 p.m. “Thoung Nho Dong Que” (Nostalgia for Countryside), which screens May 20, 12:30 p.m., is about several characters who either leave or return to their home and realize that their place of origin will always have a special spot in their hearts.

From Japan comes “Wanko: The Story of Me, My Family and My Dog,” on May 19, 5:30 p.m., about the Noyama family, which lives in the small island of Miyakejima and their forcible evacuation from home when Mount Oyama violently erupts. “Éclair,” on May 20, 3 p.m., follows the story of orphan Akio as he goes through life without parents at the onset of war.

Experience rich stories of Korean culture with “Hwang Jin Yi,” showing May 19, 8 p.m., as its namesake main character becomes a gisaeng to gain favor with the noble classes; and “Speedy Scandal” on May 20, 5:30 p.m., about former teen star Nam Hyun-soo who undergoes a PR crisis as a radio listener on his show unleashes claims that he is her biological father.

Also in the festival’s roster are Sri Lanka's Agni Dahaya,” screening May 19, 12:30 p.m., about an exorcist, his assistant, a woman called Kirimenike and her partner Herath, as their stories unfold amid the backdrop of political turmoil; and “Dheewari,” on May 21, 3 p.m., which portrays the harsh realities of life in a Sri Lankan fishing village, through the journey of the orphan Valli.

For inquiries, call 6337851 loc. 113; visit www.shangrila-plaza.com. Add Shangri-La Plaza on Facebook shangrilaplazaofficial fanpage.

A sampling of Forbidden Broadway

Four quintessential Forbidden Broadway parodies. The Julie Andrews send-up is just priceless.

1. Topol: If I Were a Rich Man, from Fiddler On the Roof (If I Sing It Slower, Gerard Alessandrini)

2. Julie Andrews: I Could Have Danced All Night, from My Fair Lady (I Couldn't Hit the Note, Susanne Blakeskee)

3. Barbra Streisand: Somewhere, from West Side Story (Someday, Barbara Walsh)

4. Jonathan Pryce, Lea Salonga: Tonight I Will Be Miss Saigon/Sun and Moon, from Miss Saigon (Tonight Who Will Play Miss Saigon?, Craig Wells, Susanne Blakeslee, Christine Pedi, Brad Oscar; You Are Hallmark, I Postcard, Brad Oscar, Susanne Blakeslee)

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Upstart Productions presents the Off-Broadway smash “Forbidden Broadway” on May 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, and 27, 2012, at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza (Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m.).

The Philippine production of this “forbidden pleasure” (New York Post) stars Liesl Batucan, Caisa Borromeo, OJ Mariano and Lorenz Martinez, along with guest performers such as Lea Salonga, Aiza Seguerra, Nyoy Volante, Jett Pangan, and many more, with Joel Trinidad as director.

For ticket inquiries, call (02) 8919999, 2150788 or 0917-5378313, visit ticketworld.com.ph or e-mail upstartproductionsinc@gmail.com

The heat is on in Travel Time, The Magazine's latest issue

Travel Time producer and host Susan Calo Medina continues to take travelers around the Philippines with the sixth issue of Susan Calo Medina’s Travel Time, The Magazine.

The summer issue carries the theme, "The Heat is On!" and is packed with the magazine’s signature stunning visuals of beautiful sights and local people, and well-written articles on ideal summer destinations, exciting activities and useful tips.

What’s a summer issue without Boracay? Celina Cruz goes beyond the usual feature on what to see and do and Boracay, and takes us instead to the dusk-till-dawn party scene and shows us how Boracay is hot by day, but even hotter by night.

For a more serene escape, there’s breathtaking Palawan. Gibbs Cadiz sees Coron on the rise and shares how he is captivated by the Philippines’ last frontier.

Ricky Lopez and Lala Dimaano discover the joys of domestic cruising as they travel to Boracay and Cebu onboard 2GO Travel vessels.

And can we forget Bohol? Tita Susan shares the story of the Bohol she knows--how it was then and how it is now--and how she is still in love with it!

The magazine also features Intramuros as a heritage town by architect Augusto Villalon, summer health tips by Dr. Jaime Galvez-Tan, a tour of Rizal province on a budget, summer camps for kids, the marine wonders of the Verde Island Passage by diver Yvette Lee, astrological tips by Walter Ang, a trek to Mt. Pinatubo, a Kapitolyo food walk, and a whole lot more.

With 124 pages packed with travel stories and photos, Susan Calo Medina’s Travel Time, The Magazine gives you all the summer getaway options you need.

The magazine retails for only P125. It is distributed by Emerald Headway Distributors, Inc. and is available in Powerbooks, Fully Booked, and National Bookstore and other leading bookstores and magazine kiosks nationwide.

Announcement: Virgin Labfest 8 finalists

From Virgin Labfest head Tuxqs Rutaquio:

One-act category
• Isa Pang Soap Opera, REUEL AGUILA
• Digital Divide, RICARDO NOVENARIO
• High Stakes, MIXCAELA VILLALON
• Ang Unang Regla ni John, EM MENDEZ
• Hayop, MAR ANTHONY DELA CRUZ
• Alejandro, CHUCKBERRY PASCUAL
• Pagsubli, AIZEL CABILAN
• Symposium, U ELISERIO and MAYNARD MANANSALA
• Mga Kuneho, GUELAN LUARCA

Full-length category
• Totoong Hilot, DENNIS TEODOSIO

The Virgin Labfest is an annual festival of unpublished, unstaged, untried and untested works for the theater held in the middle of the year (June to July) at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. This festival is a partnership project of the Writer's Bloc, Inc., Tanghalang Pilipino, Inc. and the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Upstart Productions' Forbidden Broadway opens May 11--schedule of guest stars (including Lea Salonga) here!

“The funniest show in New York” (The New Yorker) that has been leaving critics and audiences in stitches since its debut in 1982 is now, on its 30th anniversary, finally coming to Manila.

Upstart Productions presents the “gut-bustingly funny” (The New York Post) Off-Broadway smash Forbidden Broadway on May 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, and 27, 2012, at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza (Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m.).

The Philippine production of this “forbidden pleasure” (New York Post) stars Liesl Batucan, Caisa Borromeo, OJ Mariano and Lorenz Martinez, along with guest performers such as Lea Salonga, Aiza Seguerra, Nyoy Volante, Jett Pangan, and many more, with Joel Trinidad as director.

Created by Gerard Alessandrini, Forbidden Broadway is a “consistently riotous”(The New York Times) musical revue that features beloved songs from the most popular Broadway musicals--“Les Miserables”, “The Phantom of the Opera”, “Rent”, “Mamma Mia!”, “Wicked”, and “Cats”, to name just a few--with hilariously clever new lyrics that poke fun at the shows themselves.

And although “there's no Broadway like Forbidden Broadway” (Entertainment Weekly), it’s not just for theater fans! With more than 9,000 performances in 200 U.S. cities and in London, Tokyo, Singapore, and Sydney, eleven cast albums, and countless awards, it’s clear that “even if you've never been within 1000 miles of Broadway you'll still love Forbidden Broadway!” (Boca Raton News)

For ticket inquiries, call (02) 8919999, 2150788 or 0917-5378313, visit ticketworld.com.ph or e-mail upstartproductionsinc@gmail.com

PLUS: partial schedule of guest stars--

May 11 (Fri), 8 p.m. -- Jett Pangan
May 20 (Sat), 3 p.m. -- Menchu Lauchengco Yulo
May 25 (Fri), 8 p.m. -- Lea Salonga
May 26 (Sat), 8 p.m. -- Aiza Seguerra
May 27 (Sun), 3 p.m. -- Rachel Alejandro