MANILA, Philippines - It takes one to know one. That is, in terms of recognizing, honing and nurturing world-class talent.
Isay Alvarez and Robert Seña have been passing the torch to budding performing artists through their Spotlight Artists Center (SAC). After years of garnering recognition in the international theater scene, Robert and Isay, with other equally-talented colleagues in the theater and entertainment industry, have taken it upon themselves to turn the spotlight on a new generation of stage thespians.
SAC has nurtured the talents of young, exceptionally-gifted Filipino stage performers who could very well compete in the international theater scene.
One such theater prodigy is 13-year-old Mayumi Morales. The sister of Makisig Morales, Mayumi is a consistent honor student and has been selected as one of SAC’s scholars since she joined the school’s pilot batch of Musical Theater enrollees.
After intensive training, Mayumi breezed through the advanced acting, creative dance and movement courses — displaying exceptional talent and finesse that earned her the chance to be the school’s first representative to this year’s World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) in Hollywood.
Like proud parents, Isay and Robert are positive about Mayumi’s chances of winning in the WCOPA, and are raising funds and making necessary arrangements to ensure her participation. “We are optimistic about Mayumi’s chances there,” Isay shares. “With her talent and our prayers, we’re sure she can bag the Junior World Championship title and do our country proud.”
Robert’s output in the Integrated Scriptwriting and Directing Workshop under Nestor Torre is one of the entries in this year’s Cinemalaya. Titled What Floor Po, Ma’am?, the film was written by Robert and he co-directed it with Mike Sandejas. It stars Pinky Marquez and Lex Marcos.
Kelly Latti, one of the students from the first batch of Spotlight’s five-month Musical Theater course, will play the lead in Atlantis Productions’ Spring Awakening which opens in August.
SAC announces workshops starting this month. They include the five-month Musical Theater 1 and 2; Creative Dance and Movement for Actors; Spotlight Kids; Scriptwriting (facilitated by Rody Vera); Acting (facilitated by Paolo O’Hara) and Directing Workshops. Also offered are individual classes for voice, guitar, drums, violin and piano.
For details, log on to www.spotlightartistscentre.com or call 899-8089.