History takes center stage as LIYAB, the country’s first major musical performed entirely by active-duty soldiers, premieres at the Metropolitan Theater on August 13 and 14, 2026. The production marks an unprecedented collaboration between the Armed Forces and the civilian creative community, demonstrating how the performing arts can become a powerful platform for nation-building, cultural […]
Is there anyone who can match—or even surpass—Nora Aunor’s portrayal of Annie Batungbakal? Before becoming the cultural icon she is today, Annie Batungbakal originated from the 1979 OPM disco hit by the band Hotdog. The song ‘Annie Batungbakal’ introduced the fictional character, who eventually became a symbol of Manila’s disco era. This left fans hoping […]
This November, Barefoot Theatre Collaborative invites audiences to meet the first Filipina revolutionary in GABRIELA: The Musical, an epic new musical set in 18th century Ilocos. Told through myth, magic, and mystery, the musical reintroduces Gabriela as a co-author of the revolution–present from the beginning and later tasked with holding it together as it fractures. […]
Grammy-winning rapper Megan Thee Stallion is stepping into a new spotlight—the Broadway stage. The artist recently shared a behind-the-scenes glimpse of rehearsals as she prepares for her debut in ‘Moulin Rouge! The Musical,’ which begins a limited eight-week engagement on March 24. The three-time Grammy winner will take on the role of Harold Zidler, the […]
The Asian premiere of ‘anthropology,’ a psychological sci-fi drama by Lauren Gunderson, opened on March 12, 2026 at the Doreen Black Box Theater. Staged by Barefoot Theatre Collaborative, the production marks the play’s first staging in Asia and launches a strictly limited three-week run at Areté. Directed by Caisa Borromeo, the production features an all-female […]
Artificial intelligence (AI) has always existed in the space between promise and peril, offering both innovation and risk. Yet the central question remains: no matter how advanced it becomes, can it truly replace reality—or the irreplaceable presence of a human being? American playwright Lauren Gunderson’s ‘anthropology’ will have its own Asian Premier starting March 13 […]
The stage adaptation of ‘About Us But Not About Us’ opened its theatrical run on Feb. 14 at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Blackbox Theater in Circuit Makati, bringing the acclaimed psychological film from screen to a more intimate live setting. Originally released in 2022, the film first premiered at the Tallinn Black Nights Film […]
The 2023 Summer Metro Manila Film Festival Best Picture ‘About Us But Not About Us’ will return—not on the big screens but as a stage play. Presented by IdeaFirst Live!, the award-winning film will take center stage from February 14 to March 8, 2026 at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Blackbox Theater in Circuit Makati. […]
After sweeping the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival Summer Edition and gaining international critical acclaim, the psychological drama ‘About Us But Not About Us’ transitions from the screen to the stage. Written and adapted for the theater by the film’s original writer-director, Jun Robles Lana, the production brings the gripping narrative to a live audience […]
