Arts

• The Teatro Zorrilla or Zorrilla Theater also known as the Dulaang Zorrilla sa Maynila was a prominent theater in the Philippines, Principe Alfonso, Variedades, Quiapo, and Tondo Theaters, were the choice venues for the mainly Italian operas that came to the country, such as Lucia di Lammermoor, La Boheme, La Traviata, and Aida. Later, other opera venues were es the established, led by the Manila Grand Opera House and the Metropolitan Theater (Met).

  The first Filipino opera is said to have been Sandugong Panaginip by Pedro Paterno, a poet, novelist, musician, and government official.
• August 2, 1902 - This was first presented at the Zorrilla Theater
• La Loba Negra (The Black She-Wolf)- is a three-act Filipino opera. Acts I and Il are based on history. Act Ill is based on a legend attributed to Fr. Jose Burgos, one of the three martyred priest Gomez,

  Burgos, and Zamora who were executed in

  Bagumbayan (now Luneta) in 1872. The music was composed by National Artist Francisco Feliciano, with libretto by soprano Fides Cuyugan Asensio. The premiere was held in 1984 with National Artist for Theater and Film Lamberto Avellana as | director.
• 1. Noli Me Tangere - the three-act opera was composed by National Artist Felipe Padilla de Leon, with libretto by National Artist Guillermo Tolentino. It premiered in 1957 at the FEU Auditorium. The cast included Juanita Javier Torres as Maria Clara, Don David as Ibarra, Fides Cuyugan Asensio as Sisa, Milo Cristobal as Padre Damaso, and Morli Daram as the director.
• 1. El Felibusterismo- the three-act opera was also composed by National Artist Felipe Padilla de Leon with libretto in Filipino by Anthony Morli. It was staged at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 1970. The cast included Fides Cuyugan Asensio as Paulita, Constancio, Bernardo as Simoun, and Irma Potenciano as Juli.
• Original Philippine Operas

  1. La Loba Negra
  2. Noli Me Tangere
  3. El Filibusterismo
• Philippine has a rich and thriving theater industry that you may be venture into the future. Production ranges from original plays with Philippine themes and settings to renowned theater classics from past centuries to contemporary musicals from Broadway or London's

  West End.
• Theater is a major art form that brings together all the other art forms from painting and sculpture to installation art to music and dance to literature and even computer art in a single production.
• Story - is acted out on stage by actors portraying the characters
• PETA (Philippine Educational Theater Association)

  • founded by Cecille Guidote - Alvarez in 1967, with the vision of a Philippine Theater engaged in the development of people and society.

  > the company use the power of theater as a means of producing plays for empowerment and development, especially of the most disadvantaged sectors of society/those in the margins.
• PETA (Philippine Educational Theater Association)

  1. Caredivas, PETA 2011
  2. Haring Lear, PETA 2012
  3. Pamana, PETA 2013
• Tanghalang Pilipino

  • the resident theater company of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and founded in 1987.
  • develop and train actors, playwrights, and designers with special emphasis on the production of original Filipino plays.
• Tanghalang Pilipino

  1. Himala, Tanghalang Pilipino 2004
  2. William, Tanghalang Pilipino 2011
  3. Ibalong, Tanghalang Pilipino 2012
• Repertory Philippines


  A company established by Zenaida Amador and Baby Barredo that not only staged English language plays and musicals but trained actors and actresses as well
• Types of productions by Repertory Philippines

  • Conventional and contemporary classics
  • Serious farces
  • Deep drama
  • Magnificent musicals
• Lea Salonga


  • A multi-awarded theater actress and singer who began her career as a child lead actress in productions of Repertory Philippines
  • Went on to become an International stage superstar in the lead role of Kim in Ms. Saigon
• Other Repertory Philippines productions

  • Himala, Tanghalang Pilipino 2004
  • William, Tanghalang Pilipino 2011
  • Ibalong, Tanghalang Pilipino 2012
• Repertory Philippines - established by Zenaida Amador and Baby Barredo, a company that not only staged English language plays and musicals but trained actors and actresses as well.
• Repertory Philippines - productions range from conventional and contemporary classics to serious farces, deep drama, and magnificent musicals.
• Trumpets - In the 1990s, the Philippine theater group also began mounting grand productions of originally written musical with a slant towards good values for children and the whole family.
• Trumpets

  1.) The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, 1997

  2.) N.O.A.H., 2

  3.) The Bluebird of Happiness, 2013
• New Voice Company - Making its own distinct contribution to the Philippine theater scene.
• New Voice Company - Established in 1994 by Monique Wilson also a Repertory Philippines' protegee who went on to star on the international stage.
• New Voice Company - Has earned a reputation for staging thought-provoking productions on "controversial" and profound topics.
• Philippine Opera Company - Was founded in 1999 by a group of dedicated classically-trained singers, led by soprano Karla Gutierrez as artistic directress.
• Philippine Opera Company - Seeks to develop performers as well as audiences for classical music performances, both foreign and Filipino.
• Theater Down South - was founded, with Philippine theater mainstay Michael Williams as artistic director.The vision of the company was to widen the reach of stage productions beyond the traditional centers in Metro Manila