REP Features Veterans, Young Talents at 50th-Anniversary Gala Celebration, 6/11

Manila, Philippines--One of the country's premier theater companies Repertory Philippines (REP) is counting down the days for its grand 50th-anniversary gala presentation, titled "REP's 50 Years of Telling Stories," at The Theatre at Solaire, Solaire Resorts and Casino in Parañaque City, on Sunday, June 11, 2017, at 8 p.m.

Spearheaded by the late theater director Zenaida Amador, REP was founded in 1967, which has been known since as the pioneering theatrical group that produces mostly Western Theater but features homegrown actors, singers, dancers, and production teams.

So far, the theater company has staged around 443 productions including "Les Miserables," "The King and I," "Passion," "Evita," "Annie," "My Fair Lady," "La Cage Aux Folles," "Kiss of the Spiderwoman," "South Pacific," "Jesus Christ Superstar," "Carousel," "A Little Night Music," "The Secret Garden," "Sweeney Todd," and "Man of La Mancha," among others.

REP, of course, has also been the esteemed training ground of actors whose hard work and excellent talent have led their way to global stages such as Tony winner Lea Salonga, Olivier Award nominee Jon Jon Briones, Monique Wilson, Cocoy Laurel, Maya Barredo, Gia Macuja, and Red Concepcion to name a few.

We're happy to note that REP continues to be a melting pot of young theatrical talents, which we personally witnessed at "One Day More," one of REP's annual theater workshop talent showcases directed by theater veterans Oliver Usison and Deana Aquino, at the Onstage Theatre in Makati City over the weekend.

Only in their teens, the actors on that stage vigorously embraced the challenge of singing and acting Claude Michel-Schonberg and Alain Boublil's complex score for "Les Miserables." Although not everyone was note-perfect, some of the performers certainly stood out such as Rafael Paolo Jimenez's Jean Valjean, who could give Ramin Karimloo (Broadway's Valejean) a run for his money in "Valjean's Prologue"; Xavier Jose Fernando's authoritative Inspector Javert; Sophia Noelle Saputil's ill-fated Fantine; Andre Leng-Ay's charismatic Marius, and Theresa Ada Contreras' confidently sung and acted Gavroche, along with a French accent to boot!

Happening on the eve of this year's Tony Awards, "REP's 50 Years of Telling Stories" gala celebration serves as a fitting prelude to celebrate Broadway's biggest night and how the Western Theater and Filipino talent converge on the REP stage. This gala presentation promises to be a great evening with past and current company of actors--both veterans and young ones--such as Monique Wilson, Leo Martinez, Arnell Ignacio, Joy Virata, Pinky Amador, Cara Barredo, and a pool of juvenile thespians.

The show is collectively directed by REP alums Bart Guingona, Jaime del Mundo, Miguel Faustmann, Audie Gemora, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Raymond Lauchengco, Freddie Santos, and Michael Williams, featuring the musical direction by Ejay Yatco and script by Luna Inocian.

To buy tickets, call REP at (632) 843 3570 or visit TicketWorld.com.ph.

Photo Credit: Repertory Philippines, Joel Reyes, and Photo: Rafael Paolo Jimenez by Erika Garcia

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