CEBU, Philippines - Summer is here and Little Boy Productions brings back to Cebu its popular summer theater workshops, featuring teachers from Ateneo de Manila University and Repertory Philippines.
Kids as young as 4 years old are welcome to join the three-week workshops in the morning, along with older kids and teens that will have their separate, more intensive classes in the afternoons. All classes end with a recital show where the participants perform for friends and family in a real theater. More than the performance however, it's the process of theater that's important, the everyday creative play for three weeks that fosters teamwork, discipline, commitment and support, while making new friends along the way.
"We are proud to say that our teachers are professionals from Manila - from groups like Repertory Philippines and Dulaang UP and Blue Repertory," said executive producer Hendri Go. "I think that's what makes our workshops so different-the level of experience and talent."
Head teacher for the kids classes will be Jill Pena, an honors graduate of the Ateneo de Manila University BFA Theater Arts program and a talented singer and actress. She played Mulan in Disney's Mulan and was also in Disney's Cinderella, both directed by Joy Virata for Repertory Philippines' Children's Theater.
Jill has been teaching workshops in Cebu for three years now and is excited to come back. "The workshoppers here are so open to improving their skills in theater and I'm excited to see this year's batch," says Jill.
Heading the teens class is musical director Reb Atadero, who played one of the leads in the award-winning musical Altar Boyz for Repertory Philippines. He also played Zeke in the sold-out Asian premiere of Disney's High School Musical which was staged in Manila by Little Boy Productions and Blue Repertory.
Rounding up the team are Acey Aguilar and Niel Kintanar. Acey Aguilar is a familiar face in television as he has done several commercials and was also cast in ABS-CBN's May Bukas Pa and more recently, Sabel. He also played one of the leads in the Cinemalaya film Rekrut, alongside Joem Bascon and Dominic Roco. Niel Kintanar taught Psychology at both Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University. He was stage manager for Little Boy Productions' first Cebu staging of the musical Once on this Island, starring Raki Vega, Jing Fegi, and Christine Fernandez. "I'm excited to teach kids-the next generation of theater artists in Cebu," says Niel.
Workshops run for a full three weeks from May 2 to 20 at the third floor of the Manros Plaza Building, across Fooda, on Mango Avenue, Cebu City. There will be three classes. "Theater for Kids," for participants 4-6 years old, will be held from 9-10:15 a.m. "Children's Theater," for 7-10 years old, will be held from 10:30-12 nn. "Musical Theater for Teens," for participants 11 years old and above, will be held in the afternoon from 1- 3:30 p.m. Culminating show will be at the Theater of the Marcelo Fernan Press Center in Lahug on May 21.
Workshop fee is P4,800, with group and early bird discounts available. Registration is ongoing. Please call 2549320 or 4158058 or add Little Boy Productions on Facebook for more information.