Celebrating the centennial of Department of English and Comparative Literature and the 50th anniversary of the Department of Speech Communications and Theatre Arts, UP Playwrights' Theater (UPPT) on its 21st theatre season (2009 – 2010) proudly presents a stellar twin-bill offering: an adaptation of Paz Marquez Benitez’s celebrated Philippine short story in English, “Dead Stars” (1925) as adapted by Anton Juan, and “Sepang Loca,” Amelia Lapeňa Bonifacio’s landmark theatre piece. After his successful Hinabing Pakpak ng Ating mga Anak, last July 2008, Anton returns with his dramatic adaptation of the short story, Dead Stars, 1925 – acknowledged as the first Filipino modern short story written in English. The play centers on hypothetical love in a colonial state, collapses time and point of view in impressionist dramatic narrative. Paz Marquez Benitez, author of this celebrated short story was the mentor of many Filipino literary masters and national artists. In Sepang Loca, from the depths of a village well rises the cruelty of a village and the damnation of a village fool by its religious but self-righteous folk.
The cast are joined by some of Philippine Theatre's renowned theater actors like Teroy Guzman, Ana Abad Santos, Judy Ick, Earl Ignacio, Edna Mae Landicho, Fonz Deza, Ces Aldaba, Lexie Schulze, Lillibeth Nacion- Puyot and the Dulaang UP ensemble. Joining Juan in his artistic team are emergent artists like Patrick Valera, (Dramaturgy and Assistant Direction) and Meliton Roxas Jr. (Set and Lights Design). Dead Stars and Sepang Loca will open on July 14, 2009 and will run until July 25, 2009.
Dead Stars and Sepang Loca will run at the 130 seater Teatro Hermogenes Ylagan, 1st Floor, Faculty Center, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City. Weekday shows at 7 p.m.; weekend shows at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Tickets at Php 250.00 but special group and student discounts may be availed of. For inquiries and ticket reservations please visit Dulaang UP office, Room 136, Palma Hall, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City or contact (+632) 981-8500 local 2449 / 2451 or (+632) 926-1349 or telefax at (+632) 433-7840 or contact Ms. Ozette Manguerra- Cauilan, Marketing Director at(+63919) 4281399 or email at infinite_supply@
