PHILSTAGE honors Avellana

The Philippine Legitimate Stage Artists Group, Inc. (PHILSTAGE), in cooperation with the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, invites everyone to watch Theater Herstory 101: A Tribute to National Artist for Theater Daisy Hontiveros Avellana today at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino.

The multi-media concert-informance brings to a close the CCP-led year long tribute to Avellana, an actor, director, and writer who elevated professional theater to a new level of excellence. She is married to National Artist for Theater and Film Lamberto Avellana, they founded the Barangay Theater Guild in 1939 and paved the way for the popularization of theater and dramatic arts in the country, using stage, radio and television as their media. She is best known fir her portrayal of Candida Marasihan in the theater and film versions of Nick Joaquin’s Portrait of the Artist as Filipino.

Theter Herstory 101 features musical numbers from previous productions of PHILSTAGE member-companies, excerpts from Avellana’s old plays, and testimonials on the honoree’s life, works and influences to today’s generation of theater practitioners. The tribute’s cast include: Irma Adlawan, Menchu Lauchengco Yulo, Medeleine Nicolas, Tex Ordonez, Cathy Azanza, Catherine Bautista, Joanne Co, Naomi Villa, Elena Laniog, and Vinia Pamplona. Invited to give testimonials are: Naty Crame Rogers, Baby Barredo, Celeste Legaspi, Maribel Legarda and Sandy Hontiveros.

Directed by Teresa Jamias from the script of Glen Mas, the production staff include: Elmar Beltran Ingles and Dennis Marasigan, (executive producers), Ave Uy (production manager), Jed Balsamo (musical director), Novy Bereber (choreographer), Liza Magtoto (featured playwright), Ed Murillo (stage manager), Eric Cruz (production designer), and Barbi Tantiongco (technical and lighting director).