HALUHALO: THEATER
2024 Philippine Theater: A Curtain Call to Excellence
As we reflect on the remarkable moments of the past year in the theater scene, here are some of the highlights that made 2024 an unforgettable year for stage performances
‘3 Upuan’ REVIEW: Spare Staging Gives Way to Unsparing Expression of Grief
Guelan Varela-Luarca’s play of three elder millennial siblings preparing for, and experiencing, grief with confident simplicity. 3 Upuan trusts its actors to express its wise musings and the weight of time’s passage to profound effect.
The Sandbox Collective’s ‘Next to Normal’: A Portrait of a Filipino Family
The Sandbox Collective’s ‘Next to Normal’ offers the audience a chair at the Goodman family’s dinner table, allowing us to see past the walls they’ve built for themselves and into their heart of hearts.
What to expect with The Sandbox Collective’s ‘Next to Normal’
The Sandbox Collective had a great run in 2024, with its production of Little Shop of Horrors and Tiny Beautiful Things. They are now back with their first offering this 2025, Next to Normal. The show features music by Tom Kitt and book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey.
CAST PH’s ‘Freud’s Last Session’ and The Greatest Debate That Never Happened
With its barebones staging and sharp dialogue, CAST PH’s stage reading of ‘Freud’s Last Session’ demonstrates that even the simplest of setups can leave the audience pondering about the everlasting debate between faith and reason.
‘Nagkatuwaan Sa Tahanang Ito’ REVIEW: A Wonderfully Staged Exercise in Exerting and Releasing Control - Like Any Great Family
Mad Child Productions’ ‘Nagkatuwaan Sa Tahanang Ito’ raises thorny questions and feelings about family. Three people orbit Kendra’s preferred definition of family, even if Kendra is forced to examine what it really means to keep a family close.
‘Sandosenang Sapatos’ REVIEW: For the dreamers despite of it all
The ending of Sandosenang Sapatos ultimately seals the show’s overall thesis: unconditional love can never be broken, no matter how many storms test its strength.
Mothers, sons, and the Martial Law era in ‘Emulsyon’
As a twin bill, ‘Emulsyon’ makes perfect sense of how both plays are centered on a mother and son and the impacts of the Martial Law era in the Philippines, but contrasting in the tone and how the characters grapple with their realities.
‘Nanay Bangis’ and the Grim Realities of War
Ultimately, Nanay Bangis is a timely and thought-provoking adaptation that breathes new life into a Brechtian classic.
‘Request sa Radyo’: An enthralling exercise in empathy
Request sa Radyo is exactly that—a wordless play whose appeal comes from the breathtaking and eye-catching performances of Lea Salonga and Dolly de Leon.
‘Bar Boys: A New Musical’ and what it means to fight for justice
Barefoot Theater Collaborative’s rerun of ‘Bar Boys: A New Musical’ is the hottest show currently running right now, if you're intrigued by the cast's tremendous performance and the compelling tale of justice and friendship it tells.
All you need to know about ‘Bar Boys: A New Musical’
Two more days until Barefoot Theatre Collaborative’s #BarBoysTheMusical returns to the stage for its rerun this October to November 2024.
Meet the cast of the rerun of Bar Boys: A New Musical
Heads up, theater fans! Barefoot Theatre Collaborative’s ‘Bar Boys: A New Musical’ will have its rerun this coming October to November 2024.
‘Once on This Island’ and why Ti Moune’s tragic story needs to be told
9 Works Theatrical embarks on a tropical journey to tell the story of a peasant girl’s unrequited, unparalleled, and unconditional love with Once on This Island: A Musical.
‘Betrayal’: The kabit story told from a Filipino-British perspective
Repertory Philippines presents a refreshing take on the usual 'kabitan-serye' with Victor Lirio's version of the acclaimed play "Betrayal”, exploring relationships from a Filipino-British gaze.
'Kumprontasyon': An abridged journal entry pseudo-essay
The year has just begun and the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) is already bringing the goods to the table. From January 18 to 21, PETA staged a revival of Kumprontasyon, directed by Melvin Lee for his thesis.
Tanghalang Pilipino revolts with love in its 38th season
Tanghalang Pilipino launches its 38th season with ‘Revolt,’ adapting three captivating literary pieces into theater plays.