PETA celebrates 50 years, releases commemorative album, & new divas strut Care Divas stage

In celebration of their 50^th year anniversary, the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) presents a jam-packed 2017 that will see the release of a commemorative album, the comeback of one of their hit musicals, and a return to the stage where the company was born.

PETA has accumulated a vast catalog of songs from the various musicals that they’ve staged throughout their five decades. A selection of these songs have made the cut in Sa Hirap at Ginhawa, PETA’s 50^th Commemorative Album. Five themed suites and eight singles make up the thirteen tracks of the album that feature the vocals of May Bayot-De Castro, Joan Bugcat, Noel Comia Jr., Rody Vera, Dessa Quesada-Palm, Myke Salomon, Cynthia Culig-Guico, Neomi Tabanao-Gonzales, Michael Odoemene, Lionel Guico, Buddy Caramat, Ricci Chan, Vincent De Jesus, Melvin Lee, Jerald Napoles, and groups like the PETA Choir, UP Singing Ambassadors, and the Kilyawan Children’s Choir.

The PETA Choir

Noted artists like Aicelle Santos, Jett Pangan, Bodjie Pascua, Noel Cabangon, and Celeste Legaspi-Gallardo have also lent their voices into this album. These songs and more will be heard performed live at PETA in Concert on April 7, 2017 (the actual founding day of the company) at the PETA Theater Center.

One of PETA’s biggest hit musicals, Care Divas comes back to usher in the company’s golden year. In keeping with the 50^th anniversary celebrations, the care givers by day and drag queen performers by night will glam up the stage for 50 shows starting February 3, 2017 until March 19, 2017 (Tuesday-Sunday) at the PETA Theater Center.

Caregivers by day

New divas led by Red Concepcion and Thou Reyes will be strutting the stage joining PETA artists Melvin Lee, Vince De Jesus, Ron Alfonso, Dudz Teraña, Eko Baquial, Jason Barcial, Buddy Caramay, Gio Gahol, Joan Bugcat, Eric Dela Cruz, Joseph Madriaga, and Gold Villar. Guest artists in this production include Ophir Burton, Ricci Chan, Jef Flores, Paul Holme, Sherry Lara, Leo Rialp, and Myke Salomon.

Divas by night

Care Divas tell the story Chelsea, Shai, Thalia, Kayla, and Jonee who all work as care givers in Israel. The musical tackles the plight of the Overseas Filipino Workers and the LGBT community told through the words of playwright Liza Magtoto and the music of Vince De Jesus. During the 2011 Philstage Gawad Buhay! Awards, Care Divas bagged six awards for Musical Production, Ensemble Performance in a Musical, Male Lead Performance in a Musical for Melvin Lee, Musical Direction for Vincent de Jesus, Choreography for a Play or Musical for Carlo Matobato, and Original Libretto for Liza Magtoto and Vincent de Jesus.

After Care Divas, the other productions to watch out for at the PETA Theater Center and beyond include the return of the Silly People’s Improv Theater (SPIT)’s Manila Improv Festival 2017 this March 22-26, 2017. PETA will host Bunk Puppets' Sticks, Stones, & Broken Bones, a shadow puppetry production by Jeff Achtem. A Game of Trolls, a timely play about Martial Law meant for students and millennials is set to premiere on April 1, 2017 before it embarks on a countrywide tour throughout the year.

On April 7, 2017 PETA goes back to the Rajah Sulayman Theater in Fort Santiago where it all began for Rites at the Fort. The PETA in Concert at the PETA Theater Center follows soon after in the evening.

PETA’s newest children’s production Tagu-taguan, Maliwanag ang Buwan will have its run on August 24-September 24, 2017. PETA’s local and international partners will converge at the Festival of Windows happening on October 6-22, 2017. Ang Buhay ni Galileo gets re-staged on November 9-26, 2017.

The Rajah Sulayman Theater will be the venue for Living Voices, (November 29-December 1, 2017) a retrospect of the most significant plays that were originally staged there. Capping up the 50^th year celebrations will be the Grand Alumni Homecoming on December 10, 2017 at the PETA Theater Center.

I came in late in the game when it comes to PETA. But what they have in offer in their 50^th year is a great way for me to catch up with 50 years’ worth of productions and history that made this company one of the pillars in the Philippine theater scene today.