Cao and Lianben at Calle Wright
MORE LIGHT THAN HEAT an exhibit of works by Lesley-Anne Cao and Lao Lianben will be on view at Calle Wright starting July 28 until Oct. 27. Cao presents a series of video works based around our notions and perception. Lao’s minimalist works, taken work from his personal collection, are painted from his own instincts. Calle Wright is at 1890 Vasquez St., Malate, Manila. Viewing hours are from noon to 7 p.m., Friday to Sunday. For inquiries, contact info@callewright.com or 0917-587-4011.
Tanghalang Ateneo presents Dolorosa
TANGHALANG ATENEO will kick off its 41st season, “Écriture Féminine|Sulat-Babae: The Women’s Season,” this August with a full-length version of Dolorosa at the Doreen Black Box, Arts Wing, Areté. Jenny Jamora will direct the material, which was originally a one-act play and part of the Virgin Labfest 14 staged readings last year. Playwright Peter Zaragoza Mayshle has expanded “Dolorosa” for this season’s opener, in which a one-of-a-kind wooden statue of the Mater Dolorosa, which is a family’s prized heirloom, is put together and made whole by three siblings every year for the Holy Week procession in Paete, Laguna. On this Maundy Thursday, they await the visit of their mother Pilar, who mysteriously abandoned them 15 years ago. When she arrives, they will confront the ghosts of their past and one shattering truth about their beloved Dolorosa statue. Dolorosa will feature veteran actors Bibeth Orteza and Ron Capinding, Clyde Enriquez, Zoë de Ocampo, and Rainbow Gutierrez. The play will run Thursdays to Sundays from Aug. 15 to 31. Tickets are available at P450 for ADMU students and P500 for the general public. For details contact Nicole at 0906-266-2563.
Celebration of Visayan culture at CCP
THE Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) through its Cultural Exchange Department (CED) presents three prominent Visayan Performing groups in PAGSAULOG: A Celebration of Visayan Culture on July 25, 3 and 7 p.m., at the CCP Little Theater under the CED‘s Ugnayan sa Sining program. The featured groups are the University of Visayas Chorale of Cebu City, Kabataang Silay Rondalla of Silay City, and Artes Bailes of the Iloilo National High School. Pagsaulog is an articulation of the Visayan culture through dance, and music which are the core of every Filipino traditional celebration known as fiesta. After the CCP run, Pagsaulog will have performances at the Marinduque State College, Boac, Marinduque from July 26-29. For more information, contact the CCP Cultural Exchange Dept. at 832-1125 locals 1708-1709.
Tertulia de Memoria looks into heritage
PALACIO DE MEMORIA hosts its first heritage weekend lecture series, dubbed Tertulia de Memoria, on July 27 and 28. The restored pre-war Roxas Boulevard estate and gardens serve as the backdrop and venue for this two-day event that aims to foster a renewed sense of heritage appreciation from attendees. With respected broadcast journalist Ces Drilon as moderator, the invited speakers include heritage and cultural advocate Isidra Reyes; architect, author and professor Dr. Gerardo Lico; ABS-CBN Film Restoration head Leo Katigbak; Cultural Heritage Studies Program Head of the Ateneo de Manila University, Dr. Fernando N. Zialcita; playwright and essayist Floy Quintos; and Heritage Conservation Society trustee Conrado Alampay. Key topics to be presented during the forums cover adaptive reuse for buildings, to art and film restoration. The talks will be capped by special sunset movie screenings of digitally re-mastered and restored Filipino movies courtesy of ABS-CBN Restoration and Cinema One. On July 27, 5 p.m., Peque Gallagas’ 1982 masterpiece Oro, Plata, Mata will be shown, while on July 28, 5 p.m., National Artist Eddie Romero’s 1976 film, Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon completes the weekend event. Tickets are available at Palacio de Memoria on 95 Roxas Blvd., Parañaque, www.ticketworld.com.ph, and at selected Ticket World outlets. For details visit https://www.facebook.com/thepalaciodememoria/.
Deadline for proposals for venue grants
THE Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), through its Visual Arts and Museum Division (VAMD), is accepting proposals for the 2020 Venue Grant Program. The grant offers free use of exhibit space and curatorial assistance. The VAMD also organizes artist talks, workshops, and other public programs in conjunction with exhibitions. Artists, curators, art organizations, and institutions are welcome to submit proposals for the following venues at the CCP Main Theater Building: Little Theater Lobby, 2F Hallway Gallery, Small Gallery, 4F Floor Hallway Gallery, and the Outdoor Mural Wall. Proposals for exhibitions for the succeeding year shall be submitted to the Visual Arts and Museum Division from January to Sept. 30 of the current year. All proposals submitted shall be reviewed by the VAMD and presented to the CCP Artistic Programming Committee for final approval. Proponents of approved proposals for exhibitions shall be notified via e-mail and invited for a production meeting three months prior to their scheduled exhibit. Deadline for 2020 exhibitions is on Sept. 30. Proposals may be sent via e-mail to ccp.exhibitproposal@gmail.com or delivered to: Visual Arts and Museum Division, Production and Exhibition Department, 4F, CCP Main Theater Building, Cultural Center of the Philippines Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City from Tuesday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For details contact 832-1125 loc. 1504/1505 and 832-3702, 0917-603-3809 or visit www.culturalcenter.gov.ph.
Academic Book Fair at SM Megamall
THE 2019 Philippine Academic Book Fair will be held on July 24-26, at the Megatrade Hall 1, 5th Level, Building B, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City. The only book fair in the country that focuses to the education market, the 2019 Philippine Academic Book Fair will feature books, magazines, journals, and other learning materials that will be up for sale at special prices. Visitors to the fair will find, among many other books, the New English-Filipino Comprehensive Dictionary: Millennial Edition, an easy-to-read, large print dictionary ideal for home, school, or office (Golden Books Services booths); award-winning books, from children’s books to distinguished nonfiction books, including Newberry, Caldecott, and even Pulitzer Prize titles, from the IBC Books booth; Singapore K-12 assessment books to help Philippine educators gauge student’s skills in English, Math, and Science (GoldenBooksServices.com); e-products ranging from non-print educational materials and resources, to educational videos and school management systems (F&J De Jesus Inc.); and a big bargain sale with remainder books from the exhibitors ranging from general reference books to journals with prices slashed up to 90 percent. For more details about the 23rd Philippine Academic Book Fair, call 896-0682 or 896-0661 or e-mail info@primetradeasia.com.
Exhibit ongoing at Robinsons Galleria
ROBINSONS GALLERIA host another art exhibit, Remediated, featuring 11 artists from the Baybay Art Society of Laguna. It is ongoing at Level 3 of the Veranda until July 31. The participating artists are Almer Moneda, Amador Barquilla, Ann Baldemor-Moneda, Darwin Japat Guevarra, Ferdinand Sanchez, Gemo Velda, Glenn Cagandahan, Jeff Dahilan, Ramon Cajipe, Romer “Pio” Kagayutan, and Roy Parungao. The artists’ conceptualized this exhibit to reverse or stop environmental damage that is happening now.
Rajo Laurel does Sweeney Todd
ATLANTIS Theatrical Entertainment Group, which celebrates its 20th Anniversary this year, has announced that couturier Rajo Laurel will be designing costumes for its staging of Sweeney Todd, starring Tony and Olivier Award winner Lea Salonga and rock star Jett Pangan. Mr. Laurel designed for Atlantis productions in the past, namely for The Rocky Horror Show and Dreamgirls, both directed by Bobby Garcia, who will also be directing Sweeney Todd. The musical runs from Oct. 11-27 at the Theatre at Solaire. Tickets are available through Ticketworld at www.ticketworld.com.ph.
Palanca-winning play to be staged
DE LA SALLE-College of Saint Benilde’s Theater Arts Program students and Teatro 77 are set to stage the late Alberto Florentino’s Palanca-winning play Cadaver starting today, July 24, at the College’s Black Box Theater. Cadaver won First Honorable Mention in the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature in 1954, following his well-known work The World Is An Apple, which also bagged the First Prize for drama that same year. While the one-act play pays tribute to Mr. Florentino and stays true to the original narrative which follows three people living in a cemetery, tackling the idea of man’s responsibility towards the consequences of his action, Benilde’s iteration also explores the director’s vision to use the stage to speak against the fascism and as a call to action in the context of “patayin ang kahirapan, huwag ang mahihirap” (kill poverty and not the poor). Directed by Kyle Confesor, it stars Elijah Castillo, Ioel Briones, Julia Enriquez and Alexandria Farrales. Cadaver will open with a 7 p.m. tonight, and will have performances at 1 and 7 p.m. from July 25 to July 27. Tickets are priced at P150 and P120 (for senior citizens and PWDs). Shows will be at the Black Box Theater, 6th Floor, School of Design and Arts Campus, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, Pablo Ocampo (Vito Cruz) St., Malate, Manila. For ticket reservations, contact 0977-294-7124 or e-mail teatro77ph@gmail.com.
Cast of Madagascar announced
ATLANTIS Theatrical has announced the full cast of Madagascar: A Musical Adventure, its maiden production for Atlantis Imaginarium Young Theatre. The show, based on the hit Dreamworks Animated Motion Picture, will open on Aug. 2 at the Maybank Performing Arts Theater, BGC Arts Center, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. The musical follows Alex the Lion and his friends Marty the Zebra, Gloria the Hippo, and Melman the Giraffe who escape from New York’s Central Park Zoo and set off on a madcap journey from Grand Central Station to the incredibly zany world of Madagascar. The cast is composed of Markus Mann as Alex the Lion, Nelsito Gomez as Marty the Zebra, Sarah Facuri as Gloria the Hippo, Altair Alonso as Melman the Giraffe, and George Schulze as King Julien. Completing this roster are Mica Fajardo, Jep Go, Barbara Jance, Franco Ramos, and Ber Reyes. Madagascar: A Musical Adventure is directed by Steven Conde, with choreography by Cecile Martinez, and musical direction by Farley Asuncion. The Asian premiere will run from Aug. 2 to 18. Buy four tickets and get another one for free. Book at www.ticketworld.com.ph or call 891-9999.
