FULL GALLOP at Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium

MyOwn Mann Productions, Inc. and Actor’s Actors Inc. proudly announce its offering for March 2014 with “ FULL GALLOP ” a play about fashion doyenne Diana Vreeland.

Written by Mary Louise Wilson and Mark Hampton, FULL GALLOP focuses on the life of Diana Vreeland, who stood at the center of American style for five decades.

As editor of Harper's Bazaar and Vogue magazines, and as a member of the International Cafe Society, Diana chronicled the extraordinary people and events of her time. FULL GALLOP is a portrait of this remarkable woman at a turning point in her life. The one-woman play is set in August 1971 at Diana Vreeland’s Park Avenue apartment. She has just returned home to New York after four months in Europe --- a trip she took after being fired from Vogue magazine. She throws an impromptu dinner party in the hope that a wealthy friend who is invited will bankroll her in starting a magazine of her own. Other friends, however, attempt to persuade her to take a job at the famed Metropolitan Museum of Art. In her distinctive style, once she decides in which direction her life will move, she goes at it "full gallop. "

In a casting coup, Cherie Gil lends her range and patrician demeanor to the woman who was a major force in shaping culture, style, taste and even language for all time. In a play that is both funny and poignant, FULL GALLOP explores the brilliance of a woman at a crossroads, for whom life can only be lived as a constant parade of adventures.

Cherie Gil first made her name in what are now cinema classics from the 80’s such as Peque Gallaga’s “Oro, Plata, Mata”; Elwood Perez’s “Problem Child” and Emmanuel Borlaza’s “Bituing Walang Ningning”. She then moved on to television, starring in countless TV series, specializing in playing villainesses and strong-willed women.

In the 2000’s, Cherie discovered the stage and surprised the theater-going public with her versatility and technical proficiency. She essayed such roles as Sister Aloysius in John Patrick Shanley’s “Doubt”, Lilline La Fleur in Kopit and Yeston’s musical “Nine” and Maria Callas in Terence Macnally’s “Master Class” for which she received numerous citations for her vivid and unforgettable tour de force performance. Truly a consummate tri-media artist/personality, Cherie has recently produced her first movie, “Sonata”, directed by Peque Gallaga.

Co-presented by Inquirer Lifestyle, Look Magazine, and The Peninsula Manila in cooperation with Antonio’s Tagaytay, Facial Care Center, The Love Garden, Businessworld, HerWord.com, WhenInManila.com, and Rappler.com, FULL GALLOP is set to open with a gala night premiere on March 14 with regular performances on March 15 and 21 at 8:00 p.m. and on March 16 and 23, 2014 at 4:00 p.m. (matinee) at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Ayala Avenue corner Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City.

FULL GALLOP will have the special participation of Ms. Giselle Tongi. The creative team of FULL GALLOP is composed of Bart Guingona (Director), Joey Mendoza (Set Designer), John Batalla (Lighting Designer), Rajo Laurel (Costume Designer), and Ruben Nazareth (Hair and Make-up).

The creative team for the FULL GALLOP photoshoot are Joan Bitagcol (Photo), Sandy, Higgins, Mark Higgins, Michael Salientes (Styling), Mark and Sandy Higgins (art direction), and Fanny Serrano (Hair and Make-up). FULL GALLOP is presented by special arrangement with Josef Weinberger Plays Limited, London.

For the March 14 gala night, ticket prices are at Php3,000 orchestra center; Php2,000 for orchestra side and loge; and Php1,000 for balcony inclusive of cocktail food and wine provided by Antonio’s Tagaytay. Part of the proceeds from this gala event will go to Virlanie Foundation’s project of building houses in Negros areas that were affected by Typhoon Yolanda.