Arts

• Theater


  Major art form that brings together all the other art forms - painting, sculpture, installation art, music, dance, literature, even computer arts - in a single production
• The Philippines has a rich and thriving theater industry
• Prominent theater and performing groups in the Philippines


  • PETA
  • Tanghalang Pilipino
  • Repertory Philippines
  • Trumpets
  • New Voice Company
  • Philippine Opera Company
  • Theater Down South
• PETA and Tanghalang Pilipino


  • Express distinctly Philippine interpretation of both originally written plays and adaptations of foreign works translated into Filipino
• Repertory Philippines


  • Stages English-language plays and musicals year-round and trains actors and actresses
• Notable achievements of Repertory Philippines


  • Staging of Les Miserables in Manila with an all-Filipino cast and production team
  • Staging of A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino by Nick Joaquin
• Trumpets


  • Mounts grand productions of originally written musicals with a focus on good values for children and the whole family
• New Voice Company


  • Stages thought-provoking productions on daring and deep topics
• Philippine Opera Company


  • Seeks to develop performers as well as audiences for classical music performances, both foreign and Filipino
• Theater Down South


  • Aims to widen the reach of stage productions beyond the traditional centers within Metro Manila and develop a broader audience base
• Pamana Docu Musical Tribute to Cory and Ninoy Aquino


  1. Scriptwriter

  2. Director

  3. Stage Designer

  4. Setting

  5. Main characters

  6. Main story line
• Lea Salonga began her career as a child lead in productions of Repertory Philippines and went on to become an international stage superstar in the lead role of Kim in Miss Saigon
• In 1967, Zenaida Amador established Repertory Philippines, fulfilling her dream of bringing the best of Broadway and London's West End to Filipino audiences
• Productions staged by Repertory Philippines


  • Literary classics
  • Contemporary satires
  • Comedies
  • Musicals
• Productions staged by Trumpets


  • Joseph the Dreamer
  • First Name
  • The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
  • Little Mermaid
  • Honk
  • N.O.A.H.
  • The Bluebird of Happiness
• The international hit musical Les Miserables was staged in Manila by Repertory Philippines in 1993 with an all-Filipino cast and production team
• A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino by National Artist Nick Joaquin was added to Repertory Philippines' productions in 2009
• The Philippine Opera Company was founded in 1999 by a group of dedicated classically trained singers, led by soprano Karla Gutierrez as artistic directress
• Theater Down South was founded in 2007, with Philippine theater mainstay Michael Williams as artistic director
• Producer


  In a professional stage production, this is the person who takes the play from a mere concept to an actual finished presentation. They choose all the team members and assign them their functions, oversee the casting of the actors and actresses for the different roles, decide on major logistical matters like when and where the play will be staged, the production schedule, and in most cases either finance all the production costs or else source the funds needed.
• Director


  The overall artistic coordinator of the entire production. Like a conductor of an orchestra, they have a vision of the desired total effect and impact of the performance. Throughout the play's rehearsals, they instruct and guide the actors as to the delivery of their lines of dialogue; their positions and movements on stage (called "blocking"); the thoughts or feelings they are to convey through tone of voice, facial expression, and gestures. They also coordinate closely with the set, lighting, sound, costume/makeup designers, and the choreographer (if the play involves dance) to create the envisioned total effect.
• Playwright


  For a script intended for stage performance, the writer of the script. The script forms the basis of the entire production. It contains the exact lines of dialogue that each character will memorize and deliver on stage, often with notes on tone of voice, facial expression, and even movement or blocking. It also provides a clear description of the set, props, and lighting to be used in each scene.
• Set designer


  The concept and creation of the physical stage setup is their task. They build the set (or sets) that will simulate the world that the play's characters are supposed to live in.
• Lighting designer


  Coordinates closely with the set designer. Lighting is critical in creating the mood of each scene in the play, highlighting a dramatic moment, signaling the entrance of a character, focusing attention on a specific spot-on stage, or even providing the blanket of darkness for set and prop changes. They use colored lights or filters, as well as special effects such as gradual dimming or brightening, a speckled effect like sunlight through leaves, or flickering lights.
• Costume designer


  The actors and actresses must look believable in their roles, and much of this is owed to the costume designer. They study the general setting (time and place) that the play is meant to take place in, as well as each character in the script, and then decide what attire will not only give the audience a clear sense of the setting but will also express each character's personality and distinct qualities.
• Sound designer


  Similar to the lighting designer, they serve a vital role in creating and enhancing the atmosphere of the performance. They source music both on stage and as background, as well as special sound effects like thunder, birds chirping, rushing water, gunfire, passing cars, approaching footsteps, and the like.
• Production manager


  Coordinates all the complex behind-the-scenes details of staging a play. They oversee the crews for the sets and props, the sound and music, the lighting, and the costumes. This includes ensuring that all the needed elements, facilities, and equipment are not only available, but are in good working order, properly catalogued and labelled, and safely stored from one rehearsal to the next, up until the time of the performance.
• Technical director


  Shadows the play's director throughout the entire production process. From the time the director presents their vision for the play and issues instructions at every rehearsal, the technical director carefully notes how each actor, and every member of the stage, sound, lighting, and costume crews need to be coordinated to bring the director's vision to life—ensuring that every instruction is properly executed.
• Choreographer


  In cases where a play involves dance in certain scenes, they plan out all the dance steps to suit the music, and rehearse the actors until they are able to perform the dance skillfully—while remaining "in character" on stage. They also program the moves of the opposing sides for any fight scenes so these can be executed not only believably, but safely as well.
• Makeup designer


  As the costume designer deliberates on the characters' main attire, the makeup designer is brought in to plan the hairstyles and makeup to complement the costumes. Their work may be as simple as making the actors look natural for their respective roles—based on their characters' age and personality, and the time and place of the story. But it may also be far more challenging, such as transforming the actors into mythical creatures, animals, a different nationality, or futuristic beings. They use makeup, face and body painting, hair coloring, and accessories like masks, wigs, headdresses, and prosthetics.