REP celebrates its Golden Anniversary

REP: 50 Years of Telling Stories anniversary gala was a one magical night that saw the company’s brightest stars come home to REP to take the stage.

It has been an exciting year for Repertory Philippines – fondly known as REP – as it revels in its Golden year in the grandest way one can imagine. From a standout season of only the best productions, all of which snagged prestigious Gawad citations (Best Directors, Actors ,Set Design, etc) to the coming together of theater’s biggest stars, REP’s 50th year has definitely been remarkable.

REP, arguably one of the country’s premier theater companies, has come a long way since their first 1967 production, which only had 7 people in the audience. REP helped shape the landscape of theater in the Philippines. As the home of many internationally recognized performers who have gone on to grace prestigious stages around the world, including luminaries such as Lea Salonga, Monique Wilson, Cocoy Laurel, or movers and shakers like Menchu Lauchengco, Audie Gemora, Michael Williams, plus highly acclaimed directors, writers, set designers, costume designers, REP consistently proves that Filipinos are indeed world-class talents.

Lea Salonga and Jaime Fabregas in Annie in 1984.

Miguel Faustmann and Michael Williams in the 1991 production of Fiddler on the Roof.

“REP has always been dedicated to train and develop the finest actors and production crew to deliver the best of theater,” says co-founder Baby Barredo. “REP is where theater all began in the Philippines. In our 50 years, we are proud to have left an indelible mark in the industry, and are dedicated to continuing to make theater relevant and relatable to the modern audience.”

For the Golden year celebration, REP pulled out all stops with a June anniversary gala held at The Theatre at Solaire that was one magical night where the company’s brightest stars came home to REP to take the stage. 2017 also saw the first ever original musical showcase, Joel Trinidad’s The Glitter Trap, from the Workshop for the Performing Arts. “We aim to reach out to the new generation who will help continue and build on what they already have accomplished,” comments Mindy Perez-Rubio, President and CEO of REP. “We introduced a modern and sleeker logo, as well as a season of progressive productions such as The Vibrator Play, Vanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike and Agnes of God.”

REP’s 50th celebration opening salvo was Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike with Cherie Gil, Michael Williams, Roslyn Perez, Joaquin Valdez, Mica Pineda & Naths Everett

Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo starred in REP’s Agnes of God alongside Pinky Amador and Becca Coates

The celebrations continue on with the last few shows on the lineup. REP’s Theater for Young Audiences marks its 25th year with a production of the French fairy tale, Beauty and the Beast. The unforgettable tale, currently ongoing from August till December, is spectacularly re-imagined by Artistic Director Joy Virata in a musical that delights the young and young at heart.

REP closes its Golden year with the classic, tribal love-rock musical, Hair, from November 17 to December 17. Chris Millado helms the iconic play with Markki Stroem in the lead.

Mindy concludes, “2017 is the year we rejoiced our achievements, pushed ourselves to do better, and urged our actors to go back to their roots – so to speak. Because of this, we are thrilled to have received a great many mid-year Gawad Citations for ALL our Seasons’ Productions. So, we invite everyone to come home to REP, celebrate our 50 years and more years to come.”

For updates and show schedules, log on to www.repertoryphilippines.ph or call REP at 843-3570; like repertoryphilippines on Facebook, and follow @repphils on Instagram and Twitter.

Tickets also available at TicketWorld. Mention POSITIVELY FILIPINO to avail of a 15% discount.