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Check out my article on last Friday’s issue of Young Star!

chasingtoff:

LIST: Plays to Watch this first Quarter of 2012

SEEN ON: Young Star (The Philippine Star) - Feb. 10 issue

For the full article, click on PLAY ON

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Source: chasingtoff

If you’re wondering what the heck happened to Theaterati, well, he got busy - incredibly busy juggling two shows which officially open today. One is 9 Works Theatrical’s You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown and the other is Ateneo Blue Repertory’s Company Call - a one night only concert featuring current Bluereppers and our distinguished alumni, as well as excerpts from Bluerep productions past and present. 

Today was one of the longest days of my life. Had to wake up early to inspect Henry Lee Irwin Theater, and make last minute set adjustments with Jim, our choreographer and assistant director, EA our head stage manager, Nikki our production manager, and Miyo our lighting designer. 

Jim came up with this incredible idea to move in the light blue curtains and well, the set just looks phenomenal. I can’t wait to see the full breadth of Miyo’s lighting tomorrow.

I am so incredibly proud of the cast and even the alumni who stayed ‘til past midnight to finish our first technical dress rehearsal for the show. We finished at around 1:30am. I’ve never done this in Blue Rep before (then again, we’ve always had weeks to adjust to a venue). This time, we only have two days, tomorrow included. Nevertheless, I am happy with the outcome, admittedly nervous, anxious but really more of excited for tomorrow to come. Bring it bitches!

This cast has really come a long way from when I first met them. I now love them dearly and hope that they strive to keep bettering the craft and keep that passion for the theater alive in their hearts. I’m also proud of the crew who has been so patient with my temperament and been “fighter stand ins” throughout this whole rehearsal period. And let’s not forget the band - oh the band who is perfection. They really have done such a fine job under Ejay, our musical director - who I predict is the next Rony Fortich.

Rehearsing for a concert is no joke. It requires a lot of patience and understanding from our end as the artistic team, planning on the part of the production. Of course, there’s Incomplete attendance ‘coz of students with field trip et al, and of course you have alumni who have their day jobs. But coming from today’s rehearsal, seeing the outcome so far, and what other improvements we might make to the show, I’m just happy that I got to be a part of this production despite my obligations with 9 Works Theatrical. Also, in spite of my near state of dying, physical and mental exhaustion, I’m still here and still standing, and happy and proud to be a Bluerepper more than ever.

Here’s to Company Call: Bluerep at 20! Cheers to the army that made this production possible =)

The big day is today (February 11) 8pm at the Henry Lee Irwin Theater in Ateneo. For tickets, please text 0917-8908633. Hope you guys can support! 

Check out the latest poster of Ateneo Blue Repertory’s COMPANY CALL: BLUEREP at 20. A one night only concert featuring Bluereppers past and present. So many productions jam-packed into one night of song and dance. Directing a concert is different. There’s a smorgasbord of context involved, and well, it’s a bit of a challenge narrowing down and concretizing an actor’s objectives per number since it keeps changing. There are so many nuances per song, and in some songs, they carry out several objectives. Basically, the actors have to be schizo in this show. One minute high school students, the next minute villagers chastising a Batboy, the next minute taxi dancers at the Club Pompeii. There’s also the matter of the alumni who have their own preoccupations, having student actors with other preoccupations, and other matters involved with working with people in school. But the passion is there. Just needs a lil’ push really. It’s going down to the wire. Two more weeks and we’ve still got a long way to go. But I’m confident that we’ll be able to pull this off - and if ever, it would be one of the biggest feats ever accomplished in Bluerep history. It’s time to rally - including me (yes despite my other obligations)… insurmountable obligations. To quote a line from the show, “We’re all in this together!” 

Check out the latest poster of Ateneo Blue Repertory’s COMPANY CALL: BLUEREP at 20. A one night only concert featuring Bluereppers past and present. So many productions jam-packed into one night of song and dance.

Directing a concert is different. There’s a smorgasbord of context involved, and well, it’s a bit of a challenge narrowing down and concretizing an actor’s objectives per number since it keeps changing. There are so many nuances per song, and in some songs, they carry out several objectives. Basically, the actors have to be schizo in this show. One minute high school students, the next minute villagers chastising a Batboy, the next minute taxi dancers at the Club Pompeii. There’s also the matter of the alumni who have their own preoccupations, having student actors with other preoccupations, and other matters involved with working with people in school. But the passion is there. Just needs a lil’ push really.

It’s going down to the wire. Two more weeks and we’ve still got a long way to go. But I’m confident that we’ll be able to pull this off - and if ever, it would be one of the biggest feats ever accomplished in Bluerep history. It’s time to rally - including me (yes despite my other obligations)… insurmountable obligations. To quote a line from the show, “We’re all in this together!” 

Here’s more of Bluerep coming your way. Company Call: Bluerep at 20 - a celebration of 20 years of the country’s premiere musical theater organization. Directed by yours truly. With musical direction by Ejay Yatco. Choreography by Jim Ferrer. Witness 21 productions in one concert under one roof - featuring the likes of our esteemed Bluerep alumni Rem Zamora, Gabe Mercado, Carelle Mangaliag, Rosanne Araneta, RR Herrera, Macky Santiago, Bea Garcia, Jill Pena, Reuben Uy, and many more…  as well as special appearances and participation by the cast of BARE, Joel Trinidad, Gerard Salonga, Jenny Jamora, and many more… We’ll be doing excerpts from musicals we’ve done in the past - Pippin, The Fantasticks, Godspell, Once on this Island, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Batboy, All Shook Up, Sweet Charity, Little Shop of Horrors, and many more… This is the best of the best of Bluerep past and present coming together for one night only - Mark your calendars. February 11 is the date. Be sure to catch it.

Here’s more of Bluerep coming your way.

Company Call: Bluerep at 20 - a celebration of 20 years of the country’s premiere musical theater organization. Directed by yours truly. With musical direction by Ejay Yatco. Choreography by Jim Ferrer.

Witness 21 productions in one concert under one roof - featuring the likes of our esteemed Bluerep alumni Rem Zamora, Gabe Mercado, Carelle Mangaliag, Rosanne Araneta, RR Herrera, Macky Santiago, Bea Garcia, Jill Pena, Reuben Uy, and many more… 

as well as special appearances and participation by the cast of BARE, Joel Trinidad, Gerard Salonga, Jenny Jamora, and many more…

We’ll be doing excerpts from musicals we’ve done in the past - Pippin, The Fantasticks, Godspell, Once on this Island, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Batboy, All Shook Up, Sweet Charity, Little Shop of Horrors, and many more…

This is the best of the best of Bluerep past and present coming together for one night only - Mark your calendars. February 11 is the date. Be sure to catch it.

Hey all. I’ll be directing Company Call: Bluerep at 20, a Broadway concert featuring Bluereppers past and present. And by past, I’m talking founders and pioneers. And by present, I’m talking the next generation. This is going to be another exciting endeavor for my beloved org. Stay tuned for details!

Hey all. I’ll be directing Company Call: Bluerep at 20, a Broadway concert featuring Bluereppers past and present. And by past, I’m talking founders and pioneers. And by present, I’m talking the next generation. This is going to be another exciting endeavor for my beloved org. Stay tuned for details!