Gantimpala Theater presents The Pearl Theater Festival!

GANTIMPALA THEATER PRESENTS
THE PEARL
THEATER FESTIVAL!

Live theater is special and unique.
The experience cannot be recorded for
playback at another time except in
your memory. You have to be there to
see and experience it yourself, this
is what Gantimpala Theater has been
giving its audiences for the past 30
years theater that excites the
intellect, stirs the heart and
electrifies the soul!

This season, Gantimpala commits itself
to bring the finest productions to its
young and growing audiences as they
present the Pearl Theater Festival.

Winners of the annual CCP Playwriting
Contest, untested and untried plays
produced and staged by the company
considered as instrumental to the
development of Philippine Dramaturgy
are now being revived to underscore
the highlights of Gantimpala
productions during the past three
decades.

The festival presentation begins on
September 2 with Katipunan, Mga Anak
ng Bayan (first prize, 1978), written
by Bonifacio Ilagan, The very first
Gantimpala production is about the
life story of the great plebian,
Andres Bonifacio. This historically
based play is about the events on the
life of the Supremo prior to the
tearing of the cedulas, which marked
the start of the Philippine
revolution.

Playing the leads are Lowell Conales
(Andres Bonifacio), Pamela Hundana
(Gregoria de Jesus), and Remus
Villanueva (Emilio Jacinto). Jeffrey
Camaag is director.

On September 9 comes Ramona Reyes ng
Forbes Park (second prize 1976), with
the late Bienvinido Noriega Jr., as
playwright. This drama is about a
house cleaner thorn between staying
with the man she dearly loves or
following her dream if working abroad
and secure her future.

Kathy Arguelles is Ramona with
Sharlene Rivera and Arkin Da Silva.
Jake de Asis as director.

Come September 16 is Bombita (first
prize 1981), by Tony Perez. This black
comedy questions the blind obedience
and subservience of young rookies in
the military. Funny in a pathetic
sense, it reveals the emotional and
intellectual capacities of men in
uniform.

Portraying the soldiers are Perry
Escano as Bombita, Abel Napuran, Troy de
Guzman Alfred Caezar Urieta, and Yutaka
Yamakawa with Mark Paolo Angelo
Cayabyab, Christian Parado and Jose
Nilo Mortel. Soxie Topacio is the
director.

Capping the Pearl Festival on
September 30 is Taluktok by Leoncio P.
Deriada, third prize, 1983. In honor
of Caloy Abrera who performed in the
original production as retreat master,
this is a coming-of-age tale about
five graduating senior high school
student who conquered Mt.Apo and their
growing up fears.

Tony Espejo directs his boys starring
Michael King Urieta, Christopher
David, Raymond Talavera, Kristian
Chua, Noel Escondo and Billy Parjan as
Fr. Feliciano Guerrero.

Supporting the Pearl Theater Festival
are Alice Borbe (production manager)
Jeffrey Camaag (production designer),
Andy Villareal (lights designer),
Christopher David and Jeffrey Camaag
(choreographers) , and Andrew Alcoba,
Shalo Ram anD Christopher David (stage
managers).

The National Parks Development
Committee (NPDC), Everbilena and Color
Care are the partners of Gantimpalas
Pearl Theater Festival.

Admission for the plays is for free
and will be shown 7p.m., at the
Concert at the Park Open Air
Auditorium, in Luneta

For inquiries about outreach
performances, please call 528-0503/536-
5860 or write to:
gantimpalaproductio n@yahoo.com